2006 could see the end of Pax Americana - the peaceful era since WWII that has been maintained by US influence. The US remains the strongest nation - but strength does not equate with power - the ability to get others to do what you want (Samuelson R 'Pax Americana reaches its use-by date', FR, 18/12/06).

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Taking a cold shower was new Labor premier's advice for supporters after ending 32 years of National Party Government in Queensland. New federal Labor leader, Kevin Rudd is now repeating this mantra. Party insiders see Goss's approach in 1988 and 1989 as the key to winning federal election. Both are social conservatives, bookish and have strategic acumen. Goss took a 'don't scare the horses' approach. The National Party regime had been weakened by the Fitzgerald inquiry. To win Goss had to pursue basic issues, not trendy concerns of the Left - and Rudd sees things the same way, eg that establishing economic credibility is critical. Rudd, like Goss, faces a conservative regime that had wedged Labor on left-wing issues. Howard now can best win by making it seem that Rudd is too risky. In Goss's case this meant pursuing economic development, job creation and education and resisting social reforms. Rudd's biggest threat is now seen to be the Labor Party. Rudd was head of Goss's cabinet office from 1991 to 1995 and was called Dr Death by public servants for his tight control of budgets - so will have no trouble offering fiscally conservative policies. Ex National Party premier Cooper argues that Rudd is following Goss's model - which failed when government was won because services could not be delivered properly. Ex ALP minister Wells believes that much of Goss rubbed off on Rudd - as both are highly motivated to do something about the social disadvantage they see. Paul Williams (Griffith University) believes that Goss era experience means Rudd will identify a small number of credible, costed policies to campaign on. It will all be about things that appeal to middle Australia (Franklin M. and Shanahan D., 'Rudd follows mentor's mantra', WA, 16-17/12/06)

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Hayek's legacy has been chosen by Kevin Rudd as battleground with the Right - in a recent commentary which suggested that Hayek's views (though only a minority sect) have had a large impact. Rudd suggested a social democratic response to Hayek's stark vision of human nature and unfettered markets. In doing so Rudd misquotes and misinterprets Hayek. Hayek is famous for The Road to Serfdom, yet his main contribution was in terms of a theory of information and knowledge - which showed that it is impossible to acquire the knowledge to improve the social order. Hayek provides a powerful indictment of social democratic experiments. Rudd criticises Hayek's political economy ideas as 'off the planet' though many are mainstream. Hayek opposed unlimited government and dogmatic government. Hayek's Constitution of Liberty is insightful - seeing democracy as a means to an end, not an end in itself - a view which is often rejected in these politically correct days. Hayek argues for democracy on the basis that (a) it is the only peaceful means for transferring power (b) government must consider others' views in developing policy. Unlimited government is seen as enemy of liberty. Rudd described Hayek as social engineer who does not value altruism or the family. Rudd accuses Hayek of not supporting public education - which is not an accurate representation of his views. Also, contrary to Rudd's assertion, Hayek did not oppose government economic intervention to assist spontaneous forces. Hayek also does support government services of various kinds. Hayek regarded the use of the term 'social justice' as intellectually disreputable, and explained government inability to delivery this in terms of the problem of knowledge. Some points that Rudd uses are misquotes. Rudd's critique of Hayek and Christianity is weak. Hayek was sympathetic to religion - though not a believer - because it preserves useful traditions. Religions were held to survive only if they supported property and the family. Hayek valued the family as a social institution (though suggesting that commercial relationships needed to be handled differently). Rudd suggested that he did not. Rudd wants to engage the right in a debate about values - but may not have chosen his battleground wisely. Hayek is widely quoted, yet not well understood - and Rudd's efforts are proof of this (Davidson S., 'The liberal philosopher's trap', FR, 15/12/06).

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The values debate can either be used politically to divide Australians, or to strengthen social cohesiveness. Some see appeals to values as promoting a harshly defined viewpoint reflecting the conservative status quo. Yet some social democrats see values as being the foundation of their visions of a better democracy. The values debate should not be dominated by those who favour division. Core Australian values need to be incorporated - as many countries have done. A Bill of Rights is needed which give legal and moral foundation to the ideal of a 'fair go'. Core values (such as fairness and tolerance) have been undermined by governments secure in the knowledge that there is no constitutional obstacle - eg by detention of asylum seekers and refusal to compensate the stolen generation. HREOC has been emasculated. Fundamental values need protection through the courts and constitution (Barnes G. and Glenn H., 'Value adding', CM, 14/12/06).

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A civil war has been brewing in East Preston Islamic College - because of the emergence of a radical stream of Islamic teaching in the school. A hardline Islamic leader who advocates jihad overseas was allowed to speak directly to students (Stewart C 'Pitched battle for young Muslim minds', A, 9-10/12/06)

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The secret of success for developed service economy in globalized world is its human capital. Is Rudd serious about industry policy in which governments would pick winners? There is some appeal in keeping factories and jobs - ie of trying to do everything. But governments have a bad record in this respect. All subsidising manufacturing can do is delay the inevitable. If Rudd believes that industry policy can help, then he doesn't understand the forces reshaping world. The only industry to support is education and training. There should be a national approach to this - to promote mobility (Hughes T., 'Rudd must focus on education not manufacturing', CM, 9-10/12/06)

