menu_open Columnists

The Sydney Morning Herald

We use cookies to provide some features and experiences in QOSHE

More information  .  Close

Nintendo’s plan for eight more years at the top of its game

Thanks to a focus on developer freedom, a powerful Nvidia chip and ongoing killer software, the Switch 2 has the ingredients for success. But also...

latest 7

The Sydney Morning Herald

Tim Biggs

How the West was lost by Trump, a predator upon his own allies

Donald Trump has abandoned any meaningful notion of “the West” and, with it, America’s role as “leader of the free world”.

latest 7

The Sydney Morning Herald

George Brandis

They made a movie about my prison nightmare. I watched it through my fingers

As Richard Roxburgh stars as me in a feature film, I confront a disturbing reality: more journalists are behind bars today than when I was...

latest 5

The Sydney Morning Herald

Peter Greste

Why I turned to crime: Blanche d’Alpuget, six years after losing Bob Hawke

Why I turned to crime: Blanche d’Alpuget, six years after losing Bob Hawke

Blanche d’Alpuget, Australia’s most highly regarded biographer, has just released a crime novel, The Bunny Club. I spoke to her this week. Fitz:...

latest 7

The Sydney Morning Herald

Peter Fitzsimons

The simple tech tools that can help you budget better

The simple tech tools that can help you budget better

Real Money, a free weekly newsletter giving expert tips on how to save, invest and make the most of your money, is sent every Sunday. You’re...

latest 9

The Sydney Morning Herald

Dominic Powell

Are boys really toxic or are we in a moral panic?

Are boys really toxic or are we in a moral panic?

Hasan Piker is a 33-year-old American YouTuber and online streamer with a following in the millions. Young men love him, and he has been positioned...

latest 8

The Sydney Morning Herald

Jacqueline Maley

Adolescence is compelling, but here’s what it gets wrong

Adolescence is compelling, but here’s what it gets wrong

Involuntary celibacy – “incel” – culture, toxic masculinity, knife crime and young teens on social media. Netflix series Adolescence has become a...

latest 9

The Sydney Morning Herald

Parnell Palme Mcguinness

The NRL’s latest attempt to control the narrative has crossed a line

The NRL’s latest attempt to control the narrative has crossed a line

The NRL says it is not Big Brother – but after gagging coaches, they have now taken their ability to influence what fans are seeing on television...

latest 8

The Sydney Morning Herald

Danny Weidler

Should I start drawing on my super if the markets are down?

Should I start drawing on my super if the markets are down?

Is it better to start a pension when the market is down or up? I am 69 and pretty much retired. Currently, my super is split between pension and...

latest 10

The Sydney Morning Herald

Paul Benson

Gratitude is a form of preparation for the suffering we all endure

Gratitude is a form of preparation for the suffering we all endure

One of the saddest laments I often hear when tragedy strikes is “why me?” It’s a thoroughly natural question as we grapple with suffering,...

latest 8

The Sydney Morning Herald

Barney Zwartz

‘It means you’re stuffed’: These Victorian powerhouses are in the AFL’s no man’s land

‘It means you’re stuffed’: These Victorian powerhouses are in the AFL’s no man’s land

Add articles to your saved list and come back to them any time. Back in the late ’90s, then Carlton coach David Parkin expressed to me his view...

latest 8

The Sydney Morning Herald

Jake Niall

Is this the moment Penrith’s NRL reign came to an end?

Is this the moment Penrith’s NRL reign came to an end?

North Queensland forward Coen Hess monstering an unsuspecting Nathan Cleary as he shaped to kick on Friday night just about sums up Penrith’s...

yesterday 7

The Sydney Morning Herald

Christian Nicolussi

The one thing that separates old and young people online

The one thing that separates old and young people online

One of the great things about following your friends’ parents on Instagram is that it’s a nostalgic throwback to a simpler time online. On...

yesterday 8

The Sydney Morning Herald

Thomas Mitchell

I visited Andrew Krakouer in prison. This is what I learnt

I visited Andrew Krakouer in prison. This is what I learnt

It was his smile and the glint in his eye that drew you to him. And his name, of course. For those of us who grew up watching his dad and uncle in...

yesterday 8

The Sydney Morning Herald

Wayne Campbell

Should I have corrected my son’s teacher’s spelling?

