Just like Georgian England, NSW has a prison overcrowding problem
In her bible on toddler behaviour, The Mighty Toddler, the midwife and Australian high priestess of baby-knowledge, Robin Barker, lists common toddler behaviours.
Latest commentary
I'm against ban, but burkini still makes me uncomfortable
The suggestion that bare breasts were more representative of France than a headscarf has been savaged by historians and other politicians.
Economics behind dishing out dining advice
An economic analysis of 1.6 million Yelp reviews has revealed the worst location to dine out.
How Apple lost its mojo
Apple's design difficulties prompt two questions: how bad is this problem? And how can Apple solve it?
Council's 40 km/h plan doesn't make sense
Today the Port Phillip Council chimed in on the proposed design of Domain Station, part of the new rail link, Metro Tunnel. The council made a number of suggestions, including having a few more than 25 parking spots for bikes, and maybe cutting down a few fewer trees. Sensible enough.
We need to talk more about light rail
The light rail project has been widely discussed through the pages of the Canberra Times, the social media, and undoubtedly in private conversations around town. Questions about costs and potential benefits have been the subject of considerable discussion. However, two questions have not as yet received the necessary attention, namely, where will the money come from, and what will we not do?
New technology may bring closer ties with Indonesia
Digital technology is rapidly changing the face of Indonesia. What does this mean for Australia?
A Stranger in Paradise
Wijaya befriended members of the royal families of Bali and acquired a knowledge of the island's intricate rituals and history
Our political system needs shock treatment
A circuit breaker, that is a short, sharp shock to the system, is needed to reform many aspects of modern politics.
Happy Three Years Since Things Went Well day, Coalition!
Remember back when you were infused with a sense of optimism and purpose, federal Coalition? Man, those were the days…
Get a real job: why Sam Dastyari should have followed his own advice
Sam Dastyari's troubles arguably stem from a working life exclusively spent in the political bubble
Politicians speaking up – for what?
Most of us can manage the time and energy for only a limited number of causes and crusades. Perhaps the same applies to politicians, although in their case social crusades can become full-time work. Perhaps that privilege, along with their exceptional access to the media plus their unique opportunities to act on behalf of the rest of us, means that they should choose their causes with care. This is particularly true when they let it be widely known there's a moral or religious dimension to their passions.
Thirty years in a sneeze: the Herald newsroom and me
Fairfax journalist Helen Pitt reflects on her years of journalism, including her first day at The Sydney Morning Herald 30 years ago.
Pioneer of industrial design enjoyed sharing his knowledge with students
Carl Nielsen, a pioneering giant in Australian design who has died aged 86, has left an impressive and significant legacy.
Didgeridoo maker had the talent to cross barriers
This is a story about an extraordinary Australian.
Health records at risk of slipping into Chinese hands
Dastyari's pickle also raises another issue that is becoming just as big in the minds of many voters - and that's the increasing spectre of Chinese involvement in Australia.
Dastyari and a ghost from his past
Sam Dastyari had been in the Senate for mere months when a ghost from his past came back to haunt him.
Bitter debate over 'God clause' shows a society split down the middle
Bitter debates over new biodiversity laws in Parliament reflect a society torn between protecting the environment and profiting from it.
Mind the gender pay gap: why women need a fair go
It was 1969 and my grandmother was beginning to return to work. She wasn't an astronaut destined for the moon, she was being sold a bigger dream.
Harsh prison treatment might further radicalise terror suspects
The Ezzit Raad trajectory from prisoner to IS recruiter and fighter should have our prison authorities and their political masters reflecting on whether the mindset that treats terrorism offenders or suspects harshly as a matter of course is in fact counterproductive.
Apple settles into comfortable but risk-averse middle age
Watch's sales trajectory represents a rare miss for the world's most-valuable company, which over the past decade has risen to iconic status on the back of its once-groundbreaking, billion-selling iPhone.
In the Herald: September 8, 1842
Barry the bushranger
We must resettle the refugees before it is too late
The time has come, before it is too late, to resettle those fellow human beings, and not just the children, but all of those who qualify as genuine refugees, and who deserve a second chance for life.
To get to know our political candidates is to make better choices
A new Canberra alliance aims to improve the democratic process by better informing voters on their future representatives.
How the internet is amplifying poor body image
If you don't love your body, you're in good company.
Why I didn't take my sick little girl to the emergency department this week
When one of my twin girls had a soaring temperature above 40 degrees, I knew I should've taken her straight to emergency, but I just couldn't trust their diagnosis.
Why I'm wary of a 'Picnic at Hanging Rock' remake
We live in a time where no beloved film can just be left to exist without a remake, reboot or sequel.
In the Herald: September 9, 1893
Women allowed to vote
What's a comment moderator to do?
How newspapers deal with the issue of comment moderation is a vexing issue, writes chief Fairfax comment moderator Rob Ashton.
Cooking shows offer viewers false hope
Like many reality TV fans, I get caught up in the drama of competitive shows such as MasterChef Australia and more recently, Adriano Zumbo's Just Desserts. Audiences are given plenty of time over the course of each series to pick a favourite contestant.