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The US's attempt to create a new Middle East (a peaceful prosperous and democratic region) has not succeed, and the region in future will be controlled by local radicals who will be likely to cause great harm for that region and the rest of the world One result of invasion of Iraq was ending of a Sunni dominated regime strong enough to balance Shi-ite Iran. Sunni-Shia tensions have emerged again across the region. Terrorists gained a new base in Iraq. Democracy is viewed across the region with a loss of public order and Sunni control. Anti-American sentiment has been reinforced. US influence worldwide has been reduced. The US sponsored Middle East peace process has failed. Arab leaders have failed to cope with appeal of radical Islamism. 9/11 allowed US to see the link between closed societies and incubation of radicals - but the response was hasty democratization. Globalization has also changed the region - making arms more available and communications have made it part of global village. In future Iran will hold great influence in the region. Israel will be the other powerful state. Iraq (traditionally the centre of Arab power) will be messy for years. Oil prices will remain high. The development of militias will increase. Terrorism will continue to be used. Islam will fill the political and intellectual vacuum and provide the basis for the politics of most of the region. Arab regimes are likely to remain authoritarian and religiously intolerant. Regional institutions will remain weak. The US needs to learn not to be overly reliant on military force (Haass R 'The New Middle East', FR, 7/12/06).

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Pfizer had hoped that new heart medication that is being developed to replace Lipitor would not only reduce cholesterol levels but increase 'good' cholesterol levels. Now this has been dropped, because in trials the death rate for those taking the medication was 60% higher than amongst those who did not do so (Berenson A 'Pfizer's billion dollar blunder', FR, 6/12/06).

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Federal opposition will propose rationalizing federal state relations to improve the quality of health and education. Federal ministers has sought greater federal control but failed to deliver reforms (Franklin M 'Rudd calls on states to corner PM', A, 6/12/06).

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Australia could potentially be the destination for hundreds of boat-people refugees from failing nations on the Pacific rim (Pasquarelli J 'We must be redy for exodus', A, 5/12/06).

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By every conceivable measure of the human condition, people worldwide are now better off than ever as a product of capitalism and technology - according to Goklany's The Improving state of the World (Heath A 'For all the global warming, every toxic cloud has a silver lining', A, 4/12/06).

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Australia's farm and metal processing sector would be decimated if large cuts in greenhouse emissions are made by 2050 - according to ABARE modelling. Government intervention would be required to handle the regional impacts. The report concludes that the costs of inaction are likely to be higher than to cost of action under all scenarios (Warren M 'Greenhouse cuts to hit lucrative sectors', A, 4/12/06).

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Queensland's rental accommodation crisis is deepening - with tenants forced to outbid others in a search for accommodation or live in tents / caravans or with friends (Lalonde L 'Rental crisis deepens', CM, 1/12/06).

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China faces huge problems which require effective government leadership - yet graduates are now preferring private sector jobs making it hard for government to develop the capabilities it requires (Thornton J 'China is fast losing its bureaucratic class', FR, 1/12/06).

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The Ross Ice Sheet (an area the size of France) could break off without warning causing dramatic rises in sea levels. NZ ice-drilling tem has studied 3m years of sediment samples - which suggests that it has collapsed previously (and the same could apply to West Antarctic Ice Sheet). When buttressing ice sheets go then glaciers feeding them move faster. The West Antarctic Ice Sheet has been predicted to raise sea levels 5-17m. Sedimentary record suggests that there can be a rapid transition from full glaciation to open ocean. Larsen Ice Shelf collapse in 2002 showed that this could happen very quickly. ('Ice sheet could crash without warning', A, 30/11/06).

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Micro-credit, which relies on recommendations by friends, instead of independent attempts to assess credit risk has given access to credit to millions of poor people - allowing them to lift their living standards (Bently T 'Innovation drives growth', CM, 23/11/06).

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Federal government has suggested that problems associated with urban water supplies could be eliminated if households were allowed to trade water (Grigg A 'Turnbull: let them trade water', FR, 23/11/06).

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Government has warned that Australia should not sacrifice its competitive advantage with cheap fossil fuel wantonly in order to make nuclear power viable (Rollins A etal 'Cheap fossil fuel our trump card', FR, 21/11/06).

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Federal government will intervene in a landmark unfair dismissal case - because of divergence of views about what constitutes genuine operational reasons which would make an unfair dismissal case invalid (Skulley M. 'Minister steps into sacking test case', FR, 21/11/06).

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Milton Friedman was the most important 20^th century economist - because he rescued economics from Keynesianism. The belief that governments could make tradeoffs between employment and inflation was epitomised by Phillips Curve - which Friedman disputed that it was not inflation that mattered but the difference between inflation and expectations. Even a high rate of inflation would not reduce unemployment if inflationary policies became common. (Sowell T 'Freedom fighter', A, 20/11/06).

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US and Japan have cut farm subsidies in an effort to force Europe also to do so (Lewis S 'US, Japan cut farm subsidies', A, 20/11/06).

