Thumbs Up, Craggy
David Keith Cragg, 16.09.1957 -17.03.2025
(2025) Show Me the Evidence
The Assassination of Neville Wran is Milton Cockburn’s indignant rebuttal of corruption allegations against former NSW Premier Neville Wran AC QC (1926-2014; NSW Labor Premier 1976-86).
(2025) How Far Can You Go? A Note on Curtin, Australian Labor, and Conscription in WW II
Many of us broadly familiar with John Curtin, admire his stance to defeat naysayers and introduce conscription for the defence of Australia during World War II.
(2025) Piling on the Criticism: A Comment on McMullin’s Review
Besides alluding to my typo, spelling “abrasives” instead of “abrasiveness” in quoting him, Ross McMullin in the December Recorder, offers a thought-provoking review of my In Search of Chris Watson.
(2024) Three Launches of the James Scullin Monograph
An address on 9 October 2024 at the Sydney Institute, Phillip Street, Sydney, on the launch of James Scullin, Australian Biographical Monographs # 24, Connor Court publishers, subsequently published in The Sydney Papers, 2024.
2025: Is Australia Ready for the Ceasefire?
With a Gaza ceasefire imminent, Australia could play a role in constructively aiding the peace process. Despite recent controversies at home, Australia is still among Israel’s strongest supporters east of Jerusalem. Only the Pacific atoll nations are more supportive.
(2024) Secular & Catholic Social Democracy: The Race Mathews Biography
It is a spectacular irony that in the 21st century, so far, the Australian whom in sympathy most popularised Catholic social thought is a committed atheist and Fabian socialist who youthfully flirted with joining the Communist Party. This is only one of the fascinating features of the life of Race Mathews (1935- ), explored in a well-researched biography by his wife and noted author, Iola Mathews.
(2024) Getting Housing Policy Right
They do not get enough credit, the NSW Productivity Commission people. Their recent ‘Review of Housing Supply Challenges and Policy Options’ report sheds light on the importance of maintaining a pro-housing regulatory environment.
(2024) Enough is Enough
Speech on Sunday 15 December 2024 to the ‘Together with Israel’ rally in Martin Place, Sydney.
(2024) Rob Ferguson: “Became wiser and gentler while still doggedly seeking the truth”
From tiny home in Padstow, schooling at East Hills Boys High in the 1960s, to Australia’s leading investment banker, is not a common route, then as now. Former CEO of Bankers Trust Australia (BTA), 1985 to 1999, then its chairman to 2001, Robert Alexander “Rob” Ferguson (2 December 1945- 31 August 2024) died last month after a long battle with the lung disease fibrosis. Jen, his wife of 56 years, sister Fiona, and son-in-law Pete kept vigil.