Independent Australia

Poisoned policy: How 1080 baiting exposes Australia’s pest control crisis Australia’s reliance on the lethal poison 1080 to control invasive species is exposing deep regulatory failures, ethical conflicts and a worsening pest crisis.

Australia’s reliance on the lethal poison 1080 to control invasive species is exposing deep regulatory failures, ethical conflicts and a worsening pest crisis.

Poisoned policy: How 1080 baiting exposes Australia’s pest control crisis
~ Dr Simon Pockley

independentaustralia.net/politics/pol...

The run of recent news on the Australian economy is unambiguously good.

Rejoice! Some fabulous surprises in the latest economic news
~ @thekouk.bsky.social

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Silk Silver Opium: The trade with China that changed history Historian Michael Pembroke has offered valuable insight into how China has developed into the country we know today, both economically and psychologically, says Anne Leyton-Bennett.

Historian Michael Pembroke has offered valuable insight into how China has developed into the country we know today, both economically and psychologically.

Silk Silver Opium: The trade with China that changed history
~ Anne Layton-Bennett

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The current electoral system actually favours One Nation Analysis suggests Australia’s electoral system may be unintentionally boosting One Nation’s chances while exposing flaws in the nation’s democratic representation.

Analysis suggests Australia’s electoral system may be unintentionally boosting One Nation’s chances while exposing flaws in the nation’s democratic representation.

The current electoral system actually favours One Nation
~ Dr Klaas Woldring

Religious warfare rhetoric emerges in conflict with Iran As the Iran conflict escalates, religious rhetoric – from claims of divine missions to apocalyptic prophecy – is increasingly shaping the language and politics of war.

As the Iran conflict escalates, religious rhetoric – from claims of divine missions to apocalyptic prophecy – is increasingly shaping the language and politics of war.

Religious warfare rhetoric emerges in conflict with Iran
~ Mark Beeson

independentaustralia.net/politics/pol...

The 2025 fourth quarter results confirm Australia’s economy is again among the world’s best.

Australia rejoins the global economic elite
~ Alan Austin @alanaustin.bsky.social

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Freedom: Off the lead in St Kilda A dog, lost in the joy of the moment, races across Melbourne's St Kilda Beach at sunset.

Looking at Australia through the lens of award-winning photojournalist Bill McAuley.
Freedom: Off the lead in St Kilda
~ Bill McAuley

The electrostate and Australia’s narrow path to resilience Trump’s new tariffs force Australia to choose between U.S. security and Chinese trade.

Trump’s new tariffs force Australia to choose between U.S. security and Chinese trade.
~ Imran Khalid

The electrostate and Australia’s narrow path to resilience
independentaustralia.net/life/life-di...

The chatbot is now part of the mental health workflow Patients are turning to chatbots before therapy and our mental healthcare systems aren't ready for it.

Patients are turning to chatbots before therapy and our mental healthcare systems aren't ready for it.
~ Alexander Amatus

The chatbot is now part of the mental health workflow
independentaustralia.net/life/life-di...

Censorship is a tool of the state — but it's also a tool of the censored Queenslands new speech laws raise alarm bells and stakes for writers and activists

Queensland’s new speech laws raise alarm bells and stakes for writers and activists.
~ Tom Tanuki

Censorship is a tool of the state — but it's also a tool of the censored
independentaustralia.net/life/life-di...

Surround and conquer: When bullying runs a campaign A covert campaign of pressure and manipulation can isolate a target while leaving the true architect of the bullying safely out of sight.

A covert campaign of pressure and manipulation can isolate a target while leaving the true architect of the bullying safely out of sight.

Surround and conquer: When bullying runs a campaign
~ Char Weeks

independentaustralia.net/politics/pol...

Victoria’s wildlife pays the price for Labor’s bushfire failures After devastating bushfires, critics say the Allan Government has abandoned wildlife rescue efforts while allowing hunting to continue.

After devastating bushfires, critics say the Allan Government has abandoned wildlife rescue efforts while allowing hunting to continue.

Victoria’s wildlife pays the price for Labor’s bushfire failures
~ Sue Arnold

independentaustralia.net/politics/pol...

EXCLUSIVE: Meta and Murdoch make AI pact and push Pauline's polls Meta and News Corp spread fake news to promote Pauline Hanson and provide an overblown impression of her party's polling. Founder David Donovan exposes a dangerous deception.

Meta and News Corp spread fake news to promote Pauline Hanson and provide an overblown impression of her party's polling.

EXCLUSIVE: Meta and Murdoch make AI pact and push Pauline's polls
~ @davrosz.bsky.social

independentaustralia.net/politics/pol...

Pauline Hanson corrects her immigration arithmetic Pauline Hanson’s revised immigration maths may finally add up, but the economic consequences of her policy would be devastating.

Pauline Hanson’s revised immigration maths may finally add up, but the economic consequences of her policy would be devastating.

Pauline Hanson corrects her immigration arithmetic
~ @abulrizvi.bsky.social

independentaustralia.net/life/life-di...

CARTOONS: Donald Trump's 'pieces-of-8' board talks are on hold Seems he's a bit busy with all that bombing.