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30 years ago the CIS published lectures by Hayek - who since then has had a large effect on the West generally. His ideas became orthodoxy in the UK under Thatcher, and were carried into US by Friedman's influence under Reagan. Three issues need attention (a) Hayek's claims about unfettered markets and state regulation (b) social democrats' response to this market fundamentalism - which maintained support for markets without discarding social justice commitment (c) the split in the right which market fundamentalism has caused between conservatives and liberals. In practice in Australia, this has affected (a) IR and family (b) failure to respond to climate change and (c) failure of US and Australian neo-cons in Iraq. Hayek's views about the minimalist state have contributed to failure of nation-building in Iraq. Australians are concerned that PM's political project has gone too far. In 'The Atavism of Social Justice' Hayek argued that altruistic feelings that human beings have for one another in small tribes, are redundant in more complex societies - where market determined prices are better. Treating men as neighbours would have made it impossible to create an extended order. Hayek does not believe that we should be passive about such outdated moral codes. Rational behaviour is not assumed as a precondition for markets, but as being forced on them by competition. This is quite different from Adam Smith from whose views social democrats draw their inspiration. Smith suggested that human beings are both self- and other-interested. Hayek recognises both natures - but regards one as primitive and the other as modern. Christians enthusiastic about Hayek's agenda should consider this. The centre of this intellectual system has core idea that the market is an internally regulated system that maximizes individual liberty. Markets are seen to create a spontaneous order that is regulated from within. Outcomes within this 'game' are regarded as the only determinant of the just allocation of resources. Government's main role is seen as protecting the market. Hayek's markets, unlike Smith's, should be detached from politics. Hayek concedes the existence of public goods, but does not define their extent. Smith's list of public goods includes education, Hayek's does not. Hayek also excludes the family from his self-generating order - as morality in the latter is seen as different to that in market. He does not however suggest why family values are any less primitive than those within society generally. An unrestrained market is capable of sweeping away and marginalising all human relationships that impede its progress - including the family - an issue that is of concern in relation to IR. Social democrats identify seven objections to Hayek's ideas (a) altruism is not a primitive value that should be purged - as properly developed the latter can be market enhancing (b) social justice is not simply determined by 'the game' of the market - reflecting a random combination of skills, strength and luck. All human beings have an equal intrinsic value beyond that which a market may apportion them (c) liberty and equality are not mutually incompatible - as argued in the Hayekian market order. If equity means equity of opportunity, then this doe no violence to market competition, and if education and training are the engine room of equity, then this will enhance overall productivity (d) education, health and the environment must be seen as public goods - though there can be a mixture of public and private provision (e) family, community and social relationships should not be insulated from market. These human relationships are incubators of human capital. Families must have higher legal protection - especially in labour market (f) Hayek's technocratic concept of politics is untenable. Politics must craft constituencies able to deliver market-friendly outcomes - tempered by social responsibility (as Hawk and Keating did for many years). Hayek's alternative, to leave defence of market to a council of the great and good, is unrealistic. (G) tempering the market with such interventions does not lead to totalitarianism. Hayek's writings in 1944 and later implies that market-enhancing social democracy and state socialism are related. This is not supported by evidence as social democracy has moved in the direction of Blair-ite enabling state. Hayek overlooks the fact that social democracy is shaped by Smith not Marx - and has always respected the market, but not been blinded by market fundamentalism. They have always recognised a positive role for the state to prevent market capitalism tearing itself apart. There are many examples of markets not working perfectly. Social democrats favour an approach shaped by Smith, Keynes and Samuelson, rather than Hayek, Friedman and the fundamentalists. Social justice is an essential component. Hayek's world view is not only challenged by social democrats, but by many in centre-right. Hayek's attack on conservatism was addressed in 'Why I am not a conservative' (1960). He argues that liberals and conservatives only agree about opposing fascism / communism. Conservatives are seen to be constrained by sentimental commitment to tradition, and uncommitted to markets. Menzies failed by this standard. Some have seen Menzies' concern for justice being attacked by later liberal leaders. The moderate / social justice stream in Liberal Party are seen to have become extinct. There is an irreconcilable conflict between market fundamentalism, and those who wish to protect community life in general. Orwell criticised Hayek's Road to Serfdom by highlighting that collectivism could be anti-democratic but free competition can create a greater tyranny for most. Australians are concerned about the impact of market fundamentalism (eg in relations to impact of PM's IR changes on families). They are also concerned about government's failure to identify climate change as a classic market failure - which needs government intervention. They are also concerned about the folly of following neo-cons' policy in Iraq. (Rudd R., 'What wrong with the right', FR, 17/11/06).

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The next US administration after Bush will face serious international problems in a much weakened position - as a result of unnecessary invasion of Iraq, insulting allies, arrogant unilateralism and neglect of international law (Lind M 'Life after Bush', FR, 17/11/06).

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Kevin Rudd argues that the history wars are a fraud, and that they were merely a front for PM in imposing unrestrained market capitalism which has damaged family relationships and community. He relies on work by David McKnight in Beyond Left and Right who in turn quotes out-of-date feminist sources. Australian families are, in fact reviving. The total number of families increased 15% from 1995-2005. The divorce rate is down. Women's employment has improved - mainly in part-time work and men have significantly increased their child-care tasks. The percentage of families with no parent with a job has fallen. People are volunteering more. Christianity is reviving in outer suburbs. Economic prosperity is fostering happier families. Problems for families soared in 1970s and 1980s because of (a) 1960's sexual revolution (b) radical feminist movement (c) divorce law revolution (d) welfare provision for single mothers (e) rapid rise in unemployment. Rudd's solution is social democracy. The European variation of this gives low economic / population growth; high unemployment and a highly regulated society (Windschuttle K 'A liberal inheritance', A, 13/11/06).

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Softening of education standards is now a huge problem. There is a massive lack of general knowledge amongst many people. Think has been muddled by post-modernism which suggests that nothing matters any more than anything else (Gare S 'Schooled for a spell of trouble', A, 11-12/11/06).

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20% of people who undergo surgery in Australia require a second operation to fix complications caused by infections, medical errors or the poor quality of new hip and knee prostheses (Gottleibsen R 'Failure rate of surgery hits 20%', A, 11-12/11/06).

