Despite our China obsession, Japan remained Australia’s largest export destination last year, with foodstuffs and coal leading. A free trade agreement between the two countries…
Brettless Virgin
Virgin Blue CEO Brett Godfrey announced his retirement (stepping down, calling quits) along with a forecast $165 million loss and heavily-discounted $231m capital…
Australian Portrait
The National Portrait Gallery, opened December 2008, has finally given Canberra a lakeside building to be proud of. Unlike the National…
More Afghanistan Truths
Against a backdrop of more deaths of NATO soldiers and a vacuum of political debate about Australia’s war engagement in Afghanistan, pertinent public assessments were made last week. Prof Hugh White…
Coal! Coal! Coal!
Just as Federal Parliament girds its loins to thrash out legislation for a carbon pollution reduction scheme, presumably to help reduce the burning…
Wake in Fright Alright!
1971 movie ‘Wake in Fright’ (digital re-release) showing at the Chauvel in Sydney is a harrowing, surreal tale of outback life. A ‘bonded’ new school teacher serving in…
Belfast ‘Orangefest’
Orange marching season in Northern Ireland has its climax on July 12. People leave the country to avoid riots that inevitably follow this provocative Protestant tradition. Parades organised by…
Oi,oi,oi,okay – Oui,non!
Online travel company Expedia surveyed 4500 hoteliers world-wide about the behaviour of nationalities amongst their clients. First ranked for politeness were…
Four Miles from Midnight: Blue Sky Blues
Reverse triple somersault with double pike, or volte-face as we say in diplomatic circles, was performed by so-called Environment Minister…
Guantanamo to Norfolk
Norfolk Island, pop. 2,000, is 1600 kms east of Sydney and closer to NZ – a Commonwealth territory controlling its affairs with minimal interference from Canberra. However that…
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