Society
On Her Majesty’s secret disservice
The reporter who uncovered the truth about Kim Philby, the 20th century’s most infamous spy, and his warnings for democratic society
The Monthly | Australian politics, society & culture
DAILY OPINION
Real or contrived, Morrison’s “Gladys for Warringah” push showcased his lack of respect for integrity and women
FEATURED
Real or contrived, Morrison’s “Gladys for Warringah” push showcased his lack of respect for integrity and women
What would a minority government look like?
Might Albanese be pushed by a crossbench of climate-focused independents or Morrison yoked to the rampaging anti-vaxxer far right?
Echidna poo has changed our understanding of human evolution
Citizen science is not only helping echidna conservation, but changing how we think about evolution
Helen Maudsley’s visual essays
The 94-year-old painter’s current exhibition reveals an interest in language and the mechanics of meaning
On Her Majesty’s secret disservice
The reporter who uncovered the truth about Kim Philby, the 20th century’s most infamous spy, and his warnings for democratic society
Resources
The fossil-fuel industry’s grip on Australian hearts and minds
Is there hope that public misconceptions of the importance of coal and gas can be overcome?
Politics
The unhinged pursuit of profit is destroying us
To undo the worst of neoliberalism we need to target need, rather than race or identity
Indigenous rights
There can be no republic without constitutional recognition of Indigenous Australians
Art
The artist making sculpture for penguins
How creating sculpture for animals is transforming wildlife conservation and the art world
Hannah Gadsby’s ‘Body of Work’
The comedian’s latest show is a work of self-love
Federal politics
What would a minority government look like?
Might Albanese be pushed by a crossbench of climate-focused independents or Morrison yoked to the rampaging anti-vaxxer far right?
Art
Helen Maudsley’s visual essays
The 94-year-old painter’s current exhibition reveals an interest in language and the mechanics of meaning
Asylum seekers
Australia needs to hear asylum seekers’ stories, in our own words
Our presence has preoccupied the nation, but our stories have been excluded from the national narrative
Indigenous rights
Revisiting trauma is not the road to justice for Aboriginal people
History of Australia
Did Federation compromise our democracy?
How the advent of Australia’s national government separated power from people and place
Politics
The success of Indi MP Helen Haines points to more non-aligned voices in parliament
Environment
Echidna poo has changed our understanding of human evolution
Citizen science is not only helping echidna conservation, but changing how we think about evolution
A homemade algorithm chooses every book I read
How a monumental to-read list turned into a spreadsheet that randomly selects books
Books
Final sentence: Gerald Murnane’s ‘Last Letter to a Reader’
The essay anthology that will be the final book from one of Australia’s most idiosyncratic authors
Music
New kid on the block: The Kid Laroi
How Australia has overlooked its biggest global music star, an Indigenous hip-hop prodigy
Film
The Bond market: ‘Dune’ and ‘No Time To Die’
Blockbuster season begins with a middling 007 and a must-see sci-fi epic
Books
‘Crossroads’ by Jonathan Franzen
The acclaimed US author’s latest novel is a 1971 church drama modelled on ‘Middlemarch’
Television
The US drama about teen plane-crash survivors is a heady mix of folk horror and high-school betrayal
Scott Morrison prepares for the fight of his life
Paul Bongiorno on what we’ll see as both leaders fight for their political future.
HOST Ruby Jones
GUEST Paul Bongiorno
The mystery of the vanishing Christmas beetles
Kara Jensen-Mackinnon on what happened to Australia’s Christmas beetles.
HOST Ruby Jones
GUEST Kara Jensen-Mackinnon
The toxic culture in Parliament House
Karen Middleton on what the Jenkins Report tells us about Australia’s political culture, and why it’s taking so long to change.
HOST Ruby Jones
GUEST Karen Middleton