CHANGE, fairness and economic strength: these are the central themes of the Rudd government’s new information campaign defending the “resources super profit tax.” The campaign aims to re-establish Labor’s credibility as a sensible, principled and reform-oriented government, developing and introducing policies of national significance. But the paradox for the government is that the advertising blitz...

IT IS NOW understood and accepted that Asia is in the midst of dynamic economic, political and military power shifts that are reshaping the regional and global strategic order. The rise of China as a potential competitor – at least – with the United States is the most obvious development concentrating the minds of policy...

MEMBERS of Australia’s intelligence organisations are public servants. If they break the law, endanger the lives of fellow Australians or otherwise stuff-up, it should be a matter for public discussion. From this perspective, the shadow foreign minister, Julie Bishop, did the nation a service during an interview on 25 May when she revealed that Australian...

IMMIGRATION minister Chris Evans might soon have the power to force tens of thousands of international student graduates to leave Australia with just twenty-eight days’ notice. A bill quietly introduced into parliament late last month would give the minister sweeping powers to “terminate” applications for permanent residency, potentially enabling him to clear a massive backlog...

SOMETHING happened in British politics in the days after the general election of 6 May 2010 that will generate books, theses, conferences and public argument for years to come. By any routine standards of democratic procedure, its narrative heart was as banal as can be: a series of negotiations that led to the formation of...