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Independent Media Australia. @indymediaaus.mastodon.social.ap.brid.gy · 9m

Japan’s likely new leader is a surprise, and not just because she is a woman https://johnmenadue.com/post/2025/10/japans-likely-new-leader-is-a-surprise-and-not-just-because-she-is-a-woman #auspol

Japan's likely new leader is a surprise, and not just because she is a woman

In the recent election held by Japan’s Liberal Democratic Party to find a new leader following the assassination of former prime minister, Shinzo Abe, an unlikely name to emerge was that of Sanae Takaichi.

johnmenadue.com

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Independent Media Australia. @indymediaaus.mastodon.social.ap.brid.gy · 1h

‘Disaster season’: What is that? https://johnmenadue.com/post/2025/10/disaster-season-what-is-that #auspol

‘Disaster season’: What is that?

Anika Wells, in announcing a meeting with three telco giants to discuss Optus’s Triple Zero emergency call system catastrophe in September, referred to the need for Australians to have confidence in the system before the coming disaster season. By that she meant summer. Is there really such a season?

johnmenadue.com

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Independent Media Australia. @indymediaaus.mastodon.social.ap.brid.gy · 1h

Cancelling Chris Hedges: What price balance? https://johnmenadue.com/post/2025/10/cancelling-chris-hedges-what-price-balance #auspol

Cancelling Chris Hedges: What price balance?

On its homepage you will read that “The National Press Club (NPC) is a vigorous champion of media freedom and a home away from home for journalists”.

johnmenadue.com

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Independent Media Australia. @indymediaaus.mastodon.social.ap.brid.gy · 2h

Australia is a rich country that taxes like a poor one https://australiainstitute.org.au/post/australia-is-a-rich-country-that-taxes-like-a-poor-one/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=australia-is-a-rich-country-that-taxes-like-a-poor-one #auspol

Australia is a rich country that taxes like a poor one

If Australia just collected the OECD average in tax, the government would have an extra $130 billion a year to spend on essential services like health and education.

australiainstitute.org.au

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Independent Media Australia. @indymediaaus.mastodon.social.ap.brid.gy · 2h

Ian McEwan’s new novel explores resentment and vengeance in a fractured world https://johnmenadue.com/post/2025/10/ian-mcewans-new-novel-explores-resentment-and-vengeance-in-a-fractured-world #auspol

Ian McEwan’s new novel explores resentment and vengeance in a fractured world

Ian McEwan’s new novel, his 18th in a long career of writing books that play with startling premises, bold ideas and big dilemmas, begins as a work of futurist fiction set in 2119.

johnmenadue.com

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Independent Media Australia. @indymediaaus.mastodon.social.ap.brid.gy · 3h

A century of deceit: Towards a new understanding of the colonisation of Palestine https://johnmenadue.com/post/2025/10/a-century-of-deceit-the-colonisation-of-palestine-towards-a-new-understanding #auspol

A century of deceit: Towards a new understanding of the colonisation of Palestine

Political and media commentary on the Hamas killings of October 2023 have been preoccupied with claims that these were not only the worst terrorists but that their actions were without precedent.

johnmenadue.com

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Independent Media Australia. @indymediaaus.mastodon.social.ap.brid.gy · 4h

Journos as heroes and villans – ‘The Hack’ reviewed – Part 1 https://johnmenadue.com/post/2025/10/the-hack-tv-series #auspol

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Independent Media Australia. @indymediaaus.mastodon.social.ap.brid.gy · 9h

7 October 2023: Return of the Hannibal Directive and the genocide starts now – Part 2 https://johnmenadue.com/post/2025/10/october-7th-part-2-return-of-the-hannibal-directive-and-the-genocide-starts-now #auspol

7 October 2023: Return of the Hannibal Directive and the genocide starts now - Part 2

By noon on 7 October 2023, news of Palestinians taking hostages grip the attention of Israel’s top military and political leadership who are gathered in the “Pit”, the Kirya bunker in Tel Aviv.

johnmenadue.com

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Independent Media Australia. @indymediaaus.mastodon.social.ap.brid.gy · 10h

