Australia


Is it time for Australia to become a republic?

It’s ten years since the republic referendum failed and it’s time to restart the debate, says George Williams. Let’s have an initial popular vote to establish we do want a republic, then vote again for the type of republic we want.

Mirror mirror on the wall, who’s the Nobelest Aussie of them all?

For the first time ever, an Australian woman, Elizabeth Blackburn, has won the Nobel Prize. So why are the Americans trying to claim her for themselves? asks Crikey intern Melanie Mahony.

Australians love themselves

Who said Yanks were the crazy patriots? Citizens of 33 countries were asked to rated their trust, admiration, respect and pride of their homeland. Australia ranked first. Time for another Southern Cross tattoo?

Forget GDP, we rate 102 out of 143 countries on the Happy Planet Index

As Australia again begins the quarterly festival of GDP worship, isn’t there a better measure of national success? asks Charles Berger.

Overlap between Birthers and climate change sceptics

Is US right wing irrationality — with climate change sceptics and Birthers still questioning their president’s birthplace — appearing in Australian politics?

Humans causing the “sixth extinction” of species

Australia, New Zealand and Pacific islands are likely to become the “extinction hot spots” of the globe, mainly thanks to the human destruction and degradation of ecosystems.

The Racing Kangaroo and De Ronde

De Ronde is a race for the hard men of cycling, not the anaemic mountain goats that characterise stage races such as the Tour de France, writes Tim Watson.

Will Baz strike real (or fool’s) gold with Australia’s DVD?

With so much riding on the director’s costly paean to God’s own; the DVD’s success if Fox will forgive us — has become paramount, writes Ross Stapleton.

I survived Marysville for an orgy of ocker self-love

My emotions, and the way I’ve been talking about them in order to deal with them, have been hijacked by the emotions of “the nation” and its faithful organ, the press, writes Peter Chambers.

Peter Costello’s Australia essay: what his teacher said

Peter, I am very pleased to see that you have taken in at least the rudiments of essay writing which we have been covering over the course of the last semester.

Australia’s not the bomb they’d have you believe

An unwillingness to break a decade-old tradition of Oz film bashing may be infecting Australian reporters’ abilities to sensibly interpret a simple list of figures writes Michael Griffiths.

Australia: the verdict

Well, it’s official. Australia is crap. The only raging debate amongst reviewers world wide is exactly why the movie that was supposed to save our film industry is quite this bad, writes Eleri Harris.

A cup of tea previews Baz Luhrmann’s Australia

We Aussies are so filled with hate

On freedom of speech and Gerald Fredrick Toben

We should be speaking up for him now, rather than waiting for a more appealing victim of this attack on free speech.

A target of 550 ppm CO2 is a recipe for disaster

Garnauts Final Reports Fateful Decisions and the uncharted brave new world of 550 ppm CO2 and + 3 degrees Celsius, Dr Andrew Glikson explains.

A moment’s silence for the passing of Big Brother

Everyone will remember where they were…

US08: Let’s hear it for the emerald continent

Australia, sunny social democracy that is is, is suddenly flavor of the month for discerning Americans, writes Guy Rundle.

Animated Gif for the 2020 Summit – YEAH!

Hello, Australia speaking…

Tips and rumours

The Sydney Daily Telegraph has a scary, scary graphic charting Labor Lovin’ amongst the heavies on Macquarie Street today, but what about Canberra? Is this the Federal Cabinet with the most members who have slept with one another?
In Western Australia the Libs paid European backpackers to hand out their how-to-vote cards. At one booth, […]

Kyoto blog wrap: they love us, they really love us

Kevin Rudd’s decision to ratify Kyoto led to applause at the UN and a Mexican wave across world media. Here’s what some are saying today.

Remaking Australia, part four: Miriam Lyons

In a special post-election series, Crikey asked leading Australian thinkers to sketch a blueprint for a future Australia. Today, Miriam Lyons, Director of the Centre for Policy Development, takes a look at remaking Australian culture, for want of a smaller topic.

Peter Costello: a legacy

Peter Costello’s tenure as Australia’s longest serving Treasurer has ended. Already the revisionists are circling. Before they totally destroy his legacy, it is fitting to reflect on both his successes and failings, write Sinclair Davidson and Alex Robson.

Meanwhile, on the road to Egypt …

Catch The Fire Ministry’s Pastor Danny Nalliah claimed pre-election to have received divine advice that John Howard would be returned as Prime Minister. This turned out to be a false prophecy. Pastor Nalliah explains, in this extract from his blog, that the fight is not abandonned.

Remaking Australia, part one: Eva Cox

As the election hangover fades and a new government packs itself into Parliament House, we have a chance to remake the nation for a new century. In a special post-election series, Crikey asked leading Australian thinkers to sketch a blueprint for a future Australia. Their brief: to spell out how Australia might fully realise its potential.

Faris: Time for Australian Conservatives to unite

The Liberals are finished as a political party. They have lost everything throughout Australia. The time has now come for a conservative rejuvenation. Conservatives all over Australia must join together to build a new Conservative Alliance, writes Peter Faris.