menu_open Columnists

The Sydney Morning Herald

We use cookies to provide some features and experiences in QOSHE

More information  .  Close

The killers who walk among us

The killers who walk among us

A new profile of the average NSW domestic violence killer challenges the misconception that he is confined to particular groups or occurs only on the...

latest 3

The Sydney Morning Herald

The Herald's View

Terence Tao’s groundbreaking maths formula is so simple, anyone can follow it

Terence Tao’s groundbreaking maths formula is so simple, anyone can follow it

The Australian mathematician has been given one of the highest awards in the Kings Birthday Honours list. This is why.

latest 6

The Sydney Morning Herald

Adam Spencer

The Chinese president has arrived in North Korea. The world is watching

The Chinese president has arrived in North Korea. The world is watching

Xi Jinping has arrived in Pyongyang for talks with Kim Jong-un. Much hinges on this.

latest 2

The Sydney Morning Herald

Peter Hartcher

The game was sealed by a Pickett goal, but the symbolic moment was a tackle

The game was sealed by a Pickett goal, but the symbolic moment was a tackle

In a game of amazing feats and egregious mistakes, the signature moment belonged to a young Melbourne midfielder Harvey Langford.

yesterday 10

The Sydney Morning Herald

Jake Niall

Living here makes no sense at all, but I can’t get enough of it

Anyone who decides to live in Sydenham and complains about the noise really only has themselves to blame.

yesterday 10

The Sydney Morning Herald

Nick wallace

Kalyn Ponga has a shoulder charge problem. NSW will be hoping history repeats

Kalyn Ponga has a shoulder charge problem. NSW will be hoping history repeats

The Queensland fullback has escaped suspension for two incidents recently. A third could cost Queensland the Origin series.

yesterday 10

The Sydney Morning Herald

Malcolm Knox

The game was sealed by a Pickett goal, but the symbolic moment was a tackle

The game was sealed by a Pickett goal, but the symbolic moment was a tackle

In a game of amazing feats and no less amazing mistakes, the signature moment belonged to a young Melbourne midfielder Harvey Langford.

yesterday 10

The Sydney Morning Herald

Jake Niall

Trump and Xi alone may have the chance to stop AI from spiralling out of control

Trump and Xi alone may have the chance to stop AI from spiralling out of control

After the Cuban Missile Crisis brought the world to the edge of nuclear war, global powers worked together to pull it back from the brink. We need...

yesterday 10

The Sydney Morning Herald

James Titcomb

Why some Australian investors will risk punting on Musk’s $2.5 trillion space vision

Why some Australian investors will risk punting on Musk’s $2.5 trillion space vision

It’s off to the races for the Musk believers, who appreciate that no matter how many times his big promises have not been met, some of them have.

yesterday 10

The Sydney Morning Herald

Elizabeth Knight

How Walsh usurped Mam into Maroons fold in bid to salvage Origin series

How Walsh usurped Mam into Maroons fold in bid to salvage Origin series

Reece Walsh has unseated Ezra Mam as the bench option to cover the backline. But a champion veteran has slammed Mam’s critics.

yesterday 10

The Sydney Morning Herald

Nick Wright

‘The best of us’: We’re all poorer for the loss of the unstoppable Richard Scolyer

‘The best of us’: We’re all poorer for the loss of the unstoppable Richard Scolyer

Garry Maddox and Scolyer became friends while writing the memoir Brainstorm – his death “feels shocking and sudden and sad”.

yesterday 5

The Sydney Morning Herald

Garry Maddox

Alexander Zverev’s grand-slam breakthrough cannot remove black marks

Alexander Zverev’s grand-slam breakthrough cannot remove black marks

Alexander Zverev has fulfilled his destiny and finally won a grand slam title, but his complex legacy will endure.

yesterday 10

The Sydney Morning Herald

Simon Briggs

‘Ditch the witch’ is back – a sign of the decline in our political discourse

‘Ditch the witch’ is back – a sign of the decline in our political discourse

A sign is just a sign. Hopefully, this one won’t be around for long. But a sign can be read as a portent too.

