Latest news with #DavidCrowe
Sydney Morning Herald
11 hours ago
- Politics
- Sydney Morning Herald
It's expensive, complex and dangerous. But it's one of the most important things we do
I saw that repeatedly during my time as The Age's world editor in 2019 and 2020, when readers came to us for information on the Hong Kong riots and the struggle between democracy and Chinese Communist Party rule on the islands. They came to us for our coverage of the war in Syria, they came to us to find out what would happen when Britain split from the EU, and they came to us when a mysterious virus out of Wuhan rampaged across Italy. This is why The Age and its sister publications invest so much in a first-class world news team, regular foreign excursions and the assignment of four of our top journalists to permanent overseas postings. On that note, I must thank Rob Harris for a stellar three years as your European correspondent. Few will ever write a piece with the poignancy and insight he seems to be able to summon at will. It has been a privilege to be able to bring you his inimitable reporting. Yesterday's story, which he wrote for you from a bomb shelter in Ukraine, is a great example of his powerful storytelling ability. We look forward to him returning home and resuming his work on everything from federal politics to the Melbourne Cup. And we welcome his replacement, David Crowe, to the posting. I don't need to convince any of you of Crowe's journalistic calibre. One of the country's finest reporters, you will be as well served by his work from Europe as you were during his time as our chief political correspondent in Canberra. Loading In other parts of the world, Lisa Visentin in North Asia and Zach Hope in South-East Asia continue to impress. Hope's reporting on Myanmar in recent months has been excellent, and I highly recommend reading Visentin's colourful story from the Chinese border town of Manzhouli, which she likens to a Russian outpost. Our foreign coverage is expensive, complicated and sometimes dangerous. Those facts are inescapable. Without your support and your subscription, it would be extremely difficult for us to maintain such comprehensive overseas coverage.
The Age
04-05-2025
- Politics
- The Age
Historic opportunity for courage and creativity
To submit a letter to The Age, email letters@ Please include your home address and telephone number below your letter. No attachments. See here for our rules and tips on getting your letter published. LABOR LANDSLIDE David Crowe epitomises Labor's victory in three vivid words – historic, stunning, extraordinary – before concluding his analysis with a slew of economic, political and security danger signs ('The sheer drama of this victory cannot hide the trouble for the future', 4/5). It's a truism to say that danger offers opportunity. Time will tell whether Labor uses its majority to seize the historic opportunity it has to confront those dangers with courage and creativity. Unmentioned in Crowe's list and ignored throughout the campaign, the biggest opportunity Labor has is robust action to care for the Earth, keep our atmosphere healthy, and protect our rivers and oceans. The decimation of the Coalition poses the threat of complacency. Let's hope Labor is true to its ideals, shrugs lethargy off and acts boldly for nature and all of us. Tom Knowles, Parkville Intelligence and humanity on his side 'With great power comes great responsibility' is a well-worn trope, but of particular relevance now. Anthony Albanese has the power of US President Donald Trump but in his case, he has intelligence, knowledge and humanity on his side. Albanese and his team have the potential to do great things looking towards the future. Peter Russo, West Brunswick Channelling a Labor light I was struck by how the prime minister was channelling Bob Hawke in his speech on the re-election of his government. It was wonderful to see his positive, strong attitude. Congratulations to the Labor Party on a spectacular win. Maureen Goldie, Blackwood, SA Time to address treatment of asylum seekers The prime minister's commitment to fairer, aspirational and greater opportunities in his victory speech was uplifting. An opportunity open for actioning these values is to address the treatment of refugees and asylum seekers in Australia or under its jurisdiction. Grant permanent visas to those assessed under the fast-track system, to those who arrived by boat, and to those who remain dumped in Papua New Guinea. And cease placing on Nauru those seeking asylum in our country. Jenni King, Camberwell Impressive return, but there are lessons to learn Labor deserves congratulations on its impressive return to government. Nonetheless, despite the euphoria of its substantive victory, the reality is it failed to be the first preference of almost two-thirds of the electorate. Brian Marshall, Ashburton Let's now look to the long term Was the Labor win a reflection of support for Labor's plan? Or was it a reflection that the Greens are too far left and Liberals too far right? Either way, let's get past short-term politics and set some policies that are for the good of the country long term. John Murray, Hawthorn East Dutton still paying for time as Morrison's minister Commentators and political observers often fail to recognise that an election is simply a snapshot in time and that a political trend may not end on election day. Saturday's result clearly indicates that the electorate had not finished punishing Scott Morrison in 2022 for the horrors of his government. Hence, Peter Dutton became the victim of further backlash and was punished not for his performance as opposition leader but for being a prominent minister in the Coalition government that performed so badly and cruelly in its final term. Labor is the happy beneficiary of this trend but they should not be fooled into believing the result is a ringing endorsement of the government's performance in the past three years. Robert James, Bentleigh
The Age
02-05-2025
- Politics
- The Age
Fixing problems isn't a vision for the future
