The next issue of Debate Magazine is due out in early June. The focus is on Defence and strategic issues.

There is a long article on Defence policy which asks the question “Why is Defence treated as a second order issue by governments?” Following this there are two articles on Afghanistan which examine the strategic issues there. One of these is by Marion Le who is a frequent visitor to the country and the other is by Richard Filmer who has worked as an adviser to Hamid Karzai.

These articles are followed by three articles on food production; one on soil by Dr. Dave Davies, one on Water, and one on Food Miles by Kate Critchley.

We have an interesting article on the the role religious ideas play in the political philosophies of Kevin Rudd and Tony Abbott, by Ephraem Chifley, who is a well known theologian.

In the light of the Moran Report on reform of the public service there is an article by the CEO of a service delivery organisation, Geoff Casey, on the reform of public sector service delivery.

We have the usual back end pieces; two sets of book reviews, one of books on indigenous history and the other a review by Peter Gallagher of Gary Banks, the Chairman of the Productivity Commission's, latest musings.

There is an analysis of the television show The Wire by Alasdair McDonnell and a review of the national exhibition of Rupert Bunny, currently at the National Gallery of Victoria, by Jane Llewellyn Edwards.

I am also hopeful of having a film review by Chris Thompson, who has been a film director in Australia and Hollywood.

I am confident that this edition will be bigger and better than it has been before so look out for it at you local newsagent.