yesterday 10

The Sydney Morning Herald

Jacqueline Maley

I’ve come up with a solution for our parking woes. Not everyone will like it

I’ve come up with a solution for our parking woes. Not everyone will like it

On-street parking is convenient but it comes at a cost. Are our councils prepared to pay it?

yesterday 10

The Sydney Morning Herald

Dorina Pojani

Trump will be furious but his man’s hands are tied

Trump will be furious but his man’s hands are tied

A surprising jump in the latest jobs figures is good news for America but spells doom for one of Donald Trump’s biggest wishes.

yesterday 10

The Sydney Morning Herald

Stephen Bartholomeusz

The attack on Israel is an astonishing demonstration of Iranian bravado in this ‘fiasco’ of a war

The attack on Israel is an astonishing demonstration of Iranian bravado in this ‘fiasco’ of a war

By firing salvos of missiles at Israel, Iran’s leaders are rolling the dice on punitive retaliation – but it could soon turn to folly.

yesterday 10

The Sydney Morning Herald

David Blair

Is life getting better in NSW? Here’s how the government is finding out

Is life getting better in NSW? Here’s how the government is finding out

The state has been measuring our wellbeing, not just budget dollars and cents.

yesterday 10

The Sydney Morning Herald

Matt Wade

The NRL’s heavyweights have fallen off a cliff. And only one is climbing back up

The NRL’s heavyweights have fallen off a cliff. And only one is climbing back up

Set restarts, injuries and hubris have four of the NRL’s premiership favourites battling to save their 2026 campaigns already.

yesterday 10

The Sydney Morning Herald

Dan Walsh

I’ve farewelled my old house, and the people we were when we lived there

I’ve farewelled my old house, and the people we were when we lived there

I will never again meet the baby that my son was, nor the three-year-old. Leaving this house feels as though I am leaving those ages behind, but the...

yesterday 10

The Sydney Morning Herald

Sean Kelly

Why FIFA’s ‘hydration break’ sham is working out for the Socceroos

Why FIFA’s ‘hydration break’ sham is working out for the Socceroos

The introduction of the mandatory breaks – even if the weather is relatively cool – looks set to be a defining feature of this World Cup. On the...

previous day 10

The Sydney Morning Herald

Vince Rugari

High Court judges should not air disagreements in public

High Court judges should not air disagreements in public

Judges should avoid public controversy. A recent speech by the High Court’s Justice Robert Beech-Jones appeared to breach that rule.

previous day 10

The Sydney Morning Herald

George Brandis

Fewer Brumbies, only three Tahs and Suaalii on the bench. The Wallabies team I would pick on form

Fewer Brumbies, only three Tahs and Suaalii on the bench. The Wallabies team I would pick on form

The outstanding form of Queensland Reds centre Filipo Daugunu means $5 million man Joseph-Aukuso Suaalii should not start for the Wallabies against...

previous day 20

The Sydney Morning Herald

Paul Cully

I tried Google’s new health app. It can’t replace a real trainer

I tried Google’s new health app. It can’t replace a real trainer

Over the past few weeks, Google’s omniscient Coach has messaged me constantly about my heart, sleep and exercise. But how capable is it?

previous day 10

The Sydney Morning Herald

Tim Biggs

Up the duff and in the red

Up the duff and in the red

Being pregnant is risky, expensive and sometimes fatal. Should women be paid for it?

previous day 10

The Sydney Morning Herald

Luara Ferracioli

Why one woman has persisted as the world’s most shimmery sex symbol – and it wasn’t her looks

Why one woman has persisted as the world’s most shimmery sex symbol – and it wasn’t her looks

Norma Jeane Mortenson is getting the love she always craved. In a world that lacks artists who burn through the screen, Marilyn Monroe remains as...

