The Big Smoke

3 weeks ago | thebigsmoke.com.au | Derryn Hinch

It’s heartening to see Queensland cracking down on illegal tobacco, and those targeting kids with vapes. Let’s hope others follow their lead. There have been some dramatic changes in smoking habits in Australia the last few years. Not just because of the relentless tax hikes or those tobacco turf wars in Melbourne. The truth is, not many people smoke anymore, as we know better. I’m not a smoker, but I don’t know a single person who pays full price for cigarettes. Sixty dollars a pack?

1 month ago | thebigsmoke.com.au | Vivienne Pearson

Did the former leader of the Opposition somehow manage to add “likeable” to the list of words typically used to describe him (“cruel”, “ignorant”, “incompetent”, “gross”) after his concession speech on Saturday? Saturday night’s concession speech by now ex-Leader of the Opposition, Peter Dutton, was the first time I’ve been able to listen to him speak without wanting to throw up or hurl something at the screen (or should that be “hurl and throw something at the screen”?).

1 month ago | thebigsmoke.com.au | Derryn Hinch

Saturday’s election victory was a landslide in more ways than one, and if they can keep it together, Labor could be in power for another ten years. Well, so much for all the anti-Albo gossip on social media in the lead-up to Election ‘25. It was a Labor walkover. And would-be PM, Peter Dutton not only lost the election, he did a John Howard and lost his own seat.

2 months ago | thebigsmoke.com.au | Derryn Hinch |Deb Turney

In the same way that we beat diet culture and the “anti-fat” movement, I hope that we can start to tackle the “anti-ageing” discussions and start celebrating the passing of time, for those lucky enough to have it. Watching Season 3 of The White Lotus, the second thing I noticed (after Aimee Lou Wood’s perfectly imperfect teeth) were the foreheads of those three “best friends”. I’m ashamed to admit it but my female gaze had them under a microscope from the moment they came on screen.

Mar 26, 2025 | thebigsmoke.com.au | Derryn Hinch |Alex Vickery-Howe |Loretta Barnard

As the former editor of The Sun, I find any form of media censorship intolerable. Imagine if the Bezos Creed catches on over here. To put this piece about media censorship into perspective, Ineeded to go back more than 100 years. Back in 1921, the esteemed editor of the (Manchester) Guardian C.P. Scott, said: “the voice of opponents no less than of friends has a right to be heard.” That should still apply. Obviously, sadly, these days it doesn’t.