The RBA says changing rates won’t raise house prices. I wouldn’t be so sure https://johnmenadue.com/post/2025/10/the-rba-says-changing-rates-wont-raise-house-prices-i-wouldnt-be-so-sure #auspol

The RBA says changing rates won’t raise house prices. I wouldn’t be so sure

The Reserve Bank has always denied that its manipulation of short-term interest rates to slow or hasten the growth in demand for goods and services plays any part in worsening the cost of home ownership. But I doubt this.

johnmenadue.com

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Independent Media Australia. @indymediaaus.mastodon.social.ap.brid.gy · 12h

Australia faces a looming crisis of older women retiring in poverty. Here’s what we can do https://johnmenadue.com/post/2025/10/australia-faces-a-looming-crisis-of-older-women-retiring-in-poverty-heres-what-we-can-do #auspol

Australia faces a looming crisis of older women retiring in poverty. Here’s what we can do

Australia faces a serious challenge. Despite important progress on gender equality over recent decades, a looming crisis now threatens the economic security of older women. Without urgent and bold action, we risk consigning further generations of women to poverty in retirement.

johnmenadue.com

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Independent Media Australia. @indymediaaus.mastodon.social.ap.brid.gy · 14h

New emergency call reforms don’t go far enough https://independentaustralia.net/politics/politics-display/new-emergency-call-reforms-dont-go-far-enough,20244?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=IA_Feed #auspol

New emergency call reforms don’t go far enough

The Federal Government’s new emergency call reforms mark progress, but Australia still lacks a national plan to secure its digital infrastructure.

independentaustralia.net

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Independent Media Australia. @indymediaaus.mastodon.social.ap.brid.gy · 14h

7 October not a day to abuse protesters https://johnmenadue.com/post/2025/10/october-7-not-to-a-day-to-abuse-protesters #auspol

7 October not a day to abuse protesters

When it comes to the domestic political fallout from the Gaza conflict, there are no more reliable and uncritical friends of Israel than Victoria’s Premier Jacinta Allan and her New South Wales counterpart Chris Minns.

johnmenadue.com

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Independent Media Australia. @indymediaaus.mastodon.social.ap.brid.gy · 15h

Charlie Kirk, Andrew Hastie and the ‘Christian’ West: Some Christian pushback https://johnmenadue.com/post/2025/10/charlie-kirk-andrew-hastie-and-the-christian-west-some-christian-push-back #auspol

Charlie Kirk, Andrew Hastie and the 'Christian' West: Some Christian pushback

The horrific assassination of Charlie Kirk is being invested with all sorts of meaning, well beyond the personal tragedy it is for his family.

johnmenadue.com

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Independent Media Australia. @indymediaaus.mastodon.social.ap.brid.gy · 16h

Do politicians ever listen to the people or only the powerful? https://johnmenadue.com/post/2025/10/do-politicians-ever-listen-to-the-people-or-only-the-powerful #auspol

Do politicians ever listen to the people or only the powerful?

Rage, rage against the dying of the light.’ Welsh word-wiz Dylan Thomas’ angry poem to his dying dad implied that the older man resisted passing. But for others, the end is welcome.

johnmenadue.com

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Independent Media Australia. @indymediaaus.mastodon.social.ap.brid.gy · 18h

PM Albanese fails to acknowledge genocide https://www.greenleft.org.au/2025/1440/analysis/pm-albanese-fails-acknowledge-genocide #auspol

PM Albanese again fails to acknowledge genocide

Anthony Albanese’s October 7 statement is further evidence of his government’s complicity, including lies by omission, argues Alex Bainbridge.

www.greenleft.org.au

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Independent Media Australia. @indymediaaus.mastodon.social.ap.brid.gy · 19h

7 October 2023: shocking yes, surprising no https://johnmenadue.com/post/2025/10/7-october-2023-shocking-yes-surprising-no #auspol

7 October 2023: shocking yes, surprising no

A new book on the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, Road to October 7 - a brief history of Palestinian Islamism, by Erik Skare, shows how the seeds of the Gaza war were sown over decades.

johnmenadue.com

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Independent Media Australia. @indymediaaus.mastodon.social.ap.brid.gy · 1d

