Author: Throsby

It might be advancing age and softening intellect, but Throsby senses less need to brighten up the political commentary – as we did in the good old days when the political landscape was as dry

History, unless delivered in a good yarn, tends to bore most kids. As does, its detractors claim, the Australian national anthem: Advance Australia Fair. So here’s a good yarn to wake them up. Entwined with

Throsby’s Rule: If a politician hasn’t earned a nickname in his first term, he can’t be trusted. “Fake Farmer” doesn’t cut it. They all are, the Nats. Real farmers don’t have time for grandstanding in

Once, exasperated news hounds might shake their heads and marvel at how life imitates art. It was stranger than fiction, they exclaimed. Nowadays it’s just “You can’t make this shit up.” And though headlines grow

Voters in the Victorian federal electorate of Batman were a little nonplussed at the huge number of Greens supporters roaming the streets on March 17 election day. Throsby can’t be sure if punters knew how

A teenaged Throsby recalls listening to Parliament on the unidirectional non-buffering broadcast pre-Internet. Ming’s Liberal pollies presented as a sharp well-spoken crew and Arfur Caldwell’s a mob of buffoons. That same mind finds today’s political