menu_open Columnists
John Hanscombe

John Hanscombe

Canberra Times

We use cookies to provide some features and experiences in QOSHE

More information  .  Close

It's pink under the bed and capitalism's to blame

It's pink under the bed and capitalism's to blame

Most of us thought Marxism died with the fall of the Soviet Union. And most of us were glad to see it off because it never delivered on its promises....

latest 7

The Examiner

John Hanscombe

It's pink under the bed and capitalism's to blame

It's pink under the bed and capitalism's to blame

Most of us thought Marxism died with the fall of the Soviet Union. And most of us were glad to see it off because it never delivered on its promises....

latest 10

Canberra Times

John Hanscombe

Is the age of reading coming to an end?

Is the age of reading coming to an end?

In all the fuss last week about the dip in NAPLAN results, comments from a principal at one of the schools which scored well stood out for me....

yesterday 10

The Examiner

John Hanscombe

Is the age of reading coming to an end?

Is the age of reading coming to an end?

In all the fuss last week about the dip in NAPLAN results, comments from a principal at one of the schools which scored well stood out for me....

yesterday 10

Canberra Times

John Hanscombe

Another day, another One Nation conspiracy theory is dredged up

Another day, another One Nation conspiracy theory is dredged up

You know it's all a plot, right? A secretive scheme cooked up by unelected globalist bureaucrats to restrict your freedom of movement, to control...

06.08.2026 20

The Examiner

John Hanscombe

Another day, another One Nation conspiracy theory is dredged up

Another day, another One Nation conspiracy theory is dredged up

You know it's all a plot, right? A secretive scheme cooked up by unelected globalist bureaucrats to restrict your freedom of movement, to control...

06.08.2026 10

Canberra Times

John Hanscombe

Milk-fed young Liberals count the cost of war

Milk-fed young Liberals count the cost of war

The hatred was visceral. A loathing so deep, so mutual, there was no way the two would ever be reconciled. On occasions it manifested itself in public...

05.08.2026 20

The Examiner

John Hanscombe

Milk-fed young Liberals count the cost of war

Milk-fed young Liberals count the cost of war

The hatred was visceral. A loathing so deep, so mutual, there was no way the two would ever be reconciled. On occasions it manifested itself in public...

05.08.2026 20

Canberra Times

John Hanscombe

The gilts wears thin in this phony golden age

The gilts wears thin in this phony golden age

His love of gold knows no bounds. And when he promised a new golden age, he wasn't joking. The Oval Office groans under the weight of it - at...

04.08.2026 20

The Examiner

John Hanscombe

The gilts wears thin in this phony golden age

The gilts wears thin in this phony golden age

His love of gold knows no bounds. And when he promised a new golden age, he wasn't joking. The Oval Office groans under the weight of it - at...

04.08.2026 20

Canberra Times

John Hanscombe

This world of whiplash is a real pain in the neck

This world of whiplash is a real pain in the neck

Curious about that pain in your neck? The persistent, low-level discomfort you can't seem to shake could be caused by many things, among them the...

03.08.2026 20

The Examiner

John Hanscombe

This world of whiplash is a real pain in the neck

This world of whiplash is a real pain in the neck

Curious about that pain in your neck? The persistent, low-level discomfort you can't seem to shake could be caused by many things, among them the...

03.08.2026 20

Canberra Times

John Hanscombe

Forget unboxing videos - it's time to wrap rage

Hell hath no fury like ... me trying to get past stupid packaging to the product I paid good money for and I want to use now. Not in an hour's...

30.07.2026 20

The Examiner

John Hanscombe

Forget unboxing videos - it's time to wrap rage

Hell hath no fury like ... me trying to get past stupid packaging to the product I paid good money for and I want to use now. Not in an hour's...

30.07.2026 20

Canberra Times

John Hanscombe

When vows of loyalty foretell acts of betrayal

Amid all the drama in the deposing of Victorian Premier Jacinta Allan - her early defiance, the acceptance of the inevitable, the resignation speech...

