It’s winter, some days the temperature doesn’t go much above 12C. There is a lot of plodding, as I’ve rejoined the work force, yet again, for a little while. And on a sunny day, rugged up against the blustery wind, there is still a mild exhilaration in being a public servant in the capital of […]

My friend Andrew Leigh is doing research on racial attitudes in Australia, along with his colleague Alison Booth. If you’re interested in helping out you can take their quizz at www.iat.org.au. I just have, and am quite pleased that I appear to show little or no preference one way or the other. It won’t take […]

When I came to Australia as a five year old there were a few continuities in my life apart from the language. One of those was Alistair Cooke and his “Letter from America”. It was broadcast by the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation, I think on a Sunday afternoon. The ABC broadcast it as well, just after […]

Something seems to have happened since I last did a stint in the public service, nearly 5 years ago. Back then, managerialism was still in vogue. There were silly obsessions about performance, and group gatherings to build morale that actually helped to break it. That’s because the highly paid facilitators always steered the team to […]

Censorship laws in Australia seem to have reverted to something pre-Don Chip. Although in the bad old days it was Queensland that had problems with naked women’s breasts, including a visiting islander troop that had to dance wearing bras! Not New South Wales. The Age bravely reproduces the image that has got Bill Henson into […]

I always thought that one of the best arguments for a republic was that the monarchy is cruel to monarchs, or at least their families. Common law forbids slavery, but if you’re born a Windsor, short of abdicating, you’re tied to a particular job for the rest of your life. It’s one thing to live […]