Home Affairs change driven by manifest need
By proposing that Peter Dutton head a Department of Home Affairs, Malcolm Turnbull has sought to optimise the political benefits of a sound policy decision.What NAFTA renegotiation means for Australia
It was always part of the Trump agenda to do something about the North American Free Trade Agreement (‘one of the worst deals ever’) covering the US, Canada and Mexico: the outcome is renegotiation rather than the threatened termination.Talisman Sabre 17: The realisation of defence strategy
For the first time in more than 30 years, Australia has a military strategy that is beginning to truly align ends, ways and means.National security changes – Australian style
The most effective way for the DG ONI to influence agencies and their parent departments would be to have some control over the National Intelligence Community budget.Empathising with China
It is possible to both condemn China’s political system, but also accept it as an incipient great power with legitimate security concerns.Syria: A farewell to arms
The CIA program was trying to apply just enough pressure while also accounting for all weapons, even though it didn’t control them: it was too big an ask.Thailand: The case for optimism
A clean, elected, non-Thaksin Thailand government might be able to walk a narrow path by pursuing more progressive social and economic policy without offending the powerful elites.Aid and development links: Labour mobility, the future of NGOs, inequality and more
The potential benefits of increased labour mobility, tackling inequality, deforestation and more.China’s intelligence gathering at sea: Some implications
Haiwingxing’s deployment is further confirmation of both the increasing reach of the PLA-N and of its developing ability to conduct multiple, widely-dispersed operations simultaneously.Timor-Leste elections suggest reframed cross-party government
FRETILIN has received the largest share of the vote but the PLP could be the party to watch in the future.From ONA to ONI: Getting closer to the original plan
Both of those functions were envisaged in the legislation establishing ONA, enacted 40 years ago in 1977, after the seminal report by Justice Hope into the AIC.China’s naval surveillance off Australia: Good news and bad
The appearance of a Chinese Navy AGI during Talisman Sabre is not all bad news for Canberra’s defence engagement with Beijing. But maintaining the smiles will prove harder in future.The Australian Intelligence tradition
Critically in Canberra power terms, the Director General ONI’s capacity to wrangle the other larger agencies like ASD and ASIS would be boosted.Weekend catch-up: Home Affairs, intelligence reviews, citizenship and more
How the IMF would perform in another crisis, Jokowi's disbanding of Hizbut Tahrir, Macron's diplomatie d'affichage, and more.Let’s be clear: China would call America’s bluff in the South China Sea
Beijing is not just trying to take control of an important body of water. It is trying to take control of East Asia and hopes to use the South China Sea dispute to do that.Australian intelligence reforms: ‘Ain’t broke’ can still be improved
The ultimate issue will not be the politics of allocation of agencies to a new portfolio, but the increased effectiveness of the Australian Intelligence Community through the early implementation of these reforms.Doklam: Paths ahead for India and China
The India-China standoff at the Doklam tri-junction area, now in its second month, is the most serious crisis between the two countries in 30 years.A Home Affairs Ministry: Details to follow
The Home Affairs Ministry announcement was short on detail and unclear in some areas, and the challenge now is to understand how it will work.New Zealand and fighting the nuclear threat: More effort required
Those of us on the line would appreciate some tangible help in holding back the world’s worst nuclear problem; not just empty words and slogans.
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