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Queensland is well ahead of other states in gaining interstate migration (Ludlow M 'Young and old head to Queensland', FR, 11-12/11/06).

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Brisbane Institute is to receive a boost to make it more popular (Livingstone T 'Rethink for think tank', CM, 11-12/11/06).

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All fish may be unavailable as food by 2048 if current rate of species loss continues (O'Malley B. CM, 4-5/11/06).

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Federal Government is moving to scrap the word multiculturalism as part of reform of ethnic policy - in order to encourage integration rather than diversity (Hart C 'Multiculturalism is a dirty word', A, 4-5/11/06).

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Researchers into terrorism in Australia do not seem appropriately critical. The Australian Research Council provides grants for research based on the judgments of past recipients of those grants. In the humanities and social sciences such research seems to be of little value - because the process is mainly about reinforcing orthodoxies. The federal government, which provides funding, recently required attention to previously unfashionable areas of national security - but there is little attention to issues such as religiously-inspired or home-grown terrorism. Research has dealt only with understanding suicide terrorism and responses to discourse on terrorism. A new field of critical terror studies has emerged to engage with current orthodox approaches on the basis of a constructivist, post-structuralist, feminist, critical, normative and other alternative theoretical approaches. This appears to require no research into evolution, ideology or strategic thinking of transnational non-state actors such as al Qaida - but rather involves an attack on government responses to terrorism. Katrina Koo (ANU) suggests that 'war on terror' discourse reflects commitment to ideas of statism, permanent threat and acceptance of violence against those who are seen as threats. Anthony Burke (University of NSW) targets the modern liberal-democratic state for having a violent and exclusivist understanding of sovereignty. This implies that terrorism is our fault and that the use of military force is unethical / unnecessary. State discourses on terror are seen to have merely reinforced the process of 'othering' Islamic radicalism. The modern state is seen to secure sovereignty through violence against and alienation of others. The assumption of state 'othering' is presented without any justification. The 'rhetoric of freedom' that is seen to inflame fundamentalists requires (it is argued) a force-free dialogue with the other. The critical studies agenda is this based on relativism about the use of violence, and a transformative idealism that requires replacing the modern democratic state with a post-national constellation of international norms. It does not require understanding of international relations, but their ethical transformation - an aim it shares with the violently utopian dreamers that inspire al Qaida. Critical understanding of terrorism has derived from directions of political science / international studies in UK since 1990s.John Mearsheimer (Chicago University) argues that a utopian idealism dominates international relations studies in UK. British idealists believe in the possibility of radically rejecting reality to promote their ideological imperative to change the world. Even before 911 they has a predisposition to read events through a post-Marxian critical lens that they believed unmasked the false consciousness of liberal democracy to show the instrumental rationalism that drives it. It also tried to show that western foreign policy discursively created threats through what David Campbell called differentiation and exclusion. This led to the conclusion that the discourse of danger in 1990s was designed to maintain existing power relationships. The international order was seen to be based on structural and normative imbalances - and globalization of these served Western state dominance while systematically impoverishing non-Western populations. The end of the Cold War was seen to have required an insecure West to search for an alternative monolithic threat to replace the Soviet Union. This was seen to involve 'Islamophobia' which incorrectly cast Muslims as 'incomprehensible, irrational and extremist' (and threatening). This does not accept 911 attacks as threat to Western pluralism and democracy - but moves the goal posts. Richard Jackson (Manchester University) argued that Western governments deliberately exaggerated the Islamist threat to curtail legitimate dissent and civil liberties at home. Politics of fear is seen to persuade the gullible masses to accept an illegitimate extension of state power. Thus the real threat is seen as coalition of willing, not Islamist terror. This ideology is becoming unfashionable in UK but is spreading in Australia. Should government try to constrain Islamism while also allowing an academic research agenda to suggest that the politics of fear is the real problem? Or should it pursue more robust Homeland Security policy as in US? The structure of rewards for academic research is in the process of installing an idealist orthodoxy whose aim is radically pacifist, anti-enlightenment and anti-state - which leads to the possibility of the same reality-free environment as emerged in UK. (Martin Jones D. and Ungerer Carl 'In an idealised world', A, 21-22/10/06).

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Myths related to aboriginal people are said to have been debunked - eg frontier massacres; stolen generation; noble savage; terra nullis - and now the idea of the ecological aborigine has been challanged by William Lines. Aborigines have been subject to relentless cultural cleansing. Both Left and Right complain about the politicisation of debate and claim to speak against injustices. But both sides maintain stiffling orthodoxies. For aborigines to make progress it was necessary to overturn progressive orthodoxies, but the Right did not meet aborigines half way but instead highlighted leadership problems in aboriginal communities. The idea of aboriginal right to their own land has disappeared. Gary Johns argued that governments do not have an obligation to support the culture of minorities. Lines criticises romantic notions of aboriginal conservationism - and is right to do so but also wrong because the essence of life of hunter gatherers invoves dependence on nature - so religion and culture are inevitably closely linked with it. (Pearson N. 'A peculiar path that leads astray', A, 21-22/10/06).

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Rogue employers may be exploiting many workers brought to Australia to fill skill gaps (Heywood L etal 'Unlucky country', CM, 17/10/06).

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Opposition leader, Kim Beazley, has pledged to rebuild and restore trust in 'cowed' public service after a decade of it being trampled on by Howard Government. He promised a new era of accountability and accused government of promoting a culture of cover-up. Echoing PM's pledges before 1996 election he promised to boost FOI; reform political donation laws; and ensure public service appointments are based on merit. (Maiden S. 'ALP to rebuild public service', A, 4/10/06).

