Mungo MacCallum (Dec’d)

It is impossible to overstate the legacy of Jack Mundey. (more…)

A three cornered contest, they warned us – messy and unpredictable. But what did they know? The fiasco of the Eden-Monaro by-election already has at least seven corners, and counting. (more…)

I must admit to a moment of apprehension before unloading the COVID-19 app; anything that involves Amazon or Stuart Robert has to be either incompetent or dodgy or both. (more…)

Finally, it’s safe to get back in the water – well some bits of it, some of the time, as long as you behave. (more…)

So: eight modern Liberal PMs, one prematurely deceased, three (possibly) in the roll of faithful old boys and four definite apostates having left the building. Not much of a record of loyalty over the last 70 years. (more…)

It has only taken a week for the simple beauty of JobKeepers to become a little tarnished. (more…)

Cardinal George Pell (we must resume his proper title now) is out of prison and is seeking asylum with an order of Carmelite nuns in Sydney. But his real protectors are the loyalists who always refused to believe he was guilty, and are now running a fierce campaign for his immediate canonisation.

(more…)

Well, that should be out of the way for the next four months. Having shrugged off the minor and temporary distraction of parliament, Scott Morrison can resume doing what he is best at – marketing himself and his often dubious achievements.  (more…)

In the modelling for COVID-19, the real world evidence is too immediate, too stark to be wished away by nitpicking. (more…)

Two hearty cheers for ScoMo and his $130 billion JobKeeper package. (more…)

The pandemic is not an excuse to close down the parliament, it is a vital reason to keep it going. (more…)

Barbers are considered essential, but the MPs are considered redundant in a way they have never been, not during wars, depressions and previous pandemics. (more…)

Scott Morrison’s National Cabinet is working pretty well so far. (more…)

Communities encourage and enhance the general well-being and co-operation needed to keep society going, the idea of a common wealth. (more…)

The bulk of the cash splash goes to business, and is unlikely to trickle down into the pockets of consumers in the foreseeable future. (more…)

It would be harsh and uncaring to admit a modicum of satisfaction at the news that Peter Dutton has contracted coronavirus. (more…)

The frazzled Josh Frydenberg more or less admits that his beloved surplus is about to become collateral damage; he will reluctantly kiss it goodbye. (more…)

Scott Morrison has stopped even pretending to mount a coherent argument over his sports rorts plagued administration. (more…)

Desperate for political rehabilitation after his negligence and mismanagement after the bushfires, our leader has taken full control of the situation.
(more…)

The ASIO response was the same as all his predecessors,not to mention Oliver Twist: more, please. (more…)

Scott Morrison’s technology diversion remains a roadmap without a destination, without milestones or landmarks, without a recognisable path and without even a clearly defined starting point. (more…)

We can no longer pretend that Australia is not largely dependent on our great northern neighbour,its physical and economic health and crucially, its goodwill. (more…)

The Coalition war is over climate change and whether the city-based moderates or the reactionary rural rump will prevail. (more…)

Barnaby Joyce is focused and determined to the point of egomania, and utterly ruthless in the process. That is what makes him dangerous. (more…)

Turnbull’s legacy may not be one he will boast about, but it will certainly be remembered. (more…)

Scott Morrison is nothing if not a marketeer. Or, to put it more precisely, he is nothing except a marketeer. (more…)