Flat White
Parliamentary perks: entitlement versus inconvenience
They say that if you want friends in politics you should get a dog, but if pollies want to find…
What went wrong with The Economist?
I first encountered The Economist magazine as an undergraduate at the London School of Economics in the early 1960s. Richard Lipsey…
South Australia: political geography and globalisation
In 1996 I published Globalising Australian Capitalism. The book generally gave a favourable account of the then bipartisan policy response…
Sussan Ley: every cloud has a silver lining
Notwithstanding investigations under way into stood-aside Health minister Sussan Ley’s touching fondness for the Gold Coast, it now appears she…
Legal euthanasia for Victoria? Beware
Victorian Parliamentary Secretary for Treasury and Finance, Daniel Mulino, has hit back at suggestions that assisted suicide and euthanasia can…
Meryl darling, check your privilege
What is there to say about Meryl Streep’s speech at the Golden Globes that hasn’t been said already? Probably nothing,…
What? The Age is still publishing?
Back from hols and what do I find? Much to my surprise, there’s still a print edition of The Age.…
The RSL must embrace change or die
Once Australia’s premier veterans’ advocacy organisation, the Returned and Services League is in rapid if not terminal decline. Its leadership…
The solution to the F-35 nightmare
We who have fought on the side of the angels in the global warming battle may soon have our rest.…
Serious-ley, Prime Minister?
Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull has blundered today by referring his embattled Health Minister Sussan Ley’s travel claims off to the…
Trump and Russia: too much too soon
Donald Trump wants closer and friendly ties with Russia and has long declared he will push for a realignment towards…
On sh-t art
We’re now well into the thirteenth hour, where basically all modern art is the epitome of what’s wrong with modern…
Big Brother is watching you (for training purposes)
As the dust settles after the momentous earthquakes of Trump and Brexit, one fact remains standing amongst the rubble: our…
Parliamentary travel for dummies
Much like 2016 to beloved celebrities, or quiet Friday night drinks to one’s brain cells, travel allowance can kill even…
Why we hate campaigning celebrities
Admit it. For just a fleeting moment you thought to yourself, ‘I hope Trump does go on a fascist rampage,…
Chrenkoff and the delcon ding-dong
One of my Facebook friends has re-published my piece on The Road to Ruin his wall, and boy, haven’t I…
The war on Christianity in the Arab world continues
As you celebrate with your loved ones the New Year, spare a thought for the Christians in the Middle East…
The Road to Ruin (traveled slowly)
At the beginning of last month, until I was rudely interrupted by a Jordanian hacker, I started writing thoughts on…
South Australia: two turning points for the economy
The Mike Rann Labor government was formed in South Australia in 2002 and thereafter enjoyed a decent decade. It then…
Nanny won’t trust us with cold and flu tablets?
The announcement by the Therapeutic Goods Administration that pharmaceutical products that contain codeine will no longer be available over the…
The success of soft multiculturalism
Australian politicians feel it necessary to keep reminding the public that their country is the most successful multicultural society in…
Israel is Jewish
At a time when Australian Christians have been celebrating Christmas and the New Year and Australian Jews marking the Festival…
2016 an annus horribilis? Grow up
We close 2016 with the knowledge that it will be remembered as one of the most momentous years in modern…
Is the defender of the faith quailing?
Firstly, let me say in response to that headline, I doubt it. The Queen has spoken frankly throughout her life…
Obama’s destruction of Israel
I remember a few months back Benjamin Netanyahu gave a striking order to his cabinet ministers: ‘First of all, the…
