Jim Chalmers: the unsustainable Treasurer

Treasurer Jim Chalmers at the National Press Club, 18 June 2025.

From the National Press Club: Today I had an opportunity to ask the Treasurer, Dr Jim Chalmers, a question on the sustainability of his budget. He admitted that it is not sustainable enough, or resilient enough, or enough already. It’s not good. I think he is shaping up to become Prime Minister. In the absence of a good Prime Minister, I reckon Jim Chalmers would do alright. Nobody could be worse than Elmer Thud.

In the Unfiltered newsletter, Alexandra Marshall wrote:

Michael de Percy had the chance to question the Treasurer, Jim Chalmers, on critical things – such as defence spending – less than a day after Albanese was publicly embarrassed on the world stage at the G7. Considering the freshly signed trade deal with the UK, one might have thought that the Treasurer would have an answer ready to go… The better question, however, is if the Treasurer even understands how important the situation is. Michael was, shall we say, alarmed by the answer he received.

My question is here:

My latest in The Spectator Australia, Jim Chalmers: the unsustainable Treasurer.

"If only Jim Chalmers could take on the role of an Australian PM who wasn’t hell-bent on advancing communism."

I grilled the Treasurer about the defence budget and our relationship with the US less than a day after Albo was snubbed by Trump at the #G7.https://t.co/fCSfZEpZK9

— The Spectator Australia (@SpectatorOz) June 18, 2025

Trump’s military parade exposes weak Albo and Wong

US Army 250th anniversary parade, Washington DC.

On June 14, Washington DC roared to life with the thunder of tanks, the wokka of choppers, and the march of some 7,000 soldiers celebrating the 250th Anniversary of the US Army. Hooah!

This spectacle of military might and national pride, unusual in the self-loathing West, was a bold declaration of America’s strength that coincided with President Trump’s 79th birthday.

Predictably, the usual chorus of left-wing critics in the US and abroad erupted in outrage, clutching their pearls while crying ‘dictator’ over what was, at its core, a celebration of the nation’s resilience and its defenders.

In the Morning Double Shot newsletter, Terry Barnes had this to say:

Resident flaneur, Michael de Percy, says President Trump’s military parade on the weekend (and Trump’s birthday) highlights America’s strength and our defence weakness. Something must change. The Trump administration says spending 3.5 per cent of GDP on defence should be our goal: at his meeting with Trump today, Anthony Albanese should at least accept a goal of that magnitude is a realistic ask of Australia. But the Prime Minister also must brace himself to do what’s necessary to do the right thing and pursue it – and that’s not to raise taxes. Jettison unaffordable election promises. Cut wasteful programmes – not matter how popular – and cancel ideological vanity projects. Dump economy-crippling Net Zero. Incentivise productivity growth and defence industry investment. Even consider reintroducing national service in some form – after all, the old National Service Act is still on the books. National defence must have top priority, and government must lead by example. Our tip: Albanese won’t do anything but talk.

My latest opinion piece in The Spectator Australia, Trump’s military parade exposes weak Albo and Wong.

"The reaction from MSM wasn’t just overblown. It stems from a deeper hatred of Western strength."

The usual chorus of left-wing critics erupted in outrage, clutching their pearls while crying ‘dictator’ over a celebration of the nation’s resilience.https://t.co/OdqiSm6gXS

— The Spectator Australia (@SpectatorOz) June 16, 2025

Warwick Stacey: One Nation’s Senate ‘stunner’

One Nation's Senate 'stunner'

One Nation’s newly elected senator, Warwick Stacey, brings to the table skills and experience that most Australian politicians have only ever seen at the movies. Our own Professor David Flint has sung his praises, and after discussing Stacey’s views about the long-forgotten idea of representative democracy, in my opinion there is much to like. Warwick Stacey’s responses to my questions are outlined in the article below.

Alexandra Marshall wrote in the Unfiltered newsletter:

Michael de Percy sat down with newly elected One Nation Senator Warwick Stacey to talk about what sort of agenda he would like to see in a political system that seems to be stacked against conservatives and free thinkers.

My latest report in The Spectator Australia, Warwick Stacey: One Nation’s Senate ‘stunner’.

"The life experiences to date on which I will draw as a senator have given me a very healthy scepticism of the knowledge, capabilities and decisions of ‘experts’, our so-called ‘élites’, senior bureaucrats, and politicians." - WARWICK STACEYhttps://t.co/qg3UnapGpr

— The Spectator Australia (@SpectatorOz) June 16, 2025

Surfing the waves of nostalgia with Brian Wilson

Wilson wasn’t just writing songs. He was building worlds.

