Bob Carr

@bobjcarr

Former Australian Foreign Minister and former Premier of NSW. Industry Professor, Institute for Sustainable Futures and UTS Business School.

Sydney AustraliaJoined August 2010

111 Following

75K Followers

Bob Carr’s Tweets

Bob Carr

@bobjcarr

Sep 3

Moir’s cartoon links Green Party’s attack on the Voice to their 2009 Bob Brown extremism in deferring emissions trading. We might have been pricing carbon but for their opportunism.

Bob Carr

@bobjcarr

Sep 3

She only met her father when she was 28. Trained as teacher. Read her eloquent Lingiari Address. Onto the Voice!

Organised by diligent MLC Shaoquett Moselmane. Attended by branch members who championed Palestinian recognition now in ALP platform.

Last night spoke in tribute to

@LindaBurneyMP

Minister for Indigenous Australians and her “odyssey”, her Wiradjuri heritage, time as state minister and deputy leader of state ALP.

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Take it from me: the Governor General’s role in getting $18m from Morrison for a charity without a record, office or program and no competitive bid is set to be the most controversial vice regal indulgence since Kerr’s dismissal of Whitlam.

thesaturdaypaper.com.au

Inside Morrison’s secretive $18m leadership grant

Pressure is mounting to investigate a special grant to fund a leadership program pitched to Scott Morrison by Governor-General David Hurley.

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Bob Carr

@bobjcarr

Sep 2

The current Economist - no cover like this since I started reading it 55 years ago. A seminally important shift: the US now viewed as a failing state

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Topics to follow

Carousel

snapping up

latest bio of Aussie warships, Scrap Iron Flotilla, and

@j_b_curran

on Australia-China, Australia’s China Odyssey.

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Bob Carr

@bobjcarr

Aug 30

Her criticisms of China failures on reform are strong. Her dismissal of the bogey of Chinese “debt trap diplomacy” is acute.

Economist Jane Golley challenges cliches of China analysis. Yes, every article from a US expert is either 1) China about to collapse 2) China close taking over the world. This is Sinophrenia. Both can’t be true yet same commentators espouse same lines.

johnmenadue.com

The Chinese economy: fact, fiction, faith and flexibility - Pearls and Irritations

The Chinese economy is a source of contention. Predictions of its “imminent collapse” versus portrayals of its strength and resilience.

Promoting His Memoir, Kushner Offers Tortured Defenses of Trump

Jared Kushner, who spent his years in the White House evading responsibility for his father-in-law’s most extreme moves, has had to answer for some of them on his book tour.

World’s most unwanted book: a memoir by (god help us) Jared Kushner. Spoilt princeling can’t even answer question does he believe the 2020 election was stolen? If Trump wins again it will be because voting restrictions will let him steal 2024. Fasten your seat belts.

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A new (underground) library. Congratulations to the Lord Mayor on this high density urban village with low carbon buildings and rich facilities: this is modern Oz at its best.

40 small parks too.

…recycled and supplying non-potable water needs for 40,000 residents

Rainwater collection from streets…

And by streetscapes

Yesterday Lord Mayor of Sydney

@CloverMoore

gave me a tour of $13bn Green Square urban renewal 3.5km from city. Heartened by flat design - everything I campaigned for as Premier (SEPP46 etc).

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I’m in the Morrison Serving Cook party to keep Coalition primary at 28%

I want the MP for Cook delivering more sermons branding govt as wicked and people outside Hillsong sinners. Scaring off Chinese-heritage voters with war rhetoric. Absent from QT because of RC appearances. Reminding voters of coal-in-hand climate denialism.

johnmenadue.com

‘Scott Morrison’s ministerial fetish: ”An unprecedented trashing of our democracy”’ - Pearls and...

Morrison’s own former Ministers are now calling for his resignation, shocked by this betrayal of trust, convention, and responsibility.

And as Turnbull asks, why no questions or pushback from head of PM&C. Need accountability from Yarralumla too on that $18m handout to a curious charity with no website, staff or record of programs.

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Just heard

on ABC RN. Yes, need inquiry that among other things explores deficiencies of GG and his office in not seeking further information on Morrison grab. Malcolm asks why was there such uncritical compliance from GG, especially keeping it secret?

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Can’t wait for the elections in March so Cartwright can be relieved of the wretched burden of representing the state. Has he a convincing list of the trade deals and investments he’s won? Bring them all home.

smh.com.au

‘Something has to be done’: Agent-general’s message to minister over trade job entitlements

A WhatsApp message from Stephen Cartwright to former trade minister Stuart Ayres outlined his concerns over expenses and living conditions.

