Flat White

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

‘Learnings’ for the lead up to Friday’s student strike for climate change

12 March 2019 7:48 am

Here’s an idea for English and Philosophy teachers for this coming Friday, March 15. Why don’t you do some Socratic…

Death on the Derwent: a new witness cries foul

11 March 2019 7:02 pm

In as emotional 60 Minutes interview last night, Meaghan Vass told the truth. ‘The objective evidence backs it up,’ as…

‘Corporate values’: any more than marketing?

11 March 2019 11:32 am

Have you ever wondered what ‘corporate values’ are? I must confess here that it is entirely possible that ‘values’ do…

Backwards & Forwards: the week in politics, the week to come

11 March 2019 6:00 am

Looking back If there’s a week to be rued by the Coalition if they lose the upcoming election badly, it’ll…

The hottest summer on record except for the ones that we’ve changed

10 March 2019 9:00 am

This last summer has been hot in south-eastern Australia. But was it the hottest ever? Summer 80 years ago was…

ABC Barbie

9 March 2019 8:07 am

Congratulations to Ita Buttrose for being designated the next ABC chair, where the former Murdoch and Packer editor will no…

Why will Big Public Health only fight smoking on their terms?

8 March 2019 5:24 pm

All states and territories in Australia have adopted tobacco control policies that make the possession of nicotine e-cigarettes or vaporisers,…

Quit ya whinging, Turnbull

8 March 2019 1:22 pm

There is a long-held tradition that Australian notables do not criticise their country, its leaders, government or policies when overseas.…

Modern Monetary Theory, same old mistakes

8 March 2019 12:05 pm

A radical 10-year plan which charts the course for a government takeover of the American economy has been proposed by…

Turnbull’s coup delusion – they weren’t afraid that I would lose, but I would win

7 March 2019 11:17 pm

Forget about Julie Bishop and her “I could have won the election” lines from Sunday. In an infinitely more damaging…

What’s the point of banning Milo?

7 March 2019 4:02 pm

Milo Yiannopoulos, alleged far-right demagogue, has now been banned from entering Australia due to the risk that he might ‘incite…

Thugby league can’t even get a gangbang right

7 March 2019 12:12 pm

I was sent the NRL Penrith Panthers sex-tapes and after viewing the videos, my sympathy is with the women. I…

Won’t somebody please think of not having children?

7 March 2019 7:28 am

There is now a group of some 60 men and women apparently, and no doubt growing fast, not least thanks…

Labor’s new abortion stance: ‘merciless, unjustified and simply wrong’

6 March 2019 7:18 pm

Traditionally, the Australian Labor Party, has been a product of Judeo-Christian values. But with the unveiling of Labor’s new abortion…

Time to tackle the bullies or risk freedom of speech

6 March 2019 4:07 pm

While American conservatives can rejoice after President Trump announced an executive order to withdraw funding from public universities if they don’t uphold…

Just to re-Itarate for Their ABC

6 March 2019 1:44 pm

Perhaps the government does have an eye on the women’s vote with its choice of Ita Buttrose as the new…

The elephants in the polling booth: infrastructure and immigration

6 March 2019 7:24 am

With the New South Wales state election now just a few weeks away, all the respective parties are out there…

What’s woke this week?

5 March 2019 6:09 pm

It’s been another big week for woke, especially in the literary world (and I use that term loosely). We’ve seen…

Why Twitter brings out my worst

5 March 2019 3:24 pm

As a full-time freelance writer – having transitioned from law practice at midlife, accursed with all the selfish, self-doubting sensibilities…

Surfers snake Bight oil facts and jobs

5 March 2019 11:40 am

Move over, Adani. There’s a new group of protesters in town, and they are as fanatical as the zealots using…

American Socialism and the coming Great Leap Backwards

5 March 2019 7:29 am

It was never going to be the case, even under the most perfect Marxist Communism, that the proletariat would rule…

Philosoph Van has done it again

4 March 2019 7:02 pm

Jordan Peterson’s appearance on the ABC’s leftist echo chamber, Q&A, was quite the ratings hit recently. But one of the…

Deny democracy, feed the fringe

4 March 2019 3:29 pm

Just a few days ago we awoke to the news that firebrand British Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn had finally caved…

Blood sisters, dirt brothers and other brand new inanities

4 March 2019 11:48 am

I’ve often tried to challenge myself to come up with a scenario that so-called ‘progressives’ might invent that is just…

Julie Bishop and the wars of succession

4 March 2019 7:35 am

While Julie Bishop is retiring from politics at the next election, the recriminations and regrets that have been flowing through…