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2024 Semester Two - Week 1 - Discussion Meeting

Meeting: 12 to 1:30 pm, Wed 24 July 2024
Venue: 28-005 (Marine),  JCU Townsville

Discussion Topics

Julian Assange
Assange accepted a deal in which he pled guilty (in a US Court on an island) to criminal espionage in return for being sentenced only to time already incarcerated in Britain.  What a relief.  What is the complex legacy of Julian Assange?  In what ways is he a hero or villain?

2023 Semester One - Week 8 - Discussion Meeting

Meeting: 12 to 1:30 pm, Thu 20 Apr 2023
Venue: 017-064 (Science and Engineering building),  JCU Townsville

Discussion Topics

AUKUS Nuclear Submarine Deal
Australia scrapped a deal to buy French-designed diesel submarines. In the AUKUS nuclear submarine arrangement, Australia will acquire 3 to 5 Virginia class submarines from USA in the 2030s, then build a new design of submarine jointly with UK in the 2040s, at high cost. Former Prime Minister Paul Keating is opposed to this deal. Discuss the implications of the Submarine deal and closer military cooperation with the UK and US.  

The Security of Taiwan
With the invasion of Ukraine, there is more attention than usual on the possibility of the ROC (Taiwan) being invaded by the PRC (China). What are the logistics of a successful invasion? What are the responses of Taiwan’s allies to the threat? Compare and contrast the approaches of the two major political parties KMT (KuoMinTang) and DPP (Democratic Progressive Party).  

Ireland
Northern Ireland was previously majority Protestant but with changing demography it will become majority Catholic. Northern Irish MP’s in the UK parliament have called for increased policing an security to be established. Will these changes lead to a united Ireland, or will they lead to greater political instability and uncertainty?

2023 Annual General Meeting results

AGM took place on Thursday 16th of March 2023 from 1:00pm-1:15pm. Results of comittee elections are as follows:

President - Callum Hawkins

Vice-President - Wendy Adriaens

Secretary - Ingvild Maria Nese

Treasurer - Caitlin Flecker

General Committee Member: Mizar Sheslow

General Committee Member: Misha Sheslow

2023 Semester One - Week 4 - Discussion Meeting

Meeting: 12-1pm, Thu 16 Mar 2023
Venue: 017-064 (Science and Engineering building), JCU Townsville

Discussion Topics

Effect of Artificial Intelligence on Education

ChatGPT has created a stir by answering questions on a wide range of topics, that students can use to assist them in writing an essay.  Will this cause an increased emphasis on paper exams, hand-written in person?  Will AI tools help students to get a better education?  What are the general implications of AI for the delivery of education?

Countries with Polarised Politics

In certain countries such as the USA and Brazil, the domestic political environment seems to be polarised to a more severe extent than in other democracies.  What are the reasons for this?  

(There will be a brief AGM.)

2023 Semester One - Week 0 - Market Stall

12-3pm, Wed 15 Feb 2023
Venue:  JCU Townsville Douglas Campus, in front of the Library

Say hello to us in person and talk to us about the Club. 

2022 Semester Two - Week 10 - Discussion Meeting

Meeting: 12-1pm, Wednesday 5 Oct 2022
Venue: JCU Douglas Room 17-064

Discussion Topics

The death of Queen Elizabeth II

What are the implications of the Queen's death on global politics and culture? How has her long reign impacted our view of the Crown? Will republican ideas become more popular in Australia and other Commonwealth Nations as a result of the Queen's passing and the ascension of Charles III?

The continuing Russo-Ukraine War

Discuss the recent changes in the war. Ukrainian victories have led to Vladimir Putin calling a partial military mobilisation and threatening to escalate the war further. How has the global perception of the war changed over its course? Has support for Ukraine changed since the start of the war?

https://www.theguardian.com/world/live/2022/oct/03/russia-ukraine-war-latest-updates-zelenskiy-says-kyiv-in-full-control-of-lyman-us-would-act-if-moscow-uses-nuclear-weapons-petraeus-warns

https://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-60506682

NT Alcohol Ban

Northern Territory senator Jacinta Price has called for the return of an intervention-era policy that banned alcohol from remote communities in the Northern Territory. What are the political implications of the ban and other intervention-era policies in the modern day? In what ways has the prohibition or permission of alcohol in remote communities impacted the people and politics in the regions?

https://www.abc.net.au/news/2022-07-16/nt-intervention-era-alcohol-bans-ending-what-changes-mean/101242252

2022 Semester Two - Week 4 - Discussion Meeting

Meeting: 12-1pm, Wednesday 17 August 2022
Venue: JCU Douglas Room 17-064

Discussion Topic

Australian Election 2022

What are the political implications of the recent Federal Election in Australia?  To what extent do you think the Election was about climate change?  How did the “teal” independents win some metropolitan seats?  What factors led the Greens to acquire more seats in the lower House?  How will the Election affect the Liberal-National Coalition?  To what degree does there seem to be a long term decline in support for the major political parties?  

