The Ban on “Authorised” Protest and Suppression of Political Dissent Continues in NSW

The Ban on “Authorised” Protest and Suppression of Political Dissent Continues in NSW

New South Wales police commissioner Mal Lanyon announced on Tuesday, 6 January 2026, that he’d come to the decision to reimpose the official prohibition on all authorised protests for another 14 day period across three policing areas in Greater Sydney. This blanket ban on approved demonstrations continues to be in place because of the 14 December 2025 ...
China’s biggest test

China’s biggest test

“You who are seated here today will be China’s elites tomorrow,” declared the middle-aged party secretary at my senior high school. Alongside hundreds of other first-year students at one of the top schools in the province, I was stunned by the over-the-top welcome speech. The other pronouncement of this party
Political leaders plagued by internal failures

Political leaders plagued by internal failures

Over the last two years, leadership has been one of the most commonly used words in political discussions. Whether it’s politicians saying they are showing great leadership or politicians being called on to show leadership by their opponents and constituents, the word is heard almost every day. However, leadership is a difficult word to define. And can ...
Venezuela celebrates, Iran’s pillars crumble

Venezuela celebrates, Iran’s pillars crumble

It never ceases to amaze me how often the left proves I am on the right side of history. The US strike that captured Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro and his wife, Cilia Flores, has thrown the left into full-blown panic. From presenters at the ABC, to David Shoebridge of the Greens, to former Labor Foreign Minister and former NSW Premier Bob Carr, ...
Venezuela for dummies

Venezuela for dummies

How does Trump’s Venezuelan action fit in with his Make America Great Again and America First philosophies? Is this just more opportunistic chaos or is there method in his ‘madness’? After listening to Trump’s occasionally rambling press conference immediately after ‘Operation Absolute Resolve’ I have a pretty good idea – the rambles often tell you ...
Sam Groth: the latest casualty of a toxic party?

Sam Groth: the latest casualty of a toxic party?

Are you okay, Victoria? Those of us watching the Liberal Party drama from slightly saner states glance at Victorian headlines with the same vague awareness that there’s a giant spider on the ceiling. Are we ready to deal with it? Not yet. But we know it’s going to be a problem eventually, and no one is getting any sleep until it’s sorted. For many ...
The truth about Keir Starmer’s EU ‘reset’

The truth about Keir Starmer’s EU ‘reset’

As Keir Starmer found out with digital ID, what the public initially says it wants isn’t always what it turns out to want once the details become clear. A large majority in favour of digital ID turned into a significant majority against once people started to ask themselves: is this scheme really going to tackle illegal migration or is it just going to ...
Venezuela has left Trump feeling cocky

Venezuela has left Trump feeling cocky

There was no dancing, let alone prancing, in the Brooklyn courtroom as former Venezuelan dictator Nicolas Maduro was arraigned on four charges, including narco-terrorism and weapons trafficking, following his capture by American forces on a military base in Caracas on Saturday. Instead, Maduro, whose terpsichorean moves to a musical remix of his ‘No ...

The Ban on “Authorised” Protest and Suppression of Political Dissent Continues in NSW

The Ban on “Authorised” Protest and Suppression of Political Dissent Continues in NSW
New South Wales police commissioner Mal Lanyon announced on Tuesday, 6 January 2026, that he’d come to the decision to reimpose the official prohibition on all authorised protests for another 14 day period across three policing areas in Greater Sydney. This blanket ban on approved demonstrations continues to be in place because of the 14 December 2025 ...

China’s biggest test

China’s biggest test
“You who are seated here today will be China’s elites tomorrow,” declared the middle-aged party secretary at my senior high school. Alongside hundreds of other first-year students at one of the top schools in the province, I was stunned by the over-the-top welcome speech. The other pronouncement of this party

Political leaders plagued by internal failures

Political leaders plagued by internal failures
Over the last two years, leadership has been one of the most commonly used words in political discussions. Whether it’s politicians saying they are showing great leadership or politicians being called on to show leadership by their opponents and constituents, the word is heard almost every day. However, leadership is a difficult word to define. And can ...

Venezuela celebrates, Iran’s pillars crumble

Venezuela celebrates, Iran’s pillars crumble
It never ceases to amaze me how often the left proves I am on the right side of history. The US strike that captured Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro and his wife, Cilia Flores, has thrown the left into full-blown panic. From presenters at the ABC, to David Shoebridge of the Greens, to former Labor Foreign Minister and former NSW Premier Bob Carr, ...

Venezuela for dummies

Venezuela for dummies
How does Trump’s Venezuelan action fit in with his Make America Great Again and America First philosophies? Is this just more opportunistic chaos or is there method in his ‘madness’? After listening to Trump’s occasionally rambling press conference immediately after ‘Operation Absolute Resolve’ I have a pretty good idea – the rambles often tell you ...

Sam Groth: the latest casualty of a toxic party?

Sam Groth: the latest casualty of a toxic party?
Are you okay, Victoria? Those of us watching the Liberal Party drama from slightly saner states glance at Victorian headlines with the same vague awareness that there’s a giant spider on the ceiling. Are we ready to deal with it? Not yet. But we know it’s going to be a problem eventually, and no one is getting any sleep until it’s sorted. For many ...

The truth about Keir Starmer’s EU ‘reset’

The truth about Keir Starmer’s EU ‘reset’
As Keir Starmer found out with digital ID, what the public initially says it wants isn’t always what it turns out to want once the details become clear. A large majority in favour of digital ID turned into a significant majority against once people started to ask themselves: is this scheme really going to tackle illegal migration or is it just going to ...

Venezuela has left Trump feeling cocky

Venezuela has left Trump feeling cocky
There was no dancing, let alone prancing, in the Brooklyn courtroom as former Venezuelan dictator Nicolas Maduro was arraigned on four charges, including narco-terrorism and weapons trafficking, following his capture by American forces on a military base in Caracas on Saturday. Instead, Maduro, whose terpsichorean moves to a musical remix of his ‘No ...