THE front-page story for many of the world’s news sources recently reported that Donald Trump had threatened to ‘bomb the shit’ out of US ally Oman if it got in the way of US efforts to broker a deal on the Straits of Hormuz. I wonder: how is that being received by the rest of […]
I HAVE just finished watching my favourite Sunday morning TV program, the ABC’s Insiders, hosted by David Speers. It was the 25-year celebration show featuring its original instigators, especially its first host Barry Cassidy. Conceived while they were working as overseas media correspondents, it was my choice as the “must-watch” show for its impressive lineup […]
HAVING spent 40 years in business with an economic background, that is the way my thinking is wired. When taking these extended overseas journeys many people just go to a travel agent so that their transport and accommodation needs are provided to them, packaged to their needs. For me, it is part of the experience […]
ANOTHER difference that I found interesting while in Canada was their treatment of the drinking age restriction of 18 years, while it remains at 21 in the USA just over the border. Canada has a very liberal policy of allowing the purchase and use of marijuana, but I’m not aware of that being age restricted, […]
I WOKE up this morning feeling cynical. Yes, it was one of those days when the morning news said that the government is to provide cheaper electricity for all its citizens. When I listened a bit longer, it said we would all be getting our electricity with a saving of $64 per year. Wow. Wasn’t […]
I AM fascinated by the direction of the commodities taxing debate. The PM is saying he won’t increase taxes on the production or export of gas and minerals, while his principal advisers are saying the opposite. Australia’s present economic position centres on the very high borrowing regime of our government’s ever-growing debt structure as high […]
WHEN you live in a small community and basically know or are known by the majority of its population, then you express a strong opinion at your own peril. If you seek to survive in this society, it is imperative that you are fair and reasonable to all sides of the political and social divide. […]
THE Treasurer handed down his Budget with the theme of correcting the intergenerational imbalance on housing. He used this excuse to introduce new taxes in order to reduce his government’s borrowing crisis. The theory is that the older generation invests in housing by adopting legal methods of ownership such as negatively gearing their finance, then […]
I’M sure that none of us consider ourselves competent enough to negotiate the end of the present Middle East war between the USA-Israel and Iran, but they had top negotiators from Pakistan to take the middle ground for that purpose. The US claimed a deal has been agreed, saying they would stop hostilities immediately because […]
THE long Easter weekend provided me with the opportunity to stay close to home and delivered down time for me to think about our world and where we are headed. Yes, I know that was a mistake and I’m still agonising over the fact that I should have found something more productive to do with […]
