Paul Sheehan

Paul Sheehan

Paul Sheehan is a columnist and editorial writer for The Sydney Morning Herald, where he has has been Day Editor and Washington correspondent. He is the author of two number-one best-sellers, 'Girls Like You' and 'Among The Barbarians' and been published in The New Yorker, The Atlantic, The New York Times and numerous anthologies.

Paul Sheehan

Peris must rise above kneecapping

Paul Sheehan

Paul Sheehan For several years the second-most famous Aboriginal woman in Australia, after Cathy Freeman, was Nova Peris-Kneebone and her fame was greatly helped by her delightful name.

Paul Sheehan

Learn from Asian culture of success

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Paul Sheehan Anglo-Celtic men may still dominate the leadership of Australia, but they are relegated to the second rank at this time of year. The relegation is even more pronounced this time.

Paul Sheehan

Muddying waters on way to polls

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Paul Sheehan It was no doubt keenly noted in the Prime Minister's office that even though Barack Obama enjoyed a decisive 55 per cent to 45 per cent advantage over Mitt Romney in this year's presidential...

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Paul Sheehan

Abbott suffering a Labor Party stoning

Paul Sheehan Tony Abbott is a hack. A dog. An aggressive, carping, bitter, mindless, deceptive, dodgy, mendacious, rancid, negative, nasty, muck-raking, untruthful, obstructionist, opportunistic, sexist,...

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Paul Sheehan

Race up the rankings is really a class issue

Paul Sheehan

Paul Sheehan A teacher I know recently asked her schoolchildren a question we often ask each other without really caring about the answer: ''Did you enjoy the weekend?''

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Paul Sheehan

Greens stay silent after abject elections

Paul Sheehan It was surprising how little was made about the meltdown in the Greens vote in statewide local elections held in NSW over the weekend.

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Paul Sheehan

Don't look up to great athletes just because they're on a podium

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Paul Sheehan One of the most demanding events at the Olympics is also one of the most neglected - the heptathlon, in which athletes must compete in seven track and field events, from javelin to hurdles.

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Paul Sheehan

Brit trick is an insult to the system

Michael Mucci illustration

Paul Sheehan In recent days John McTernan, the director of communications for the Prime Minister, Julia Gillard, has indulged a taste for insult. Here are some samples of his writings via the medium of Twitter:

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Paul Sheehan

Ruckus puts referendum out of reach

Tent embassy protesters march on Parliament (Thumbnail)

Paul Sheehan At least the Aboriginal tent embassy in Canberra has finally achieved one constructive thing in its 40 years as a moral eyesore: it helped kill off the proposed amendment to enshrine racial...

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Paul Sheehan

Woman in the wooden mask remains unable to break from type

Paul Sheehan

Paul Sheehan The recurring mystery of Australian politics is why the first woman Prime Minister in our history, who has shown a quick wit in Parliament, warmth when dealing with the public face-to-face, and...

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Parents the X-factor in education rankings

Classroom

Paul Sheehan To not care about lifting up the poor schools is to not care about the Australian ethos of egalitarianism.

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Paul Sheehan

Cast adrift from reality, the slick spruikers of 'our' shame

Paul Sheehan The water in Sydney Harbour over the New Year weekend was clear, the sky was bright blue and endless, and the new fashion on the beach was bikini-clad women wearing pork-pie hats. A great look.

Paul Sheehan

Green by name, flaky by nature

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Paul Sheehan Adam Bandt's first major policy initiative as the only member of the Greens in the House of Representatives was always going to be loaded with symbolism.

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Paul Sheehan

Wild rivers a cage for Aborigines

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Paul Sheehan ''With the natives we are hand in glove. They throng the camp every day, and sometimes by their clamour and importunity for bread and meat (of which they now all eat greedily) are become very...

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