Dr Don Brash: Time for ANZAC 2.0?

A few days ago, I read an article by Oliver Hartwich, the executive director of the New Zealand Initiative, entitled “Time for ANZAC 2.0”. I generally agree with material produced by the New Zealand Initiative, and in particular with articles written by Dr Hartwich. But not this time.

Dr Oliver Hartwich: Time for ANZAC 2.0

Last week, I had the opportunity to interview Michael Pezzullo, former Secretary of the Australian Department of Home Affairs, for The New Zealand Initiative’s podcast.

Pezzullo gave a stark assessment of the security challenges facing Australia and New Zealand in the Indo-Pacific region. He made a compelling case for something we urgently need to consider: an integrated ANZAC military force.

Heather du Plessis-Allan: Australia’s immigration announcement is a positive change for NZ in the ANZAC relationship

I totally disagree with anyone seeing any negatives in Australia’s immigration announcement at the weekend, this is one of the most positive and significant changes for New Zealand in the ANZAC relationship.

I don’t believe it’s going to lead to a significant brain drain, that brain drain’s already happening.

Kiwis have already been moving to Australia regardless of the fact that they couldn’t get citizenship until now, I don’t think this is going to shift the needle much for people.

Point of Order: Aussie election result result opens the way for a revitalisation of the Anzac partnership

Australia’s election, thrusting the ALP and its leader Anthony Albanese back into a governing role, offers the Ardern government a fresh opportunity to blow the cobwebs off the Anzac partnership.

During the last years of the Liberal era, the once-strong Trans-Tasman relationship appeared to cool. Australia’s deportation policy under the notorious 501 provision of its immigration law has become a sore point and the Liberal government under Scott Morrison planned to increase the flow of Kiwi deportees, much to Wellington’s chagrin.

Australia and NZ share similar goals in trade and defence, but these, too, need a fresh polish. The world during the Covid era has been changing rapidly, and now the Russian invasion of Ukraine has created a deep tension in global relationships.

ANZAC Day April 25th 2022

 

Rodney Hide: Freedom!

One of the most invigorating things about Camp Freedom is the absence of fear. The protesters aren't scared. They move freely amongst the crowd and greet and socialise in the usual human ways. There are smiles, handshakes and hugs.

I am not a hugger but I could not help myself. I hugged at Freedomville. I felt human. I was a person not a biohazard.

It was so unbelievably joyful.

To step into the camp is to step into freedom. Stepping out was to cross back into tyranny where people fear each other and wear filthy hankies tied across their faces in a madcap attempt to stay safe.

It's the lack of fear that makes for freedom and provides joy. Having left the Camp, I want back. The Camp is normal life to me; outside is weird, miserable, irrational and tyrannical.