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Half a century ago there were 40m refugees in Europe as a result of Hitler's Germany, Franco’s Spain, Mussolini’s Italy, the colonels’ regime in Greece, and the Soviet subjugation of Central Europe, including Hungary. Now all are in the EU and could not produce refugees - so citizens forget what tyranny was like. Racial equality in the US required the assassination of  Martin Luther King. Now refugees die and those in the West don't care - a tragedy for both. The UNHRC has an annual $1.2bn budget - but has to try to help 20m people, and it is never enough. It is a scandal that affluent countries do not find enough resources. They are then scandalised when refugees try to enter their territory mixed with economic migrants. Refugees fall into the hands of smugglers - and many die - but others don't care. UN High Commissioner for Refugees said that special status of refugees (people people fleeing persecution or war) is being jeopardized by the battle over whether or not economic migrants are wanted. Those who support migrants are shocked when they are turned into hate figures to win elections. We don't want uncontrolled immigration - but won't invest in finding solutions in the regions they come from. We will neither pay for a cure, nor for prevention. Solutions are not easy, but Europe's transformation shows what should be possible. Refugees are visible symbol of failure to develop more Marshall Plans. What is needed is (a) more resources in regions where refugees first move to - so they don't have to go further and (b) more resources in countries where peace is established - especially over the first few fragile years. UNHCR should not have to struggle to help rebuild shattered nations – like Angola, Sierra Leone, Liberia and South Sudan. A quick and efficient rebuilding of a war-torn nation helps anchor the peace and pays dividends in regional stability and economic prosperity. Ignoring simmering conflicts is damaging and expensive (eg Bosnia, Rwanda, - and Afghanistan, where more investment and more thoughtful international politics in the 1980s and the early 1990s might have changed the course of history).  Osama Bin Laden thrived on neglect of Afghanistan. Things are looking better in all these countries now, but at huge cost in terms of refugees and deaths. Individually or collectively we can make a difference - to create a stable world, a stable economy and the ability to progress as people and as nations. (Jolie A. Solving the Global Refugee Crisis, Refugees, n 144, 1/10/06)

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Proposals for phasing out of plastic bags for shopping are based on the theory that these are proven to be responsible for many deaths of birds and animals. This is all based on misquoting a 1987 Newfoundland study which found that many birds and animals were killed by being entangled in fishing nets - and actually made no mention of plastic bags (Henrick K 'Bagging opponents of plastic litter', FR, 28/9/06).

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Evidence of evolution is part of ordinary life - visible in the general similarity of many organisms. So why do people have so much trouble accepting evolution and its engine - natural selection? The Reluctant Mr Darwin outlines the development of the idea of evolution. Why Darwin Matters (Michael Shermer) answers the arguments of those who do not accept evolution. People of faith have always had trouble accepting that nature's complexity could be the result of natural selection - unguided by any divine hand. Evidence has increased in recent decades - eg with genome project that showed inter-relationship of life. Shermer attacks the concept of irreducible complexity - by showing that partly evolved systems are present in nature. The hidden agenda of ID is to promote fundamentalist Christianity. It abandons search just where should pay most attention - to the process whereby intelligent designer acts. Social and political conservatives should value evolution, because this has given rise to species that value social cooperation - and is similar to Adam Smith's idea of the invisible hand that guides desirable outcomes in free market economics (Brown David, 'Darwin and his Doubters', FR, 22/9/06).

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High costs associated with global commodities boom are still dragging down the profits of resource companies (Molina L. 'Cost blowouts hit resources giants', CM, 19/9/06).

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US leaders are arguing for a long term view of the US-China relationship - because China's emergence as a leading player in the global economy would allow it to take a role in global economic leadership (Guha K., 'US wants China to succeed: Paulson', A, 15/9/06).

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The Middle East dominates attention - but Africa's problems are so huge that people fear to get involved. Many areas of NE Africa are extensions of Middle East - such as Sudan with Islamist extremism, genocide, a gangster government. Sudanese authorities continue to sanction mass murder, rape and destruction - partly because China and Russia continue to block UN action on the basis of ignoring what governments do within their own borders. Also the UN is already overloaded with problems. Zimbabwe is another example, where economy is collapsing, life spans have dropped to 34 from 64 seven years ago, inflation is officially 1200% and millions have fled. But there are encouraging trends - war crimes tribunals, truth and reconciliation commissions. Democracies increase. Some African campaigners now risk their lives to tell the truth. Most Africans live under tyranny - while those responsible blame colonisation and capitalism. Aid has been effective, due mainly to corruption. There is a need to move away from a leader-cantered system to one based on institutions that can provide protection against dictatorships (Barrett G 'Protection from dictators is the best aid', FR, 14/9/06).

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Former Supreme Court judge said that stacking courts with political favourites was the main evil disrupting the administration of justice in Australia (Houghton D 'Politics eroding judiciary: QC ', CM, 1/9/06).

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Australia's limited regulation of airports has been criticised on the ground that airport owners are starting to exploit their monopoly positions (Creedy S 'Regulate airports, cut fees: IATA call', A, 17/8/06).

