menu_open Columnists

Brisbane Times

We use cookies to provide some features and experiences in QOSHE

More information  .  Close

The land that knew no peace

The land that knew no peace

Religion in Afghanistan has all too often been a victim of politics.

latest 0

Brisbane Times

Dr Mujib Abid

Why the richest man on Earth wants you to think money won’t matter

Why the richest man on Earth wants you to think money won’t matter

Artificial intelligence negating our need for money? Add it to the long, long list of outlandish claims that Elon Musk has made over the past decade.

latest 0

Brisbane Times

Victoria Devine

When you’re in pain, the last thing they say to do is consult your phone. I did it anyway

When you’re in pain, the last thing they say to do is consult your phone. I did it anyway

“Am I having a heart attack?” I asked it.

latest 0

Brisbane Times

Kerri Sackville

‘We were taught that the world is evil outside’: How one woman fled the Redeemer Baptists

‘We were taught that the world is evil outside’: How one woman fled the Redeemer Baptists

The fundamentalist church controlled every aspect of Alexandra’s life – until she opened the door and ran.

latest 0

Brisbane Times

Peter Fitzsimons

With $5 billion floating around, the NRL player market has gone wild

With $5 billion floating around, the NRL player market has gone wild

Apart from the Super League madness of the mid-1990s, the player market has never been more volatile. What’s driving it? Money. A lot of money.

latest 0

Brisbane Times

Neil Breen

The trick to avoid getting ripped off on car insurance? Drive a hard bargain

The trick to avoid getting ripped off on car insurance? Drive a hard bargain

Remaining loyal to your insurer doesn’t always pay – in fact, it can cost you more. Make them work for your business.

latest 0

Brisbane Times

Dominic Powell

I went for a run and nearly died: What having anaphylaxis taught me about life

I went for a run and nearly died: What having anaphylaxis taught me about life

One in three Australians now have an allergy. Finally, the government has taken notice.

latest 0

Brisbane Times

Jacqueline Maley

An experiment for Albanese to watch: British PM’s bid to stem working-class drift

An experiment for Albanese to watch: British PM’s bid to stem working-class drift

Andy Burnham’s strategy is to head the populists off at the pass, but that involves some risk on the progressive side of the ledger.

latest 0

Brisbane Times

Parnell Palme McGuinness

The $1m gap between the Roosters and a new deal for Sam Walker

The $1m gap between the Roosters and a new deal for Sam Walker

The Tricolours and their star halfback have put contract negotiations on hold, with the parties still some way apart in their valuation of the Maroons...

latest 0

Brisbane Times

Danny Weidler

I’m 64. Should I use my super to pay off the rest of my mortgage?

I’m 64. Should I use my super to pay off the rest of my mortgage?

While there might be a “correct” answer to this question, often the allure of being debt free in retirement is what most people would prefer.

latest 0

Brisbane Times

Paul Benson

Pigs in muck: Wallabies forwards have a field day against Japan

Pigs in muck: Wallabies forwards have a field day against Japan

In this topsy-turvy Test, Australia’s backs seemed to do all the grunt work while the forwards feasted with eight tries, continuing a successful...

yesterday 10

Brisbane Times

Peter Fitzsimons

The NRL would be mad not to plant a flag in Crusaders country

The NRL would be mad not to plant a flag in Crusaders country

Unlike in Australia, New Zealand sport fans are happy to support both rugby codes, while the country’s production line of collision-sport athletes...

yesterday 10

Brisbane Times

Paul Cully

It’s my first day with my new family, and I’m already running the show

It’s my first day with my new family, and I’m already running the show

Clancy is forever, but it’s time to say hello to Frank (aka “No Chewing”).

yesterday 10

Brisbane Times

Richard Glover

AFL executive salaries are ‘indefensible’: Former commissioner takes aim at head office

AFL executive salaries are ‘indefensible’: Former commissioner takes aim at head office

Colin Carter said an acceptable wage for an AFL chief executive should be around $1.5 million, which would align the role with that of a university...

yesterday 10

Brisbane Times

Caroline Wilson

AI is the opposite of a painkiller … at least for now

AI is the opposite of a painkiller … at least for now

We like to think AI will solve some of our biggest problems. Here’s how it’ll probably make things worse before making things better.

yesterday 10

Brisbane Times

Millie Muroi

Coverage of women’s cricket scandal has been so over the top. I can stay silent no longer

Coverage of women’s cricket scandal has been so over the top. I can stay silent no longer

The whole thing feels so desperately unhappy – and private – that I just couldn’t quite bear to go into it. Until now.

yesterday 10

Brisbane Times

Peter Fitzsimons

Albanese made a terrible mistake. But for Taylor, it’s worse

Albanese made a terrible mistake. But for Taylor, it’s worse

The opposition leader has only a short period to prove himself. This week showed that both sides are wasting time.

