A belief in the benefits of secure employment and quality education and training, as well as a commitment to fairness and equal opportunity, led Brendan O’Connor to begin his career in a union where he became Assistant National Secretary of the Australian Services Union (ASU). He was elected to parliament in 2001 and has since headed [...]
Geoffrey Lehmann, prize winning poet, author and tax lawyer, was a Chester Graham admirer from afar having started at Sydney University around the same time as Clive James. Writes Lehmann, “How did this bisexual, apolitical, anti-academic young ironist and perfectionist suddenly appear in bourgeois, wholesome Australia?” Unlike Robert Hughes and Clive James who were influenced [...]
Senator The Hon Jane Hume is the Shadow Minister for Finance and the Public Service. She has served in a number of Ministerial roles, including most recently as the Minister for Superannuation, Financial Services and the Digital Economy, and as the Minister for Women’s Economic Security. Jane Hume also serves as the Chair of the Margaret [...]
Neville Wran is the most electorally successful Labor premier in NSW history. In 13 years leading the Labor Party in Australia’s largest state, Wran did not lose an election or lose a seat at a by-election. Wran’s political influence extended beyond NSW. Despite this record, journalists now commonly describe the Wran Government as a “byword [...]
The McDonalds food business is very connected to its marketplace and incorporates many readily transferrable business fundamentals. Many underestimate the size and complexity of the simple hamburger joint. But look at the numbers: more than 41,000 stores are open worldwide, it has more than 2 million employees – the second largest employer after Walmart - [...]
With the US Presidential election just weeks away, The Sydney Institute hosted a discussion on where it all was headed. Bruce Wolpe, Senior Fellow (non-resident) at the United States Studies Centre, joined Tom Switzer, Executive Director, Centre for Independent Studies on Monday 16 September to flesh out the polls and the personalities of the two [...]
In 2024, Australians appeared deeply divided with the two-party system reflecting widespread discontent. Independents and minor parties were affecting the preferential system as never before. Issues, however, seemed to be hardening - immigration, energy, the housing crisis and inflation adding to the cost of living crisis. On Tuesday 2 July 2024, Peter Van Onselen who [...]
The rise of the Teal independents in unseating long held Liberal MPs in once known as “blue ribbon” seats in the federal election of 2022 has given rise to questions about the Liberal Party’s base. Elected on ALP and Greens preferences, Teal candidates appealed to well off voters who are concerned about climate change and [...]
Australia’s immigration intake in 2024 came under attack for being too high amidst a climate of housing shortages and infrastructure costs. For decades Australia benefitted greatly from its immigration program but the renewed attack on numbers prompted a review of what Australia’s immigration intake is all about. The Hon Matt Thistlethwaite MP is Assistant Minister [...]
In 2024, Opposition leader Peter Dutton has opened up a discussion – indeed a debate – on Australia introducing nuclear energy as part of its zero carbon emissions targets. Should it win government, Peter Dutton has announced that the Liberal/National Coalition would establish nuclear reactors in several communities around Australia backed up by gas-powered electricity. [...]
