Mao and Stalin — did they lead the way for tyrannical leaders like Trump?
Two of Australia's leading scholars on China and the Soviet Union, Linda Jaivin (author of BOMBARD THE HEADQUARTERS! The Cultural Revolution in China) and Sheila Fitzpatrick (author of The Death of Stalin) join Big Ideas host Natasha Mitchell to consider two 20th Century tyrants whose legacies live on today.
Speakers
Linda Jaivin
Author and China specialist
Associate, Australian Centre on China in the World, Australian National University
Professor Sheila Fitzpatrick
Historian of modern Russia and the Soviet Union
Professor, Australian Catholic University and Honorary Professor, University of Sydney
This event was presented by Readings Books with Black Inc Books, with thanks to events producer Christine Gordon.
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ABC News
13 minutes ago
- ABC News
Cheaper medicines and HECS top parliamentary agenda as tax debate ramps up
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The policy was matched by the Coalition during the election campaign, so it is unlikely to be controversial, with the opposition also signalling it will likely support the HECS cuts. But there is no timeline for Labor to re-introduce its stalled proposal to double the earnings tax on superannuation balances for those with balances over $3 million, controversial because it would include the "unrealised" earnings of assets. Mr Albanese on Sunday dismissed the Treasury's advice that taxes would need to be raised to fix the budget, reported by the ABC earlier this month, and including an option identified by the department to "build on" the super tax. "Treasury, of course, will put forward advice to government from time to time. That's not government policy … Our starting point is the positions that we took to the election." 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"Empowering businesses to make research and development investments is critical to making our economy more productive and innovative, and for delivering greater prosperity for all Australians," the lobby's chief executive, Bran Black, said. "If we don't act now, then we will keep losing innovators, capital, and ideas to other nations." Support for lower company taxes, which appeared to be echoed in Treasury advice, was also on display at a pre-roundtable roundtable convened last Friday by independent MP Allegra Spender. Former treasury secretary Ken Henry and ANU tax professor Bob Breunig, both of whom will attend Mr Chalmers's roundtable, told the forum that company taxes should be reconsidered to tax rents such as mining income more, but entrepreneurship less. Mr Breunig, a noted sceptic of tax incentives for research and development who has argued there is little evidence they spur on research that would not have occurred otherwise, instead proposed a tax deduction for investing in businesses. "If you invest in a company and you make a modest rate of return … that return would be tax-free … Kind of like a tax-free threshold for corporations," he suggested. The forum saw dozens of tax and budget proposals raised, with general agreement that budget sustainability would require some combination of spending cuts, higher taxes, and policies to support economic growth, consistent with Treasury advice. Suggested targets for raising taxes included the petroleum resources rent tax, further changes to super tax concessions, higher capital gains tax, and increasing the GST, although the treasurer and PM have appeared reluctant to consider that move. 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News.com.au
6 hours ago
- News.com.au
Labor to introduce Bill to cap PBS-listed scripts at $25, PM dodges questions on super tax
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News.com.au
7 hours ago
- News.com.au
Australia could be cut off from internet in hours during war, ex-Deputy Secretary of Defence warns
Australia could be digitally isolated within hours of a regional conflict erupting, with 99 per cent of the nation's internet traffic flowing through just 15 undersea cables that enemy submarines could easily sever. The chilling scenario has been outlined by one of Australia's top defence strategists as Exercise Talisman Sabre – involving 40,000 troops from 19 countries – exposes the nation's woeful lack of preparedness for modern warfare. Mike Pezzullo, former Deputy Secretary of Defence, warns that any future conflict wouldn't begin with missiles or bombs, but with cyberattacks designed to cripple Australia's digital infrastructure. 'It would be in cyber. You'd start to see a degradation of the internet,' Pezzullo told 7NEWS. If those critical undersea cables are cut by submarines or crewless vessels, the country would be digitally isolated, cutting off communications, banking, emergency services and the digital backbone that modern Australia relies on to function. 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Critical infrastructure exposed Beyond the cyber threat, Australia faces multiple vulnerabilities that could prove catastrophic in any regional conflict. After cutting internet cables, Mr Pezzullo warns targeted missile strikes would likely follow, aimed at key infrastructure including air bases, radar facilities and defence logistics. 'You'd want to ensure those are protected,' Mr Pezzullo said. 'But we have no missile defence systems. We're completely bereft in that area.' Fuel supplies present another critical weakness, with 90 per cent of Australia's oil and petrol flowing through the South China Sea – the very region where any Taiwan conflict would likely unfold. 'We only store enough for 60 days,' Pezzullo warns. Defence assets visible on google maps Adding to Australia's vulnerabilities, billions of dollars' worth of defence aircraft are sitting exposed on tarmacs, visible to anyone with access to Google Maps satellite imagery. 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Playing catch-up While Australia has major defence projects underway, including AUKUS nuclear submarines, new frigates, cruise missiles and underwater drones, Mr Pezzullo says those efforts are still years from completion. 'That technology is improving almost monthly, but we're playing catch-up,' he says. Some argue Australia shouldn't risk its economy by confronting China, the nation's largest trading partner. Mr Pezzullo says that the argument becomes irrelevant in the context of global conflict. 'We'd all suffer through the tanking of the global economy,' he said. He believes Australia's defence budget will need to rise from its current level to three or even three-and-a-half per cent of GDP to adequately deter adversaries and defend the nation. Counter-Drone Defence Underway Defence officials say they're taking the drone threat seriously, with Project Land 156 launched late last year to develop counter-drone systems, complemented by Mission Syracuse focusing on advanced drone intercepting technology. 'The protection of Defence's critical assets is a priority area for work and investment,' a defence spokesperson tells 'Security of bases, ports and barracks is, and will remain, a focus for Defence resources.' Modern counter-drone systems being developed use acoustic, thermal, radar and electro-optic sensors to detect threats, with various methods to neutralise them, including signal disruption and physical destruction. 'Modern counter-drone systems, incorporating radar, radio frequency detection, electronic warfare and directed energy capabilities, are already active across global deployments,' DroneShield CEO Oleg Vornick tells defence industry magazine ADM. Despite the challenges, Mr Pezzullo remains clear about Australia's strategic priorities. 'Plan A is always peace through diplomacy. But if you want peace, prepare for war,' he said.