Should I have corrected my son’s teacher’s spelling?

I emailed my son’s teacher at school and asked him what writing materials he needed for class. On the weekend, the teacher responded: “He’ll need...

yesterday 1

The Sydney Morning Herald

Danny Katz

Trump wants to close off America. If he succeeds, the global consequences will be catastrophic

Trump wants to close off America. If he succeeds, the global consequences will be catastrophic

The great closing of America is under way. It’s closing in multiple dimensions, but Donald Trump’s tariff decision is a concrete and quantifiable...

yesterday 1

The Sydney Morning Herald

Peter Hartcher

The Eagles threw Oscar Allen to the wolves: The story behind Hawthorn’s raid

The Eagles threw Oscar Allen to the wolves: The story behind Hawthorn’s raid

Oscar Allen’s emotional mea culpa made for uncomfortable viewing on Thursday. And somehow it felt all wrong. Having been exposed for breaking the...

yesterday 3

The Sydney Morning Herald

Caroline Wilson

Australia must bolster other partnerships as Trump pursues magical thinking

Australia must bolster other partnerships as Trump pursues magical thinking

For those observers who suggest we should take Donald Trump seriously but not literally, his “Liberation Day” speech in the White House’s Rose...

yesterday 1

The Sydney Morning Herald

The Age&x27S View

Planning to retire? Here’s exactly how much you can afford to spend

Planning to retire? Here’s exactly how much you can afford to spend

When we’re planning for retirement, we usually centre most of our financial goals on how much we want to have in superannuation when we retire. But...

yesterday 3

The Sydney Morning Herald

Bec Wilson

How savvy borrowers can double the coming rate cuts

How savvy borrowers can double the coming rate cuts

Refinancing has just become the hottest game in mortgage town. Rates are finally down – just one teeny, token cut so far, but the Trump-induced...

yesterday 3

The Sydney Morning Herald

Nicole Pedersen-Mckinnon

Feeling puzzled? This is how crosswords soothe us in hectic times

Feeling puzzled? This is how crosswords soothe us in hectic times

In 1942, two dozen solvers assembled in a Fleet Street room, their task to crack the Telegraph crossword in under 12 minutes. The winner won a...

yesterday 1

The Sydney Morning Herald

David Astle

Silver lining: Why this was the defeat Gout Gout didn’t know he needed

Silver lining: Why this was the defeat Gout Gout didn’t know he needed

The Gout Gout second place last weekend, at the Maurie Plant Meet in Melbourne was ... underwhelming. Just when we thought he was going to rule the...

yesterday 2

The Sydney Morning Herald

Peter Fitzsimons

Petracca moved to tears on another dark night for the Dees

Petracca moved to tears on another dark night for the Dees

The anguish on Christian Petracca’s face said it all. This was not the hell of the last two weeks when Melbourne did not give a yelp, but in a way...

yesterday 3

The Sydney Morning Herald

Andrew Wu

Is this the beginning of the end for Trump?

Is this the beginning of the end for Trump?

