In-depth analysis of the day’s news, plus stories and gossip from Australian politics.
Matthew, Mark, Luke and John? Sorry, but there’s only one gospel – the Gospel According to Dan
Those who accuse the Victorian Government of trying to remove religion from the public square with their so-called gay conversion…
Mark McGowan, the new Prince Leonard
Keen observers of Australian politics will recall that on January 31 last year, by decree of His Royal Highness, Prince…
Politicians, advice – and advisors
Given the content of this and prior pieces, it is fair to assume that I am a largish consumer of…
Two can play the cancel game
Conservatives, can we all agree to stop apologizing for our politics and beliefs? Can we choose to back ourselves, and…
What’s the solution to aged care squalor? Us
The Royal Commission on Aged Care finally reported yesterday. The two commissioners, Tony Pagone and Lynelle Briggs, between them made…
Government and little people: the democratic divide in Danandrewstan
The disconnect between the protected public sector and mainstream Victorians was perfectly encapsulated by the Secretary of the Department of…
Banned: sweet singing in the choir
The Sunday before last I went to the basketball where the courtside announcer encouraged us to chant “defence, defence” as…
Why governments secretly love our crazy house and assets boom
There’s no inflation. The experts tell us so. The Clerics of Martin Place, our highly paid monetary gurus at the Reserve Bank, have declared that…
What will it be for Zak Kirkup?
In the book of Ecclesiastes, we are told “there is nothing new under the sun.” It is true in most…
My mother is stuck overseas because of Covid-19. Now the Tax Office want to punish her for that
My mother may have to pay $50,000 in tax because she found herself in Russia during the coronavirus pandemic. She…
Dear Nicolle Flint, we’re all sick of the hypocrisy too
The list of those saddened by Nicolle Flint’s announcement that she will leave politics is extensive. Residents in her Adelaide…
Welcome to Spectator Australia TV
We’re excited to be launching Spectator Australia TV and CounterCulture, a new weekly web show and podcast presented by Institute…
If Craig Kelly wants to strike while the iron’s hot…
When he resigned from the Liberal Party last week, Craig Kelly signalled that he would be seeking to highlight the…
The World Economic Forum: ‘lockdowns are improving cities around the world’
The World Economic Forum — an economic think tank that thinks it’s great that everything is closed — announced today…
Stand by for Spectator Australia TV
You’ve just enjoyed today’s Outsiders — and there’s more to come. More to come very, very soon. Stand by for…
EXCLUSIVE: Danandrewstan, when Extinction Rebellion can march on March 22, but diggers can’t on April 25
Earlier this month, to the fury of veterans, Melbourne’s Anzac Day March was cancelled for the second year running, with…
Victimhood feminism: whatever happened to empowering women?
As a teenage boy who saw his mother beaten and assaulted as a result of domestic violence I’m the first…
Dear Prime Minister, Australia is not a racist country
Although I was born overseas I consider myself a very proud citizen of this country. Australia is widely recognised as one of…
Covid-19 jabs: mandatory or voluntary?
The Covid vaccine rollout has boosted the optimism of many who pin hope of a rapid recovery from the pandemic on the medication’s efficacy. But it is raising important questions around whether it should…
You don’t protect people by destroying their livelihoods
You may have seen reports that the UK’s top court has decided that Uber drivers are not independent contractors. Australian unions are excited…
No Mickey Mouse business. Here’s the Celebrity Climate Change Club
Trigger warning: the following article may contain satire. Before he boarded a private jet to make the journey from Sydney to Byron Bay last…
Victory? We’ve been outmanoeuvred by Facebook and Google
The federal parliament has passed the so-called ‘News Media and Digital Platforms Mandatory Bargaining Code’. Despite the name, and the…
#ScottyFromMarketing – and Ant from Ant’s Used Cars?
For what ever reason, Prime Minister Scott Morrison has been colloquially named “Scotty from Marketing”. No doubt it is a…
In defence of Linda Reynolds
Defence minister Linda Reynolds is a decent person. She is honourable and compassionate, as well as someone whose talents and…
Want cultural change in politics? Rescue politics from the political class
The entrenchment of the political class in parliaments across the nation is a rising issue in Australian politics. It is…
Editor’s picks
Magazine
