Kevin Andrews
Kevin Andrews is the Federal Member for Menzies in Victoria. He is a keen recreational cyclist.
Articles by Kevin Andrews
The less you see and hear of people like me, the better
There is an expression in American politics known as ‘inside the beltway’. It is a reference to the interstate highway…... Read more
The Lance ‘n’ Oprah show is about more than one man
The admission by Lance Armstrong that he used performance-enhancing drugs during his cycling career may finally lead to a comprehensive…... Read more
Australian welfare reform needs a Newstart
We were greeted with the news this week that Centrelink staff have been ordered to make phone calls to more…... Read more
One for mum, one for dad & one for our ageing population
When Peter Costello famously encouraged Australian families to have a child for Mum, one for Dad and one for the…... Read more
We mustn’t be too quick to run from marriage
There has been a significant retreat from marriage over the past few decades. Marriages rates are down, divorce rates are…... Read more
Government, make things easy for non-profits? Ha!
Civil society comprises the groups of individuals which freely associate to pursue their mutual social, cultural, professional, sporting, religious or…... Read more
Champion or cheat? How will we ever know…
Champion or cheat? This question has hung over the head of the American cyclist, Lance Armstrong, for more than a…... Read more
Aussies helping the Brits overcome their handicaps
If, as anticipated, Bradley Wiggins becomes the first Brit to win the Tour de France, his success will have been…... Read more
Setting the tone of a Tony Abbott Government
Every government has its own tone and character. It is a product of the party in government, its values, philosophy,…... Read more
The greatest cyclist ever to pedal a bike…
The 99th Tour de France commenced in a predictable manner. Nervous riders battled for the leading 20 places in the…... Read more
True leaders don’t fear failure
There are two types of people who reach leadership positions. One type is driven by the hope or desire to…... Read more
A sporting legend who was always ahead of the peleton
The professional career of one of Australia’s greatest cyclists, Robbie McEwen, will come to an end this Sunday afternoon in…... Read more
The formula for a happy marriage, sort of…
The Australian demographer, Bernard Salt, has calculated that of the 1.343 million women aged 25 – 34, only 86,000 single,…... Read more
A statement by the President of the Global Parliament
Fellow Earthians, I formally declare open the inaugural Global Parliament. Before turning to matters of procedure, I will chant the…... Read more
It’s time we spoke up about kids riding to school
I recently visited the Primary School I attended in rural Victoria. The old school, first built in 1870, has been…... Read more
Cycling through history to the Tour Down Under
Road cycling has been growing in popularity for the past few decades. This week’s Tour Down Under in South Australia…... Read more
Nanny state calling stumps for no good reason
The news that a municipal council in Melbourne has banned local cricketers from playing the popular, fast-paced Twenty20 in more…... Read more
A new true blue crew of Aussie cycling champs
It is one of the most anticipated events in Australian cycling. For decades, cyclists, coaches and supporters have dreamt of…... Read more
The wooden puppet who dreamed of becoming PM…
In a democratic polity like Australia, there is a compact between the governing party and the governed people. Under it,…... Read more
Australian cycling has a rich and exciting history
The Herald-Sun Tour is Australia’s oldest cycling stage race. As a child, I recall watching the Tour riders travel through…... Read more
One green job created, 3.7 jobs destroyed elsewhere
Jobs are being lost, buildings are closing; hundreds of people are moving overseas. Australian manufacturing is facing a major slump,…... Read more
Stable families, stable society. It’s that simple.
In 1998, the House of Representatives Legal and Constitutional Committee issued a report entitled To Have and To Hold about…... Read more
Why Britain is broken, and how it might be fixed
Daniel Patrick Moynihan, the late US senator, ambassador and statesman, caused widespread consternation when he released a report in 1965…... Read more
Tour of dreams: the cycle of longing
Australians have dreamt of winning the Tour de France for a century. Of all the world’s great individual sporting contests,…... Read more
Aussies are serious players in the world’s biggest bike race
It is a cold, dark evening in wintry Melbourne. As the peak hour traffic thins, a group of cyclists gather…... Read more
Confucius say: no trust woman with hair of rust
According to Confucius, the three things necessary for government are weapons, food and trust. If a ruler can’t hold onto…... Read more
The NBN will arrive just as we don’t need it anymore
One of the justifications that the government uses for the roll-out of the $43 billion National Broadband Network is the…... Read more
Canberra: A bastardised version of the ideal city?