previous day 20

The Sydney Morning Herald

Maureen Dowd

Don’t panic, Australia. Popovic says Socceroos are ‘ready’ for the real thing

Don’t panic, Australia. Popovic says Socceroos are ‘ready’ for the real thing

Tony Popovic says he got everything he wanted out of Australia’s 1-1 draw with Switzerland, their final pre-World Cup warm-up. Fans probably wanted...

previous day 10

The Sydney Morning Herald

Vince Rugari

And justice for one – or three

And justice for one – or three

Courts can be impersonal and inhumane places. They can also, on a good day, dispense justice.

previous day 10

The Sydney Morning Herald

Alexandra Sangster

Whatever happened to Mitchell Pearce? Well, he moved to Europe, gave up the grog and converted to Islam

Whatever happened to Mitchell Pearce? Well, he moved to Europe, gave up the grog and converted to Islam

The former NRL hellraiser has resettled in France, where he is assistant coach at the Catalans Dragons rugby league team.

previous day 40

The Sydney Morning Herald

Peter Fitzsimons

I never celebrated exercise, until I was in hospital thinking I might never be able to again

I never celebrated exercise, until I was in hospital thinking I might never be able to again

In April last year I did the bowel cancer screening test sent out in the mail. To my shock – I had no symptoms – it came back positive. I was 54....

previous day 40

The Sydney Morning Herald

Simon Castles

From rego to road tolls, these are the best rebates to claim now

From rego to road tolls, these are the best rebates to claim now

Federal and state initiatives promise money back on car regos, toll roads, house upgrades, health care and even petrol.

previous day 10

The Sydney Morning Herald

Dominic Powell

Bailey, ‘Kozzy’ and ‘the Wizard’ have made it, but the strength of this side is in who misses out

Bailey, ‘Kozzy’ and ‘the Wizard’ have made it, but the strength of this side is in who misses out

“The Wizard” joins “the Lizard”, but only nine players from the 2025 All-Australian side have done enough to get into the 23 for this mid-year...

previous day 20

The Sydney Morning Herald

Jake Niall

Will I have to pay tax on my super if it grows over $2 million?

Will I have to pay tax on my super if it grows over $2 million?

The transfer balance cap limits the amount you can transition into pension mode but it doesn’t apply to growth within your fund.

previous day 20

The Sydney Morning Herald

Paul Benson

V’landys makes call on Roberts-Smith’s visit to Broncos sheds

V’landys makes call on Roberts-Smith’s visit to Broncos sheds

The accused war criminal and his daughters were invited to the Brisbane dressing rooms at Suncorp Stadium last Sunday after the club’s shock loss to...

previous day 30

The Sydney Morning Herald

Danny Weidler

Women voting with their feet: This One Nation shift shouldn’t shock us

Women voting with their feet: This One Nation shift shouldn’t shock us

The rapid drift to Pauline Hanson’s party has been from the Coalition alone, but from Labor too – and the government should be very afraid.

previous day 20

The Sydney Morning Herald

Parnell Palme Mcguinness

Like Thatcher, Hanson won’t use the F-word. But it’s central to her appeal

Like Thatcher, Hanson won’t use the F-word. But it’s central to her appeal

Conservative female politicians are slow to champion feminism, but none more so than populist strongwomen such as Pauline Hanson.

previous day 10

The Sydney Morning Herald

Jacqueline Maley

Let’s not pretend that new – or old – submarines are what AUKUS is really about

Let’s not pretend that new – or old – submarines are what AUKUS is really about

Some say Australia’s new deal is akin to forfeiting a deposit on a new Renault to get a top-of-the-range Tesla, but receiving a second-hand model...

previous day 10

The Sydney Morning Herald

Clinton Fernandes

How to hack your health insurance for the second half of life

How to hack your health insurance for the second half of life

The policy you set up in your late 20s or early 30s was designed for an entirely different version of your life. Have you reviewed it since?

