Australia has comprehensive trade agreements in place with Asian countries.
https://www.dfat.gov.au/trade/agreements/in-force We should now institue reviews of these with each signature country to ascertain whether any need updating/expanding. We should be making a top priority of restarting the European free trade negotiations, stalled over market access for Australian agricultural products and geographical indicators. (Calling Australian Parmesan Cheese Parmesan etc). Australia has very few trade barriers so the response from Albanese has been ok given that we can work around our direct trade issues with the US. Don’t react straight away and put it all on the table, wait until you see how the situation unfolds. It is changing and evolving daily. Our bigger trade concern are the secondary effects from the US tariffs and how they impact the China and global economy. And that is why Males knee jerk response was so very poor and shallow.
Defence via the now very leaky US umbrella is the urgent issue. AUKUS always problematic is now clearly not fit for purpose. Every expert says that. There are viable much cheaper alternatives and these should involve our close northern neighbours, all whom are rapidly building their submarine capacity. ASPI in what appears to be its current primacy advice role is also not fit for purpose and no longer serves Australia’s best interests. We need an expert contested advice framework. Richard Marles does not appear capable of formulating or articulating a comprehensive position that puts Australia’s interests first providing and expanding our options rather than narrowing. He seems very susceptible to courting by the US. He continually steps into Penny Wong Foreign Affairs area of advice.
Marles behaves with all of the characteristics of a cultivated American asset. That such a mediocre hollow man has aspirations to the Foreign Ministry during this turbulence is nothing short of alarming.
He’s far from alone in his vassal status. The gravy train of US-funded ‘Think Tanks’ and various ‘consultancy’ positions has been the pay off to Australian ‘elites’ prepared to offer blind obedience for generations.
Things may only change and shake us loose from the wreckage of the collapsing US Imperial apparatus once this gormless cast of grifters and opportunists realise that the circus is leaving town.
Of course, having a corporate media ecosystem dominated by an American-owned propagandist and ubiquitous tech platforms now in subservience to MAGA is not helping things, to say the least.
But at the end of the day, the more thoughtful and progressive amongst us (currently a minority, I acknowledge) must look at this as an opportunity to recalibrate and promote a decisive movement away from the wanton destruction at-scale of imperial capitalism.
Agreed 100% but "Albo" is way way too damn RETARDED to ever think about something like that...even if his masters allowed him to do any act of thinking or acting in Australia's best interests god forbid!
What I am thinking (hoping?) on this is that after the election we will see some more decisive action. It's possible the ALP is shit scared of the Murdoch press, and don't want to give them the opportunity to spin them as China apologists or something like that.
Standing up to bullying is the best tactic, and we are stronger together. If the US wants to play “US vs the World,” let them. And let's be part of the world team.
Re previous comments re Marles - totally agree. Was having this discussion yesterday. We need to pivot away from the US, and with him in a high-profile role I don't see that as likely.
Australia has comprehensive trade agreements in place with Asian countries.
https://www.dfat.gov.au/trade/agreements/in-force We should now institue reviews of these with each signature country to ascertain whether any need updating/expanding. We should be making a top priority of restarting the European free trade negotiations, stalled over market access for Australian agricultural products and geographical indicators. (Calling Australian Parmesan Cheese Parmesan etc). Australia has very few trade barriers so the response from Albanese has been ok given that we can work around our direct trade issues with the US. Don’t react straight away and put it all on the table, wait until you see how the situation unfolds. It is changing and evolving daily. Our bigger trade concern are the secondary effects from the US tariffs and how they impact the China and global economy. And that is why Males knee jerk response was so very poor and shallow.
Defence via the now very leaky US umbrella is the urgent issue. AUKUS always problematic is now clearly not fit for purpose. Every expert says that. There are viable much cheaper alternatives and these should involve our close northern neighbours, all whom are rapidly building their submarine capacity. ASPI in what appears to be its current primacy advice role is also not fit for purpose and no longer serves Australia’s best interests. We need an expert contested advice framework. Richard Marles does not appear capable of formulating or articulating a comprehensive position that puts Australia’s interests first providing and expanding our options rather than narrowing. He seems very susceptible to courting by the US. He continually steps into Penny Wong Foreign Affairs area of advice.
Marles behaves with all of the characteristics of a cultivated American asset. That such a mediocre hollow man has aspirations to the Foreign Ministry during this turbulence is nothing short of alarming.
He’s far from alone in his vassal status. The gravy train of US-funded ‘Think Tanks’ and various ‘consultancy’ positions has been the pay off to Australian ‘elites’ prepared to offer blind obedience for generations.
Things may only change and shake us loose from the wreckage of the collapsing US Imperial apparatus once this gormless cast of grifters and opportunists realise that the circus is leaving town.
Of course, having a corporate media ecosystem dominated by an American-owned propagandist and ubiquitous tech platforms now in subservience to MAGA is not helping things, to say the least.
But at the end of the day, the more thoughtful and progressive amongst us (currently a minority, I acknowledge) must look at this as an opportunity to recalibrate and promote a decisive movement away from the wanton destruction at-scale of imperial capitalism.
Brilliant analysis. Thanks Joel
Agreed 100% but "Albo" is way way too damn RETARDED to ever think about something like that...even if his masters allowed him to do any act of thinking or acting in Australia's best interests god forbid!
Hello Joel,
I hope this communique finds you in a moment of stillness.
Have huge respect for your work and reflective pieces.
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A work not meant for everyone or mass-markets, but for reflection and memory.
Not designed to perform, but to endure.
It’s called The Silent Treasury.
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Where trust, vision, patience, resilience and self-stewardship are treated as capital—more rare, perhaps, than liquidity itself.
This first piece speaks to a quiet truth we’ve long sat with:
Why many modern PE, VC, Hedge, Alt funds, SPAC, and rollups fracture before they truly root.
And what it means to build something meant to be left, not merely exited.
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But it’s a multi-sensory experience and built to last.
And, if it speaks to something you’ve always known but rarely seen heartily expressed,
then perhaps this work belongs in your world.
The publication link is enclosed, should you wish to experience it.
https://helloin.substack.com/p/built-to-be-left?r=5i8pez
Warmly,
The Silent Treasury
A vault where wisdom echoes in stillness, and eternity breathes.
What I am thinking (hoping?) on this is that after the election we will see some more decisive action. It's possible the ALP is shit scared of the Murdoch press, and don't want to give them the opportunity to spin them as China apologists or something like that.
Standing up to bullying is the best tactic, and we are stronger together. If the US wants to play “US vs the World,” let them. And let's be part of the world team.
Re previous comments re Marles - totally agree. Was having this discussion yesterday. We need to pivot away from the US, and with him in a high-profile role I don't see that as likely.