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Rich countries face financial strife if they don't address aging. IMF has supported Standard and Poors conclusion that pension, health and long-term care costs will rise dramatically - and stress global financial system 9eg reducing credit ratings). G20 research shows the problem will have wide effects. Payment imbalances between US and Asia could be reversed. The relative value of bonds and equities may change - while housing undergoes a prolonged slump. By 2050 there will be 500m people over 65 in Asia - where aging is much faster. Jeremy Siegel (Wharton Business School) argues that asset values will fall 50% as baby boomers try to sell them to a smaller cohort. But research by Robin Brooks (IMF) suggests that people keep accumulating wealth in older age. There is uncertainty about how far lifespans will continue to increase (Uren D 'Economic crunch of aging', A, 17/8/06).

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There is concern about whether a new hand-picked team of experts will be able to develop an adequate plan for development of Australia's power industries because the volume of material to be considered is too great, and some key questions (eg power reliability) are not even being considered (Hughes D 'Powers that be test agenda deadline, FR, 11/8/06).

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Humanity's ability to feed itself through steeply rising food demand depends on something that is often thrown away - nutrients. In Australia 50% of nutrients applied in growing food is wasted; food processors spend a great deal to dispose of wastes; much food is thrown away; and cities waste 97% of their sewage effluent and its nutrients (Cribb J 'Nutrient recycling on humanity's menu', A, 12/7/06).

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US faces serious inflation risk and needs to act pre-emptively against it - as history shows that once inflationary expectations become embedded they can be very hard to deal with (Samuelson R 'Rate rises are bitter but necessary pill', FR, 27/6/06).

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Resistance to takeover of a major European steelmaker by an Indian company - to defend the European way of doing business - has collapsed. Europe's resistance to global economic forces is weakening (Kitney G 'Mital storms European battlements', FR, 27/6/06).

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US defence planners are working towards replacing human soldiers in combat with machines able to be operated by remote control (Graham S 'Send in the machines', FR, 16/6/06).

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Former GG who opposed directly elected president as republican opposition because it would create potential for conflict between president and PM has changed his mind if this is the only way to break free of constitutional dependence on monarchy (Rintoul S 'Cowen's republic U-turn', A, 8/6/06).

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Differentiating between speeds available on the internet could be one of the means whereby Telstra funds the $3.4bn cost of a fibre optic network. This is the first sign of network owners moving beyond a utility pricing model - a step which have proven controversial in the US (Boyd T 'For richer or poorer: Telstra eyes two speed internet', FR, 8/6/06).

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Peru has fabulous resources but the rich and middle class live in fear of the poor because of wealth disparity, 50% unemployment. 30 years ago regions' governments were neo-fascist, or pretend socialist that ran countries into the ground through corporate policies. Now most are (often fragile) democracies. In 1900 Chile, Argentina and Uruguay were richer that NZ, Canada or Australia. Protectionist, nationalist policies whereby the rich gained privileges / subsidies; government by big business / churches / unions / politicians ruined this. The West often supported military dictators, which in turn encouraged others to turn to communism (and those involved were often drug gangsters). Democratic / market reforms have produced major gains only in Chile - because of its solid social democratic institutions. But democracy has empowered people and regimes in Argentina and Chile follow moderate policies similar to Chile's. Venezuela's Hugo Chavez has great influence in the region because of oil wealth. He supported rise of Morales in Bolivia where oil industry was nationalised (for the third time). These prescriptions don't work - as history shows. Similar support for Humala in Peru - who promises to stop globalization- is leading to problems. South American countries suffer a constitutional problem that presidents can only have one term - and this distorts the system. Trade liberalisation is on hold in the region, and candidates now suggests that after they win there will be no more need for elections. (Moore M 'Populist promises beguile South America', FR, 1/6/06).

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There is increasing concern about downturn in US consumer spending as surveys show fall in consumer confidence as a result of increasing interest rates and falls in housing (Guy R 'Confidence slide will keep lid on rates', FR, 1/6/06).

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There remain huge problems in doing business in Indonesia (business cronyism and corruption) (Mellish M., FR, 31/5/06).

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Declining birth rates have led to a 700,000 pa decline in Russia's population - which is inconsistent with maintaining future strength. Many other countries are in a similar situation (Samuelson R 'fertility blues: many countries just fading to grey', FR, 24/5/06).

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The reduced role of the state has given rise to medieval techniques for maintaining order in society (eg local criminal Dons) particularly in the third world (Rapley J 'Ye olde times are here again', FR, 19/5/06).

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2006 federal budget provided targeted support for first time to biotechnology - from discovery to commercialization. But a skills shortage in science and engineering is a threat. Keeping scientists is critical through initiatives like research fellowships scheme. But there is a need for a long term strategy to attract students to these areas. Development transitional skills for shift from science to business and support for venture capital is also vital. There is also a need for investors to be informed about biotechnology - as addressed in Lockheed review of cloning and embryo research legislation (Lavelle A.,  'Skills crisis in science, engineering', FR, 16/5/06).

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The creeping paternalism of government is generally seen as a bad thing - but proposals to force welfare recipients to devote part of payments to cover basics such as food, rent etc are worthwhile (Syvret P. 'Welfare with handcuffs', CM, 2/5/06).

