Here is our letter to The Canberra Times published 27 March 2014: “We predicted in these columns before the 2010 election that Tony Abbott would reinstate knighthoods if he became PM. What a clever little starting number, four a year….
In the final program of her TV series about art and national identity (see News of 11 March), Hannah Gadsby talks to Ben Quilty, Rosemary Laing, Jason Wing and Liam Benson and discovers contemporary artists who understand the confusion of…
The Prime Minister’s announces a new highest tier of Australian honours. In fact, it is an imperial honour as all appointments are to be approved by the Queen on the PM’s recommendation (after a perfunctory chat with the Chair of…
After announcing that New Zealand’s next general election will be held two months early in September this year, Prime Minister John Key, also announced that the flag referendum would be delayed until the next term under a National Government but…
Australia’s national identity isn’t “a white Anglo man in a hat”. So says art historian and comedian, Hannah Gadsby, in her new TV series. She says to find it, we must examine the history and diversity of Australian art. [‘Hannah…
While there is now no urgency to finalise this because the first child of William and Kate was a boy, the States are having to pass their own legislation first (because they have their own constitutions and, thereby, each one…
PM Abbott has asked for a portrait of the Queen of Australia to hang in his Canberra office. It is a copy of the “wattle portrait” (lots of sparkling jewels) painted by William Dargie in 1954 for the newly-crowned head…
Ahead of the 18 September Scottish independence referendum, the debate described to date as moribund reignited with David Bowie’s “Scotland stay with us” plea at an award ceremony in New York. Bowie is English. The Observer editorial described the subsequent…
The Australian Women Weekly launches ROYALS in bold, gold caps for $9.95. With a glamour shot of Kate on the front – welcoming her to Australia – this glossy features “Latest Royal News, Behind-the-Scenes Stories and Photographs” (read “intrusive gossip”)…
Canberra Times weekend columnist, Christine Wallace writes, “…one of the most important speeches on culture given this year was by England’s best known organic farmer, the Prince of Wales”. She goes on to comment, “Should Liz fall under a bus,…