As I write this, I’m struck by how much of my childhood was shaped by Brian Wilson’s sounds. The Beach Boys weren’t just a band, they were a feeling, a memory, a tether to a time when the world seemed simpler, even if it never really was. Brian Wilson’s genius wasn’t just in his music but in his ability to make kids like me believe in the endless summer, no matter where we were. And for that, I’ll always be grateful.

Alexandra Marshall had this to say in the Unfiltered newsletter:

Michael de Percy has written a fond farewell to Brian Wilson of the Beach Boys. ‘Wilson’s genius lay in his ability to uplift one’s spirits, even though his were deeply troubled,’ he wrote, adding, ‘Wilson wasn’t just writing songs, he was building worlds.’ It’s a shame that we are slowly losing talent only to have it replaced by … well, I’m not really sure that much of the noise today can be considered ‘music’.

My latest in The Spectator Australia, Surfing the waves of nostalgia with Brian Wilson.

MICHAEL DE PERCY | "The Beach Boys weren’t just a band, they were a feeling, a memory, a tether to a time when the world seemed simpler, even if it never really was."https://t.co/UvtdCpRvEm

— The Spectator Australia (@SpectatorOz) June 14, 2025

Tassie heads to the polls as the Liberals leave the building

Fight for your principles. Fight for your base. Fight to win...

Tonight, the Tasmanian Governor, who had previously acted appropriately by stalling an election, has capitulated at the request of Rockliff and Tasmanians will head to the polls on July 19.

This should never have happened, and, in my opinion, while Rockliff is hardly a conservative, he was let down by the Liberal Party that was supposed to support him.

Alexandra Marshall had this to say in the Unfiltered newsletter:

Crazy news, Tasmania is headed to the polls! Michael de Percy writes: ‘Tonight, the Tasmanian Governor, who had previously acted appropriately by stalling an election, has capitulated at the request of Rockliff and Tasmanians will head to the polls on July 19.’ Will the Liberal Party be returned?

Breaking news for The Spectator Australia, Tassie heads to the polls as the Liberals leave the building.

Tonight, the Tasmanian Governor, who had previously acted appropriately by stalling an election, has capitulated at the request of Rockliff and Tasmanians will head to the polls on July 19.https://t.co/7GTmGY33AL

— The Spectator Australia (@SpectatorOz) June 11, 2025

Albo plays masterclass while Opposition forfeits

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese at his National Press Club address, 10 June 2025.

Albo’s performance was a masterclass in polished rhetoric, delivered with the unflappable confidence of a man who knows he’s playing on an empty field. But as I sat there, nursing a glass of red and a growing sense of unease, it wasn’t the Prime Minister’s aplomb that struck me… It was the deafening silence of the Opposition, whose absence of vinegar is fast becoming a national scandal.

Albo stood at the podium with the air of a leader who has assumed political inevitability. He spoke of economic stability, renewable energy investments, and a recalibrated foreign policy. All of these were set somewhere in the future, grand promises that deserved to be dissected with surgical precision by a competent opposition.

Alexandra Marshall had this to say in the Unfiltered newsletter:

Michael de Percy had the pleasure (misfortune?) of witnessing the Prime Minister speaking live at the National Press Club this afternoon. By the sounds of it, the most disappointing part of the ordeal was how polished Albanese’s propaganda has become. Weaving narratives that outrage democracy and picking apart capitalism comes to him as naturally as breathing. Worse, the Opposition is nowhere to be seen – disarmed by disunity and too confused about what they should be opposing to actually oppose.

Terry Barnes followed up the next day in the Morning Double Shot newsletter:

Talking of identity crises, from his National Press Club appearance yesterday, PM Anthony Albanese thinks he’s in another country altogether, one in which he and Labor won a huge mandate on 3 May. The reality is Albanese had no positive mandate, illustrated by several campaign Newspolls finding a strong majority of voters thought he didn’t deserve re-election. He won only because the Opposition failed to show up for the policy fight, and Left preferences boosted a pathetic Labor primary vote. Michael de Percy attended the Press Club to endure Albanese’s vapid speech of one-sentence paragraphs with its vacuous claims about Labor and the electorate, and gives his verdict.

My latest report from the National Press Club for The Spectator Australia, Albo plays masterclass while Opposition forfeits.

