Bracks takes the fight to the factions
By asserting his authority over the Labor Party's warring tribes, the Premier is laying the ground for his re-election.
Raw hide's the real beef for Melbourne's cowboy crowd
Forget the gay sex, it's raw moose that gnaws at Brokeback viewers.
Paying a price for patronage
Sly political donations are putting our democracy at risk.
Iraq's people ultimate victims of corrupt wheat deals
The Government must accept responsibility for the shameful AWB saga.
King's dream lost in a violent culture
Martin Luther King's message of peaceful change notwithstanding, there is nothing more American than brutal violence.
Howard's history lesson
We need to tell all the stories of the nation's past, not just the authorised versions.
Vulgarism? It's reality, John, not reality TV
Just in the nick of time, the Prime Minister has identified a brand new insurgence.
The toll grows but we can't abandon Iraq
Mounting casualties in Iraq are a tragedy, but leaving would be worse.
Big powers close ranks as Iran stand-off continues
Tehran will break off talks if the UN Security Council is called in.
Wheat: turning up the heat
The growing scandal over wheat sales to Iraq demands a broader inquiry and some better responses from the Government.
Transport planners out of step on walking
A better deal for pedestrians would be a smart way to ease Melbourne's transport woes.
Cash-starved councils drive infrastructure into the ground
Billions needed to maintain the standard of ageing public works is not being spent.
In search of civility
The legal profession can offer some lessons about living respectfully.
Riding the Islamist tide
The Hamas election victory demands a cool-headed international response.
Tears for fears: the vulnerability of Federer
Roger Federer might well be the greatest, but he's human too.
How lowering tax can make us all poorer
A fair tax regime is the reasonable price for decent social services.
Research science short-changed again by Canberra
The Government is still failing to give science the support it deserves.
Replaying the game of race science
The pseudo-science of racial differentiation is once more rearing its ugly head.
Paternalism not the answer in a town like Alice
Imposed "agreements" are not helping solve the problems of Aborigines.
Fake sheikh catches Poms with pants down
To my knowledge, Mahzer Mahmood is the only British journalist who has his own bodyguard.
PM's new year broom
With the cabinet reshuffle, there are signs the PM is waiting to see how events pan out as he considers his future. The Costello forces, meanwhile, are muted.
Education is a journey, not a commodity
Good schooling is about much more than good test results,.
Easy to outfox Dowd, as her ideas go bust
Maureen Dowd grabbed headlines with her book Are Men Necessary? But her arguments don't stand scrutiny.
Powerless in the face of national pride
How was Australia Day at your place? Here at number 5 we would describe the observance of the national day as "complete".
Knowing whose money buys influence
In a democracy, it is generally assumed that each person's vote is of equal value.
Bad manners are deplorable, but that's not the worst of it
Civil society is sustained by insisting on the decent treatment of all people, in word and deed.
When people and penguins come together
Lucia Chaplin's letter "Australia Day plea for Phillip Island's penguins" raised concerns for wildlife at the nature park.
