Ten years ago today Victoria burned, an entire town was wiped off the map and 173 people perished. The subsequent Royal Commission established the disaster was the sum of a multitude of sins --not least inadequate fuel reduction that turned the state into a pyre awaiting only a spark. Here is the story of how five men and their esky survived that terrible afternoon

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When sentencing a pair of jihadis, a NSW judge observed that the Islamic community needs to work out if Koranic exortations to violence are to be taken seriously or not. Predictably, there followed immediate denials that anything needs to change or, indeed, could be changed. It seems Islamic leaders could use a refresher course in their creed's most sacred text

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Undocumented would-be immigrant Behrouz Boochani was last week awarded a $125,000 literary prize for which he is manifestly ineligible, being neither Australian nor resident in Australia. Five judges who vehemently disagree with offshore detention arbitrarily chucked that condition out a Wheeler Centre window

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To visit Greenwich is to grasp in an afternoon's stroll the Britain that was once and is now no more. General Wolfe, whose addition of Canada to the Empire is celebrated here, was brought down by a French musket ball. Today, prostration before the EU is Theresa May's instinctive first position

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We, the people, have to be on our guard when government excuses oppressive and discriminatory action on the basis that only a small minority will be injured. Who will form the next small minority? Who will be picked off next?

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When Mary Durack hosted a soirée for Xavier Herbert her guests included Paul Hasluck and other Western Australian luminaries. What followed was less a meal than a circus, one that very nearly culminated in a punch-up between a famously unpleasant egomaniac and a soon-to-be Governor-General

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Britons voted on a very simple question: Leave the EU or stay? Now, after unsatisfactory negotiations, not to mention deliberate prevarication, there is talk of a second referendum that would see Remain once again on the ballot. If no resolution is found, is the the Queen not obliged to defend the people's will?

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Quadrant readers knew the one-time head of Melbourne University Press, who passed away in 2015 at the age of 92, for his columns, mellifluous prose and erudite wit. Many light-fingered former Melbourne University students and staff harbour less cheerful memories. With MUP once again in the headlines, here a reminder of a steward who not only eschewed trash but also turned a profit

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What I do not understand is Venezuelans voting for the very policies which subsequently devastated their country. What I understand even less are the polls indicating Australian voters are buying Bill Shorten's Chavez-lite policies and class-war rhetoric

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Put aside the natural aversion to the Davos billionaires. Capitalism is the only system which can continually reduce poverty and increase overall prosperity. Yes, capitalism creates very rich people, but capitalism won’t work its wonders without very rich people

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