For ardent republicans, this is the most testing of weeks, and those of us who support the notion of Australia remaining a constitutional monarchy ought to be especially sensitive to the appalling spectre that confronts these tortured souls. A new opinion poll puts support for an Australian republic at the lowest level in 17 years, with 41 per … [Read more...] about #22 HAPPY AND GLORIOUS
#21 THE OLLEY AND THE ARCHIES
Controversy invariably dogs Australia’s most celebrated art award – The Archibald Prize for portraiture – and fortunately for those of us who love a good artistic stoush, this year is no exception. As the hordes descend on the Art Gallery of New South Wales this weekend for the usually suffocating launch of the Archibald Exhibition, all eyes will … [Read more...] about #21 THE OLLEY AND THE ARCHIES
#20 A NATION HOSTAGE TO ONE MAN’S EGO
It's inconceivable that in any other western democracy, a national leader would tolerate a cabinet minister behaving as a parallel figure on the world stage and actively undermining the whole edifice of government at home. Yet that's precisely what Australia's Julia Gillard is doing through her failure to crush the audacious come-back campaign … [Read more...] about #20 A NATION HOSTAGE TO ONE MAN’S EGO
#19 SAVING THE MANGY FLYING KANGAROO
Grubsheet boards a Qantas flight to Perth this weekend with the same trepidation that now routinely accompanies our every trip on the iconic national carrier. For once, our client is paying for us to fly in the "pointy end" but we still share some of the burdens of those less fortunate souls in "cattle class" - the same fetid air and disconcerting … [Read more...] about #19 SAVING THE MANGY FLYING KANGAROO
#18 CHAIRMAN FRANK’S PACIFIC COUP
Australia's impotence in influencing events in its own backyard is being demonstrated in dramatic fashion this week as the Fijian dictator, Frank Bainimarama, fulfils his long-held ambition to assume the chairmanship of the Melanesian Spearhead Group. All of the other Melanesian leaders - from Papua New Guinea, the Solomons, Vanuatu plus the Kanak … [Read more...] about #18 CHAIRMAN FRANK’S PACIFIC COUP
#17 THE LIGHT ON THE HILL EXTINGUISHED
The Australian Labor Party's worst election result in New South Wales in more than a century can't simply be written off as an enraged electorate taking its revenge on a corrupt and incompetent government. It's also the writing on the wall for federal Labor as its traditional support base of aspirational blue and white collar workers and … [Read more...] about #17 THE LIGHT ON THE HILL EXTINGUISHED