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Market incomes of Australian workers (before taxes and transfers) are more unequally distributed than in most comparable countries - due to relatively low full-time employment and high earnings dispersion. However tax system does an excellent job of redistributing income to least affluent 20% - though this comes at a cost of work disincentives and welfare dependence. Are income inequalities due to the need to reward education, or a result of market imperfections? Those from low socio-economic backgrounds face formidable barriers to upward income mobility (eg worse childhood environments; health care; education; housing; employment; location disadvantages; poverty traps; less ability to borrow; and less financial literacy). Since mid-1990s transfer payments have continued but inequalities in education, health, infrastructure etc have increased because poorest have received a declining share. Governments invest heavily in passive welfare, yet little in active social programs to improve human capabilities - because they worry about their economic viability. People's achievements are only partly related to genetic endowments. They are affected at least as much by parental environment. Even deregulated markets suffer market failures. Because of information asymmetries, capital markets put too much risk premium on those who are asset poor, or have low incomes. Free-markets will spend too little on merit goods such as: preventative health care, education, remedial training and public transport. Active social programs alleviate market imperfections - though they worry economists because initially increased costs lead to concerns about effect of increased taxes on incentive. To overcome these problems (a) ensure new programs are well targeted (b) seek revenues that don't distort economy (c) use income-contingency loans (d) use borrowing when social program can be expected to increase future human capital stock. International evidence is that free markets and lightly regulated labour markets do not lead to good social outcomes (Argy F., 'Help needed to escape income basement', FR, 2/5/06).

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The air in eastern Sydney tunnel makes people sick. Is this a risk for Brisbane? (Clarke S 'Will we choke on tunnel sickness?', CM, 22-23/4/06).

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Three years after the invasion of Iraq, the country is a nightmare of daily bombings and shootings. Once a secular state, Iraq's constitution now recognizes Islam as the source of its laws. A corrupt dictatorship has been replaced by a corrupt government with close ties to Iran's Islamic revolutionary government. Policymaking weakness in the decision to commit are clear: willingness to act without normal professional advice; a casual disregard of prohibitions on invasions; confused and changing rationale for using force; cherry-picking intelligence for political purposes; and the lack of skeptical media. Advice was not given to ministers on the strategic pros and cons, but merely what to do if told to go (Toohey B 'How shock and awe turned to fear and loathing', FR, 18-19/3/06).

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Queensland's opposition believes that state crime figures are alarming. Yet the way to deal with this is seen as increasing penalties. However in committing crime people only assess risks of being caught, not level of penalties. Thus to reduce crime need to increase numbers of police, not penalties (Bagaric M 'Set the penalty to fit the crime', CM, 6/3/06).

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Human Rights and Equal Opportunities Commission suggests the need for a charter of human rights in Australia. Common law has protected rights since Magna Carta. Government was assumed to reflect the interests of the community. First generation political and civil rights are all negative - in that they require governments to refrain from certain actions. Individuals were free to be left alone. Economic, social and cultural rights on the other hand are positive - in that they require certain policies of government. Statutory action has increasingly constrained common law rights. Initially statutes were read in terms of expected compliance with common law principles - but now courts assume that where parliament has directed attention to a subject its words should be given effect. This has diminished notion of common law - and of ministerial responsibility. Common law rights are no longer a strong protection. Judges have been unsympathetic to idea of bill of rights - because it would transfer power from elected legislature to unelected judges. Now judges believe (eg because of failure to protect human rights in migration cases) that there is a need for a charter of rights (Von Doussa J. 'The time has come to better protect our rights', FR, 4-5/2/06).

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A study of executive pay in Australia showed that between 1989 and 2004 executive pay in BCA companies grew 564% - and that there was a much faster rate of growth of executive pay than of return to shareholders (thus disproving arguments about the need to reward performance) (McConvill J 'Flaws in pay for performance', CM, 31/1/06).

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Claims about racism in Cronulla riots fail to acknowledge reality of inter-communal strife. (Burchell D 'Both sides of political divide stoop to playing the race card', A, 27/1/06).

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Australian schools need to place more emphasis on teaching about Australian history - according to PM (Heywood L., CM, 26/1/06).

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Proposals to limit regulation of Telstra - to improve share prices - are an example of putting private interests above community. Consumers have benefited from introduction of competition in telecommunications (eg with lower prices) (Healy M etal 'Telstra has no monopoly over policy', FR, 16/1/06).

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New Zealand's electoral outcome under mixed member proportional voting system has been a muddle - which risks paralysis (Bassett M 'Rudderless Kiwis drifting in political limbo', FR, 10/1/06).

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Australian companies are finally achieving useful additions to their profitability from offshore expansion (Hooper N 'Going global finally pays dividends', FR, 23/11/05).

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John Holden (Demos) will argue for a strong culture, rather than a grants' dependent, bureaucratically minded arts sector. He would like to see DDG of Arts Queensland required to articulate her expertise, rather than acting as government cipher. Holden's paper, 'Capturing Cultural Value' argues that at present culture is measured by governments defining requirements which arts community must prove they measure up to - and this stifles innovation. The tick boxes mentality is not new - but Holden suggests how to fix it. But doing so would take a lot of political will, courageous public servants and a cooperative / skilled arts sector. To solve the problem there is a need to recognize that administrators are not just rubber-stamping bureaucrats - but are people whose expertise is crucial to creating culture in community. But Arts Queensland is the opposite of an organization where administrators are required to articulate their vision. (Sorensen R 'Breaking the chains', CM, 22/11/05).

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Relationships between Russia and US were good at 9/11 but are now poor. Russia has retreated into old-style Kremin paranoia. Russia's export of ideology was a decisive factor in history of 20^th century - and its implosion will have big effect in 21^st. Russia's president is in difficult position. The country is dying. Peak population was 148m in 1992, will be 130m in 2015 and perhaps only 50-60m at end of century. 70% of pregnancies are aborted. It has fastest growing HIV rate in world - and will suffer 250-750,000 deaths pa by 2010. The only growth is in Muslim population. Russia has huge resources but few people. To survive Russia may choose to trade its nuclear know-how. A large chunk of Russia could be annexed by Islamic world. Russia's ideological vacuum was filled by a nihilist fatalism (Steyn M 'Russia is dying and Islamists will grab parts of the carcass', A, 31/10/05).