Bob Carr

@bobjcarr

Aug 22

Important shift in the foreign policy debate. A bipartisan consensus on one China, cross-Strait status quo and return to strategic ambiguity over Taiwan confirmed by Hastie and Sharma comments. Neither endorsed Pelosi adventure. theaustralian.com.au/commentary/bip

Morrison and the G-G: did Hurley’s favourite charity get special treatment from secret treasurer...

A charity that received special tax status by Treasury — at the time Morrison was secretly co-directing the portfolio — has raised eyebrows.

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The $18 million described as “initiative of the Dept of PM&C in consultation with Official Secretary of the Governor-General”. What? Charity had been hurriedly set up. Had no record. Full explanation required especially after recent event. Treasurer Chalmers, recover the cash!

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A “foundation” walked away with $18 million without a competitive process. Appalling. GG must explain his role in securing funding from Morrison. Talk of “Royal” associations won’t carry it. I’ve written to the Federal Treasurer asking for full inquiry and return of the money.

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State reps posted abroad deliver no boost to trade investment or jobs. They end up circulating from lunch to cocktails imagining their presence sways business decisions. But now confirmed Perrottet appointed a mate who scored the lowest on competence.Shame

smh.com.au

Agent-general outperformed by shortlisted candidates for other trade roles

As the controversy into the appointment of John Barilaro to a New York trade role extends to the agent-general position, it has emerged that other candidates outperformed Stephen Cartwright when...

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Bob Carr

@bobjcarr

Aug 17

But Andrew Hastie also uses the same formula as Wong and Marles. Meaning Australia has dropped Dutton’s 2021 line it was “inconceivable” we would not go to war with US, ie the ASPI “drums of war” credo.

The Pelosi visit has left Taiwan weaker. We must return to strategic ambiguity and the cross-Strait status quo. Never thought I would be agreeing with Dave Sharma. theaustralian.com.au/commentary/bei

A GG must act on advice of his prime minister. He is also entitled to ask questions and issue a warning. Where were his staff? Why did nobody in Government House demand these appointments be published in the Government Gazette?

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Bob Carr

@bobjcarr

Aug 14

Any economic partnership in Asia will have to include China to be meaningful to South East Asian states plus Japan and Korea - contrary to the line of US-funded ASPI now headed by a Peter Dutton captain’s pick.

canberratimes.com.au

Is the government getting the best advice on China?

The Albanese government needs better than second-rate advice to stabilise relations with China.

Bob Carr

@bobjcarr

Aug 10

Yet another example of a brazen Coalition “jobs for the boys” appointment - in this case to lock up ASPI for off-the-chart partisanship and Cold Warrior extremism.

theguardian.com

FOI documents show Peter Dutton’s ‘captain’s call’ to make senior Liberal head of defence thinktank

Documents obtained by Guardian Australia show the Australian Strategic Policy Institute’s choice of candidate was overruled by then defence minister

Bob Carr

@bobjcarr

Aug 9

Barilaro inquiry shows ministers designed lavishly well-paid jobs to post themselves and mates overseas. Barilaro would have brought nothing to NY role. Bravo to Minns for saying he would wipe them all out.

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Abolish these expensive posts now. With the staggering cost of London there’s not a trade contract or investment deal they can point to. I abolished Agent General post and opened none elsewhere. NSW still got 2/3 of overseas investment.

smh.com.au

London trade commissioner was ‘threatening’ over $800,000 pay packet, inquiry hears

Investment NSW boss Amy Brown told parliament the agent-general in London invoked the premier’s name and sought the intervention of then-trade minister Stuart Ayres via WhatsApp.

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Bob Carr - Keep the peace between China and the US: our goal - Pearls and Irritations

De-escalation of Taiwan tensions is in our interest and has got to be, at this time, the prime Australian diplomatic goal.

This is welcome - Australia as a moral nation. Credit where it’s due.

Accepts strategic ambiguity, the status quo on One China and need for de-escalation. Bipartisanship with Wong. Where did this diplomacy come from? Also said Brereton Report & its findings on war crimes in Afghanistan should be pursued in contrast w/ Morrison decision to ignore it

Andrew Hastie on Insiders declined to endorse Pelosi. Didn’t revive hollow formula that visit “shows US commitment to the region”. Didn’t revive Dutton Doctrine that it was “inconceivable” we would not enter war with US over Taiwan.

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Increasing doubts about nuclear subs. Perhaps we should just snap the best conventional subs from French or Japanese, forget Adelaide and see there is no capability gap. We can think about the nuclear option for the generation after.

thesaturdaypaper.com.au

Does Australia actually need nuclear submarines?

As experts question the diplomatic, strategic and economic rationale behind Australia’s purchase of nuclear-powered submarines, the gaps in the country’s defensive fleet could be filled by

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