Albo’s stunning census backflip has politicians ‘spooked’
Albo’s latest move on whether or not to exclude a key question in the 2026 census is an example of the Prime Minister making enemies and losing friends, writes Patrick Carlyon.
Patrick Carlyon
Carlyon: Footy commentators must simply be the best at their game
Reports of an AFL “social inclusion clause” in its TV deals is jarring because football coverage isn’t meant to be an equal opportunity chance — there can only be one abiding requirement to do the job.
Carlyon: Broke Victoria now on the road to nowhere
It’s hard to recall a flatter time in Victoria’s recent history with the state now buried in debt thanks to successive shortsighted governments, who have taken us all for a spin.
Unelectable? Yes, but Biden’s also immovable
The glaring weakness in the world’s shiniest democracy is there is no practical way to punt an unsound leader. It has never happened, partly because the constitutional mechanisms for such drastic action cannot work in practice.
‘Like a librarian’: No nerves as Lynn learns fate
As Greg Lynn was about to be told the direction of the rest of his life he remained in control, presenting more like a librarian than a murder defendant.
Carlyon: Chief protector D’Ambrosio will keep us safe, if not warm
Under Lily D’Ambrosio’s plan there will be little gas, and no coal or nuclear power in Victoria in the future, but hot air from the energy minister’s social media posts should keep us toasty until spring.
Carlyon: Memo to Patton — we’re tired of force-fed contrition
Victoria’s police commissioner Shane Patton may claim he isn’t woke but his decision to apologise to the Stolen Generation 16 years after Kevin Rudd did so makes him sound a lot less like an everyday cop.
Tears, cheers and jeers: Farewell to a pivotal year
In 2023 we lost old favourites and found new heroes, were horrified by war and bemused by politicians — and AI began to rewrite much of what we thought we knew. Patrick Carlyon looks back at a tumultuous year.
History has smacked Albo over the head and he seems concussed
Sometimes what Anthony Albanese fails to say resonates more loudly than what he does — he plays better at being the spectator than the statesman.
The leader who inspired haters and believers
After nine years in power, Dan Andrews still feels largely unknowable. How will Victorians remember him?
Why stop at demands for a four-day work week?
Forget a four-day week for public servants, why not three and more holidays? Public servants would be happier, and the rest of us wouldn’t notice the difference.
Line for in-play banter becoming blurred
What the Lions’ Dayne Zorko thought to say to Melbourne’s Harrison Petty during a game wasn’t funny, but it was the scandalised response to his sledge that was most noteworthy.
No way back for ‘Scotty from maladministration’
Now we know that he collected ministerial roles like scouts collect badges, hatred of the former PM has hit a level usually reserved for depraved criminals.
Acknowledgment of Country has lost its value
The Acknowledgement of Country should be reserved for events where its dignity and meaning are embraced, because popularising its use is now diminishing its currency.
Shrill minority sour political debate
The biggest issue in the debate over the Shrine, Australia Day, and the Manly pride jerseys is that no one wants to be told how we ought to feel.
Why self-serving Harry makes best case for an Aussie republic
Prince Harry may be on a crusade, one private jet ride at a time but his farcical UN speech has utterly exposed his self-serving pretence at saving the world.
Mandates have no place in Victoria’s future
Andrews should promise there will be no return to drastic mandates, even if doing so whiffs of the politics of power as much as the health of the people.
Man-child Kyrgios embodies the worst excesses of his generation
The outbursts and explosions of petulance force fans to choose – you’re either with Nick Kyrgios or against him.
Who is (and isn’t) invited to Dan’s 50th birthday bash
With Dan Andrews celebrating his 50th this week, we take a (tongue in cheek) look at who he’s inviting to his birthday party – and who is off the list.
Greens MPs incapable of reading a room
Greens MPs like Bandt and Thorpe are narcissists whose speeches are more about them than the issues or people they claim to represent.
Adam Bandt’s only option after flag idiocy
Greens MP Adam Bandt is giving a middle finger to all the Australians who protect his right to free speech – and who also pay his parliamentary wage.
The workers who truly deserve a pay rise
With Melbourne City council CEO scoring a pay rise of up to $20k, it begs the question; what rises might others — who have shone in adversity – merit?
Where your club would get in a punch on
In keeping with stereotypes, two Demons players got in a blue at an up-market Prahran eatery. So where would your club’s players be most likely to swing fists?
Do we really care about becoming a republic?
The new minister for “the republic” will seek to reignite a lofty debate that means little to regular Australians with bills and mortgages to pay.