To submit a letter to The Age, email letters@ Please include your home address and telephone number. No attachments, please include your letter in the body of the email. See here for our rules and tips on getting your letter published. David Crowe (Comment, 1/5) says that the Coalition's campaigning has focused for too long on ″the problems of the past″ and has neglected to talk about a vision. The ALP, Crowe alleges, stand to capitalise on this alleged Coalition mistake. There is a major problem with Crowe's framing of the campaign. In terms of Australia's problems – a housing shortage, inaccessible and costly healthcare, and millions going hungry (to name a few) – these are not only problems of the past. They are problems of today, and tomorrow. This is why the ALP is running a saturation advertising campaign on Medicare, other cost of living relief, and recently announced a package to ensure more tradies get fully qualified. Promising to fix problems is not a vision for the future, it's broadly equivalent to stopping after being involved in a road accident. Alun Breward, Malvern East Hanson in from the cold John Howard excommunicated Pauline Hanson from the Liberal Party in 1996 because of her extreme prejudices against Indigenous Australians and Asian migrants. In 2025, all is forgiven under Peter Dutton, and the Coalition has placed One Nation candidates second on many how-to-vote cards across the country. Family First has also been highly preferenced. While some will excuse this as strategic preferencing, Liberal voters who follow the card should hang their heads in shame. Ray Peck, Hawthorn More than bottom line I am dismayed that the Victorian Catholic Education Authority had ″intervened in key seats″ on the issue of school funding to Catholic schools (″ Catholic schools' election intervention in key seats ″, 30/4). First, it seems it gave inaccurate information of candidates not of the two major parties and their positions. But more because of the narrowness of the advice, especially following the recent death of Pope Francis. Did they ask candidates what is their stand on climate change, on Indigenous affairs, treatment of refugees, raising of pensions and benefits, and adequate funding for all schools, private or public. As a Catholic, I expect our educational institutions to be forming young people to be thinking and concerned citizens, and not just about the financial bottom line. Patricia Fox, Kew Laboring on figures Labor have promised to build up to 100,000 homes for first home buyers using $10 billion. This equals $100,000 a house. Anthony Albanese can rely on the fine print that states 'up to'. And this is the prime minister who criticises the opposition as not being able to calculate the total of their spending budget. Ross Kroger, Barwon Heads Cull the volunteers Let's stop the circus of party volunteers harassing voters at polling booths. Today I endured a 25-metre run through a gauntlet of candidate supporters muttering derogatory slogans about their opposition, thrusting how to vote cards. Each organisation had maybe 10 volunteers wearing their candidate T-shirt. Then there's the ugly competition and wallpapering of political signage around the booth all basically creating an intimidating atmosphere for voters. We can do better. AEC please take control of the area around polling places, no party volunteers within 100 metres, one corflute per candidate and stop party volunteers from handing out of how to vote cards. The AEC could simply allow standard sized how to vote cards to be provided in an unmanned leaflet holder. If you want one, grab one. No volunteers handing out cards, no jostling for signage, no slogans or derogatory claims, just voters walking in and voting. Imagine that. Peter Aitken, Camberwell Democracy wins To losing candidates: whether I agree with you or not, well done for facing the public to put your case. You may have lost, but democracy wins. To the winners: congratulations. Enjoy your reward of three years with long hours, commuting to Canberra to deal with people you like and dislike, on behalf of constituents who may love, hate or ignore you. John Hughes, Mentone Voting failure Megan Clement (Comment, 2/5) is far from the only Australian citizen denied a vote in this election. My wife and I applied for postal votes before we left for a holiday in Azerbaijan, Georgia and Armenia. We cannot vote at a consulate or embassy because Australia has no representation in these nations. We left a list of contact addresses, and when we obtained them, local telephone numbers. The AEC advised that postal vote packages would be delivered to us by DHL, and that DHL would contact us to arrange the delivery. Two weeks later, with election day imminent, there has been no contact from DHL. The AEC has not responded to our request to provide tracking numbers so we can make direct inquiries to DHL. The candidates in our marginal electorate of Macnamara can offer no easy solution to our dilemma. In a close election, our two votes might just make a difference. But so might our inability to exercise our right to vote. It is time the AEC extended electronic voting to citizens in a predicament like ours. Ken Richards, Elwood (At present in Akhaltsikhe, Georgia)
The Age
29-04-2025
- Business
- The Age
Federal election 2025 LIVE updates: Albanese cements lead over Dutton as preferred PM; polling finds Labor favoured by voters
