Views on the news from Canberra’s top columnists
CityNews columnist of 20 years (and author of 32 books) Robert Macklin died on January 16. Here fellow columnist HUGH SELBY reflects on this remarkable journalist's written contribution to public debate in Canberra.
The Russian invasion of Ukraine has led several European governments to consider or actually reinstate military conscription. Should Australia be among them, asks ROSS FITZGERALD and DICK WHITAKER.
"We humans are complex: a mix of the good, the bad and the ugly. We can praise and benefit from the good, condemn the bad and wonder about the ugly. To cast aside the good is to punish ourselves." A reflective HUGH SELBY looks for hope.
Cartoonist PAUL DORIN tests the new legislation...
"Child-protection systems too often misinterpret or underestimate the strength of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander ways of raising children and kinship networks," writes indigenous advocate JULIE TONGS.
"The territory tentacles that recently acquired seven acres of Lake Burley Griffin lakebed at West Basin, are now extending into the national land of Commonwealth Park," says letter writer JULIET RAMSAY.
"As we age, the lung tissue becomes less stretchy, so it doesn’t expand and contract as easily. This makes it harder to take deep breaths and fully empty the lungs," writes Whimsy columnist CLIVE WILLIAMS.
"The message to Albo was step up and be responsive to community sentiment. The message came from a recognised leaders who were giving him the chance to redeem himself. He did." HUGH SELBY argues the virtues of battling adversity together.
"Last week a royal commission, this week the Adelaide Festival Board eats crow, next month there may be a collective, powerful call for responsible, responsive government in the ACT." Columnist HUGH SELBY says our world has changed.
What's up with the weather, asks cartoonist PAUL DORIN.
Does Australia uphold the right of artists to critically engage with history, politics, and the urgent issues of our time? Columnist HUGH SELBY says the answer is that we don’t and we won’t. Here's why...
The heatwave's taking its toll, says cartoonist PAUL DORIN.
China's tariff surprise on beef has come as a kick in the pants, says cartoonist PAUL DORIN.
2025 – that was the year that was… and here it is, month by month, through the bright eyes of the CityNews columnists – a quirky, serious, funny and sad look at the 12 months just gone. IAN MEIKLE wraps up the year with a look at December.
"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.
Babblers, cops and quacks: the sometimes dark – but often amusing – KATE BURRIDGE and HOWARD MANNS share the origins of nicknames for jobs...
2025 – that was the year that was… and here it is, month by month, through the bright eyes of the CityNews columnists – a quirky, serious, funny and sad look at the 12 months just gone. IAN MEIKLE takes a poke around November...
2025 – that was the year that was… and here it is, month by month, through the bright eyes of the CityNews columnists – a serious, funny and sad look at the 12 months just gone. Mr SHUSH CAPITAL, of KEEPING UP THE ACT, takes on October...