Smug Pakula thinks we forgot Covid response
It’s odd that in dissing Josh Frydenberg, Martin Pakula sought to remind Victorians of the Andrews government’s response to the pandemic. Who’s really in denial?
It’s time to get vaxxed at the ’G
With the MCG empty for a second straight September it is the ideal venue for a vaccination hub.
Meaning of Anzac Day needs no debate
Anzac Day is a touchstone in mateship and humour, not bloodlust and conquest. Anyone who attends a dawn service knows war is bad — and we don’t need to debate that.
Vax freedoms could sway the hesitant
Rolling out a vaccine passport in Australia would reward the fully vaxxed and encourage those who are hesitant to get jabbed faster.
Victorians need signs of an exit from endless lockdowns
In NSW they talk of international borders lifting and going to restaurants, while Victorians wait on the possible extension of a 5km limit.
Dan’s too little, too late restriction stance
Daniel Andrews is finally taking baby steps out of harsh lockdown measures that have left us demoralised and defeated.
Zero Covid target destroying lives, ruining hope
Dan Andrews is so hellbent on declaring a victory over Delta — and NSW — that Victorians are becoming pawns in a misplaced crusade.
AFL Covid chaos a ‘game of Jenga’ for McLachlan
From 162 days of crisis meetings to countless round changes, moving teams and shifting grand final plans, AFL chief Gillon McLachlan reveals how chaos became normal.
Science serves up palatable Covid future
The belated campaign of hope has finally begun, with talk of what we will be able to do in a Covid future instead of what we won’t.
All essential workers should be compelled to get the jab
Anything that brings an end to lockdowns – be it mandatory jabs of essential workers and no vax/no school policies – must be grasped soon rather than later.
Year 12s in limbo as forgotten losers of the pandemic
Victorian year 12s will soon face the biggest test of their lives but bumbling and dithering from the Andrews government means they have no certainty about VCE exams.
It’s the young fighting for our future
We have many unkind words about young people but their appetite for the Covid jab is showing up more senior generations.
NSW Covid response beset by torpor and denial
If Victoria had applied Sydney’s outbreak settings after NSW removalists brought Covid to town, we would be awash in virus instead of exiting lockdown.
Removalists’ day of reckoning never arrived
The NSW removalists who locked us down have been fined just .00299 cents for every Victorian whose lives they stopped.
PM’s hapless posturing offers no solutions
The vaccine rollout has had more mixed messages than the Collingwood board and Scotty from Marketing is failing to provide any certainty.
NSW’s lockdown staycation hurts us all
Victorians know a lockdown when they see one, and what’s happening in Sydney isn’t one. It’s time they go hard or hurt the nation.
Lockdown blame spreads wider than removalist fools
A better national pandemic strategy would have protected us from rogue idiots like the Sydney removalists who plunged us into lockdown.
Australia doomed to lag behind the world on Covid freedom
While other countries stride to Covid freedom Australia is still paralysed by lockdowns and it may take years for us to catch up.
Young people must ignore the scaremongering
Federal and state politicians have botched the jab rollout and the quarantine programs — and now they are scaremongering our only hope of beating Covid.
Same old Dan returns to his same old tricks
Within minutes of his return, Dan Andrews was back to shifting the media’s tough questions, almost as if he was never gone at all.
Cooler heads rule in Sydney’s Covid response
Sydney’s Covid outbreak has worsened but the NSW Premier is still calm. Nobody is rushing to stock up on toilet paper, or wondering how they’ll pay the rent.
Proof of vaccination may cause dystopian divide
A Covid vaccine seems to offer the only get-out-of-jail card for Australians, but division looms between those who’ve been jabbed and those who have not.
From Tour De France to changing dirty nappies
A decade after becoming the first Aussie to win the Tour de France, cycling great Cadel Evans is embracing a “more balanced life” in a lower gear.
Common sense gets the boot in footy crowd ban
Banning footy crowds in a town that hasn’t notched up a Covid case this year is just more catastrophising sold as caution.
Goodes’ Hall of Fame call a sad moment for sport
One of the AFL’s greatest players now doesn’t want to be associated with the game. It’s a dreadfully sad moment in Australian sport.
Silence on Dan’s fall only makes for more mystery
When Dan returns will he address the black hole of his absence, or will he dismiss it as a no-go zone so that it thrives as one of many?
Original URL: https://www.heraldsun.com.au/news/opinion/patrick-carlyon