Latest posts Latest posts 6.25am Analysis: Who won the campaign is clear By David Crowe It is too soon to declare whether Anthony Albanese or Peter Dutton has won the election, but there is no doubt about who has lost the campaign. The opposition leader has fallen badly behind in the final Resolve Political Monitor before the election, and he has very little time to climb back into contention. Loading Victory for the Coalition is not impossible, but it will take a bigger miracle than Scott Morrison gained as prime minister at the 2019 election. Voters thought Dutton and the Coalition were the best choice to lead the country as recently as February, but everything changed when the formal campaign began at the end of March. His lead evaporated when voters focused on the two options. Read more of David Crowe 's analysis here. 6.20am Trump confirms Albanese has been trying to speak to him By Michael Koziol US President Donald Trump has confirmed he is aware the Australian government has been trying to contact him to discuss trade – and that he is yet to take Prime Minister Anthony Albanese's call. 'They are calling, and I will be talking to him, yes,' Trump told this masthead and Nine News on Tuesday (Wednesday AEST) when asked whether he would speak to the Australian prime minister. He made the comments as he departed the White House for the US state of Michigan, where will hold a rally marking his first 100 days back in office. Albanese has been under pressure from Opposition Leader Peter Dutton over his failure to secure another phone call with the US president following their conversation in February. During that call, Trump agreed to consider an exemption on tariffs for Australian steel and aluminium, but ultimately granted no country relief. Australia was also hit with a 10 per cent universal tariff in April, along with the United Kingdom and many other US allies. 6.15am Labor's $2 billion offer for states to build more homes By David Crowe State governments will be offered $2 billion over the next four years to boost housing supply with the help of federal concessional loans in a Labor pledge to counter Coalition claims that the government will miss a crucial target to build more homes. Labor will escalate its campaign on housing today by revealing new details of its housing supply plan and promising more social homes after years of attacks from the Greens about help for Australians on low incomes. The Coalition is warning that the government will fall short of its target to build 1.2 million homes over five years, prompting Labor to blame the Coalition and the Greens for delaying its policies in parliament. The concessional loans would be negotiated with state and territory governments over the coming year if Labor holds office at the election, in the first stage of a broader plan to develop 100,000 homes for first home buyers over eight years. While the loans do not fund all the construction, they are intended to overcome obstacles to new developments that are in planning at state level but need more finance to become viable. 6.10am Good morning By Sarah McPhee Good morning and welcome to our live coverage of the 2025 federal election, as May 3 nears. I'm Sarah McPhee, and I will be helming the blog into the afternoon.
Sydney Morning Herald
29-04-2025
- Business
- Sydney Morning Herald
Federal election 2025 LIVE updates: Albanese cements lead over Dutton as preferred PM; polling finds Labor favoured by voters
Latest posts Latest posts 6.25am Analysis: Who won the campaign is clear By David Crowe It is too soon to declare whether Anthony Albanese or Peter Dutton has won the election, but there is no doubt about who has lost the campaign. The opposition leader has fallen badly behind in the final Resolve Political Monitor before the election, and he has very little time to climb back into contention. Loading Victory for the Coalition is not impossible, but it will take a bigger miracle than Scott Morrison gained as prime minister at the 2019 election. Voters thought Dutton and the Coalition were the best choice to lead the country as recently as February, but everything changed when the formal campaign began at the end of March. His lead evaporated when voters focused on the two options. Read more of David Crowe 's analysis here. 6.20am Trump confirms Albanese has been trying to speak to him By Michael Koziol US President Donald Trump has confirmed he is aware the Australian government has been trying to contact him to discuss trade – and that he is yet to take Prime Minister Anthony Albanese's call. 'They are calling, and I will be talking to him, yes,' Trump told this masthead and Nine News on Tuesday (Wednesday AEST) when asked whether he would speak to the Australian prime minister. He made the comments as he departed the White House for the US state of Michigan, where will hold a rally marking his first 100 days back in office. Albanese has been under pressure from Opposition Leader Peter Dutton over his failure to secure another phone call with the US president following their conversation in February. During that call, Trump agreed to consider an exemption on tariffs for Australian steel and aluminium, but ultimately granted no country relief. Australia was also hit with a 10 per cent universal tariff in April, along with the United Kingdom and many other US allies. 6.15am Labor's $2 billion offer for states to build more homes By David Crowe State governments will be offered $2 billion over the next four years to boost housing supply with the help of federal concessional loans in a Labor pledge to counter Coalition claims that the government will miss a crucial target to build more homes. Labor will escalate its campaign on housing today by revealing new details of its housing supply plan and promising more social homes after years of attacks from the Greens about help for Australians on low incomes. The Coalition is warning that the government will fall short of its target to build 1.2 million homes over five years, prompting Labor to blame the Coalition and the Greens for delaying its policies in parliament. The concessional loans would be negotiated with state and territory governments over the coming year if Labor holds office at the election, in the first stage of a broader plan to develop 100,000 homes for first home buyers over eight years. While the loans do not fund all the construction, they are intended to overcome obstacles to new developments that are in planning at state level but need more finance to become viable. 6.10am Good morning By Sarah McPhee Good morning and welcome to our live coverage of the 2025 federal election, as May 3 nears. I'm Sarah McPhee, and I will be helming the blog into the afternoon.