29.07.2026 20

The Examiner

John Hanscombe

When vows of loyalty foretell acts of betrayal

Amid all the drama in the deposing of Victorian Premier Jacinta Allan - her early defiance, the acceptance of the inevitable, the resignation speech...

29.07.2026 20

Canberra Times

John Hanscombe

Nonstop to New York or London is my idea of hell

28.07.2026 20

The Examiner

John Hanscombe

Nonstop to New York or London is my idea of hell

28.07.2026 20

Canberra Times

John Hanscombe

Europe's fires remind us to be alert if not alarmed

By this time of year, the longing begins. The buds on the liquidambars and the London plane tree are checked for the first signs of swelling. Note is...

28.07.2026 20

The Examiner

John Hanscombe

Europe's fires remind us to be alert if not alarmed

By this time of year, the longing begins. The buds on the liquidambars and the London plane tree are checked for the first signs of swelling. Note is...

28.07.2026 20

Canberra Times

John Hanscombe

Nonstop to New York or London is my idea of hell

It usually begins three hours into the flight. A gnawing restlessness and intensifying, often irrational intolerance for other passengers. Subscribe...

27.07.2026 20

The Examiner

John Hanscombe

Nonstop to New York or London is my idea of hell

It usually begins three hours into the flight. A gnawing restlessness and intensifying, often irrational intolerance for other passengers. Subscribe...

27.07.2026 20

Canberra Times

John Hanscombe

We take fewer sick days, which is quite unhealthy

My powers have been low the past few days. Scratchy cough, runny nose, generally out of sorts, nothing alarming just a typical winter lurgy, most...

23.07.2026 20

The Examiner

John Hanscombe

We take fewer sick days, which is quite unhealthy

My powers have been low the past few days. Scratchy cough, runny nose, generally out of sorts, nothing alarming just a typical winter lurgy, most...

23.07.2026 30

Canberra Times

John Hanscombe

Barking mad, Barnaby dogged in the limelight

I don't often feel sorry for Barnaby Joyce but I did the other night. There he was, mid-interview with 7.30's Sarah Ferguson, rarely a...

22.07.2026 30

The Examiner

John Hanscombe

Barking mad, Barnaby dogged in the limelight

I don't often feel sorry for Barnaby Joyce but I did the other night. There he was, mid-interview with 7.30's Sarah Ferguson, rarely a...

22.07.2026 20

Canberra Times

John Hanscombe

Call the UK race baiter by his name, not his alias

Imagine if he'd had a different surname. Shicklgruber perhaps or even Heidler, as it was meant to be spelt. The minor Austrian customs official,...

21.07.2026 30

The Examiner

John Hanscombe

Call the UK race baiter by his name, not his alias

Imagine if he'd had a different surname. Shicklgruber perhaps or even Heidler, as it was meant to be spelt. The minor Austrian customs official,...

21.07.2026 20

Canberra Times

John Hanscombe

Please, Donnie, get over it. You lost in 2020

The usual cast of villains were there. The radical left, the fake news, the People's Republic of China, the deep state, the intelligence...

20.07.2026 20

The Examiner

John Hanscombe

Please, Donnie, get over it. You lost in 2020

The usual cast of villains were there. The radical left, the fake news, the People's Republic of China, the deep state, the intelligence...

20.07.2026 30

Canberra Times

John Hanscombe

Mid-whinge, I remind myself how lucky I am

I only had myself to blame for the unpleasant sensation. Subscribe now for unlimited access. Login or signup to continue reading Cold, gnawing and...

16.07.2026 20

The Examiner

John Hanscombe

Mid-whinge, I remind myself how lucky I am

I only had myself to blame for the unpleasant sensation. Subscribe now for unlimited access. Login or signup to continue reading Cold, gnawing and...

16.07.2026 30

Canberra Times

John Hanscombe

How to love beer and hate alcohol at the same time

Don't get me wrong. I love an ice cold beer. That refreshing fizz. The shock of bitterness. It's an instant party for the palate. Subscribe...

