(2015) Infrastructure Delivery
Lecture given on 14 May 2015 to third year students in the Project Procurement and Tendering module of their Bachelor of Civil Engineering degree at the University of Sydney.
(2015) New FIRB Property Tax will Undermine Confidence in Australian Property
The announcement last Wednesday, February 25th, by the Prime Minister to impose a Foreign Investment Review Board (FIRB) tax on foreign purchasers of property and agriculture makes another interest rate cut more than likely.
(2015) The Search for Value in Australian Real Estate
The Australian economy is one of the strongest in the world, representing 2.52% of the global economy, with close to 25 consecutive years of economic growth.
(2014) An Explanation of the Jenny Anderson/Michael Easson Correspondence
An explanation about these letters: In 1977 I began research for a MA (Hons.) thesis at the University of NSW on the Social and Political Philosophy of Professor John Anderson. My joint supervisors were two “Andersonians”, Doug McCallum and Donald Horne.
(2014) Burke’s Great Melody Against It
Conservative MP Jesse Norman set out to write an introduction to the ideas, context, and continuing relevance of Edmund Burke (1729-1797), Whig iconoclast and fierce critic of the French Revolution.
(2014) David Armstrong, 1926-2014
David Armstrong, affectionally known as DMA or Armo, was in an elite category of Australian intellectuals – a philosopher who developed an international reputation, perhaps the most considerable of any Australian philosopher.
(2014) A Minister for Sydney
It is an idea that keeps crying for a receptive ear. Bandied around from time to time is whether NSW should have a Minister for Sydney.
(2014) Transport for Sydney
Sydney’s transport congestion is notorious. Whether it be a clogged M5, crowded trains, poor to non-existent public transport in most of western Sydney, and hopelessly congested traffic at airports, we’ve got it wrong.
(2014) A Report Card on the NSW Planning System
Let’s imagine the planning system marked like a typical NSW government school report card for Simon Simpleton – an underachieving Year 6 student at Basket Case Public School.
(2014) Councils Should Earn the Right to Survive
Council amalgamation is off the agenda in NSW. A core promise before the 2011 election by Premier O’Farrell that there would be no forced amalgamations.