Latest Articles
Australians, especially those who trust the ABC, will be surprised how this heartland American sees Trump, the nation and world
Oct 12 2024
12 mins
ABCers know their jobs are safe and that, for all Dutton’s fulminations, no government will insist on reform, let alone cut the broadcaster loose
Oct 12 2024
5 mins
Companies, universities, law societies and other bodies cast a Yes vote as the only decent thing to do. Equality of all citizens be damned
Oct 12 2024
15 mins
on empty
On a hot day the North-West Plain is so flat it isn’t.
The horizon curves and stirs like a wisp of moustache.
Animals burrow that aren’t meant to burrow.
Prey walk past their predators under a white flag.
The eyes of roadkill are left to boil in their sockets.
The can of beer is dry when you open it.
A cigarette is rolling another swagman.
The motor smokes nervously before you start it.
The mobile phone sweats, whimpers and croaks.
The devil is on holiday in Tasmania.
The paddock on the left is Texas.
The seat of government is the only tree.
We’ll take a rest-stop at the next mirage.
Is it far? It has been. Are we there yet? No.
Many will disagree, but World War III is too great a risk to run by involving ourselves in a distant border conflict
Sep 25 2024
5 mins
To claim Aborigines have the world's oldest continuous culture is to misunderstand the meaning of culture, which continuously changes over time and location. For a culture not to change over time would be a reproach and certainly not a cause for celebration, for it would indicate that there had been no capacity to adapt. Clearly this has not been the case
Aug 20 2024
23 mins
A friend and longtime supporter of Quadrant, Clive James sent us a poem in 2010, which we published in our December issue. Like the Taronga Park Aquarium he recalls in its 'mocked-up sandstone cave' it's not to be forgotten
Aug 16 2024
2 mins
