Visions for Australia: Power

The article discusses the crisis in Australia's legal traditions and the increasing influence of judicial activism. Topics include the erosion of legal conservatism, the impact of judicial activism on court decisions, and the dominance of social justice doctrines in legal education. The Australian judicial system has evolved beyond its constitutional foundations, with courts failing to intervene against state overreach.

The article focuses on the political dominance of Western Australia's Labor government, attributing its recent electoral success to booming mining revenues and a weak opposition. Topics include the exploitation of iron ore wealth to mask fiscal mismanagement, the erosion of government accountability and transparency, and the failure of opposition parties to challenge harmful policies effectively.

The article discusses the interrelationship between political economy and leadership, emphasizing the need for adaptive and pluralistic approaches in addressing complex global challenges. It critiques the reliance on authority and traditional economic models, arguing that they often overlook the underlying values and power dynamics that shape societal issues.

As Australia's major parties stitched together a deal on donation laws in parliament, last week, a small group of well-heeled business leaders gathered for dinner at the Cahoots Bar, a short drive away across Lake Burley Griffin.