Denise says trust in democratic institutions is not strengthened by continually telling citizens that their country is broken.
Denise McHugh
Posted inPolitical, Regulars
Denise’s Desk: Why flirting with One Nation is bad for Farrer — and worse for New England
Denise says the Farrer by-election might seem a long way from New England, but the political warning signs it is sending should concern regional communities everywhere.
Posted inOpinion, Regulars, Social
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.
Posted inOpinion, Political, Regulars
Denise’s Desk: Discomfort, debate and why engagement matters in New England
Denise says in a region like New England, where politics is often shaped by personality and protest rather than policy, engagement matters.
Posted inOpinion, Political, Regulars
Denise’s Desk: Barnaby Joyce’s political midlife crisis comes at New England’s expense
Watching the rise of Pauline Hanson and the renewed chatter about One Nation as a plausible alternative government, it is worth applying a simple test of reality.
Posted inOpinion, Political, Regulars
Denise’s Desk: Why backing One Nation is an experiment Australia can’t afford
Watching the rise of Pauline Hanson and the renewed chatter about One Nation as a plausible alternative government, it is worth applying a simple test of reality.
Posted inRegulars
Denise’s Desk: A Little Backpack, A Big World
Denise McHugh reflects on her granddaughter starting kindergarten, highlighting the importance of early education and thanking the teachers and staff who shape the future.
Posted inPolitical, Regulars
Denise’s Desk: When Certainty Fades, Possibility Begins
Denise writes that the recent New England Times Engage Poll shows a profound movement and a lot of possibility.
Posted inPolitical, Regulars
Denise’s Desk: A Profound Betrayal of New England
Denise McHugh writes that Barnaby Joyce has profoundly betrayed the trust of New Englanders.
Posted inRegulars
Denise’s Desk: A Day Wrapped in Lace and Love
From the moment we gathered, it felt like a day suspended in time. Dress after dress, champagne and laughter, until the one appeared. It wasn’t just about lace; it was the extraordinary privilege of being a mother watching her child begin a new chapter.