2020

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Apr162020

Myth-busting China’s ‘soft power’

FOREIGN AFFAIRSApril 16, 2020

by Dr Paul Monk Part Two of two parts (read Part One here) DR PAUL MONK IS AN AUTHOR AND FORMER HEAD OF THE CHINA DESK AT THE DEFENCE INTELLIGENCE ORGANISATION. HIS BOOKS INCLUDE ‘THUNDER FROM THE SILENT ZONE: RETHINKING CHINA’ AND ‘THE WEST IN A NUTSHELL: FOUNDATIONS, FRAGILITIES, FUTURES’. HE DELIVERED THE FOLLOWING ARTICLE AS AN ADDRESS TO THE NCC’S NATIONAL CONFERENCE OVER THE WEEKEND OF FEBRUARY 7-9, 2020. Myth 4: Social media will lead to the liberalisation and democratisation of China Bill Clinton declared, in 2000, that IT innovation, combined with the immense benefits of joining the…

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Apr162020

Young people deserve better than being rushed into transitioning

HEALTH & EDUCATIONApril 16, 2020

by Terri M. Kelleher In a March 5 letter to federal Health Minister Greg Hunt, the Royal Australasian College of Physicians (RANCP) has “strongly advised that the Australian Government … not establish a national inquiry or similar process” into the treatment of gender dysphoria in children and young people. The RANCP supports the principles underlying the Royal Children’s Hospital (RCH) guidelines for the treatment of gender dysphoria in children and young people, which take the affirmative approach. This is in stark contrast to the approach of the newly launched Society for Evidence-Based Gender Medicine (SEGM), whose objectives include “evaluating current…

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Apr162020

‘Black Summer’ bushfire inquiries: What must be done

NATIONAL AFFAIRSApril 16, 2020

by Peter Westmore On February 20, Prime Minister Scott Morrison announced a royal commission into last summer’s disastrous bushfires, with a focus on establishing national coordination in response to natural disasters across all levels of government; improving Australia’s preparedness for such events; and examining the legal framework for the Commonwealth’s involvement in responding to national emergencies. The commissioners have also been asked to recommend ways in which Australia could harmonise aspects of land management, like hazard-reduction burns, wildlife management and land-use planning in all states and territories, through common national standards or rules. Former head of the Australian Defence Force…

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Apr162020

Budget surplus a goner but low interest rates a treasurer’s dream

POLITICSApril 16, 2020

The Morrison Government will face its toughest test yet over the coming months in working at ways to avoid a sharp downturn in the Australian economy and keep employment up until the covid19 danger passes. But, depending on how bad the downturn is, the real opportunity may be using the economic turbulence to borrow massively to invest in big long-term projects, not just short-term stimulus. The recent turmoil in the markets is causing serious and prolonged concern for the Government, Treasury and the Reserve Bank, as investors, from the sophisticated high-net-worth individuals to the thrifty retirees, try to determine the…

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