National affairs
21 February 2019
The convention that neither side of politics comments on the operation of intelligence agencies really only benefits agencies, the government and (sometimes) the opposition
Books & arts
2 November 2016
Books | The latest volume of the official ASIO history reveals tensions with successive governments, but still no firm evidence that Soviet agents operated within its ranks
National affairs
4 October 2016
A new account of Britain’s nuclear tests in Australia reveals a long history of damaging suppression
National affairs
7 July 2011
Fewer and cheaper submarines would do the job, writes Brian Toohey
National affairs
9 June 2011
Australians have as little idea about why we are fighting in Afghanistan as they had about why we entered the first world war, writes Brian Toohey
National affairs
5 May 2011
Julia Gillard has a puzzling attachment to the bracing qualities of war – even wars her Labor predecessors opposed – writes Brian Toohey
National affairs
6 April 2011
The prime minister is losing sight of why governments reform, writes Brian Toohey
National affairs
3 March 2011
The experience of the renewable energy target suggests that a carbon tax will work better than a market-based approach to climate change, writes Brian Toohey
National affairs
3 February 2011
Left to themselves, many employees would spend the money that goes into superannuation on raising a family, paying off a mortgage or pursuing further education. Compulsion robs…
National affairs
9 December 2010
A casual reference to the use of force underlines the flaws in Kevin Rudd’s thinking about Australia’s largest trading partner, writes Brian Toohey
National affairs
3 November 2010
Buybacks aren’t the only way to reduce the amount of water being taken out of the system, argues Brian Toohey
National affairs
6 October 2010
The parliamentary debate on the war needs to face up to its costs and the lack of progress, writes Brian Toohey
National affairs
8 September 2010
How should Australia respond to the changing power balance in the region, asks Brian Toohey
National affairs
4 August 2010
Despite the bipartisan consensus, Australia’s role in Afghanistan is demonstrably counterproductive, writes Brian Toohey
National affairs
8 July 2010
With the government and the opposition treading water, Brian Toohey looks at alternative ways forward
National affairs
6 May 2010
Funds from the planned super-profits tax on mining could have been used much more productively, argues Brian Toohey, and key Henry report recommendations deserved early…
National affairs
7 April 2010
Building Australian submarines would compound the defence white paper’s mistaken view of the threats Australia faces, writes Brian Toohey
National affairs
2 March 2010
It’s not so much the size of government spending that counts – it’s the quality, writes Brian Toohey
National affairs
2 December 2009
There are more straightforward ways of moving towards a low-carbon future, argues Brian Toohey
National affairs
3 November 2009
Two novels, two realities. Brian Toohey looks at what fiction can tell us about governments and human rights
National affairs
7 October 2009
The vast spending gap between compensation and renewable energy demonstrates a lack of federal government commitment to dealing with climate change, writes Brian Toohey
National affairs
1 September 2009
John Faulkner will have his hands full cleaning up after other people’s mistakes, writes Brian Toohey
National affairs
5 August 2009
Is Kevin Rudd a supporter or a critic of neo-liberal policy-making? On the evidence of his approach to climate change, it’s hard to know, writes Brian Toohey
National affairs
7 July 2009
Ken Henry’s review of the tax system is heading in the wrong direction, writes Brian Toohey
National affairs
2 June 2009
The federal government is so anxious to avoid debt that it’s endangering its main priorities, writes Brian Toohey
National affairs
5 May 2009
Abandoned in the 1960s, “forward defence” makes a disturbing reappearance in the government’s defence white paper, argues Brian Toohey
National affairs
31 March 2009
The growing demands of the superannuation industry are narrowing the government’s spending options, writes Brian Toohey