Celibacy breeds a culture of active dishonesty and cover ups focused around illicit sexuality. It renders church leaders uniquely susceptible to blackmail.

• COMMENT
• Tim Dick

We might hope that merit gets someone into Parliament and onto the front bench, but it doesn't.

• George Williams

The re-elected Turnbull government is determined to get moving on a same-sex marriage plebiscite. The greatest challenge is to gain Parliament's support to hold the vote.

The political classes and their opinion minions are ignorant of how to connect with a disenfranchised electorate and scared because it would seem Donald Trump, Pauline Hanson and their ilk aren't.

The stand-off and final compromise to keep Kim Carr on the frontbench with the support of Bill Shorten's Right colleagues shows that Labor's structures are still broken.

• COMMENT
• Peter FitzSimons

"In this this election, there is only one candidate who will uphold the constitution," Newt Gingrich argues. Well, maybe not.

• COMMENT
• Andrew Masterson

It's a fine line indeed between hipster cool and just drinking out of the nearest empty container.

• COMMENT
• Rodney Croome

Campaigners feel frustration as whatever happens final decision will still rest with those in parliament, writes Rodney Croome

• Liora Miller

Iceland wasn't meant to defeat England recently in the European soccer finals. After all, their coach only devotes part of his time to coaching. He otherwise practices as a dentist. And Wales wasn't meant to beat Belgium either. Their Its players and coach earn about 10 per cent of what their colleagues earn over at the defeated English team.

NSW MPs from across the political spectrum who have banded together to organise next month's Harm Minimisation Summit are to be congratulated.

Mediscare's first cousin Pharmascare has arrived. Blood sugar test strips which are essential to diabetes management are set to rise in price from $1.20 to $60 per packet.

• COMMENT
• Peter Hartcher

There's an easy way for Malcolm Turnbull to deal with the problems Pauline Hanson represents: he needs to look back at how John Howard responded the first time around.

• COMMENT
• Garry Linnell

Welcome aboard everyone, and thanks for joining us on today's Big Bus Tour of Sydney's Most Over-Hyped and Over-Rated.

• COMMENT
• Jacqueline Maley

There are many highlights in the forthcoming SBS documentary about Pauline Hanson, quite apart from the realisation that the heroine's '90s wardrobe is now being worn by the hipsters of inner city Sydney and Melbourne.

• COMMENT
• Richard Glover

Being father means "putting your shoulder to the wheel" of parenting. Richard Glover wonders if Jagger's shoulders will be able to bear the strain.

• COMMENT
• Andrew P Street

First there was a picture book for kids about the Bays Precinct. What could be next?

• COMMENT
• Anne Summers

If you thought the shenanigans at the Republican National Convention in Cleveland were the weirdest thing happening in America this week, you would be wrong.

• COMMENT
• Aubrey Perry

A lucky black man in the US seems like a contradiction in terms right now.

• COMMENT
• Wendy Squires

I see several of my friends who are staying in marriages because of children and are desperately unhappy as a result.

• COMMENT
• Inaz Janif

From a very young age, I have had to learn that my life and my rights are not the same as everyone else.