Seems he's a bit busy with all that bombing...
CARTOONS: Donald Trump's 'pieces-of-8' board talks are on hold
~ Mark David Cartoons

JEFF MCMULLEN: The price we pay for not learning from history On a historic night in Tehran, almost half a century ago, Jeff McMullen witnessed the inability of leaders to fully grasp the treacherous paths of alliances and armed conflicts.

On a historic night in Tehran, almost half a century ago, Jeff McMullen witnessed the inability of leaders to fully grasp the treacherous paths of alliances and armed conflicts.

JEFF MCMULLEN: The price we pay for not learning from history

Deportation by design: How Australia engineered mass exile Deportations from Australia are at their highest rate because we have rewritten our laws to enable them.

Deportations from Australia are at their highest rate because we have rewritten our laws to enable them.
~ Gerry Georgatos

Deportation by design: How Australia engineered mass exile
independentaustralia.net/life/life-di...

Australia’s youth detention system punishes kids but fails to rehabilitate them The punitive approach of our youth detention system only serves narrow, short-term political thinking.

The punitive approach of our youth detention system only serves narrow, short-term political thinking.
~ Dr Jacqueline Rule

Australia’s youth detention system punishes kids but fails to rehabilitate them
independentaustralia.net/life/life-di...

Labor should practice what it preaches about human rights Australia condemns human rights abuses abroad but still won’t protect them at home.

Australia condemns human rights abuses abroad but still won’t protect them at home.
~ Dr Bronwyn Kelly

Labor should practice what it preaches about human rights
independentaustralia.net/politics/pol...

Belonging across borders: A Muslim Australian response to fear and division A Muslim Australian reflects on migration, service and community to challenge fear-based rhetoric and reaffirm the place of Muslim Australians within the country’s multicultural story.

A Muslim Australian reflects on migration, service and community to challenge fear-based rhetoric and reaffirm the place of Muslim Australians.

Belonging across borders: A Muslim Australian response to fear and division
~ Mainul Haque

independentaustralia.net/life/life-di...

Australia's volunteer crisis threatens frontline climate action New research into environmental volunteers reveals a concerning pattern: younger volunteers grapple with hopelessness as Australia's volunteer rates decline, meaning fewer people are stepping up when....

New research into environmental volunteers reveals a concerning pattern: younger volunteers grapple with hopelessness as Australia's volunteer rates decline.

Australia's volunteer crisis threatens frontline climate action
~ Ben Goodsell

independentaustralia.net/life/life-di...

Political luck has carried Albanese this far; only bold reform will define what comes next.

Albanese, your moment of truth is now
~ Dr Michael Galvin

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The real danger of artificial intelligence is not the code itself, but the economic system driving its deployment.

Profits before people: How neoliberalism is hardwiring AI for chaos
~ Paul Budde

As predictably as the sun comes up in the morning, U.S. President Donald Trump’s State of the Union address was resplendent with lies.

Commander in cheat: Why Trump’s lies are the foundation of his power
~ @drvicfielding.bsky.social

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Operation Outlaw: Iran apologists and the assault on international law While bombs fall on Tehran, Iran apologists in Western capitals dress regime change in the language of peace and security.

While bombs fall on Tehran, Iran apologists in Western capitals dress regime change in the language of peace and security.

Operation Outlaw: Iran apologists and the assault on international law
~ Dr Binoy Kampmark

independentaustralia.net/politics/pol...

Gold Coast draws line in the sand on Trump Tower proposal More than 120,000 locals have signed petitions opposing a proposed Trump-branded tower in Surfers Paradise, arguing the project threatens the Coast’s identity, infrastructure and public beachfront.

More than 120,000 locals have signed petitions opposing a proposed Trump-branded tower in Surfers Paradise, arguing the project threatens the Coast’s identity and public beachfront.

Gold Coast draws line in the sand on Trump Tower proposal
~ Craig Hill

independentaustralia.net/politics/pol...

Having encouraged expansion, the Government is now curbing student visa grants to contain net migration and protect the permanent program.

Student visa approvals fall despite higher 2026 planning level
~ @abulrizvi.bsky.social

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Billions in profits, silence on tax: Adani’s Australian enigma An advertising blitz claims mining taxes help pay for our essential services but it appears we taxpayers are paying millions of dollars to help coal miner Adani make profits.

An advertising blitz claims mining taxes help pay for our essential services but it appears we taxpayers are paying millions of dollars to help coal miner Adani make profits.

Billions in profits, silence on tax: Adani’s Australian enigma
~ Steve Bishop

independentaustralia.net/politics/pol...

Funding firestorms: Washington’s war habit and Canberra’s silence As U.S. and Israeli strikes on Iran escalate, billions flow into conflict while Australia backs the alliance without question.

As U.S. and Israeli strikes on Iran escalate, billions flow into conflict while Australia backs the alliance without question.

Funding firestorms: Washington’s war habit and Canberra’s silence
~ Max Gross

independentaustralia.net/politics/pol...

Why citizens in such a wealthy country are angry and depressed The more their quality of life improves, the sadder some Australians seem to become.

The more their quality of life improves, the sadder some Australians seem to become.

Why citizens in such a wealthy country are angry and depressed
~ @alanaustin.bsky.social