Lightnews — Scholar-powered news

Pearls and Irritations @johnmenadue.com · 17h

If Labor wishes to reclaim its moral authority, it must break with the consultant paradigm: rebuild public governance, fund socially vital disciplines and restore universities as places of learning, not revenue streams. #auspol #universitiesAU

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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Pearls and Irritations @johnmenadue.com · 17h

Australia has VAD. Three-quarters of respondents to a UK public poll reportedly said they’d “support making it lawful for someone to seek assisted dying,”. In the House of Commons, 314 MPs voted in favour and 291 against. #auspol #UkPoltics #VAD

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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Pearls and Irritations @johnmenadue.com · 18h

Public schools will be heavily underfunded in each year until 2034. The cumulative underfunding is estimated at a massive $34.6 billion. #auspol #schoolfunding

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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Pearls and Irritations @johnmenadue.com · 18h

Experts say Labour came into power unprepared. The party had a plan to win, but not to govern. A negative narrative is on, even in areas where that might be unfair. #auspol #UKpolitics #Starmer

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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Pearls and Irritations @johnmenadue.com · 18h

It is telling that #Hamas has said it would welcome an international inquiry while the powerful white Western countries and #Israel would see hell freeze over before they allow their leaders to face independent judicial scrutiny.@BobbobNZ #auspol #Oct7

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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Pearls and Irritations @johnmenadue.com · 18h

We have at our fingertips a much fairer and more efficient instrument to restrain or encourage demand as required: a temporary increase or reduction in the 12% compulsory superannuation contribution rate. #auspol #economy #housingcrisis

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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Pearls and Irritations @johnmenadue.com · 19h

Putting “Tony Blair” and “Middle East peace” alongside each other in any plan for the region has as much chance of peaceful co-existence as Hamas and a Netanyahu Government in Gaza and Israel. Ramesh Thakur. #auspol #Peaceplan #gaza

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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Pearls and Irritations @johnmenadue.com · 19h

Unless we can resolve the housing crisis, wealth will become more unequally distributed in Australia creating a country of “haves” and “have-nots” when it comes to the most important item determining our living standards. #auspol #housingcrisis

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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Pearls and Irritations @johnmenadue.com · 19h

Mass demonstrations were also held over the weekend in countries including Spain and Italy, where demonstrators demanded the release of organisers who had been aboard the Global Sumud Flotilla. #auspol #museumplein #gaza #flotilla

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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Pearls and Irritations @johnmenadue.com · 19h

The bottom line is this. There is no disrespect in Australians hitting the streets today and using social media to ask our community to reflect on what October 7 means for two groups of people. @BarnsGreg #auspol #Oct7 #israel #Gaza #genocide

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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Pearls and Irritations @johnmenadue.com · 1d

Two years on from the start of Israel’s latest genocidal attacks on Palestinians, nationwide (and worldwide) pro-Palestine rallies are being organised for this Sunday 12th October.
@palaction.bsky.social

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Pearls and Irritations @johnmenadue.com · 1d

@sydneypeace.bsky.social The 2025 Sydney Peace Prize honours Judge Navi Pillay, former UN Human Rights Chief, at Sydney Town Hall on 6 Nov.
Chris Sidoti, Rawan Arraf, Mohamed Duar, host Nour Haydar & the NSW Public Schools Aboriginal Dance Company.
#SydneyPeacePrize #PeaceWithJustice #HumanRights

2025 Sydney Peace Prize Award Ceremony and Lecture

events.humanitix.com

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Pearls and Irritations @johnmenadue.com · 1d

Half the world’s people are already experiencing water scarcity at least one month of the year, according to UN Water. By 2050, three quarters of humanity will face drought and water supply shortfalls. Many solutions have been posed but the outlook is challenging @juliancribb #auspol #climate

World water in crisis

Almost two-thirds of the world’s rivers are in a dire condition, either drying up or supercharged with floodwaters, according to the latest report on the emerging global water crisis by the World Mete...

johnmenadue.com

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Pearls and Irritations @johnmenadue.com · 1d

It is an extraordinary thing that we have just concluded a treaty with a former colony, neighbour and friend without any reasonable idea of how many people are embraced by the deal. It is amazing that Australian politicians are not demanding more accurate information. #auspol #PNG #treaty

Steerage for the Australian-PNG navy?

The mutual defence treaty between Australia and Papua New Guinea could be a masterstroke for both countries, if our defence boffins could think laterally. I bet they won’t.

johnmenadue.com

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Pearls and Irritations @johnmenadue.com · 1d

Sorry, yes it was down earlier this morning, but is now back up and running.

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Pearls and Irritations @johnmenadue.com · 1d

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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Pearls and Irritations @johnmenadue.com · 1d

‘Ban Israeli football’: Scholars urge UEFA to bar Israel over Gaza horrors

In a letter, legal experts have underscored the killing of Palestinian footballers and a UN panel’s finding that Israel is committing genocide.

johnmenadue.com

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Pearls and Irritations @johnmenadue.com · 1d

Rio Tinto flags early closure of Queensland’s biggest coal generator as LNP prepares new energy plan

The clock is now ticking for the ageing Gladstone coal-fired power station after its owners told the Australian Energy Market Operator that they’re bringing forward the closure date of the biggest pow...

johnmenadue.com

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Pearls and Irritations @johnmenadue.com · 1d

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 act...

johnmenadue.com

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Pearls and Irritations @johnmenadue.com · 1d

Secret cargo: Inside Australia's covert F-35 parts pipeline to Israel

At least 68 shipments of F-35 fighter jet parts have been flown on commercial passenger planes to Israel from Australia as recently as last month, leaked documents reveal.

johnmenadue.com

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Pearls and Irritations @johnmenadue.com · 1d

While assessing video games for compliance with the new classification approach, another problem was identified with age ratings listed on the Apple App and Google Play stores: they frequently display multiple conflicting age ratings. #auspol #videogames #regulations

Loot boxes are still rife in kids’ mobile games, despite ban on ‘gambling-like’ features

In September 2024, Australia introduced a new classification approach for games with gambling-like content.

johnmenadue.com

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Pearls and Irritations @johnmenadue.com · 1d

When people from Yemen to Spain, from Morocco to Australia unite in their demand for justice, it shows something really powerful – governments may be more divided on this issue than the very citizens who fund and sustain them. That really matters. #auspol #activism #Palestineprotests

What are international protests revealing about Palestine, Israel and public opinion?

When I first saw the figures on international protests from October 2023 to September 2025, I was fascinated. I hadn’t realised which countries had been most active and the results surprised me.

johnmenadue.com

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Pearls and Irritations @johnmenadue.com · 1d

Just as Kirk’s Christian Nationalism was hotly contested by many Christians, so too should Hastie’s reading of the "Christian West" be contested for explicitly Christian reasons. #auspol #AndrewHastie #CharlieKirk

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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Pearls and Irritations @johnmenadue.com · 1d

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. Skare’s insightful and richly detailed book, is therefore akin to seeing a disaster movie. #auspol #Gaza #Oct7

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Pearls and Irritations @johnmenadue.com · 1d

More than 30 legal experts have called on the Union of European Football Associations (UEFA) to bar Israel and its clubs from competitions over the atrocities in Gaza.Israel’s top ally, the US, is co-hosting the World Cup next year, FIFA is not ready to penalise the US ally. #auspol #UEFA #FIFA Gaza

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