The Big Smoke

6 days 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 week 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.

4 weeks 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.

1 month ago | 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.

1 month ago | thebigsmoke.com.au | Kerry Kingham |Catherine Fox |Tracey Clark |Jane Caro

Real progress for women in business isn’t about celebrating achievements, it’s about dismantling barriers. The time for symbolic inclusion is over—now it’s time to get to work. Every year, International Women’s Day (IWD) comes around with a new theme, new conversations, and a fresh wave of energy. But for many of us, the reality remains the same: same challenges, different year. (Or should I say same sh!t, different day.) It’s frustrating and often maddening.