Donald Trump loved “Liberation Day”. There he was on Wednesday afternoon, launching the biggest global trade war since the 1930s – the one that...

previous day 20

The Sydney Morning Herald

Bruce Wolpe

Economic turmoil created by Trump’s tariffs will affect everything from coffee to interest rates

Economic turmoil created by Trump’s tariffs will affect everything from coffee to interest rates

Follow our live coverage of the 2025 federal election here . It’s difficult to imagine who was more surprised by Donald Trump’s tariff war – the...

previous day 2

The Sydney Morning Herald

Shane Wright

Albo, please tell me you haven’t bought into this ‘wellness’ con

Albo, please tell me you haven’t bought into this ‘wellness’ con

So we know Albo can be a hipster. He chugged a beer at a Gang of Youths concert and is planning a so-hot-right-now “small wedding”. But he still...

previous day 4

The Sydney Morning Herald

Kate Halfpenny

Ange Postecoglou took on Tottenham fans and lost ... this feels like the end

Ange Postecoglou took on Tottenham fans and lost ... this feels like the end

This might prove to be the day the Ange Postecoglou dream died as the Tottenham Hotspur head coach took on his own supporters and lost. Postecoglou...

previous day 10

The Sydney Morning Herald

Sam Dean

Does my brand look big in this? How influencers sold their souls

Does my brand look big in this? How influencers sold their souls

A conversation has been brewing online. And when I say “online” I mean “on TikTok”. And when I say “been brewing” I really mean “happening recently...

previous day 9

The Sydney Morning Herald

Brodie Lancaster

Dogs of four: Why Canterbury are undefeated

Dogs of four: Why Canterbury are undefeated

The secret sauce at Canterbury? There is no secret sauce. No mysterious herbs or spices. Definitely not 11 of them. Nothing in the water at...

previous day 2

The Sydney Morning Herald

Dan Walsh

Implementing NSW drug summit recommendations should not be delayed

Implementing NSW drug summit recommendations should not be delayed

Drug law reform is one of those polarising social issues that often creates inertia in politics and officialdom, and their tortoise-like pace to...

previous day 1

The Sydney Morning Herald

The Herald&x27S View

Melting down: Trump has put America on the road to a deep economic crisis

Melting down: Trump has put America on the road to a deep economic crisis

So much for the buying opportunity. Every indicator on the equity, bond, commodity and currency exchanges is flashing a full recession alert....

previous day 2

The Sydney Morning Herald

Ambrose Evans-Pritchard

St George Pell? Now that would be a miracle

St George Pell? Now that would be a miracle

Earlier this week I got a warning from my agent that the dataset Library Genesis had been hacked by Meta. “Unfortunately I see many of your works...

previous day 4

The Sydney Morning Herald

Thomas Keneally

Independents wield the power of balance

Independents wield the power of balance

Power. What does it mean in politics? At its best, power means having the ability to effect positive change, change that will enhance a country and...

previous day 3

The Sydney Morning Herald

Kerryn Phelps

If you want to stay young, always follow these three rules

If you want to stay young, always follow these three rules

I was totally humiliated recently. Don’t get excited. It had nothing to do with leaked photos of me in bondage gear. No, it happened during a hot...

previous day 9

The Sydney Morning Herald

Kathy Lette

Isaah Yeo only wanted to outdo his old man. Fair to say he’s done that ... and much more

Isaah Yeo only wanted to outdo his old man. Fair to say he’s done that ... and much more

Isaah Yeo had one aim when he started his rugby league career – to eclipse his father, Justin, who played 11 first-grade games for Balmain and...

previous day 2

The Sydney Morning Herald

Christian Nicolussi

The fine print costing Australians a pay rise

The fine print costing Australians a pay rise

Hidden in the job contracts of about one in five Australians are little clauses weighing down their chances of landing a pay rise or a...

previous day 9

The Sydney Morning Herald

Millie Muroi

They don’t know the half of it: Failing Blues look inward for answers

They don’t know the half of it: Failing Blues look inward for answers

First, consider the unvarnished, unflattering facts of Carlton’s serial capitulations in the first four rounds of 2025. The Blues led lowly...

previous day 9

The Sydney Morning Herald

Jake Niall

Can I refuse to contribute to a gift for a colleague I dislike?

Can I refuse to contribute to a gift for a colleague I dislike?

