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John Hanscombe

John Hanscombe

Canberra Times

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A political drama that was impossible to ignore

A political drama that was impossible to ignore

I'm sorry. Really sorry. I shouldn't have shrieked, shouldn't have alarmed the dog and possibly the neighbour. Subscribe now for...

yesterday 10

The Examiner

John Hanscombe

A political drama that was impossible to ignore

A political drama that was impossible to ignore

I'm sorry. Really sorry. I shouldn't have shrieked, shouldn't have alarmed the dog and possibly the neighbour. Subscribe now for...

yesterday 10

Canberra Times

John Hanscombe

It's not flying at altitude that scares me. It's other passengers

previous day 10

The Examiner

John Hanscombe

It's not flying at altitude that scares me. It's other passengers

previous day 10

Canberra Times

John Hanscombe

Plenty of dead horses flogged on one day

Plenty of dead horses flogged on one day

Let's begin with that race in Melbourne which despite the best efforts of its backers no longer stops the nation. Subscribe now for unlimited...

previous day 10

The Examiner

John Hanscombe

Plenty of dead horses flogged on one day

Plenty of dead horses flogged on one day

Let's begin with that race in Melbourne which despite the best efforts of its backers no longer stops the nation. Subscribe now for unlimited...

previous day 20

Canberra Times

John Hanscombe

I won't cry a river for the flailing booze industry

I won't cry a river for the flailing booze industry

How my heart bleeds for them. They've been at the centre of our nation's history since Europeans landed on these shores but what do we do?...

tuesday 10

The Examiner

John Hanscombe

I won't cry a river for the flailing booze industry

I won't cry a river for the flailing booze industry

How my heart bleeds for them. They've been at the centre of our nation's history since Europeans landed on these shores but what do we do?...

tuesday 20

Canberra Times

John Hanscombe

A civil Question Time was brief but beautiful

A civil Question Time was brief but beautiful

There's every reason to be cranky. Inflation's heading north again. Another interest rate hike is about to make life even tougher. The...

02.11.2026 10

The Examiner

John Hanscombe

A civil Question Time was brief but beautiful

A civil Question Time was brief but beautiful

There's every reason to be cranky. Inflation's heading north again. Another interest rate hike is about to make life even tougher. The...

02.11.2026 20

Canberra Times

John Hanscombe

There's much to be said for clear election results

There's much to be said for clear election results
29.10.2026 30

The Examiner

John Hanscombe

There's much to be said for clear election results

There's much to be said for clear election results

It's funny how current events can remind you of past ones. When Israel's election delivered an unclear result yesterday my mind immediately...

29.10.2026 20

Canberra Times

John Hanscombe

Nothing like flying to trigger a bunch of phobias

Nothing like flying to trigger a bunch of phobias
28.10.2026 20

The Examiner

John Hanscombe

Nothing like flying to trigger a bunch of phobias

Nothing like flying to trigger a bunch of phobias

Among my many phobias, the fear of heights is the weirdest. I only have to look at someone standing near a sheer drop to break out in a sweat and feel...

28.10.2026 30

Canberra Times

John Hanscombe

The real reason you should travel will always be the strangers you meet

27.10.2026 30

The Examiner

John Hanscombe

The real reason you should travel will always be the strangers you meet

27.10.2026 30

Canberra Times

John Hanscombe

Names mean everything when it comes to cars

Names mean everything when it comes to cars

Shopping around for a car a few years back, I derided a mate's suggestion I investigate a new Chinese brand called Build Your Dreams. Subscribe...

27.10.2026 60

The Examiner

John Hanscombe

Names mean everything when it comes to cars

Names mean everything when it comes to cars

Shopping around for a car a few years back, I derided a mate's suggestion I investigate a new Chinese brand called Build Your Dreams. Subscribe...

27.10.2026 30

Canberra Times

John Hanscombe

An online war zone with room for compassion

The online world was the last place I expected to be inspired by compassion, certainly not during a week in which its ugliness has been laid bare....

23.10.2026 30

The Examiner

John Hanscombe

An online war zone with room for compassion

The online world was the last place I expected to be inspired by compassion, certainly not during a week in which its ugliness has been laid bare....

23.10.2026 30

Canberra Times

John Hanscombe

Sightseeing is great but this is what travel is really about

His raffish outfit caught our eye as he placed his wares outside his shop. A floral shirt worn under a rust coloured vest. Paisley scarf tied loosely...

22.10.2026 40

Canberra Times

John Hanscombe

Sightseeing is great but this is what travel is really about

His raffish outfit caught our eye as he placed his wares outside his shop. A floral shirt worn under a rust coloured vest. Paisley scarf tied loosely...

22.10.2026 30

The Examiner

John Hanscombe

The warning signs have been there in plain sight

For more than a month, I'd kept a casual eye on happenings back home. Through the prism of distance, it all seemed like business as usual, apart...

21.10.2026 30

The Examiner

John Hanscombe

The warning signs have been there in plain sight

For more than a month, I'd kept a casual eye on happenings back home. Through the prism of distance, it all seemed like business as usual, apart...

21.10.2026 30

Canberra Times

John Hanscombe

Across the world, we finally had our day in court

For a week, we'd soaked up the history. We'd taken in the grand monuments, palaces and broad boulevards of Paris. The Eiffel Tower, the...

20.10.2026 30

Canberra Times

John Hanscombe

Across the world, we finally had our day in court

For a week, we'd soaked up the history. We'd taken in the grand monuments, palaces and broad boulevards of Paris. The Eiffel Tower, the...

