The author has been described by News Ltd as an "iconoclast", "Svengali", a pollie's "economist muse", and "pungently accurate". Fairfax says he is a "Renaissance man" and "one of Australia’s most respected analysts." Stephen Koukoulas concludes that he is "85% right", and "would make a great Opposition leader." Terry McCrann claims the author thinks "‘nuance’ is a trendy village in the south of France", but can be "scintillating" when he thinks "clearly". The ACTU reckons he’s "an enigma wrapped in a Bloomberg terminal, wrapped in some apparently well-honed abs."

Wednesday, November 14, 2012

Michael L'Estrange calls for more defence spending, not less

A good op-ed from former DFAT boss Michael L'Estrange here:

In the future, more rather than less defence spending will be required, partly to fulfil our responsibilities in terms of self-reliant capabilities, partly to meet the increased expectations that the US will have of allies including Australia, and partly to broaden our capacity for enhanced regional defence co-operation arrangements.
at 8:04 AM