Independent
Virginia Trioli
Reith rewrites history to hide the shame of children overboard lie
Virginia Trioli Enough, Peter Reith. It has been infuriating hearing the former defence minister repeat all this week that the Children Overboard scandal was just 'a minor incident, long finished', just 'a small...
Louise McElvogue
Voters must step up for local government
Louise McElvogue It's hard to get excited about local government - unless of course it is Wollongong Council several years back, which made development control committee minutes read like the Diary of a Call Girl.
Andrew Darby
Tasmania's 'North Korea' more pink than red
Andrew Darby Given the Legislative Council's reputation for hardline unpredictability, one local commentator recently likened it to the North Korea of the state's bicameral parliament.
Matt Wade
Sparking conflict won't bring electricity prices down
Matt Wade Few electricity consumers would disagree with Julia Gillard's call for reforms to take the pressure off electricity prices.
Sean Nicholls
ICAC investigations will only inflame lingering voter suspicion
Sean Nicholls FIFTEEN months ago, when the former Labor minister Eddie Obeid announced his resignation from the NSW Parliament after 20 years, the sighs of relief were audible from the party's Sussex Street...
Chris Berg
A proud nation should not be bashful of its past
Chris Berg OUR Foreign Minister can be very emphatic. Bob Carr told an audience last month it was ''too risky'' for Australia ''even to glance in the direction of talk of an Anglosphere''.
Tom Switzer
Memories of Hewson v Keating as Romney picks policy maverick for VP
Tom Switzer The 2012 US presidential race is beginning to look a lot like Australia's federal poll in 1993: an ''unloseable election'' for the opposition party at a time of widespread public angst and...
Peter Hartcher
Any China conversation better than none at all
Peter Hartcher The last time the US sent its defence secretary to Australia, he planned to host a cocktail party for local luminaries in Melbourne as part of his program.
Ross Gittins
Fat cats that got cream in super tax deal are breaking the bank
Ross Gittins One thing that gets me going is comfortably-off people who feel sorry for themselves: those who complain how hard it is to get by on $150,000 a year, or retired people who profess to be...
Ross Gittins
These well-off retirees' claims are a bit rich
Ross Gittins Tax concessions on super take a huge toll on the federal budget.
Simon Chapman
'Cigs down' after case goes up in smoke
Simon Chapman The High Court yesterday dismissed the plain packaging case brought against the Australian government.
Why did we go to war in Iraq?
Ramesh Thakur Taking a country to war is the single most solemn international responsibility of any government. It requires our soldiers to kill complete strangers solely on the authority of the government.
Josh Gordon
Toughen up, Ted, time to make a noise
Josh Gordon The Premier could learn a thing or two from his Queensland counterpart.
Jacqueline Maley
Hind sight: cheeky history lesson for Abbott
Jacqueline Maley THERE is no polite way to say it. Tony Abbott's arse, and the question of its saleability, has once again inched its way to the forefront of the national political debate.
Message by Tony express: you're a disgrace, Abbott!
Tony Wright It was the second anniversary of Julia Gillard's famous promise that no government she led would introduce a carbon tax, and Tony Abbott was not about to let that pass without a celebratory bout of...
Godwin Grech
Abbott PM and G-G Howard will restore the golden days
Godwin Grech Australian governance has deteriorated markedly since the election of the Rudd-Gillard government in November 2007.
Slipper withdraws allegation over release of diary extracts
Louise Hall THE Speaker of the House of Representatives, Peter Slipper, has formally withdrawn the allegation that James Ashby ''unlawfully'' sent extracts of his diary to a political rival and a journalist.
Joke awaits new punchline
Peter Hartcher What is Punch without Judy? The famously violent puppet show marked the 350th anniversary of its first British performance this year. It certainly wouldn't have lasted without Judy.
Michelle Grattan
It's only right, says voice from left
Michelle Grattan Melissa Parke's low-key style is very different from more familiar, high-profile left operators.
Julieanne Strachan
A gifted man: why the tax commissioner is quick to declare all of his nick-nacks
Julieanne Strachan meets the fellow behind what is regarded as one of the world's best systems.
