"Our island neighbours are sitting on the debt trap time bomb. The day of reckoning will soon arrive in most countries, if not all of them."

"I have come to the view there is little in the immediate future Australia can do anything about it!

At last. Mr. Wall has accepted reality. No more of this nonsense, please. Let's concentrate on Australia, our security and our relationship with China - not on failed states over whom we have no control.

Not sure how accurate your take is, Jeff. AS to China's intentions, they are as clear as mud! But she won't forgive debt and demand instead the usual pound of flesh! With a base here, there a base and another over there! With an eye on the desired prize being Australia and her mineral wealth! PNG likewise, to a lessor extent due to the terrain?

As to the Ukraine invasion? Only fools living in a fools paradise will still feel warm and comfortable, especially one as dependent on others for almost everything.

This has to change along with our addiction for coal! Which needs to play second fiddle to nuclear power ASAP! And we need our own nuclear weapons arsenal as a reprisal defense measure!

And we need to get very busy, busy rebuilding our manufacturing sector, almost as if there was no time to lose, cause there ain't!

Those pollies that stand bewildered like frozen rabbits caught in the headlight of a thundering express train hurtling toward them, need to be replaced by others able and willing to act and just crack on doing what must be done to secure this nation and its future!

The eternal, monumental jaw, jaw and finger wag has to end and to be replaced by action, poste haste! Ditto plain stupid divide and rule tactics when what we need is unity leadership and implacable resolve in the face of these latest outcomes and mounting death toll!
Alan B.

The author may be correct in claiming that the Ukraine outcome will have no impact on pacific islands.

OK, but it will have extreme impact on Australia.

Whether or not China attempts to invade us, now completely depends on the heroism of Ukrainian defenders AND on the extent of willingness of Western countries to help them.

Nobody can doubt the courage of the Cossack Warrior against overwhelming odds!

We are somewhat different, inasmuch as we have the moat! And a huge coastline which also works against us, if another power decided to invade?

If we had tactical nuclear weapons and not afraid to deploy them on our own territory, we are not likely to be attacked? And where we need to focus our defense dollar exclusively!

And allow those failed states with their cargo cult leaderships to cut the best deal they can with China?

As for us? We need to undo every trade pact we have with that dictatorial totalitarian state. And instead of selling rocks. Send finished metal products to the world.

To that end, we need MSR thorium and power delivered for around 1 cent PKWH. That means co-ops owning and operating SMR, MSR thorium and competing for your dollar. And also means, we need to ensure the energy barons have no say in ownership or distribution.

Moreover, we need to end all diabolically stupid practice of frontloading tax impediments.

It's the economy stupid! And all future tax measures need to assist economic growth not flaming anchoring it with crippling load economic lead in the economic saddlebag!

Tax needs to be applied at the end of any production cycle not at the beginning. So as to avoid the usual tax cascade effect/limitation on production. What we need is volume not self defeating margins!
Alan B.