previous day 20

The Sydney Morning Herald

Bec Wilson

How a bunch of K-pop fans beat Ticketmaster’s sneaky pricing tactics

How a bunch of K-pop fans beat Ticketmaster’s sneaky pricing tactics

In this instance, common sense won out thanks to people calling out practices that don’t pass the pub test.

previous day 10

The Sydney Morning Herald

Victoria devine

Silence on suicide won’t help families trying to keep loved ones safe

Silence on suicide won’t help families trying to keep loved ones safe

The parents of a young man who died days after being discharged from a mental health unit are pushing for a coronial inquest into events in the...

saturday 20

The Sydney Morning Herald

The Herald's View

To fix housing, we must try something radical. Here are three ideas to shift the dial

To fix housing, we must try something radical. Here are three ideas to shift the dial

Australia already has more homes than households. It’s just that too many of our homes cannot house the people who need them.

saturday 10

The Sydney Morning Herald

Tone Wheeler

How the French will be paying to develop the next generation of Wallabies

How the French will be paying to develop the next generation of Wallabies

The niggly relationship between Australian and French rugby has taken another twist that could one day pay off for the Wallabies.

saturday 10

The Sydney Morning Herald

Paul Cully

Things I’d never outsource to a robot: sex and the joy of writing

Things I’d never outsource to a robot: sex and the joy of writing

When writers use AI to increase their efficiency, as if writing were an assembly line of mechanical functions, I feel sorry for them.

saturday 10

The Sydney Morning Herald

Malcolm Knox

FIFA will splurge $1.3b on World Cup prizemoney. It’s time Olympic athletes were paid fairly, too

FIFA will splurge $1.3b on World Cup prizemoney. It’s time Olympic athletes were paid fairly, too

Even a team losing all three games at the World Cup will pocket $13 million. Against this, The IOC’s opposition to paying its athletes looks ever...

saturday 20

The Sydney Morning Herald

Darren Kane

Confessions of a shopaphobic: Is there a greater hell than buying new clothes?

Confessions of a shopaphobic: Is there a greater hell than buying new clothes?

The change rooms, the mirrors, the judgmental salesperson: it’s all a plot.

saturday 10

The Sydney Morning Herald

Richard Glover

A disease has crept into the Lions’ den. Can Fagan and his men find the cure in time?

A disease has crept into the Lions’ den. Can Fagan and his men find the cure in time?

The Lions’ ledger has looked significantly worse than 6-6 from 12 games at the season’s midpoint, but their un-Brisbane-like behavioral signs...

saturday 10

The Sydney Morning Herald

Caroline Wilson

Parramatta Council’s ills deserve a public airing

Parramatta Council’s ills deserve a public airing

The NSW corruption watchdog has discovered a questionable culture in a western Sydney municipality.

saturday 20

The Sydney Morning Herald

The Herald's View

The Sage of reason: Why only two teams can make the NRL grand final

The Sage of reason: Why only two teams can make the NRL grand final

At the halfway mark of the NRL season, I am putting a line though everyone else. The Panthers and Warriors are the only two hopes.

saturday 10

The Sydney Morning Herald

Peter Fitzsimons

One grievance above all is fuelling the rise of Hanson

One grievance above all is fuelling the rise of Hanson

Both Labor and the Coalition are losing support to One Nation. But desperate voters are sending a clear signal to the other major parties. They want...

saturday 10

The Sydney Morning Herald

Peter Hartcher

Half of us are terrified of retirement. Here’s why you might be OK

Half of us are terrified of retirement. Here’s why you might be OK

You don’t need to pay anyone anything to start understanding what your retirement could really look like.

saturday 10

The Sydney Morning Herald

Bec Wilson

These two tax time moves could net you an extra $1040

These two tax time moves could net you an extra $1040

We’re roughly two weeks away from tax time, so if you want to lock in some extra savings, you’ll have to act now.

saturday 10

The Sydney Morning Herald

Nicole Pedersen-Mckinnon