Flat White

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

Robert Menzies “we forgot to go beforehand” people

17 January 2021 7:00 am

If you need reminding of the depths to which the Liberal Party has fallen — particularly in the lobbyists’ playground…

The sixth ‘c’ shaping Australia–India relations: China

16 January 2021 6:42 pm

On December 30, the Australian’s business section reported that China is cutting Australian wheat imports. Meanwhile, a front-page story said that in…

Covidintimacy for covidiots

16 January 2021 4:27 pm

“There is no greater glory than to die for love” cries Florentino Ariza in Gabriel Garcia Marquez’s, Love in the Time of Cholera.…

Finally, something to keep Malcolm and Krazy Kev off the streets

16 January 2021 2:03 pm

Is there a better reason to export Malcolm Turnbull and Kevin Rudd? They can go and consult to the US…

What on earth is wrong with saying “all lives matter”?

15 January 2021 4:28 pm

It’s that time of the year again where no one’s doing all that much and the most innocuous comments are…

Still not cheered by the change from Coon – and now there’s a Scrabble scuffle brewing

15 January 2021 12:26 pm

Every parent knows that if you give in to your toddler’s temper tantrums, you will receive as your reward even…

The China threat and the art of war

15 January 2021 5:00 am

The war being conducted by the Chinese Communist Party against the democratic, free world, particularly Australia has predictable and understandable strategies. Under the Xi Jinping dictatorship, clear principles of…

Canberra’s modern monetary theory dreamers are lost wandering their wonderland

14 January 2021 7:05 pm

There are certain human inventions that the world would probably be much better without. Things like nuclear and biological weapons…

There’s no scientific need to expose Australians to suffering. We need vaccine reciprocity now

14 January 2021 5:25 pm

As the city of Brisbane once again goes into full lockdown, borders remain closed, and businesses nation-wide are being decimated, the Australian…

Everything you always wanted to know about the public sector* (*but were afraid to ask)

14 January 2021 4:36 pm

Out of the mouths of babes and … Daniel Andrews? Amazing, but true. The Oz reports: Victorian private sector workplaces…

Welcome to the Age of the Goldfish

14 January 2021 5:00 am

I hope you all have a good memory, because you are going to need it.  Modern political events are being…

This is the politics the left made – based on threats of power, not peaceful persuasion

13 January 2021 7:13 pm

I guess like me you’ve been more than a little shocked at the Republican “insurrection” in the United States. But…

The two left wings

13 January 2021 4:04 pm

May I recommend the brilliant writing and analysis of Kevin Williamson in the National Review? He recently authored this nugget titled Joe…

No penises in the pool? Puh-lease!

13 January 2021 12:48 pm

For almost one hundred years, Sydney women have been able to bathe at Coogee’s ladies-only pool, free from the prying…

Coronavirus: we’ve barely scratched the surface of the economic contagion

13 January 2021 5:39 am

Normally, I strut into a New Year full of motivation, inspiration and sass. Much like an underfed clothes horse down…

Today’s cold-blooded political animals are solar-powered

12 January 2021 5:35 pm

Now that it’s high summer, you might see a lizard, sunning itself on a rock. Lizards don’t just get their energy…

Now the Nats are choosing cute 'n' cuddly with koalas over facts

12 January 2021 2:49 pm

New South Wales Deputy Premier John Barilaro has ‘kissed and made up’ with Environment Minister Matt ‘Green’ Kean after taking time…

How our governments – and governance – could be improved by term limits

12 January 2021 5:00 am

After a contentious two-year term capped off by a tumultuous 2020, January 3 marked the beginning of the 117th Congress…

Why we want foreign students with a commitment to Australia

11 January 2021 7:31 pm

Last summer, BC — Before Covid — a friend and I strolled around Canberra’s university precinct, called ‘The China Quarter’…

Daniel Andrews: the pissants’ premier

11 January 2021 5:11 pm

Victorian Premier, Daniel Andrews, leads a crumbling and unworthy public sector that is working against the interests of those who…

WA's Mark McGowan lets the COVID cat out of the bag

11 January 2021 2:41 pm

Fresh from the Oz: Western Australian premier Mark McGowan has called on NSW to fall in line with the other…

Why the pandemic secrecy and censorship?

11 January 2021 5:00 am

There is no justification for the uniquely high-level of secrecy the Australian government has maintained throughout the COVID-19 pandemic. A…

Deadly virus kills our freedoms

10 January 2021 5:04 pm

It has been fascinating to watch how different countries have dealt with the Covid-19 pandemic. Some nations have been nothing…

We have banned hate speech. Now we must ban hate votes

10 January 2021 5:00 am

Drongo alert: this piece may contain traces of satire and irony. We have banned hate speech in order to protect…

Not the death of democracy – not even close

9 January 2021 5:59 pm

Contrary to the aphorism and what you’re seeing in America, things don’t fall apart, the centre nearly always holds.   Despite what you read democracy…