20.10.2026 40

The Examiner

John Hanscombe

Slopaganda and hate bait prey on our frustration

You're riled up. It might be the overnight 30 cent hike in the price of a litre of petrol. Or the half day wasted waiting for the plumber to turn...

21.09.2026 80

The Examiner

John Hanscombe

Slopaganda and hate bait prey on our frustration

You're riled up. It might be the overnight 30 cent hike in the price of a litre of petrol. Or the half day wasted waiting for the plumber to turn...

21.09.2026 50

Canberra Times

John Hanscombe

Someone tell Mr High IQ, 'It's the war, stupid.'

Clinton election strategist James Carville was on the money in 1992 when he coined the phrase "It's the economy, stupid." Subscribe now...

17.09.2026 40

The Examiner

John Hanscombe

Someone tell Mr High IQ, 'It's the war, stupid.'

Clinton election strategist James Carville was on the money in 1992 when he coined the phrase "It's the economy, stupid." Subscribe now...

17.09.2026 50

Canberra Times

John Hanscombe

Talk about an AI kill switch might be too late

Who knows when and how the end will come for humanity? Will an overheated climate make life impossible? Or will artificial intelligence (AI) decide...

16.09.2026 50

The Examiner

John Hanscombe

Talk about an AI kill switch might be too late

Who knows when and how the end will come for humanity? Will an overheated climate make life impossible? Or will artificial intelligence (AI) decide...

16.09.2026 50

Canberra Times

John Hanscombe

Ugliness and stupidity have been democratised

Albo's old home was down the road a few blocks from where I lived - if you could call it "living" back then. Subscribe now for...

15.09.2026 50

The Examiner

John Hanscombe

Ugliness and stupidity have been democratised

Albo's old home was down the road a few blocks from where I lived - if you could call it "living" back then. Subscribe now for...

15.09.2026 50

Canberra Times

John Hanscombe

Hastie shows how best to fight off One Nation

Jacqui Lambie nailed it last week when she opened fire on Pauline Hanson. Every round hit the target. But it was the headshot which impressed me the...

14.09.2026 40

The Examiner

John Hanscombe

Hastie shows how best to fight off One Nation

Jacqui Lambie nailed it last week when she opened fire on Pauline Hanson. Every round hit the target. But it was the headshot which impressed me the...

14.09.2026 50

Canberra Times

John Hanscombe

Strict and fierce, maybe, but we paid attention

Mr Morrow was terrifying. Physically squat, clad in a black academic gown which made him look like an angry bat, his temper was as short as his...

10.09.2026 50

The Examiner

John Hanscombe

Strict and fierce, maybe, but we paid attention

Mr Morrow was terrifying. Physically squat, clad in a black academic gown which made him look like an angry bat, his temper was as short as his...

10.09.2026 50

Canberra Times

John Hanscombe

Forget free speech, it's freedom from odious speech most of us want

Boy oh boy, there's been some nonsense about the government's proposed digital duty of care on social media. Subscribe now for unlimited...

09.09.2026 40

The Examiner

John Hanscombe

Forget free speech, it's freedom from odious speech most of us want

Boy oh boy, there's been some nonsense about the government's proposed digital duty of care on social media. Subscribe now for unlimited...

09.09.2026 50

Canberra Times

John Hanscombe

When the carnies spruik dodgy cure-alls, run, run as fast as you can

Roll up! Roll up! In my hand and in limited supply is this rare miracle snake oil which the ancient Chinese discovered could cure aches and pains...

08.09.2026 50

The Examiner

John Hanscombe

When the carnies spruik dodgy cure-alls, run, run as fast as you can

Roll up! Roll up! In my hand and in limited supply is this rare miracle snake oil which the ancient Chinese discovered could cure aches and pains...

08.09.2026 50

Canberra Times

John Hanscombe

Sometimes, it pays to look on the bright side

We interrupt this program to bring you some breaking news: there are some good things happening in the world. Here is just a handful: Subscribe now...

07.09.2026 50

Canberra Times

John Hanscombe

Sometimes, it pays to look on the bright side

We interrupt this program to bring you some breaking news: there are some good things happening in the world. Here is just a handful: Subscribe now...

07.09.2026 50

The Examiner

John Hanscombe

We all suffer through the era of instant anger

The hate was constant and visceral. Every morning, it would be waiting for me in the inbox. It wasn't criticism of what I had written but a deep...

03.09.2026 50

The Examiner

John Hanscombe

We all suffer through the era of instant anger

The hate was constant and visceral. Every morning, it would be waiting for me in the inbox. It wasn't criticism of what I had written but a deep...

03.09.2026 60

Canberra Times

John Hanscombe

Hello pot, this is kettle. Give us a break, Pauline

I didn't particularly want to write about Pauline Hanson but couldn't let her breathtaking hypocrisy through to the keeper. Subscribe now...

02.09.2026 50

The Examiner

John Hanscombe

Hello pot, this is kettle. Give us a break, Pauline

I didn't particularly want to write about Pauline Hanson but couldn't let her breathtaking hypocrisy through to the keeper. Subscribe now...

02.09.2026 50

Canberra Times

John Hanscombe

Spring has sprung but what follows is worrying

Pinch and a punch, first day of the month, no returns! Subscribe now for unlimited access. Login or signup to continue reading Where I live, spring...

01.09.2026 70

Canberra Times

John Hanscombe

Spring has sprung but what follows is worrying

Pinch and a punch, first day of the month, no returns! Subscribe now for unlimited access. Login or signup to continue reading Where I live, spring...

01.09.2026 50

The Examiner

John Hanscombe