Today marks the centenary of the launch of the competition to design the national capital city of Australia. On May…... Read more
No help for unhappy families in the budget
It is regrettable that the Gillard Labor government didn’t bear in mind the theme of this year’s National Families Week…... Read more
History’s photo album will not be kind to Gillard
For most Australian Prime Ministers, there is a photo or two that captures the essence of their character and the…... Read more
Disability services need more than another empty promise
The Productivity Commission has released its draft report on a National Disability Insurance Scheme. The Commission has found that the…... Read more
Chasing the sun all the way to Australia
Like the rhythm of the turning pedal, the professional cycling season has followed an annual pattern for a century. As…... Read more
The return of the ‘go away’ money
One of the worst features of the old industrial relations system was the so-called “go away money”. This was the…... Read more
Proper screening could save lives and save us millions
The word ‘cancer’ still strikes fear into the minds of many people. The idea that a person can be walking…... Read more
Victorian voters burst the Greens bubble
As Victorians await the final counting to determine which party has won the State election, one outcome is clear. The…... Read more
Think energy costs now, just wait for the carbon tax
A utilities representative recently came to my front door offering a better deal on our gas and electricity prices if…... Read more
The parliament should be as diverse as society
Apart from being only the second hung Parliament since Federation, the new national assembly is notable for another reason. Ken…... Read more
We can all celebrate Mary MacKillop’s canonisation
The canonization of Mary MacKillop is an event that all Australians can celebrate. Not just Catholics. Men and women of…... Read more
The Malvern Star and Oppy, heroes of the cycling world
As the field swept into Geelong from Melbourne last Sunday for the first of eleven laps that decided the World…... Read more
Forget France, the cycling world is watching Le Geelong
In the world of professional cycling, the rainbow jersey represents the pinnacle of achievement. It is awarded to the winner…... Read more
The death of a sporting hero we never immortalised
It was on this day in 1958 that Russell Mockridge, one of Australia’s most talented cyclists, was hit by a…... Read more
As long as he breathed he attacked
The great French cyclist, Laurent Fignon, who died this week from cancer, aged just 50, recalled being recognized by a…... Read more
How Labor lost its mandate to govern
The electoral objective of a political party is to win or retain government. This is not the highest aim of…... Read more
Glory awaits over the Pyrenees
Television viewers of this year’s Tour de France will recall an advertisement for a well-known bicycle brand featuring Alberto Contador…... Read more
A brief history of crashes at the Tour de France
With the news that Cadel Evans had lost the yellow jersey on the Col de la Madeline stage of the…... Read more
Secret cuts to relationship services hurting families
Encouraging couples to identify and resolve their disputes in a non-adversarial manner has been an aspiration for family policy makers…... Read more
How Labor has made housing more expensive
Home ownership is central to the great Australian dream. A home is not only a means of shelter, but the…... Read more
Forget the farm, Rudd has sold the house off overseas
Late last Friday, on the eve of the ANZAC Day weekend, the Melbourne Storm scandal raged in the Australian media.…... Read more
Foreign investment is overheating our property market
If you attend an auction in the eastern suburbs of Melbourne, the chances are that the winning bidder will be…... Read more
Putting do-gooder politics ahead of helping people
Anthropologist Peter Sutton has a long association with indigenous people. In his new book The Politics of Suffering, he makes…... Read more
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Advocating risk management is not “victim blaming”
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Nosebleed Section
choice ringside rantings
From: Hasbro, go straight to gaol, do not pass go
Tim says:
They should update other things in the game too. Instead of a get out of jail free card, they should have a Dodgy Lawyer card that not only gets you out of jail straight away but also gives you a fat payout in compensation for daring to arrest you in the first place. Instead of getting a hotel when you… [read more]From: A guide to summer festivals especially if you wouldn’t go
Kel says:
If you want a festival for older people or for families alike, get amongst the respectable punters at Bluesfest. A truly amazing festival experience to be had of ALL AGES. And all the young "festivalgoers" usually write themselves off on the first night, only to never hear from them again the rest of… [read more]Gentle jabs to the ribs
Superman needs saving
Can somebody please save Superman? He seems to be going through a bit of a crisis. Eighteen months ago,… Read more
