Re-vamping the Pacific: will Australia ‘step up’ or ‘step out’?
In 2014, I wrote a short piece on the Pacific Islands that found its way, surprisingly, across the globe and into the Bangladeshi…
Australia stubbornly refuses to become a republic – with good reason
Back in high school days, a group of fellow students at a model United Nations conference rankled the organisers by…
A farewell to the Duke of Edinburgh
Prince Philip once said that his job – first, second and last – was ‘to never let the Queen down’.…
Aussie winds, republican kite-flying
Today, November 6, marks the twenty-first anniversary of the 1999 republic referendum. Two decades on, republican lobbyists are on the…
Sco Mo, Josh: this is what we need to hear tomorrow
Many Australians rightly look back on the Hawke-Keating-Howard-Costello era of the 1980s and 1990s as Australia’s golden era of reform. From the…
Not so accidental guerillas: how to counter the modern rioter
“They sayin’ Black Lives Matter and all this stuff,” he said. “But man, you’re hurting the black community.” These are the…
Republicans: time to accept the truth of the matter
With all the focus republican lobbyists have placed on the Palace Letters – a move that has backfired considerably –…
The ‘Palace letters’ should remind republicans: be careful what you wish for
Australian Republicans are excited by the High Court’s ruling to release the so-called ‘Palace letters’. The 200 or so letters, which contain…
A corona communique to Pirate Pete and pals: how about we fix federation before trying a republic?
It was former Labor Prime Minister Paul Keating who supposedly said ‘Never get between a Premier and a bag of…
Corona crisis cancelled my wedding, but may it never harm our long-term liberty
I was due to be married in Australia on May 9. But, even six weeks away, it is not to…
Built to last in the internet age
Peter Kirstein – a creator of the internet and the man who helped Queen Elizabeth hit ‘send’ on her first…
What would Winston do?
The end of the month marks 55 years since Winston Churchill’s death. With an estimated 10,000 books on the great man, one…
Ten reasons to stand tall on Australia Day – 10 reasons and one extra
As another Australia Day approaches and the inevitable wagons of shame begin to circle, it’s worth touching on the things…
Only our silliest republicans are excited by Megxit. Are the others wising up?
Prince Harry and Meghan Markle’s announcement to step back as “senior royals” has predictably drawn fierce speculation – former palace press secretary Dickie…
As Ronald Reagan said, it’s a time for choosing
“I have an uncomfortable feeling that this prosperity isn’t something on which we can base our hopes for the future,”…
Asylum – or arrogant entitlement?
The high-profile story of the deportation of the Sri Lankan Murugappan family has reminded us of the perennial tension between…
National Flag Day: a time to celebrate continuity, tradition and unity
Each year, Australia’s National Flag Day is celebrated on September 3. The date commemorates when the flag was first flown…
How Malcolm Turnbull sunk his beloved republic for a generation
Personality in politics is like salt to a dish – a pinch here or there is not a bad thing.…
Brexit chaos, a new UK PM: a perfect time to discuss the Anglosphere
Two years of Brexit logjam has invited a sudden flurry of activity – the resignation of a prime minister, the…
Is our next Governor-General too safe, too male, too white?
In my book Winners Don’t Cheat, which is aimed at young Australians but accessible to all ages, I warn against identifying…
Pirate Pete and pals chart constitutional chaos
Bill Shorten has committed to holding a referendum for a republic within his first term if he becomes Australia’s thirty-first…
Getting better with Menzies: reconnecting with good values
While the Canberra leadership game evolves, for the rest of us it can pay to look at the only thing…
Hey, dudes, back off: a defence of millennials
I fully appreciate that millennials – “cossetted, pampered and spoiled” – deserve a good touch up. After all, I am…
How identity politics programs for failure
Safe spaces. Cry closets. Emotional support animals. While Australian campuses are yet to import such features the notion of restricting…