There will be a brief AGM.

2022 Semester Two - Week 1 - Market Stall

12-3pm, Wed 27 Jul 2022
Venue:  JCU Townsville Douglas Campus, in front of the Library

Say hello to us in person and talk to us about the Club. 

2022 Semester One - Week 7 - Discussion Meeting

12-1pm, Mon 4 Apr 2022
Venue is JCU Townsville 17-064 (Science Engineering)

Energy Crisis in relation to the Russia-Ukraine Conflict

What are the political implications in Western nations of the increase in fuel and energy prices associated with the Russia-Ukraine War?  What are the arguments for and against the decision to deny Russia access to the SWIFT international payments system?

The Rise of Authoritarianism Globally

Since the end of the cold war, the world was generally becoming more democratic but in the last 20 years, there has been “democratic backsliding” with a reduction of democracy in various places such as Hungary, Brazil, Turkey. Also, some powerful autocracies such as Russia and China are increasingly projecting their military power. What are the causes of this? What are the future prospects?

2022 Semester One - Week 3 - Discussion Meeting

Meeting: 12-1pm, Wed 9 March 2022
Venue: Townsville Room 17-064 (Science Engineering Building)

Discussion Topics

Ukraine Invasion

Russia has recently invaded Ukraine.  Western Europe is heavily dependent on natural gas from Russia.  What are the geopolitical implications?

[There will also be a brief Induction.]

2022 Semester One - Week 0 - Market Stall

12-3pm, Wed 16 Feb 2022
Venue:  JCU Townsville Douglas Campus, in front of the Library

Say hello to us in person and talk to us about the Club. 

2021 Semester Two - Week 4 - Discussion Meeting

Meeting: 12-1pm, Wed 18 Aug 2021
Venue: 134-102 Education Central (Townsville Douglas Campus)

Discussion Topics

1. Crocodile Cull

There are a lot of crocodiles in northern Australia.  They are sometimes a threat to human safety.  Do you think it would be a good idea for the government to cull them?

2. Media Freedom and Diversity in Australia

Malcolm Turnbull has supported a Parliamentary Petition by Kevin Rudd for a Royal Commission into media freedom and diversity in Australia.  Are you for or against such a Royal Commission?

3. COVID19 Immunity Passports

Do you support or oppose a requirement for people to carry around a Covid19 “immunity passport” for the purpose of entry into licensed venues / travel / sporting events?

[There will also be a brief Induction.]

2021 Semester Two - Week 1 - Market Stall

12-3pm, Wed 28 Jul 2021
Venue:  JCU Townsville Douglas Campus, in front of the Library

Say hello to us in person and talk to us about the Club. 

2020 Semester Two - Week 11 - Discussion Meeting (and SGM)

Meeting: 12-1pm, Thu 15 Oct 2020
Venue: Room 4-006 (Social Sciences Building).

Discussion Topics

1. HECS Fees Changes

The Federal Government will be changing HECS fees for different university studies.  What do you think of this?

2. China, Hong Kong and Drew Pavlou

Many Australian Universities have a Confucius Institute associated with the Chinese Ministry of Education. Are these Institutes a threat to the autonomy of Australian Universities?

3. COVID-19 Region Blocs

If QLD is hit by any more waves of COVID-19, would you be for or against a system in which the State is divided into three (or more) regions, with movement between regions heavily restricted?

There will also be a brief Special General Meeting to elect a Treasurer.  

2020 Semester Two - Week 9 - Annual General Meeting !

Meeting: 12pm-1 Wed 23 September 2020

Venue: Room 28-002  ("Marine and Tropical Biology 2" Building) 

[Semester One scheduled AGM was cancelled due to covid-19.]

2020 Semester One, Week 3   - Discussion Meeting

Meeting: 12pm-1 Tue 10 March 2020

Venue: Room 4-132  (Social Sciences Building) 

Discussion Topics:

1. To what degree should social media companies be required by Government to censor fake news items?

2. Australia supplies 32% of all internationally-traded coal.  The Australian Greens want a new policy in which no new coal mines are opened in Australia: would you be for or against this?   

3. Should voting in Australian Elections be made voluntary, or should it remain compulsory? 

About the JCU Political Discussion Club 

The PDC's aim is to promote balanced discussion and debate on the political issues of the day. 

The PDC ("Politics Club") is for people who are interested any of:

• social issues, politics (domestic, international) and current affairs 

• philosophy, ethics, economics, science, the environment 

Please contact info@jcupdc.com to be added to the email list.