Every year Anzac Day is commemorated by countless thousands of people at dawn services and marches across Australia. The words “Lest we forget” are used to symbolise our tribute to those who died in war, with a particular focus on Gallipoli in 1915, but also covering all major conflicts since then. Continue reading →

Australian activists are breathing life into an alternative approach to the resolution of the Middle East conflict. In a groundbreaking grassroots initiative, an Australian rules football team comprising Israelis and Palestinians has been formed by the Peres Centre for Peace to compete in the 3rd International Cup to celebrate the 150th anniversary of Australia’s original sporting code, Aussie Rules. Continue reading →

People are getting so anxious about climate change that they are seeing their doctors for help. In a speech tonight to mark World Health Day, Grant Blashki says climate change is already having direct and indirect effects on Australia’s health, and the problems will get worse. His call for the medical profession to treat climate change as a health issue is being echoed around the world as the World Health Organization chose ‘protecting health from climate change’ as its theme. Continue reading →

The swimmer Nick D’Arcy is accused of smashing the face of Simon Cowley, a former Commonwealth Games Champion, with a single punch. If proved, a single thoughtless act may end his hopes of going to Beijing and render null and void a lifetime of training. Would that outcome be too harsh? Continue reading →

Every Sydney citizen is now a cyber sheriff. NSW Police are testing a new citizen-based crime-fighting technique in which all of us will be enlisted as ‘spies’ against criminals. Codenamed Project VIEW (Video Image Evidence on the Web) involves encouraging ordinary citizens to send in images of suspected criminal activity captured on mobile phones, digital cameras, or video recorders via a specifically dedicated police website. Continue reading →

Higher, further, harsher – China is matching its investment in the physical infrastructure of the Olympics with a vast and extensive array of police power, aimed at preventing any dissent element unsettling the “harmonious” atmosphere of the games this August, or embarrassing the Communist Party leadership. Continue reading →

So, in building broader representation and diversity, we must attract more members from multicultural Australia, more women and more young Australians who see membership of a centre-right party as a way to express their ideals in a stimulating environment of open minds and open debate. Continue reading →

There is tremendous scope for fresh ideas, for new thinking, for being prepared to use 2008 as a year of modernisation of our organisation. The party needs to embrace a change that will replenish our membership. A strong membership base is a strong resource – for developing policy, in campaigning, in fundraising, in spreading the word, in providing the candidates, staff and personnel that every political party needs. Continue reading →

A good inquiry can accelerate improvements that otherwise would take years to make. I am all for them. But I question the utility of the special commission of inquiry into NSW health services. Since 2003 there have been three major inquiries into health services: Camden and Campbelltown hospitals, Canberra Hospital and Perth’s King Edward Memorial Hospital. All were found to have serious workforce problems (low morale, poor communication systems, poor compliance with institutional protocols, inadequate leadership from senior clinicians and more). Has anything changed? Our workforce is well trained; our hospitals in the main well-equipped, and our managers knowledgeable. So why do we, like many other countries, have an unacceptably high number of errors in the system? Continue reading →

In a report presented at the 2007 Australasian Drug Strategy Conference, the Australian Federal Police noted that ideal weather conditions and improved technology in Afghanistan saw opium poppy production there rise 17% last year, with a further 30% rise expected in 2008. Continue reading →