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Southern Philippines, with its radical Islamist separatist groups, holds the key to SE Asian terrorism (Sheridan G 'Triangle of terror', A, 20/10/05).

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Johan Norberg, of Timbro think tank and author of In Defence of Global Capitalism, is an international leader in advocating free trade, open borders and immigration as the best path to eradicate poverty and increase human happiness. All countries started off as under-developed and with low living standards. It is only by responding to dynamic creative forces that this situation was turned around (Symons E 'In defense of a global about face', WA, 17-18/9/05).

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There are many reasons given for Australia's large current account deficit. A significant factor that has gained no attention is the lack of management skills required to develop and implement effective strategic plans that lead to export growth or import replacement. The current account deficit highlights the fact that Australia's industries are not globally competitive. The inability of Australian managers to think strategically is a major problem. Only 30% of business strategies address the question of competitive advantage. And only about 50% of organizations implement their strategies. Poor follow-up, lack of assigned responsibility, moving to other projects, following fads are part of the problem. Graduate business schools are not addressing this problem. Also the very concept of management schools may be the wrong way to produce effective managers. (Kenny G., 'Current account is a management deficit', FR, 11/8/05).

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Australia's clean and green image with respect to food (which is believed by farmers and governments to provide competitive advantage) does not actually do so. Australia's agricultural market share has been losing ground to many other producers (McKinna D 'Our clean and green image is a myth', FR, 27/7/05).

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UK has sought to focus rich countries on plight of poor - but little is likely to happen because of polarization of debate about aid and development Some blame the poor and others blame the rich for the plight of poor. Some suggest (wrongly) that poor will thrive as soon as they are liberated from markets, trade and the need to balance budgets. Expanded engagement with trade has characterized all countries whose positions have improved since WWII. However assistance can be valuable if institutions and policies are tolerable (Wolf M 'The one size fits all approach to fighting poverty won't work', FR, 8/7/05).

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UN has issued new warnings about AIDS - because of risk that it could overwhelm future generations. Much more is needed to reach goal of stopping spread by 2015. Only 12% of those in poor countries get drugs needed for AIDS. Some organizations are making drugs available in poorer countries. There is a need for poor countries to have comprehensive HIV / AIDS programs. AIDS needs the same level of attention as terrorism (Couturier H 'UN losing control of HIV/AIDS pandemic', CM, 4-5/6/05).

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The ordeal of Vivian Solon is part of a pattern of federal government political and administrative wickedness that is trashing Australia's reputation for respecting human rights. The federal government lacks any commitment to extending even minimal dignity and respect to different people. And when problems are exposed, the government shelters behind inadequate closed inquiries. The assault on human rights started with the Tampa incident. Australia's mandatory detention arrangements were soon criticized by the Human Rights and Equal Opportunity Commission. Claims that asylum seekers had thrown children into the sea was a paradigm case of politicians defaming powerless people for political ends. The federal government claims it did nothing about abuse of prisoners in Iraq because it lacked the power. The government needs to be held to account - because it is shaming Australia by its selective, qualified and politically motivated approach to human rights (Barker G., 'Moral credibility all at sea', FR, 16/5/05).

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Australia is an over-managed and under-led country. Managers ask what the future will be like - which implies that they do not shape it themselves. Leaders identify preferred options. We might, for example, see China as dominating the global economy and seeking to ride on its coat tails. But most future jobs will not be like those of the past. Unfortunately in thinking about this, people envisage a different China in future but an unchanged Australia. A better alternative would involve imagining a 21st century Australia. Some futurists try to predict the future. others are visionaries - dreamers. There is a need for more willingness to explore the future as a leader does. Management is about taking change and the future. leaders walk into the future in their imagination seeking a preferred future (Ellyard P 'Dreams could turn us into whatever we want',  A, 5/5/05).

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Demand from China is reviving the fortunes of mining towns such as Mt Isa (Daley G 'China revives Australia's dead heart', FR, 8/4/05).

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If economy goes into recession, this will end corporate social responsibility initiatives (CSR). This is appropriate as environment and social responsibility needs to be approached by a more market focused approach which sees this as a source of competitive advantage. Saying that companies should focus on more than profit creates problems as many CSR initiatives do not create profits. Companies won't really embrace sustainability out of a sense of moral guilt - but would do so out of a sense of beating their competition. Sustainability can be a great business strategy. The best employees want to work for companies who build on this. Energy security and concern about climate change is driving companies towards more efficient cars. The world is going to change towards sustainability over the next 50 years - but this will be the result of capitalism's creative destruction - not because companies believe that it is a good thing (Gilding P 'The profit motive is pure enough', A, 8/3/05).

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A system to protect against identity fraud has been proposed (involving allowing governments to cross-relate birth certificates, drivers' licenses and passports). There is concern about lack of privacy (Riley J 'Privacy risk in national ID plan',  A, 21/1/05).

Human beings underwent a period of very rapid brain growth which pushed mental capacities beyond responding to basic instincts according to work at university of Chicago. The process of change was much more rapid that occurs as a result of steady adaptation to circumstances (Kotulak R 'Brain's huge leap forward pushes us beyond instincts', CM, 7/1/05).

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