Aussie way out of Tory’s LibDem trap

An open letter to the new British Deputy Prime Minister and Leader of the Liberal Democrats, Nick Clegg.
DEAR Mr Clegg (or may I call you Nick, given that you were in primary school when the Liberal Democrats last held the balance of power and I was starting a career in journalism after doing politics, statistics and law at university).
Do not fall into the Tory trap of having a referendum on the electoral system. Continue reading “Aussie way out of Tory’s LibDem trap”

War on flu gives better security than war on terror

A LITTLE under 28 years ago, I copped a heavy dose of flu – real flu, not just a bad cold. Bone aches, fever, headache as well as the usual nasal congestion. I have not had another dose until earlier this week. I know it was 28 years ago because I looked up an article I wrote after crawling out of my bed. It was headed: Imagine having the flu all of your life. Continue reading “War on flu gives better security than war on terror”

Imagine having the flu all your life

(Occasional series of scanned pre-1992 articles. This was first published 18 August 1982.)
A VERY nasty flu is sweeping Canberra.
Well, it really is three flus. One causes acute pain and discomfort in the gastric area, the second causes aches in the bones, and the third appears to be the tradi¬tional head and chest variety. Some sufferers had all three. Continue reading “Imagine having the flu all your life”

Conroy possessed over internet filter

THE one time that blindly following US demands might have saved us from folly, rather than lead us into it, we snubbed them. We were suckers for Vietnam, Gulf Wars, Middle East policies which make us targets and a ludicrously one-sided trade deal. Yet, when the US suggests that compulsory filtering of the internet is a dumb idea because it is impracticable, by-passable and gives succour to the totalitarian Chinese regime, we press on regardless. Continue reading “Conroy possessed over internet filter”