Opinion
Why political parties must have diversity in membership
In September 2009 in the midst of a review of branch stacking in the Labor Party I wrote that: “If the new cultural elite succeed in narrowing the party’s base, …
Trump impeached a second time – but Trumpism will live on
Just a week after the US Capitol was attacked by his supporters, Donald Trump has become the first president of the United States to be impeached twice. But regardless of …
Arnold Schwarzenegger, an immigrant, draws on childhood memories to describe US Capitol riots
Arnold Schwarzenegger, 73 was born in Austria, and drew on memories from his childhood in a video he shared online. He raises the dangers and horrors associated with the political …
How COVID-19 saved the English language… for a while
As I walked wearily last January through the valley of the mangled English language, tripping over every misused and abused word, I wondered how much gobbledegook we would be exposed …
Life –
Ah, memories of 2020. Why it’s important to remember our COVID holidays, good or bad
In Charles Dickens’ famous 1843 ghost story, A Christmas Carol, Ebenezer Scrooge is visited by the Ghosts of Christmas Past, Christmas Present and Christmas Yet to Come. However, we do not …
NYE festivities and celebrations of yesteryear
It was New Year’s Eve, 1982 and it was a hot, still Melbourne night. Once again, we had got together with our cousins to see in the New Year, this …
Dialogue –
Joy be to the twelve days following Christmas
Joy be to the twelve days of Christmas, that usher in the New Year. While rejoicing in the birth of the Saviour and the imminent demise of the year COVID, …
Dialogue –
Hidden women of history: Kyniska, the first female Olympian
Kyniska (or Cyniska), a Spartan princess, was the daughter of King Archidamus II and sister to King Agesilaus. She owned a sizable estate where she bred, raised and trained horses, …
Dialogue –
Valuable lessons for our recovery from the Baillieu government
A decade is a long time in politics. Ten years ago this month, the Coalition led by Ted Baillieu took office in Victoria, after winning an election on a platform …
Dialogue –
Why Andrews govt’s economic management practices shouldn’t be compared to Labor predecessors
In 1994 while shadow finance spokesman, I wrote a paper titled “Economic and Financial Management of Victoria under Labor”. It was an attempt to look honestly at what happened under …