November 1, 2015
The new normal
Politics
A welcome to Turnbull and a farewell to slogans
Don Watson
By this author
August 1, 2015
Method in the madness
Politics
Tony Abbott’s surprises keep coming
December 1, 2014
Whitlam’s ghost
Australian Politics
Remembering Gough Whitlam puts modern Labor to shame
March 1, 2014
The conservative crusade against the ABC
Federal politics
Why do Andrew Bolt and company love to hate the national broadcaster?
February 1, 2014
Lest we go over the top
History Wars
How should we remember World War One?
November 1, 2013
Tony Abbott apologises
Prime ministers
The prime minister is sorry about everything
September 1, 2013
The all-purpose election victory speech
Politicians
Thank you, thank you, thank you, no, really, please, thank you. A short time ago, my opponent called me to offer his congratulations. He’s a good bloke, whatever his colleagues might say. I thank him and I thank Australia, and the people of Australia. …
August 1, 2013
In praise of Tony Windsor
Politics
Fan mail for the former MP
November 1, 2012
The Kings and I
Horse racing’s inegalitarian streak
August 2, 2012
Comment: A New Dusk
Tertiary education
In 1967, when La Trobe University was brand new and underpopulated, John O’Brien, an Irish historian with a wild and feverish laugh, told us about the enemy within. It was not for anything the administration had done, or any of the horrid things that …
June 1, 2012
A New Opium
Richard Dawkins
The Anzac cult
April 4, 2012
Comment: Blessed are the Wealth-makers
Global financial crisis
In 1848 a drover named O’Shaughnessy, the son of a convict, came across a man living in a gunyah in the reed beds of the Lachlan River with a few cows. O’Shaughnessy faded quickly from history, but the man in the reeds, also the son of a convict, …