"Trust in the great institutions of the past, from government to industry to communal honesty and pride, is falling by the wayside," writes The Gadfly columnist ROBERT MACKLIN.
Unless a new sense of statesmanship sweeps through the federal cabinet, we will find ourselves drawn by momentum into the horrors of a Scott Morrison thought bubble and an Albanese instinct to avoid a political wedge.
Legendary Australian batter Steve Smith was unwell for the third Ashes test. But columnist ROBERT MACKLIN praises the acting captain's leadership in winning the second test.
"Delving into pre-Christian sources for historical evidence is a difficult and dangerous game since the believers assert their right to censor and alter anything that doesn’t conform to the party line," writes columnist ROBERT MACKLIN.
"Does Sussan Ley truly believe that she’s acting in the best interests of the Liberal Party? Is she hoping that her bravery in the face of such cruelty, will somehow turn the tide?" asks columnist ROBERT MACKLIN.
"A portrait is emerging: a majority of convicted offenders are men who prey on children ages six to 17," writes The Gadfly columnist ROBERT MACKLIN.
"We are untethered from the past… We have been frustrated in not having the means to refer the majority to an engaging and accessible story that fills the void. Now we do," writes columnist ROBERT MACKLIN.
"The Defence Department has made a commitment to invest $9 to $12 billion over the next decade to military space programs. With whom do we partner? Why, the good old USA," writes columnist ROBERT MACKLIN.
"Democracy requires an active and electable Opposition to keep the government accountable, forthright and perceptive. This has not been the case for some time," writes columnist ROBERT MACKLIN.
"Do we really have to trash the AWM to get a few more hands on the levers of destruction on the way to Gaza for all? Surely, it's better served as a memorial to our victory over war itself," writes columnist ROBERT MACKLIN.
"Trapped in penny-pinch mode, the ACT government walked away from the essential servicing of the magnificent asset that Mr Weston and his successors bequeathed us," writes columnist ROBERT MACKLIN.
"The Growlers would be far more effective in any military confrontation than the AUKUS subs. We could mount an attack as the only other country in the world to have this capability," writes columnist ROBERT MACKLIN.
