The Évian Conference
By Dr George Venturini The Évian Conference In 1930, with the Great Depression severely affecting Australia’s workforce, the Scullin Government (1929 – 1932) tightened up […]
AIM Extra
The Politics of Funding: Cash Crisis at the United Nations
It remains one of the more unusual arrangements in terms of funding. Like a club filled with members of erratic disposition, the United Nations can […]
Adjunct imperialist clowns (part 2)
By Dr George Venturini In August 1923 the Premier of Victoria, H.S.W. Lawson, was received by Mussolini. It was not really the visit of the […]
“Driver’s licenses for workers to be restricted for the common good”
By Tina Clausen The Cashless Debit Card – Income Management Scheme Currently a bill is up for voting in Parliament in order to extend the […]
Colin Powell’s Trump Problem
When the compromised speak of judgment, the voice of credibility vanishes. In its place, a certain niggling sense of hypocrisy and weakness prevails. Former US […]
Internal Dissolution: Brexit and the Disunited Kingdom
While the European family seems to be having its internal spats – populist sparks within threatening to light the powder keg – the marshals and […]
Adjunct imperialist clowns (part 1)
By Dr George Venturini 3. Adjunct imperialist clowns “Why write a book about such a happy country?” asked Donald Horne at the beginning of The […]
Turning 70: Xi Jinping’s People’s Republic of China
During the era of Sovietology, experts would pour over images of the gathered politburo in Red Square, gazing with grey monolithic interest upon the military […]
Medieval combat for ‘the Palace letters’ (part 11)
By Dr George Venturini Continued from Part 10 As we have said, it is clear that the Archives Act includes within its field of operation […]
Dangerous Detentions: Julian Assange and Remaining in Belmarsh
Much ink has been spilt in textbooks describing situations where autocratic states can behave badly. They abuse rights; they ignore international law and they ride […]
Jacques Chirac: The Art of Being Vague
The tributes have been dripping in heavy praise: former French president Jacques Chirac and mayor of Paris, the great statesman; the man who said no […]
Medieval combat for ‘the Palace letters’ (part 10)
By Dr George Venturini Cont from Part 9 There was a parallel to the Freedom of Information Act 1982 (Cth), which came in at the […]
Medieval combat for ‘the Palace letters’ (part 9)
By Dr George Venturini A ‘Commonwealth record’ is defined as any record which is the property of the Commonwealth, but the term does not extend […]
Normal Intrusions: Globalising AI Surveillance
They all do it: corporations, regimes, authorities. They all have the same reasons: efficiency, serviceability, profitability, all under the umbrella term of “security”. Call it […]
Rotten in Tunisia: The Corrupt Rule of Ben Ali
He was the prototypical strong man softened by tactical reforms, blissfully ignorant before the fall, blown off in the violent winds of the Arab Spring. […]