MICHAEL DE PERCY | "Albo’s performance was a masterclass in polished rhetoric, delivered with the unflappable confidence of a man who knows he’s playing on an empty field."https://t.co/7tEKQMr25v

— The Spectator Australia (@SpectatorOz) June 10, 2025

Greta Thunberg’s irresponsible ‘Selfie Yacht’

Thunberg and other irresponsible activists on their 'Selfie Yacht' [NBC News]

Greta Thunberg, the Swedish climate activist turned self-appointed geopolitical saviour, has once again commandeered the global stage with her latest stunt. Thunberg claimed to have been ‘kidnapped’ by the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) on her so-called ‘humanitarian’ voyage aboard the Madleen, a vessel aimed at breaching Israel’s naval blockade of Gaza.

This stunt, cloaked in the veneer of altruistic aid delivery, ended in her interception by the IDF on June 9 aboard her ‘selfie yacht’. While Thunberg’s flair for theatrics has long been her hallmark, this latest episode is not just reckless, it is a costly distraction that burdens Israeli taxpayers and diverts attention from the Israeli hostages still held in Hamas’ grip.

Writing in the Unfiltered Newsletter, Alexandra Marshall had this to say:

Is there anything more pitiable than the ‘selfie flotilla’ featuring Greta Thunberg carrying a snack-sized humanitarian aid cargo to Hamas-controlled Palestine? There are only two likely outcomes for this story – an actual hostage situation or a faux hostage narrative. The latter played out on social media with Ms Thunberg releasing a rather dubious ‘if you see this’ video which was quickly contradicted by Israel Defences Forces. Instead of ‘being taken hostage’, Thunberg & co have been fed and are on their way to Israel where they will be sat down in front of the October 7 footage and forced to watch the true horror of what took place during the terror attack.

My latest in The Spectator Australia, Greta Thunberg's irresponsible 'Selfie Yacht'.

"The real outrage is that Thunberg’s actions trivialise the plight of the hostages."

Every shekel spent on managing Thunberg’s publicity stunt is a shekel diverted from critical defence needs or rebuilding communities shattered by Hamas' terror attack.https://t.co/dOcTVY01AC

— The Spectator Australia (@SpectatorOz) June 9, 2025

Tasmania quietly points to our socialist future

Tasmanian House of Assembly [Edoddridge CC BY SA 3.0]

The election of Michelle O’Byrne as Speaker of the Tasmanian House of Assembly on May 14, 2024 marked a significant departure from parliamentary convention, raising questions about stability, leadership, and media coverage. The decision’s implications are all the result of Premier Jeremy Rockliff’s inaction. Meanwhile, the mainstream media’s response has focused on Rockliff’s inadequacy with barely a mention of Michelle O’Byrne’s role of Speaker.

Are we quietly accepting socialism while ignoring our Westminster traditions?

Terry Barnes had this to say in the Morning Double Shot newsletter:

The prolific Michael de Percy has a look at the fiasco that is the Tasmanian parliament’s successful no-confidence motion against the Liberal minority government premier, Jeremy Rockliff. He rightly homes in the Labor speaker, Michelle O’Byrne, disgracefully defying and trashing Westminster convention to break the tie on the motion by voting for it, not against. There’s something rotten in the state of Tasmania, and it’s not just the moribund economy.  Is there any way the rest of Australia can make Tasmania go and join New Zealand? They deserve each other, politically.

My latest opinion piece in The Spectator Australia, Tasmania quietly points to our socialist future.

Jacinda Ardern’s triumph of style over substance

Jacinda Ardern, New Zealand Prime Minister, 2017-2023. [Image: CC PDM 1.0]

Jacinda Ardern’s tenure as New Zealand’s Prime Minister (2017–23) was lauded globally as a masterclass in empathetic leadership, her image burnished by deft handling of crises like the Christchurch mosque shootings and the early stages of Covid.

The world swooned over her ‘kindness’ and ‘authenticity’, with fawning media elevating her to near-mythic status.

Yet beneath the polished rhetoric and carefully curated narrative lies a stark reality. Ardern’s leadership, when scrutinised, reveals a troubling lack of measurable outcomes. Her policies, draped in inclusive language and moral posturing, often failed to deliver the substance needed to justify the hype.

By 2020, punters were asking whether Jacinda Ardern was just ‘a show pony’.