Trump’s Gaza peace plan: Today, tomorrow and the day after https://johnmenadue.com/post/2025/10/trumps-gaza-peace-plan-today-tomorrow-and-the-day-after #auspol

Trump’s Gaza peace plan: Today, tomorrow and the day after

Back in January last year, my Toda Policy Brief 182 was published with the title “Israel and Gaza: Yesterday, Today and Tomorrow”.

johnmenadue.com

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Independent Media Australia. @indymediaaus.mastodon.social.ap.brid.gy · 1d

Inequality and the future of democracy https://johnmenadue.com/post/2025/10/inequality-and-the-future-of-democracy #auspol

Inequality and the future of democracy

Rising inequality and declining living standards have posed a threat to democracy in several democracies, but so far not in Australia. However, the increasing inequality of wealth, driven by housing becoming unaffordable without rich parents, is a threat.

johnmenadue.com

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Independent Media Australia. @indymediaaus.mastodon.social.ap.brid.gy · 1d

Hundreds of thousands flood cities across Europe to demand end to genocide in Gaza https://johnmenadue.com/post/2025/10/hundreds-of-thousands-flood-cities-across-europe-to-demand-end-to-genocide-in-gaza #auspol

Hundreds of thousands flood cities across Europe to demand end to genocide in Gaza

An estimated 250,000 people dressed in red crowded into Museum Square in Amsterdam, demanding that the Dutch government end its support for Israel.

johnmenadue.com

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Independent Media Australia. @indymediaaus.mastodon.social.ap.brid.gy · 1d

UK polls suggest Starmer is deeply unpopular. Can he survive another year? https://johnmenadue.com/post/2025/10/uk-polls-suggest-starmer-is-deeply-unpopular-can-he-survive-another-year #auspol

UK polls suggest Starmer is deeply unpopular. Can he survive another year?

Having led Labour to victory last year, the premier is struggling to build trust with his voters.

johnmenadue.com

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Independent Media Australia. @indymediaaus.mastodon.social.ap.brid.gy · 1d

How the ALP outsourced the soul of higher education https://johnmenadue.com/post/2025/10/how-the-alp-outsourced-the-soul-of-higher-education #auspol

How the ALP outsourced the soul of higher education

For most of its history, the Australian Labor Party spoke of education as a public good, the light on the hill, a vision of collective progress through strong institutions, universal access, and the elevation of ordinary citizens.

johnmenadue.com

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Independent Media Australia. @indymediaaus.mastodon.social.ap.brid.gy · 1d

A culture of leniency. Exposing wrongdoing or protecting wrongdoers? https://michaelwest.com.au/asic-nacc-exposing-wrongdoing-or-protecting-wrongdoers/ #auspol

A culture of leniency. Exposing wrongdoing or protecting wrongdoers?

Corporate regulator ASIC lets crooked bankers walk free, and the notional anti-corruption commission ignores Robodebt.

michaelwest.com.au

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Independent Media Australia. @indymediaaus.mastodon.social.ap.brid.gy · 1d

New school funding agreements deny full funding for public schools https://johnmenadue.com/post/2025/10/new-school-funding-agreements-deny-full-funding-for-public-schools #auspol

New school funding agreements deny full funding for public schools

The claim by the prime minister, premiers and their education ministers that public schools will be fully funded by 2034 is a blatant falsehood.

johnmenadue.com

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Independent Media Australia. @indymediaaus.mastodon.social.ap.brid.gy · 1d

Trump’s shutdown reveals myth of small government https://independentaustralia.net/politics/politics-display/trumps-shutdown-reveals-myth-of-small-government,20243?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=IA_Feed #auspol

Trump’s shutdown reveals myth of small government

The latest U.S. Government shutdown underscores how calls for “small government” are less about saving money and more about consolidating power.

independentaustralia.net

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Independent Media Australia. @indymediaaus.mastodon.social.ap.brid.gy · 1d

Sun shines on Sunshine State as football season ends https://independentaustralia.net/life/life-display/sun-shines-on-sunshine-state-as-football-season-ends,20242?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=IA_Feed #auspol

Sun shines on Sunshine State as football season ends

Celebrations around the end of the season, in the main professional football codes, moved north in 2025 with the success of teams from Brisbane.

independentaustralia.net

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