A colleague is having a major anniversary in a few months and plans are already under way to celebrate it at work. This is a person who has been at...

previous day 8

The Sydney Morning Herald

Jonathan Rivett

Bosses are firing more Gen Z workers. But are they just misunderstood?

Bosses are firing more Gen Z workers. But are they just misunderstood?

With an increasing number of Generation Z entering the workforce, the young, tech-savvy cohort are beginning to make waves. But not in a good way....

previous day 8

The Sydney Morning Herald

Emily Chantiri

Brexit for the US: Trump’s tariffs are the sign of a nation in decline

Brexit for the US: Trump’s tariffs are the sign of a nation in decline

Pop quiz: which country is the world’s leading producer of soybeans? Instinct might say China, or perhaps Japan, given the traditional centrality...

previous day 1

The Sydney Morning Herald

Waleed Aly

Does skipping your lunch break make you a better worker?

Does skipping your lunch break make you a better worker?

In today’s professional world, the pressure to be constantly available, perpetually productive, and always switched on has become the norm. But the...

previous day 8

The Sydney Morning Herald

Téa Angelos

Trump delivers ‘huge advantage’ to China with self-destructive tariffs

Trump delivers ‘huge advantage’ to China with self-destructive tariffs

Follow our live coverage of the 2025 federal election here. Donald Trump’s self-destructive tariff blitz has forced Prime Minister Anthony Albanese...

thursday 20

The Sydney Morning Herald

Peter Hartcher

Donald Trump’s dumb war just got much, much dumber

Donald Trump’s dumb war just got much, much dumber

Donald Trump has just announced the most self-destructive set of policies in modern American economic history. The United States built the post-war...

thursday 10

The Sydney Morning Herald

Stephen Bartholomeusz

Bondi has seen big waves before, but nothing like Black Sunday

Bondi has seen big waves before, but nothing like Black Sunday

Yes, that does indeed appear to be mother of all waves that hit the Bondi Icebergs in the very early hours of Wednesday morning, causing so much...

thursday 10

The Sydney Morning Herald

Peter Fitzsimons

Australia’s best hope: wait for Americans to turn on Trump

Australia’s best hope: wait for Americans to turn on Trump

Nobody needed a ceremony in a rose garden to know that Donald Trump wanted a divorce from the global economic system that has delivered wealth and...

thursday 40

The Sydney Morning Herald

David Crowe

Players fear Matildas are ‘wasting time’ as coach search drags on

Players fear Matildas are ‘wasting time’ as coach search drags on

Caitlin Foord is tired of waiting. Most of her Matildas teammates feel the same way. It has been eight long months since Tony Gustavsson’s contract...

thursday 10

The Sydney Morning Herald

Vince Rugari

Trump’s ‘reciprocal tariffs’ look to be a hoax. Here’s how you can tell

Trump’s ‘reciprocal tariffs’ look to be a hoax. Here’s how you can tell

For weeks, Donald Trump has built up “Liberation Day” as a form of payback. The tariffs levied by the United States would be reciprocal, he said: “...

thursday 10

The Sydney Morning Herald

Michael Koziol

The transformative power of a single cup of tea

The transformative power of a single cup of tea

I’ve long marvelled about the power of tea, but it was only this week that I understood how it could be used as a weapon against the police. The...

thursday 10

The Sydney Morning Herald

Richard Glover

How the Allen situation shows the AFL’s outrage machine is out of control

How the Allen situation shows the AFL’s outrage machine is out of control

The outrage machine is out of control this week, even by the AFL bubble’s hysterical standards. The reaction to West Coast co-captain, and...

thursday 3

The Sydney Morning Herald

Marc Mcgowan

The digital age is a pain in the digit – and my texting thumb is over it

The digital age is a pain in the digit – and my texting thumb is over it

While I was grabbing the peanut butter the other day, a sharp pain shot through some obscure tendons in my thumb, making me shriek. A preliminary...

thursday 10

The Sydney Morning Herald

Cherie Gilmour