01.07.2026 30

The Examiner

John Hanscombe

How to love beer and hate alcohol at the same time

Don't get me wrong. I love an ice cold beer. That refreshing fizz. The shock of bitterness. It's an instant party for the palate. Subscribe...

01.07.2026 30

Canberra Times

John Hanscombe

Global memory lapse as AI gobbles all the chips

They're calling it RAMageddon, the extreme shortage of computer memory chips caused by the AI industry's rapacious appetite for them. The...

30.06.2026 30

The Examiner

John Hanscombe

Global memory lapse as AI gobbles all the chips

They're calling it RAMageddon, the extreme shortage of computer memory chips caused by the AI industry's rapacious appetite for them. The...

30.06.2026 30

Canberra Times

John Hanscombe

Thanks, Daryl, your old song brought me to tears

A strange thing happened last week. I found myself tearing up on the news Daryl Braithwaite was calling time on his live music career. Subscribe now...

29.06.2026 30

The Examiner

John Hanscombe

Thanks, Daryl, your old song brought me to tears

A strange thing happened last week. I found myself tearing up on the news Daryl Braithwaite was calling time on his live music career. Subscribe now...

29.06.2026 20

Canberra Times

John Hanscombe

For golden retriever Gus, the struggle is real

Wait, what? Why are all these people yelling at me? Did I poop in the laundry again? I'm sure I didn't but my recall's not that good so...

25.06.2026 20

The Examiner

John Hanscombe

For golden retriever Gus, the struggle is real

Wait, what? Why are all these people yelling at me? Did I poop in the laundry again? I'm sure I didn't but my recall's not that good so...

25.06.2026 30

Canberra Times

John Hanscombe

Donald forced to drain the swamp he oversaw

It was going to be the best blue you've ever seen. Tremendous American flag blue. Bluer than any blue. Something to make Washington so proud....

24.06.2026 30

The Examiner

John Hanscombe

Donald forced to drain the swamp he oversaw

It was going to be the best blue you've ever seen. Tremendous American flag blue. Bluer than any blue. Something to make Washington so proud....

24.06.2026 30

Canberra Times

John Hanscombe

The Coalition gives itself a wedgie on tax reform

It was the worst of pranks, painful and humiliating. The tormentor would sneak up behind you, grab the waistband of your undies and yank upwards as...

23.06.2026 30

The Examiner

John Hanscombe

The Coalition gives itself a wedgie on tax reform

It was the worst of pranks, painful and humiliating. The tormentor would sneak up behind you, grab the waistband of your undies and yank upwards as...

23.06.2026 30

Canberra Times

John Hanscombe

Saxa salt with a serve of chips on the shoulder

This is an important announcement from the Australian Department of Monocultural Affairs. To preserve our way of life the following regulations will...

22.06.2026 40

The Examiner

John Hanscombe

Saxa salt with a serve of chips on the shoulder

This is an important announcement from the Australian Department of Monocultural Affairs. To preserve our way of life the following regulations will...

22.06.2026 50

Canberra Times

John Hanscombe

Hanson in the hot seat gets a little, well, heated

Look, I want want to be mean but I can't find any other way to say this: Pauline Hanson is not fit to run the country. Not if her address to the...

18.06.2026 30

The Examiner

John Hanscombe

Hanson in the hot seat gets a little, well, heated

Look, I want want to be mean but I can't find any other way to say this: Pauline Hanson is not fit to run the country. Not if her address to the...

18.06.2026 30

Canberra Times

John Hanscombe

The unsung heroes who toyed with our tastebuds

I'll never forget that first olive. Spat out like a bullet from a gun. My face contorted with disgust. Salty and sour like nothing I'd ever...

17.06.2026 20

The Examiner

John Hanscombe

The unsung heroes who toyed with our tastebuds

I'll never forget that first olive. Spat out like a bullet from a gun. My face contorted with disgust. Salty and sour like nothing I'd ever...

17.06.2026 30

Canberra Times

John Hanscombe