yesterday 10

Brisbane Times

Peter Hartcher

Five emergency money moves that could save you thousands

Five emergency money moves that could save you thousands

Times are still tough, so if you’re getting to the end of your tether, here are some tactics to try to give you some breathing room.

yesterday 10

Brisbane Times

Nicole Pedersen-McKinnon

Why getting simple super advice has become an expensive nightmare

Why getting simple super advice has become an expensive nightmare

Following the Hayne royal commission, the industry moved to separate advice from the products sitting behind it. Now increasingly, they’re being...

yesterday 10

Brisbane Times

Bec Wilson

Two forwards, two mindsets: The contrasting philosophies driving the Hawks and Magpies

Two forwards, two mindsets: The contrasting philosophies driving the Hawks and Magpies

The parallel stories of Lachie Schultz and Jack Ginnivan offer insights into the different mindsets and philosophies of Collingwood and Hawthorn.

previous day 10

Brisbane Times

Jake Niall

Australians are held hostage and tortured overseas – and we play roulette with them

Australians are held hostage and tortured overseas – and we play roulette with them

Unlike Britain, the United States and Canada, Australia has rejected a speedy, life-saving response to detained victims.

previous day 10

Brisbane Times

Alice Edwards

Australia taught a Test batting lesson by a side who refuse to beat themselves

Australia taught a Test batting lesson by a side who refuse to beat themselves

Pat Cummins’ men are fighting for Test match life against a Bangladesh side who have had the temerity not to implode like England did.

previous day 10

Brisbane Times

Daniel Brettig

I’ve flown planes into Sydney more than 1000 times. These near-misses don’t surprise me

I’ve flown planes into Sydney more than 1000 times. These near-misses don’t surprise me

I have to say Sydney Airport’s system of monitoring the ground movement of aircraft, on active runways and taxiways, is not as good as I’ve seen...

previous day 10

Brisbane Times

David Evans

Trump is steering America towards a financial crisis

Trump is steering America towards a financial crisis

Donald Trump could trigger a disaster as markets lose faith in Washington’s economic management.

previous day 30

Brisbane Times

Ambrose Evans-Pritchard

A toddler got on a 10.30pm flight. You’ll never guess what happened next

A toddler got on a 10.30pm flight. You’ll never guess what happened next

The flight time, to a very small and overtired person, was half past why-am-I-still-awake-time-to-morph-into-a-psychopath o’clock.

previous day 10

Brisbane Times

Michelle Cazzulino

Farage began a political farce. Binface missed his chance

Farage began a political farce. Binface missed his chance

The Reform leader’s byelection win over the celebrated “man wearing a bin on his head” means little politically, and it wasn’t exactly comedy...

previous day 10

Brisbane Times

David Crowe

Outrage over Race Around the World masks the massive change about to hit the ABC

Outrage over Race Around the World masks the massive change about to hit the ABC

Content blunders have sparked predictable uproar, but the national broadcaster is quietly preparing for a high-stakes, October strategic shake-up.

previous day 20

Brisbane Times

Stephen Brook

For Geelong, the safest path on Kolodjashnij was the hardest. They took the easy way

For Geelong, the safest path on Kolodjashnij was the hardest. They took the easy way

Rather than asking their player to sign a secret ‘liability waiver’ assuming responsibility for future on-field head injuries, the Cats could –...

previous day 10

Brisbane Times

Darren Kane

Hey Juddy, yelling at Albo from inside the wealth bubble is a bit rich

Hey Juddy, yelling at Albo from inside the wealth bubble is a bit rich

It’s a bit rich for wealthy people to mount their property high horses when they already own so much property.

previous day 10

Brisbane Times

Kate Halfpenny

Happy Eurovision (War Is Over): Song contest issues new rules amid conflict

Happy Eurovision (War Is Over): Song contest issues new rules amid conflict

After several years of escalating geopolitical tensions, and on the eve of its expansion to include Canada, Eurovision rules that countries in war...

previous day 20

Brisbane Times

Michael Idato

My boss said I was ‘emotional’ when I asked for a pay rise. Is that fair?

My boss said I was ‘emotional’ when I asked for a pay rise. Is that fair?

Apart from being disastrously unprofessional, it strikes me as the ad hominem attack of a person who has nothing to support their main contention.

previous day 10

Brisbane Times

Jonathan Rivett

The salvation of democracy is a joke. Why Binface was absurdly appealing next to Farage

The salvation of democracy is a joke. Why Binface was absurdly appealing next to Farage

Nigel Farage called this a contest between the people and the establishment, but what did this mean once he was going head-to-head with a bin?

previous day 10

Brisbane Times

Waleed Aly

Anthony Albanese’s fatal flaw spooks Labor colleagues

Anthony Albanese’s fatal flaw spooks Labor colleagues

The PM’s stubborn streak and refusal to back down is a problem – for everyone.

previous day 10

Brisbane Times

James Massola

Kayo price rises on the cards after Foxtel’s $520 million rights deal

Kayo price rises on the cards after Foxtel’s $520 million rights deal

Foxtel is looking for an extra $250 million a year to pay the NRL, after agreeing to a record sports broadcast deal. Hiking prices is one option on...

