AVO for Jihad Jack - posted by Graham

There's been a frenzied reaction from some to the Interim Control Order that has been placed on Jack Thomas, the erstwhile Al Qaeda member dubbed "Jihad Jack" by the media. It seems out of all proportion to the restraints that... More

Beattie gives Coalition a haircut - posted by Graham

Why does hair feature so much in Queensland elections? First there was Pauline, the incendiary red-head from Ipswich, torching the political landscape. Now we have the blonde Doctor Flegg being stalked for style tips on the campaign trail by journalists.... More

ACT in hands of the White Coat Brigade - posted by Ronda Jambe

When I first moved to Canberra, in the early 1980s, the city was a gem. From the first spring, when the pretty blossoms on the plum tree miraculously turned into an abundance of fruit, I was hooked. What a wonderful... More

Queensland Wrestlemania - posted by Graham

A slightly edited version of this article appeared in today's Sunday Mail. Before this election campaign started Queensland voters were interested in changing government. But that was before the Liberals changed leaders and State Governor Quentin Bryce rang the opening... More

Opposition 'duumbirate' becomes 'triumbirate' - posted by Graham

Bruce Flegg's "gaffe" about who would lead a Coalition government is not accidental - believe it or not it appears to be part of the coalition's strategy. What wasn't part of the coalition's strategy was that "Would-be Caesar", Michael Caltabiano,... More

Howard didn't believe in immigration bill - posted by Graham

John Howard didn't believe in the immigration bill that he's just withdrawn from the Senate. That's a possible interpretation of his behaviour. Back in June I predicted that he was preparing to step back from the legislation. In the end,... More

Planning and performing - posted by Graham

The Queensland election campaign is on, and it's not much of a contest. Peter Beattie has a plan for the future which involves providing enough water by 2011 to meet the needs of south-east Queensland in 2006. At the same... More

Gender-bending fish does Quinn, will it do Springborg? - posted by Graham

Ultimately it was Queensland's drought that did for ex-Queensland Liberal Leader, Bob Quinn, using the agency of a mythical "gender-bending" fish. If it wasn't for the drought, Toowoomba would most likely not have been voting on whether to drink recycled... More

We are all Road Warriors - posted by Ronda Jambe

As it happens, we had just seen Mad Max 1 when the brou ha ha broke out over Mel Gibson's various forms of intemperance. The wonderful ANU Film Group had scheduled MM2, and it was a good chance to revisit... More

The outer boundaries of publishing, Presbyterians and Mel Gibson. - posted by Graham

On Line Opinion publishes a lot of material that is nonsense- respectable, but nonsense. That's our function. We're a Socratic space. Our role is not to tell you what to think but to provide space where advocates of different views... More

Biofuels to cause starvation - posted by Graham

The biofuel madness is gathering steam, and it's not good news for the world's poor and hungry. Corn prices in the US have been firming on the basis of the demand for ethanol. Corn isn't the only grain that can... More