Victoria’s landmark Voluntary Assisted Dying laws are now in force and, for most Victorians, won’t mean a thing. They will probably never use them or know anybody who does, for the eligibility criteria is so narrow. But for the unlucky few who will eventually exercise their rights under these new laws, they mean an awfulContinue reading “Death, dying and the pursuit of control”
Author Archives: Ryan Sheales
Duncan – Issues vs Distractions
“I’ve got a disability and a low education, that means I’ve spent my whole life working for minimum wage. You’re gonna lift the tax-free threshold for rich people … Rich people don’t even notice their tax-free threshold lift. Why don’t I get it? Why do they get it?” Victorian man Duncan Storrar asked this questionContinue reading “Duncan – Issues vs Distractions”
In defence of Days of Thunder
In defence of Days of Thunder (1990) On Saturday, when all the chores and errands were done, I had an urge. Days of Thunder was calling my name. I wanted to get out there and hit the pace car. Earlier in the month, I’d watched a TV news story about drag racer Phil Lamattina whoContinue reading “In defence of Days of Thunder”
How did the Right lose ownership of marriage?
Look around the world and you’d be forgiven for thinking marriage equality, gay marriage, equal marriage (whatever you want to call it) is a progressive notion. Calls for reform are often heard from the so-called Left: greens, students, academics and connoisseurs of cold drip coffee served in moody laneways. It’s easy to forget marriage is intrinsicallyContinue reading “How did the Right lose ownership of marriage?”
My Pa ‘bullshitting’ Ray Martin on national TV (1992)
As a celebrated bullshit artist, it’s really no surprise my charismatic grandfather Laurie Sheales ending up on national TV in May 1992 telling Ray Martin one of his tallest tales. My 87 year old and gloriously hirsute Pa was sitting in a pub one night, swilling beer and telling those assembled how he’d been completelyContinue reading “My Pa ‘bullshitting’ Ray Martin on national TV (1992)”
Did the promise of pudding swing the Victorian election?
THE internet engaged in a collective ‘isn’t he adorable’ a few months back when it transpired actor Benedict Cumberbatch couldn’t say the word “penguins”. You can watch the video here. (The fact Cumberbatch had just lent his voice to a nature documentary about penguins — or “pengwings” — and is currently starring in the PenguinsContinue reading “Did the promise of pudding swing the Victorian election?”
Even Republicans can enjoy the royals
This article first appeared in The Sydney Morning Herald. I HAVE some advice for all those rabid supporters of an Australian republic. The most productive thing you can do when the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge visit Australia in April is simple: take off your grumpy pants and get on board. That’s right, you heardContinue reading “Even Republicans can enjoy the royals”
‘Human rights’ built on a bedrock of shame
When a troublesome child is chastised for bad behaviour they’re often quick to point the finger at somebody else, as if that other child’s wrongdoing might somehow lessen their own guilt. New research suggests this very natural ‘Look! Over there!’ impulse — enacted on an international scale in the 1970s — might have spurred enthusiasmContinue reading “‘Human rights’ built on a bedrock of shame”
sorryasylumseekers.com
AKA Why I started sorryasylumseekers.com… There is a serious debate to be had in Australia about asylum seeker policy. Millions of people flee persecution every year, and their passage from danger to safety needs to be regulated. Most people agree with this, even if their views on exactly how then to manage the issue differ. HenceContinue reading “sorryasylumseekers.com”
The troublesome truth about politics
This review of Jonathan Green’s The Year My Politics Broke (Melbourne University Publishing) first appeared in The Voice. As a detailed account of how politicians and politicking has veered off course in Australia over recent years The Year My Politics Broke isn’t an enjoyable read. But then, it isn’t meant to be: the book isContinue reading “The troublesome truth about politics”
Ryan Sheales 