previous day 20

Brisbane Times

Calum Jaspan

I’m among the doctors our system rejects. This is why regional healthcare is dying

I’m among the doctors our system rejects. This is why regional healthcare is dying

We are told the regions cannot attract specialists. This is not true. They cannot keep them.

thursday 10

Brisbane Times

Stuart Kostalas

Murdoch left Melbourne Storm to a betting entrepreneur. What a howler

Murdoch left Melbourne Storm to a betting entrepreneur. What a howler

That a Swedish private equity firm is now cued up as a likely buyer for the NRL team marks a new era in the commercial coming-of-age for Australian...

thursday 20

Brisbane Times

Elizabeth Knight

The secret supply route Russia is using to sustain the Iran war

The secret supply route Russia is using to sustain the Iran war

The so-called “Caspian Express” has become the backbone of Vladimir Putin’s effort to arm Tehran while allowing both countries to circumvent US...

thursday 10

Brisbane Times

Glen E Howard

It might terrify Gen Z, but the humble phone call is a wonderful thing

It might terrify Gen Z, but the humble phone call is a wonderful thing

Many people now use their phones for everything except speaking to each other, and baulk at the idea of it ever ringing.

thursday 10

Brisbane Times

Tim Duggan

Wall Street is about to sell AI bonds. What could go wrong?

Wall Street is about to sell AI bonds. What could go wrong?

A group of heavyweight Wall Street firms has teamed with Nvidia to financially engineer a more than $700 billion funding pool for AI chips.

thursday 20

Brisbane Times

Stephen Bartholomeusz

I signed up for the outback’s Squid Game. Now I look like a gaudy octopus

I signed up for the outback’s Squid Game. Now I look like a gaudy octopus

Far from the comforts of home, I found something more consoling.

thursday 50

Brisbane Times

Anson Cameron

There’s no getting around it: We need to talk about this irksome word

There’s no getting around it: We need to talk about this irksome word

Do you say “about” or “around”? Trust me: it matters.

thursday 5

Brisbane Times

Nikki Barrowclough

‘Alarm bells ringing’: You can soon pay for a coffee with your face. Should you?

‘Alarm bells ringing’: You can soon pay for a coffee with your face. Should you?

An eftpos operator is rolling out new payment terminals that can identify you through your face or hands.

thursday 20

Brisbane Times

Jessica Yun

A superstar told us he was leaving our club. I wish he hadn’t

A superstar told us he was leaving our club. I wish he hadn’t

Do Gold Coast actually want Ben King to tell them before season’s end if he is going?

thursday 20

Brisbane Times

Wayne Campbell

US voters give both parties a reality check on their radical factions

US voters give both parties a reality check on their radical factions

The latest midterm election developments suggest Americans are generally savvy enough to reward reasonable candidates and reject those who don’t...

thursday 20

Brisbane Times

Michael Koziol

Feeling miserable? You’re far from alone – and our index proves it

Feeling miserable? You’re far from alone – and our index proves it

The misery index was created in the late 1960s to assess which circumstances make people – and their countries – feel pretty rotten. It didn’t...

thursday 20

Brisbane Times

Shane Wright

Not even Nathan Cleary can save Penrith without Isaah Yeo. But here’s how he’ll try

Not even Nathan Cleary can save Penrith without Isaah Yeo. But here’s how he’ll try

The injured Panthers co-captain is worth 10 points a game, and I don’t think he’ll play again this season. I’m fascinated by how Penrith handle...

thursday 10

Brisbane Times

Andrew Johns

How much is a job worth? At Tomago, it’s $2.5 million in taxpayer cash

How much is a job worth? At Tomago, it’s $2.5 million in taxpayer cash

The Albanese government has scarcely met an ageing industrial facility that it doesn’t think deserves vast sums of federal support.

thursday 20

Brisbane Times

Nick Bonyhady

Now that we’ve come to our census, let’s have a NAPLAN for grown-ups

Now that we’ve come to our census, let’s have a NAPLAN for grown-ups

We’re good at filling out forms, it seems, but allow me to put the nation’s adults to the test.

12.08.2026 10

Brisbane Times

Cherie Gilmour

How Iran adapted its attacks as US munitions dwindled

How Iran adapted its attacks as US munitions dwindled

The Iranian strikes that killed three American soldiers in Jordan show how quickly Iran’s war-fighting skills have evolved, as the Pentagon runs low...

12.08.2026 10

Brisbane Times

Eric Schmitt

Hawthorn forgot about their women. Carlton showed what ‘one club’ actually means

Hawthorn forgot about their women. Carlton showed what ‘one club’ actually means

The Hawks’ AFLW team has been sprinting and sweating for the last three months at Dingley, ready for their moment. What a pity the club forgot about...

12.08.2026 20

Brisbane Times

Kelli Underwood