Australia: the politics of border control
When Novak Djokovic took up residence at Melbourne’s Park Hotel for a few days, the world noticed the desperate refugees locked in with him. But he has left the building and the…
Kitney
Securing borders is neither easy nor cheap
The UK should beware when it looks to Australia for a solution to ‘stop the boats’. The cost to the Australian taxpayer of detaining asylum seekers has been estimated at A$4 million…
The changing of the political guard
Battles to save the planet have re-ignited inter-generational conflict, writes Geoff Kitney. In Australia, the young are taking on the big mining companies whose wealthy owners wield immense power. Beware the children….
British brinkmanship is not what it once was
The Government’s “Up yours Delors” bravado could cost the United Kingdom dearly, writes Geoff Kitney. All that glitters is not necessarily gold. UK Trade Minister Liz Truss might have been well advised…
Covid: the moral dilemma
Geoff Kitney poses the question: Is the sacrifice of a loved one just an unfortunate price that has to be paid for the freedom of others? All things are relative, even death. So, if you…
Fear of China is at the heart of AUKUS
The new alliance is troubling political, military and strategic analysts who are concerned that it was put together at lightning speed with little consultation and in secret, writes Geoff Kitney from Canberra….
FTA’s are not always about trade
The UK and Australia may have signed a free trade agreement but how deep does the idea of shared interests run? Geoff Kitney takes a look. All sorts of spin have been…
Vaccine nationalism: the dangerous next phase
The vaccine wars appear to be just skirmishes ahead of something much bigger – vaccines as weapons in a looming new Cold War, writes Geoff Kitney. Very early on, long before the…
Will Covid spawn electoral success?
With approval ratings as high as 90 per cent Australia’s state leaders and the parties they lead look set to reap the rewards of keeping their communities safe, writes Geoff Kitney. While…
As Covid spreads Covid wars intensify
Governments that acted decisively earlier in the pandemic are hesitating now, writes Geoff Kitney. The freedom warriors and the business owners are becoming increasingly assertive and noisy in countries around the world….