A new phase of desperation for extremists
Everything about terrorism is desperate, and the latest wave of attacks represents a new phase of great desperation.
Meet the new Malcolm: PM toughens talk against terrorists
Gone was talk of the "most harmonious multicultural nation in the world". Gone too, the front-footed defence of Islam.
Trump bluster cuts through word cloud of platitudes
Within hours of the latest terrorist attack in London, the reliably tasteless Donald Trump was taking political potshots, revealing a procedurally adolescent mind. For most of us, our earliest political statements - the usual blend of fact, idealism, ignorance, and too much passion - were not recorded. Thanks to our juniority, we were in no position to influence anything anyway. But in the digital age? Forget about it. Or rather, don't.
Defence 'policy': spend for spending's sake
Politicians no longer question the wisdom of the 2 per cent of GDP spending target.
Not merely citizens, but active citizens
The Uluru statement can take Indigenous people beyond being subjects to their rightful place.
Uncertain waters ahead for the Australian economy
Beware out there this week, folks. There's a storm a'comin'. An economic data storm, that is. Economists are tipping the good ship 'Oz economy' has hit shallow waters in the first half of 2017.
The one thing treasurers must not do
No-one ever got rewarded for putting the economy into recession.
Chifley versus the banks
The big banks won the last great war against government interference, 70 years ago.
Trump's more honest on climate than Turnbull
Until we stop building new coal mines, we should stop pretending we care about emissions.
A republic and a president? Pippa's in-laws seem fine
Spare a thought for the republicans.
Aborigines prefer the horizon
Real change, even symbolic, is never achieved by clever strategies, discussion papers or facilitators.
Ross Gittins: we'll have another bad recession sooner or later
There has to be more to our 26-year record than just our deft response to the global financial crisis.
Peter Hartcher: How our growth led to complacency, and bad politics
Australia's long run of economic success bred a complacency that persists to this day.
Defence spending is not the answer
Europe doesn't need another arms race despite what Trump says.
Why do our leaders fear Indigenous history?
Australia keeps baulking at a simple task that other nations managed with ease.
What Bernardi's curious lunch says about Abbott and his mates
Cory Bernardi is keeping some very interesting company and it should worry the Liberal Party.
The Ombudsman the government needs, or wants?
The new watchdog knows where many of the bureaucracy's bodies are buried. Will he disinter a few?
Call an ambulance! Barnaby Joyce is blowing a fuse
Face reddens until it is deep puce, veins on his neck and forehead bulge and he begins jabbering.
Why we need to give a Gonskini
Both sides of politics now agree about giving a Gonski. But we need to give a Gonskini, too.
Same-sex politics is very personal
Anyone who takes a public personal stand on this issue, regardless of which side, is brave.
Local stories and jobs are worth saving
If Australian media flounders, we'll lose local news, analysis and drama production.
IT revolution's just begun, and we're not ready
Technology is radically transforming our society. Prepare for the fallout.
Shameful tax dodge makes mockery of lowest-price tenders
The shameful tax dodge by multinationals is undermining the project tendering process.
We've forgotten why we spend public money
So much government aid goes to people who don't need it, and politicians seem helpless to stop it.
Gonski 2.0 still leaves a class divide
Australian schools are falling behind world standards because we waste money where it's not needed.
When worlds collide: Hanson's reality check
For Pauline Hanson, being outed as bigotry's uncritical conduit was like hitting a brick wall.
Trump and Salman find some common ground
The leaders of America and Saudi Arabia have more in common than you might think.
War against terror is a war, after all
Throughout the Sydney siege, the NSW Police never relied on the expert outsiders who were at hand.
Lindt siege: Monis was the murderer but face it, our system failed too
The community must confront one issue, lest police once again allow inaction to play the predominant role in the outcome.
We're at war and we're not ready
Australia isn't 'sleepwalking' into war; we already did that.
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Campaign highlights - and lowlights
The hurly-burly of the 2016 election campaign, as seen through the eyes of Fairfax reporters and photographers.