How will the Australia Network fit with the ABC charter, and in particular the public broadcaster’s independence from the government of the day?
Alexander Downer
Waste-of-space Oz Network bewitches another political generation
The Australia Network is a waste of money, but apparently capable of making politicians lose all reason.
Australia Network joins the list of tender debacles
The Howard Government managed to let the Australia Network process go unmolested. But Labor ministers couldn’t help themselves.
The WikiLeaks Australian cable dump: choice picks
Wikileaks’s latest cables offer a particularly revealing insight into the way Alexander Downer and some of his officals conducted themselves when he was Foreign Minister.
Peter Reith may be the answer, but what’s the question?
If you ever wanted a demonstration of the chaotic nature of the Liberal Party’s factional landscape, the fight for the federal presidency should do it.
WikiLeaks: US redlined Australia’s Fiji coup sanctions
A weekend WikiLeaks cable has shown that in 2006 the US pressured Australia and New Zealand to “not rush” full sanctions on Fiji’s newly installed dictator Frank Bainimarama’s regime, for fear of undermining the war effort in Iraq, writes Luke Miller.
Letter from...: Letter from … Nauru — the worst place in the world?
Not many people go to Nauru unless they absolutely have to, writes Tony Wheeler, founder of Lonely Planet.
The Canberra Cables
This will not be end of Kevin Rudd’s starring role in the WikiLeaks Canberra cables, writes Luke Miller.
The band’s back together for Howard’s last lap
It was fabulous to see Peter Reith emerge yesterday from whatever dark cupboard he’s been hiding in since 2001 to come out and call for a new IR reform agenda. Indeed, the whole band was back together for John Howard’s book launch, says Margot Saville.
Downer: We need to negotiate with the Taliban
Let’s face it: the Taliban is a strong part of the political environment in Afghanistan and therefore we must engage with them to achieve stability. It’s just like how peace only arrived in Northern Ireland once the IRA joined the negotiation process, says former foreign minister Alexander Downer.
Political snippets: The nature of Prime Ministers
I wonder what John Howard thinks about Alexander Downer’s description of all Prime Ministers past and present?
Rudd’s Asia-Pacific plan lost at sea?
Kevin Rudd’s vision of a Pacific community has been given a chilly Asian reception. Is it just bad timing or is the issue deeper? Anthony Fensom reports.
Crikey Says: The Downer doctrine is dumb
The government’s decision to publicly criticise Israel for the “abuse and counterfeiting” of Australian passports is not about Israel. It’s about the way civilised governments treat each other.
New tensions for Australia and Israel
Diplomatic relations between Israel and Australia are under new pressure, with news that three Australian passports were used in the Mossad assassination of a Hamas official. What now for Australia and Israel?
Downer: Rudd to be a one-term PM?
Rudd continually stuffed up his green credentials and now the public tide of opinion is turning against him and even Labor insiders agree, writes Alexander Downer.
Milne: Garrett’s killed more than the Iraq War
Peter Garrett is responsible for four deaths, but PM Rudd will protect him out of fear of Tony Abbott. This despite Rudd calling for Alexander Downer’s blood for a lesser incident, recalls Glenn Milne.
Danby: Damn it Downer, China is tricky
Recently, ex-foreign minister Alexander Downer blasted the government’s relationship with China, leaving MP Michael Danby none too happy about the criticism. China is more aggressive and friends with the most oppressive nations in the world now. Patronising advice by old timers isn’t needed, says Danby.
Downer: Stop looking to the government to fix things
Residents need to stop thinking that the State Government can solve their problems, writes Alexander Downer. State governments do not have the resources, therefore it’s up to locals to take action with issues like water.
Downer: The delight I feel watching Rudd mess it up
Alexander Downer is loving the schadenfreude of seeing Kevin Rudd battle Indonesia over asylum seekers. He should have learnt from Tampa that negotiating with Indonesia on refugees is never a good idea.
Grattan: Turnbull is a goner
“It’s almost certainly all over for Malcolm Turnbull”, writes Michelle Grattan. Joe Hockey seems the obvious replacement leader, but will he be any different than Turnbull?
Timor history gets a Howard washing: spin and deny
Ex PM John Howard rewrote history with the claims of his and Downer’s secret support of East Timor’s independence, says Bruce Haigh. What about public opinion and the actions of the US?
Did Australia knowingly allow a citizen to be tortured?
How involved and aware were Australian authorities in the torture of terror suspect Mamdouh Habib? If Habib is permitted to fight for compensation, then the details of Australia’s actions may finally see the light of day.
Howard and Kelly rewrite history on East Timor
Damien Kingsbury wonders why former PM John Howard finds it necessary to create a palpable fiction over his commitment to East Timor’s independence.
Is that all you’ve got Paul Kelly?
Howard didn’t like Costello? They lied about kids overboard? Noel Pearson helping the conservatives? They neglected to check whether the attack on Iraq was legal? Paul Kelly’s new book isn’t exactly shocking.
Downer’s historical imaginings of East Timor
The Australian’s editor-at-large Paul Kelly is claiming in his new book that the Howard government made covert plans to work for East Timor’s independence in 1999. But this ignores some key historical facts, writes Peter Brent.
