The Northern Myth

'Pig Iron' Bob Menzies. From the other side of the cultural divide

Bob GosfordSep 25, 2016

It is interesting that Howard, only the second PM to lose an election along with his seat now clings to Menzies as if to wipe out that historic defeat. Growing up under Menzies was an enervating experience: no wonder so many urban Australians got out, from Patrick White to Richard Neville and beyond: Chips Mackinolty

Blacks in the back cunts in the front. New work by Therese Ritchie

Bob GosfordSep 25, 2016

Blacks in the back, cunts in the front and the response to it, is emblematic of how non-indigenous Australia embraces and yet looks away from aboriginal people at the same time. This ruptured thinking process is the stringy bond with our earlier task of occupying, claiming and settling Australia, in particular the ‘wilderness consciousness’ that in its day encouraged mate-ship, an easy going attitude, and above all, manners (you could not swear at the dinner table or in front of your mother) whilst allowing rape and killing to be seen as pragmatic.

The NT electoral system is a joke. But can Hare-Clark fix it?

Bob GosfordSep 22, 20168 Comments

Welcome to politics as farce. There is little doubt that the NT electoral system is broken. The bigger question is how we fix it. Discuss.

Northern Territory – a tale of systemic dysfunctional governance

Bob GosfordSep 13, 20163 Comments

Political cronyism is hardly unheard of in other states, but its sheer extent and audacity in the Northern Territory over the last four years is deeply troubling. The higher levels of the public sector have been utterly politicised and any semblance of a professional public service able to advise government without fear or favour no longer exists.

The right to drink? Wrong

Bob GosfordSep 13, 20161 Comment

We’ve just had another change of government in the Northern Territory, and they’ve promised to bring the BDR back in, thank goodness. We now have a golden opportunity to make it stronger, smarter and more effective.

The Stars, Baby. The Stars*. One night at Longreach Waterhole, NT.

Bob GosfordSep 8, 20161 Comment

Bat of the Week: Little Red Flying Foxes and the invasion of Elliott, NT

Bob GosfordSep 8, 20162 Comments

Bird of the Week: Straw-necked Ibis, Longreach Waterhole, NT

Bob GosfordSep 8, 2016

A few of the birds that passed by my lens while I was camped at one end of the Longreach Waterhole just west of the small NT town of Elliott..

The CLP got Gunnered ...

Bob GosfordAug 28, 2016

On Saturday night, as gracious as Giles' speech was, so Gunner's was shambolic. "Tonight is extraordinary" he said three times while the baying crowd called for blood and more beer.

Wave Hill, Communists and a Bedford two-tonner. An interview with Brian Manning

Bob GosfordAug 19, 2016

"Dexter [Daniels] died unrecognized and unsung. I learnt that he died on fucking Christmas day the year before ... I reckon that Dexter Daniels achieved a fucking good sight more than Charlie Perkins." Brian Manning, Australia Day, 2011.