A night at the football match shows a loss of priorities. A tram ride through Sydney’s streets does as well. Furthermore, a government decision to join a highly controversial Middle East war indicates the same issue.

These examples show how the country has lost sight of what truly matters. These events reflect significant issues.

For many Australians, the day began with something familiar, the return of the Australian Football League (AFL) season.

The AFL is Australia’s premier sporting competition. Aussie Rules, as it’s commonly known, is a spectacle of physical poetry. It combines speed, endurance, courage, and skill. These elements collide in a uniquely Australian sporting theatre.

For several hours, the spectacle offered something rare in an increasingly turbulent world: escapism. For a moment, football pushed everything else aside.

The final siren sounds, the crowd disperses, and reality inevitably returns. And on March 5, 2026, reality is grim.

The date also marks day five of a calamitous war that never should have begun.

On February 28, the US and Israel launched a blistering strike against Iran with regime change in mind.

However, Iran appears to be winning a war. The Americans and Israelis think this war is impossible.

The war initiated by Trump without Congress’s approval raises serious constitutional questions within the US itself.

It also raises profound legal questions under international law. The use of force against a sovereign nation is widely considered unlawful if not done in immediate self-defense.

Despite these concerns, Australia has now chosen to involve itself.

The decision by the Albanese government to commit Australian military resources is not just a strategic mistake. It is also a moral, legal, and constitutional failure.

Australia has no existential stake in this war. Iran hasn’t attacked Australia.

It poses no immediate threat to Australian sovereignty. There’s no clear national interest that justifies the involvement of Australian forces. This war is spiralling into a broader regional catastrophe.

Once again, Australia appears willing to follow Washington into another Middle Eastern war.

Many Australians appeared largely unaware of the unfolding geopolitical crisis. They seemed unaware of the news that Australia was committing military resources to the Middle East.

Australia is one of the wealthiest countries in the world. Rich in resources, stable institutions and economic opportunity, and yet homelessness continues to grow in major cities across the country.

So, the question becomes unavoidable.

Why does a wealthy nation struggle to house its own? At the same time, it finds the political will to fund military involvement in foreign wars.

Why can’t a government adequately address domestic housing and social crises? Why does it feel compelled to send Australian resources thousands of kilometres away?

The answer is as obvious as it is simple. Australia is now controlled by the Israeli lobby and remains a subservient lapdog to the US.

Of all Australians. ASIO’s Chief spy. Mike Burgess’s recent secret meeting with war criminal and Israel’s President, Isaac Herzog, reaffirms that.

The uncomfortable answer may lie in Australia’s long-standing strategic culture.

For decades, Australian governments of both major political parties have reflexively aligned themselves with American foreign policy decisions.

From Vietnam to Iraq to Afghanistan, Australia has repeatedly followed Washington into conflicts. These conflicts have delivered questionable benefits to Australia’s own national interest.

Everything is based on a lie. Australian men and women have been sacrificed for American economic interests. This is for hegemonic purposes. Not Australian interest.

The emerging war against Iran risks becoming the latest chapter in that history.

Supporting military operations in the Middle East may strengthen alliance optics. However, it does little to address the challenges facing Australians at home.

One that prioritizes diplomacy, independence and the welfare of Australians?

Or one that continues to pursue criminals into costly conflicts? These conflicts carry immense costs and offer little tangible benefit to the Australian people.

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