In the Unfiltered newsletter, Alexandra Marshall wrote:

And finally, Michael de Percy takes a look back on the legacy of Jacinda Ardern’s ‘inclusive’ and ‘kind’ agenda and whether or not it actually achieved anything meaningful.

In the Morning Double Shot, Terry Barnes had this to say:

Jacinda Ardern’s memoir came out this week. To save you the temptation to part with your hard-earned to read it, Michael de Percy sums Ardern’s leadership up: for all her ‘I feel your pain’ schtick, as New Zealand’s prime minister she didn’t actually achieve very much. Except that is, in the Covid years, when Ardern shut down New Zealand, and turned it into an Antipodean hermit kingdom with a zeal exceeded only by Victoria’s Daniel Andrews. She’s not missed.

My latest article in The Spectator Australia, Jacinda Ardern’s triumph of style over substance.

Key Studies on Jacinda Ardern's Leadership

Research question: What quantitative and qualitative metrics can be used to evaluate the effectiveness of Jacinda Ardern's key policy initiatives during her prime ministership?

Below are the key studies on Jacinda Ardern's leadership I reviewed from the academic literature:

Baker, M. G., Kvalsvig, A., & Verrall, A. J. (2020). New Zealand’s COVID‐19 elimination strategy. Medical Journal of Australia, 213(5), 198. https://doi.org/10.5694/mja2.50735

Beattie, A., & Priestley, R. (2021). Fighting COVID-19 with the team of 5 million: Aotearoa New Zealand government communication during the 2020 lockdown. Social Sciences & Humanities Open, 4(1), 100209. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ssaho.2021.100209

Henrickson, M. (2020). Kiwis and COVID-19: The Aotearoa New Zealand Response to the Global Pandemic. The International Journal of Community and Social Development, 2(2), 121–133. https://doi.org/10.1177/2516602620932558

Howden-Chapman, P., Keall, M., Whitwell, K., & Chapman, R. (2020). Evaluating natural experiments to measure the co-benefits of urban policy interventions to reduce carbon emissions in New Zealand. Science of The Total Environment, 700, 134408. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.scitotenv.2019.134408

Rangiwhetu, L., Pierse, N., Chisholm, E., & Howden-Chapman, P. (2020). Public Housing and Well-Being: Evaluation Frameworks to Influence Policy. Health Education & Behavior, 47(6), 825–835. https://doi.org/10.1177/1090198120917095

Skilling, P. (2024). The sixth labour government on poverty and inequality: Policy action and political language. Political Science, 1–17. https://doi.org/10.1080/00323187.2024.2441360

Tyner, K., & Jalalzai, F. (2022). Women prime ministers and COVID‐19: Within‐case examinations of New Zealand and Iceland. Politics & Policy, 50(6), 1076–1095. https://doi.org/10.1111/polp.12511

#JacindaArdern | Kind? Authentic? Empathetic? Inclusive? And yet ultimately a massive and enduring failure.

The global applause for Ardern’s leadership ignored a critical truth – without measurable results, empathy is just a performance. @FlaneurPolitiq https://t.co/XogZlcYXno

— The Spectator Australia (@SpectatorOz) June 5, 2025

One more seat and One Nation joins the majors

Pauline Hanson's One Nation is now the main conservative party in Australia

The Coalition appears to have abandoned their followers who sweated blood for them over the past 30 years. Further, the minor conservative parties brought about their own demise by trying to play off against one another. Rising from the ashes of the socialist’s recent election victory is One Nation. Soon to approach its thirtieth year, One Nation is now the only real chance for conservatives to hold the Uniparty to account.

What can conservatives do to help One Nation?

Terry Barnes had this to say in the Morning Double Shot newsletter:

Michael de Percy is encouraged that the surprise Senate gains of One Nation put it in reach of official party status at five seats, and the resources that status brings. But based on the troubled party’s history, and especially how all One Nation senators since 2016 – Malcolm Roberts excepted – have fallen out with their leader and party founder, your scribe remains unconvinced that One Nation is poised or savvy enough to make the breakthrough to make it a strong player in the Canberra parliamentary game. Let’s wait and see.

My latest opinion piece in The Spectator Australia, One more seat and One Nation joins the majors.

"To me, Pauline Hanson is an Australian political heroine."

She has never wavered from her convictions and yet, unlike our hubristic PM, she has never referred to herself as a conviction politician. Now’s the time for her party to reap the rewards.https://t.co/vkmTQmwoHw

— The Spectator Australia (@SpectatorOz) June 2, 2025