Category: Australia

The Truth About Asylum Seekers & Australia May 2013

Over the last year I’ve gradually compiled interesting stats regarding Australia’s asylum seeker intake. I thought I’d share them for easy reference the next time you have a…

Does Playing Violent Video Games Make Kids Violent? Dec 2012

In the wake of the Newtown shootings, a variety of people are trying to connect violent video games and mass murder. Like most 12 year old boys, my…

Which Is Safer? Iraq, Iran or USA? Dec 2012

    Based on this data from The University of Sydney, you are safer living in Iran or Iraq than in the USA. By the way, I included…

Bundaberg’s Hidden Slave Trade Dec 2012

From the Brisbane Times: Hidden under an old cane plantation outside the Queensland sugar city of Bundaberg lies an awful secret. Beyond the weeping fig trees the bodies of…

No Illusions Podcast #54 – Nicholas Gruen on Aussie Auto Industry Bailouts Oct 2012

Australia is one of only a few countries in the world that has the facilities to design and manufacture a car from digging the raw materials out of…

The Economic Benefit Of Refugees Oct 2012

It has long been my intuition that a country like Australia should welcome refugees – not fear them. I guess this feeling in part comes from my first-hand…

The Dreaming – My Latest Podcast Series Sep 2012

I’ve started a brand new podcast series with David Cole called “The Dreaming”. It’s going to be a long series focused on indigenous affairs. We plan to talk…

The Irony Of Australia Sep 2012

I’m re-reading The Fatal Shore by Robert Hughes and thinking about the great irony that King George III punished thieves by sending them out to Australia while simultaneously…

No Illusions Podcast #52 – Stu Campbell, The Love Punks & Neomad Aug 2012

Neomad is a new iPad comic created by and featuring a group of energetic, talented and brilliant indigenous kids from Roebourne in Western Australia. The guy who has…

Socio-Economics Is Like Soccer Aug 2012

We understand and accept this fact in sport. I tell my kids all the time “every member of the team is important”. The same is true in socio-economics.…