June 2024
AAT plagiarist survives administrative cull
The body that decides on immigration appeals is getting a revamp. Though some familiar faces remain.
November 2023
UK Tory Nick Gibb rumoured Canberra-bound
Speculation has been that the just-departed Minister of State for Schools Nick Gibb will be the new High Commissioner to Australia.
October 2023
Savage Club coup elevates pedigreed artist
David McCubbin’s election at the Bank Place institution has caused all manner of tut-tutting among more respectable parts of the membership.
August 2023
Are ‘faux’ professorships undermining academia?
Professors of practice bring vast real-world experience into university, but a group of traditionalists is not a fan.
October 2022
Liz Truss inspires full-body whiplash
Former high commissioners occupy a grossly unchallenged position in Australian society.
September 2022
Queen’s death causes many brain explosions
The four days since her death have been a spectacle of dubiously pertinent Australians attempting to deal themselves into the story.
July 2022
Amanda Stoker’s wild imagination
Post-parliamentary careers are often a thing of wonder given the general lack of discernible skills human beings need to operate in civil society.
June 2022
Brandis in London as Australian High Commissioner post sits empty
The former high commissioner’s presence as an invited guest at Jubilee celebrations has highlighted an embarrassing diplomatic misstep by Australia.
April 2022
Australia won’t be a republic in my lifetime, says George Brandis
The departing high commissioner to Britain says Prince Charles will make “a very fine head of state for Australia”.
March 2022
The merit appointment plan to the AAT that went nowhere
Duncan Kerr, AAT president from 2012-2017, has revealed former attorney-general George Brandis wanted an advisory committee for appointments to the tribunal.
February 2022
The cut that dare not speak its name
When modern Liberals talk about tax reform, they really mean collecting the revenue more efficiently -- not actually cutting the amount taken.
November 2021
How Australia caffeinated COP26
For the first time, Australia set up its own stall at the Glasgow summit - and the flat whites proved an overwhelming success.
October 2021
Liberal-aligned AAT members’ productivity laid bare
The disclosure inevitable though it was has caused no small amount of alarm at the Administrative Affairs Tribunal.
September 2021
How Australia sealed the UK Pfizer deal
This extraordinary swap – which will ship nearly expired jabs to Australia with Canberra returning the equivalent number in the northern winter – was first mooted only on August 16.
March 2021
Boris Johnson draws business into his global ambitions
The UK sees scientific and technological competition as a critical geopolitical struggle, and will use industrial policy to try to beat the likes of China.
October 2020
There is a fairer and open way to appoint the best High Court judges
A UK-style independent judicial appointment commission would avoid the political circus around the US Supreme Court while creating a transparent, competitive and merit-based process.
July 2020
Porter kicks off search for next High Court judge
The Attorney-General casts a net for the next High Court judge, lawyers behaving badly and a QC's plea to the PM. It's all Hearsay.
China activist loses UQ suspension appeal
But student Drew Pavlou should be back in class next year after the university reduced the length of his suspension.
June 2020
Dyson Heydon's fall could be spectacular
By the time the sexual harassment allegations against the former High Court justice wash through the system, there is every potential for more scalps. Big names too, writes Phillip Coorey.
March 2020
Britain's Prince Charles tests positive for coronavirus
The 71-year-old heir to the British throne is said to be displaying mild symptoms and is in isolation at home in Scotland - his wife Camilla tested negative.