Flat White
Mark Vaile and the new coal-black blacklist
This week has proved the National Party leadership is a poisoned chalice, even when someone hasn’t been leader for years.…
Three in five believe white Australians are ‘victims of discrimination to some extent’
It’s no surprise Inclusive Australia’s ‘Measuring Social Inclusion’ survey last year discovered three out of five respondents “believed that White Australians…
Is Perth the new Fallujah?
It’s a little complicated trying to stay on top of everything and all the premiers — or the coppers or…
Pugnacious polemic and Dark Emu
At the risk of seeming a little obsessed, and possibly boring readers, I wonder if I might be indulged in…
Do we overemphasise ‘smart’ ahead of ‘skilled’ or ‘practical’?
Living back in my hometown — being slightly starved of cultural content — I quickly bought tickets to Bri Lee’s…
John Anderson’s victory
The decision of the good pre-selectors of the National Party to resist the attempt by its remaining elder statesman, John…
Who really benefits from health care?
It’s not obvious who sets health care policy in Australia and it’s not obvious for whose benefit it even is.…
How we’re pushing the off button on China
Another Tuesday, another Essential Poll — one that has some fascinating insights on how we’ve cooled on China. Australians, it…
I joined the South Australian division of the Liberal Party…
Last week, I received a message from two friends on one day. They had tried to join the Liberal Party…
Crikey, it’s the Irwins
The biggest takeaway from Andrew Denton’s 2003 interview with Steve Irwin on Enough Rope was how much Steve idolised his father Bob.…
Is Joyce the right choice?
Having snapped at Nationals leader Michael McCormack’s heels for the best part of two years, forcibly deposed leader Barnaby Joyce…
Is this Australia’s William Jennings Bryan moment?
William Jennings Bryan? Never heard of him? Take a look at Wikipedia: William Jennings Bryan (March 19, 1860 – July…
Barnstormer
Scholars of the classics will remember that quote from This Is Spın̈al Tap: “It’s such a fine line between stupid…
Annastacia Palaszczuk crowns her coronavirus queen
Ironic. Coronavirus is known as coronavirus because of the “coronas”, the crown shapes on its cells. The measures taken against…
The national curriculum doesn’t just threaten our children. It’s a threat to the future of our nation
Australia’s educational performance has been in decline since the 1970s, but this is no accident. It is by design, curriculum…
Good. Gooder?
For decades, Australian men have been caricatured as foolish idiots in advertising. Men are presented as stupid, useless or otherwise…
Cannes goes off the planet
Seemingly infected by Thunbergism, the 2021 Cannes Film Festival, set to run from July 6 – 17, has re-imagined itself…
WA Police’s abuse of Covid app data destroys the rule of law
John Locke, seen by many as the father of our Western Liberal culture, once said “the end of law is…
Victoria: the failed punk rock state
I’m not saying Johnny Rotten is a prophet, but he kind of is. The manic-eyed lead singer of the Sex…
Dark Emu: the turkeys fight back
Well, Peter Sutton and Keryn Walshe certainly threw the Tasmanian devil among the scrub turkeys supporting Bruce Pascoe, with the…
What are we to make of the Julie Bishop Barbie?
In a week where various state premiers are competing to steal your takeaway coffee cups in a ‘war against plastic’,…
Coal isn’t just an energy issue, but also vital to defence
Australia’s ability to produce unlimited electricity has almost been lost thanks to myopic politicians captured by climate zeitgeist. Our nation’s…
Why the minimum wage increase won’t help the low skilled and low paid
The Fair Work Commission yesterday announced plans to increase Australia’s national minimum wage by 2.5% on July 1 of this…
Melbourne University’s attack on freedom, on women – and itself
Melbourne University has warned staff teaching a course on feminism they must not say anything that could cause harm to…
High noon for academic freedom at the High Court
The views expressed in this piece are those of the author and do not necessarily represent the views of Curtin…
