Opinion: Four years on, where are the homes and the flood mitigation?
Federal Member Kevin Hogan reflects on the four-year anniversary of the 2022 floods, questioning the lack of housing delivery and engineering work to reduce future flood levels.
OPINION >
Roy’s Roundup: drought, flood, and more
Read the latest newsletter from Member for Barwon Roy Butler
Denise’s Desk: Low ATARs aren’t the teaching crisis. Why high achievers are walking away
Denise says if we are serious about teacher quality, the conversation needs to move beyond cheap ATAR panic and towards making teaching a profession that high-achieving students actively choose.
Opinion: Childcare centres have staffing rules, but many find loopholes
Opinion: Can you afford a dog’s love?
Opinion: Why ‘Micro Stays’ might just be the biggest travel trend of 2026
Opinion: X’s algorithm can shift political views in weeks – and the effects last
IDEAS >
Opinion: Or, we could just stop talking about them…
RK Crosby says the way to defeat the likes of Hanson and Joyce is to stop talking about them.
Opinion: Do positive affirmations work? A psychologist unpacks the evidence
While popular on social media, repeating positive affirmations isn’t a cure-all. A clinical psychologist unpacks the evidence behind self-affirmation, warning against the risks of “toxic positivity” and offering more effective alternatives like self-compassion.
Opinion: What the RBA wants Australians to do next to fight inflation – or risk more rate hikes
The RBA has raised the cash rate to 3.85% to combat sticky inflation. Meg Elkins explains the psychology behind the decision and what the central bank hopes Australians will do next: spend less, save more, and temper wage demands.
REGIONAL >
Opinion: Ever-Growing Costs of Fast Rail and Inland Rail: Is There a Better Way?
Roy’s Roundup: Lake Cargelligo tragedy, firearms laws & saving greyhound tracks
REGULARS >
Chaffey’s Corner: Fighting for a fair go
Letter: Potential amalgamation of councils should not be initiated by Armidale
Rob Richardson writes that any amalgamation of councils around Armidale should not be initiated by Armidale.
Keep readingLetter: Bush short-changed on populist rubbish
Former NSW Farmers President Mal Peters argues that complex government policy requires fact-based solutions, not “populist rubbish.” He predicts the “Barnaby Joyce train” will lose steam…
Keep readingLetter: New England BESS projects get certainty with government contracts
Max Doogood argues that Battery Energy Storage Systems (BESS) are not as green as portrayed and pose safety risks to regional communities. He warns against foreign…
Keep readingLetter: Joyce sideline
Rural people have always had conflict with the Nationals saying one thing in the bush and another when they went to Canberra. The perils of Coalition.…
Keep readingLATEST COMMENTS >
Thanks for your thought provoking article. It reminds me of the idiom “history is made by those who turn up”.…
Maybe not. Whitlam was the greatest reformer in my lifetime. Hawke and Keating both very good. In them times I…
SOCIAL ISSUES >
Opinion: Firefighters face repeat trauma. We learned how to reduce their risk of PTSD
First responders face high risks of PTSD, but new research shows it isn’t inevitable. A trial of the “SOLAR” mobile app – a confidential, self-led program teaching practical resilience skills – significantly reduced depression and trauma symptoms in firefighters.
ENVIRONMENT >
Opinion: Renewables over 50%, wholesale prices down – is the energy transition… succeeding?
Australia’s energy transition is finally paying off. For the first time, renewables and storage supplied over 50% of the grid’s power last quarter, driving wholesale prices down by 40%. Experts predict this could lead to lower household bills by mid-2026.
SOLUTIONS >
Tips+Tricks: Why Brand Soul is Not Sentimental, It’s Commercial
Georgie Scott says that “brand soul” in founder-led businesses isn’t just sentimental; it’s a crucial commercial asset. She explains how scaling often dilutes this magic and why codifying founder instinct is key to long-term value creation.
SOMETHING TO THINK ABOUT >
Opinion: An ‘AI afterlife’ is now a real option – but what becomes of your legal status?
Generative AI now allows you to create a “digital twin” for your loved ones to interact with after you die. But this booming “grief tech” industry raises serious unanswered questions about copyright, privacy, and who actually owns your digital identity once you are gone.
