IT RAISES THE QUESTION
Julia Gillard’s cynical theatrics have thrilled dimwitted supporters, but Peter Hartcher isn’t so easily impressed:
Julia Gillard confronted a stark choice yesterday - the political defence of her parliamentary numbers, or the defence of the principle of respect for women. She chose to defend her numbers … The moment Gillard rose to defend Slipper and keep him in office, she chose to defend the indefensible, to excuse the inexcusable. The government had spent a month vilifying Tony Abbott for having "a problem with women". But when one of the bulwarks of the government was exposed as having a problem with women, it was suddenly acceptable.
I think it is right that Mr Slipper has taken responsibility. He's apologised for the language and he's tendered his resignation and it shows two things. It shows that he has respect for the institution of the Parliament and it shows that he knows that the language that he has used is wrong and should not have been used. And I think it raises the question about the role that Tony Abbott's playing.
Blair: What if US tariffs were instead a carbon tax?
With a single comment on Monday, Trump set about converting Australian climate warriors into furious defenders of our previously planet-destroying metals and mining industries, writes Tim Blair.
Laugh is on Labor and its festival of weakness
Energy and Climate Minister Chris Bowen says Labor is providing cheaper power thanks to renewable energy. The numbers say otherwise, writes Tim Blair.
Happy Inauguration Day to all the haters and losers
The loser/hater community now faces an enemy who has become massively emboldened by that community’s own ruinous tactics. Trump’s foes are the authors of their own destruction, writes Tim Blair.
Beach clean-up a small price to pay to see fun return to Sydney
Scenes of garbage left on beaches by Christmas Day revellers have spawned outrage, but Tim Blair reckons Sydneysiders could learn a thing or two from the partying backpackers.
Heated holy rollers are making the children cry
Thousands of Australian schoolchildren still suffer climate trauma thanks to doomy teachers, academics, politicians and the media, yet none of their apocalyptic predictions ever come true, and worse still, they never apologised, writes Tim Blair.
McDonald Trump has his foes in panic mode
Serving fries at McDonald’s and poking fun at Kamala Harris’s claims to have worked there is just one of the many ways Donald Trump continues to connect with regular people and defy his delusional critics, writes Tim Blair.