Flat White

In-depth analysis of the day’s news, plus stories and gossip from Australian politics.

Chris Bowen’s out, but will Albo heed his warning on religious freedom?

23 May 2019 12:59 pm

It is slowly starting to dawn on some Labor voters that Australians with a traditional Christian worldview are feeling somewhat…

Ten more reasons Labor lost the unlosable election

23 May 2019 8:11 am

Most people I speak to think that as a nation, we just dodged a bullet. And even those who voted…

The app that could see GetUp downed

22 May 2019 6:49 pm

In an era where political parties and policy advocates on the right are struggling to find new ways to engage…

Tony Abbott: with thanks to the fallen warrior

22 May 2019 5:26 pm

Last night former prime minister Tony Abbott succumbed to a perfect political storm: a climate zealot candidate dressed up as…

A progressive ALP is unelectable

22 May 2019 1:37 pm

There used to be a line in the Lord’s Prayer which went: “But lead us not into temptation; and deliver…

The Israel Folau affair: Kafka – or John le Carré?

21 May 2019 8:04 pm

In the midst of the coalition’s ‘miraculous’ come from behind win at the federal election was the news that Israel…

Only a dragon and a bottle of bleach separates Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez from Daenerys Targaryen

21 May 2019 5:25 pm

Judging by the social media response, the only people to appreciate the “Game of Thrones” series finale might be politics and…

Will Labor listen?

21 May 2019 2:44 pm

When Labor’s Chris Bowen told voters, “If you don’t like our policies, don’t vote for us,” it was an applaudable…

Let me feel your pain (so I can claim it as mine)

21 May 2019 1:44 pm

Since Scott Morrison’s election victory on Saturday night, TV personality Lisa Wilkinson, has penned a virtue-signalling column for 10Daily, titled…

Where the division of identity politics gets you

21 May 2019 7:53 am

It was Labor’s political owl Graham Richardson, who, just a couple of weeks before the event, was promoting his presence…

CBD: the people – ugh – have spoken

20 May 2019 5:16 pm

Our perspicacious political insider writes exclusively: CBD never understood how many nerve endings are ensconced in one’s sconce. CBD’s election…

With media mates like this it’s no wonder Labor lost

20 May 2019 2:32 pm

It’s ironic that Labour’s defeat may be sheeted home to some of its strongest, most vocal allies; the supposed national…

A welcome – but predictable – victory

20 May 2019 10:56 am

The election result surprised pollsters, punters and most commentators. But as I argued early last Wednesday on the Spectator Australia…

Rowan Dean: I predicted all along that Morrison would win

20 May 2019 7:41 am

The Coalition has been returned to government. Bill Shorten lost the “unlosable” election and Scott Morrison won – funnily enough,…

Unlike the big boys the Spectator Australia called it way before

20 May 2019 12:27 am

About that Labor landslide… Remember how the Berejiklian government would just hang on or be swept away in a tidal…

Ten reasons Labor lost the unlosable election

19 May 2019 9:09 pm

Well, he did it. Bill Shorten snatched defeat right out of the jaws of victory. Which is all the more…

Yassmin: democracy is always a risk for those of us who know better

19 May 2019 3:22 pm

You don’t really think a night like last night would have gone by without a pithy and pertinent observation from…

The biggest dill on Capital Hill

19 May 2019 1:53 pm

I’m pleased to meet you, my name’s Bill I’m the biggest dill on Capital Hill. Born in Melbourne where I…

It’s the coal wot won it

19 May 2019 3:52 am

That and other post-election news and analysis appearing in your Flat White from later Sunday. Got something to add? Join…

Election party 2022: chuck another possum on the barbie?

18 May 2019 8:46 am

The Greens want to replace ancient grasslands and modern croplands with trees. They worship eucalypt weeds while chipping away at…

Mr Shorten, we knew Bob Hawke…

17 May 2019 2:27 pm

It didn’t take long, did it? After yesterday likening himself to Gough Whitlam, this morning Bill Shorten used Labor’s greatest…

The making of a millennial conservative

17 May 2019 12:55 pm

I pre-polled early this year, as I will be out of the country on election day. Usually I can’t be…

CBD: it’s GULAG for government with SM stalled

17 May 2019 11:06 am

Our perspicacious political insider writes exclusively: After today it’s virtually over. CBD is emotionally exhausted. The worry, the panic of…

Do it for Bob

17 May 2019 9:08 am

The hashtag bobbed up as the news spread last night: #DoItForBob. Yes. Let’s. Spectator types in particular. Let’s have a…

Election eve thoughts on the least worst of the least worst

17 May 2019 2:00 am

High Commissioner to London George Brandis brings the election day charity sausage sizzle to the largest polling booth of them…