George Brandis
George Brandis is a former high commissioner to the UK, and a former Liberal senator and federal attorney-general. He is now a professor at ANU.
Opinion
US Votes 2024
If Trump wins, it’s because he’s called out ‘the last acceptable prejudice’
The narrative of victimhood – one of the main tropes of identity politics – has been increasingly adopted by the right. Donald Trump has appointed himself victim-in-chief.
- by George Brandis
Latest
Opinion
National security
‘Judgment was sacrificed to ambition’: Malcolm Turnbull’s ASIO folly rightly reversed
Despite the warnings of Australia’s most senior national security professionals, Peter Dutton and Mike Pezzullo convinced Turnbull to act in error.
- by George Brandis
Opinion
Political leadership
For once, we will vote at the polls on policy, not politics
This rare period of unity within both alternative parties of government means the next election will, refreshingly, be focused on ideas.
- by George Brandis
Opinion
Liberal Party
True history of the Black Hand, the Liberals who have kept Menzies’ flame alive
In 1984, I was the youngest Liberal invited to the founding of a forum whose mission was to maintain the party’s liberal values. The spirit of Menzies still thrives.
- by George Brandis
Opinion
UK election
Ditching Boris sowed seeds of shambolic Tory defeat
Everything went downhill for the UK Conservatives after the political assassination of Boris Johnson two years ago. It was a spectacular act of political self-harm.
- by George Brandis
Opinion
Assange saga
Just don’t call him a hero. Assange’s recklessness may have cost lives
I know the view of Australian intelligence agencies: it’s likely that Julian Assange’s WikiLeaks dump of information cost lives. It was wickedly reckless.
- by George Brandis
Opinion
UK election
Brexit will dominate the UK election. Not this one, but the next
Labour looks set to return to government in Britain on July 4. But the party will do that without a policy to reverse Brexit, even though many Brits now acknowledge it was a mistake.
- by George Brandis
Opinion
UK politics
There are no fun facts about the next UK PM, but that’s his strength
Sir Keir Starmer looks certain to lead Britain with the most left-wing Labour government on economic matters since Harold Wilson was PM.
- by George Brandis
Opinion
UK
I attended the Sea Power Conference. On behalf of Australia, I was embarrassed
Inexcusably, not a single officer of our navy had bothered to travel from Canberra to attend our AUKUS partner’s principal naval strategic forum.
- by George Brandis
Opinion
Political leadership
It’s not corruption, but the Albanese government is guilty of cronyism
Corruption’s insidious cousin has become one of the dominant motifs of this government.
- by George Brandis
Opinion
Russia-Ukraine war
It’s what Penny Wong didn’t say in her two-state solution speech that’s most alarming
The foreign minister’s failure to say more about the world’s most serious conflict is symptomatic of the way Ukraine has slipped down the list of Australia’s priorities.
- by George Brandis