Lainie Anderson
In between being a mum to young twin boys, a freelance writer and running her own business, Lainie Anderson somehow finds the time to write a provocative weekly column in Adelaide’s Sunday Mail. She’s a former state political reporter for Melbourne’s Herald Sun and also spent a couple of years at The Times in London. Her favourite question is: “Did you know I’ve run three marathons?”
Articles by Lainie Anderson
The nature of love and unnatural chastity
That wonderful institution called marriage has been in the media a lot this week – and for two very different…... Read more
Australia’s unspeakable indigenous tragedy
Niina marni. That’s “hello” in the Kaurna language of the Adelaide Plains. And isn’t it a travesty that none of…... Read more
So, this parenting thing. Anyone mastered it yet?
A few weeks back we got the note home from school that every parent fears: “Please come in for a…... Read more
There’s no such thing as the bogeyman, just a scapegoat
Remember when you were a kid and the bogeyman kept you awake at night? No matter how many times mum…... Read more
There’s nothing common about state funerals
Jason Akermanis – former footballer and king of indelicate comments – caused an unseemly furore in the AFL world this…... Read more
Mounting a defence of our armed forces
When Rod Stewart rocked Adelaide last month, he dedicated Rhythm of My Heart to the servicemen and women of Australia…... Read more
Knives are out and I wish they’d chop chop
I really wanted to write about My Kitchen Rules this week, but it turns out there’s even more distasteful backstabbing,…... Read more
Ideas from the University of the Bleeding Obvious
As politicians reconvened in Canberra this week, Liberal MP Malcolm Turnbull was asked how he’d managed to shed 14kg over…... Read more
Pokies farce is Gillard’s biggest stumble yet
I was sorry to see Julia Gillard fall on Australia Day – it’s strangely unsettling to see an adult stumble,…... Read more
The tennis is awesome but I don’t love all
In between promos for Revenge, My Kitchen Rules and Please Marry My Boy, tennis star Marcos Baghdatis had a wee…... Read more
Mmmm whale steak. Sweet, sweet whale steak
Nothing makes me yearn for a whale steak like the sight of Aussie extremists acting all macho on the high…... Read more
Branding Anzac Day: Ostraya and the art of cringe
So the Federal Government is planning to create some kind of Anzac Day brand or motif for the 2015 centenary…... Read more
Think you can’t keep that resolution? Think again.
I caught up with a group of old workmates just before Christmas and couldn’t believe my eyes. In the 12…... Read more
There is an escape from the clutches of a hawker
“Hello, is that Mrs Brooks?” “No sorry – she hasn’t lived here for about nine years.” “That’s OK, this isn’t…... Read more
Time to junk the junkets
When I was working at Melbourne’s Herald Sun, I reported on an MP who’d used taxpayer funds to fly herself…... Read more
I’m absolutely fuming about smoking hypocrisy
Out of nowhere, my friend Robyn contracted pneumonia this week and ended up in hospital, gasping for breath and coughing…... Read more
Let’s tell these bloody street preachers where to go
In the name of God, why should anyone be force-fed the word of the Lord while they’re shopping? That swarthy…... Read more
My name is Lainie and I enjoy the pokies
I don’t have any huge vested interest, but I do enjoy a $20 flutter with Mum every couple of months.…... Read more
The real miracle of pregnancy isn’t childbirth
Nothing on this earth would entice me to have a baby at home. Call me old fashioned, but I’m all…... Read more
No kidding, gay couples make great parents
If we ever needed proof that politicians should respectfully butt out of moral issues like gay marriage, we got it…... Read more
The Kuta Kid deserves all the help in the world
This week a 14-year-old boy became the youngest Australian ever to face drug charges in Indonesia after being arrested for…... Read more
Houston wee have a problem
Four friends were dining over lunch in a swish Adelaide restaurant last weekend when a woman at the next table…... Read more
They’re not faring well and the answer’s not welfare
Teenage mums in Adelaide’s northern suburbs will soon lose their welfare payments if they don’t go back to school. Local…... Read more
This is one of the hardest columns I’ve ever written
“Good grief!” said the goose. “Well, well!” said the pig. “Who cares?” said the sheep. “So what?” said the horse.…... Read more
An early election might bring us some peace
Few people are more loathing of Tony Abbott than my amicable husband, Max. An Australia under Liberal Prime Minister Malcolm…... Read more
Qantas is perfectly entitled to spread its wings
If you’re willing to sleep around, don’t be surprised if your partner gives you the cold shoulder. This week the…... Read more
Great parents set boundaries
I’ve been dwelling a lot on parenting this week – not least because my eight-year-old son walked around with a…... Read more
Anti-speeding schemes need some acceleration
How can you tell the difference between a newly-elected government and a party that’s been in power for nearly a…... Read more
Lying is bad, distorting the truth is even worse
Given a spare 24 hours this week, I’d have flown to Brisbane and found the woman who berated Julia Gillard…... Read more
Malaysia’s no dumping ground for our refugees
I’ve always half-liked the Labor Government’s Malaysian solution on asylum seekers. I like the half that involves bringing an additional…... Read more
How many revamped precincts does one city need?
We South Australians have some harebrained ideas sometimes. This week, Adelaide City Council decided to push ahead with multi-million dollar…... Read more
Sports betting: Gambling’s no game
A mate of mine has a nephew at private school in Sydney. Apparently, many of the kids are betting on…... Read more
Silence on suicide does more harm than good
In July last year, the South Australian Coroner Mark Johns called for suicide statistics to be published alongside the road…... Read more
Save your empathy for real people with real problems
“She deserves to be here,” sobbed Dani, with her big puppy dog eyes and glossy black hair. What a tragedy.…... Read more
Plankers: Don’t take it lying down
Remember the good old days, when lying flat was called sleeping? Well, now it’s planking – a new craze that…... Read more
At long last, justice may come to hoons who kill
Justice is “the principle that punishment should be proportionate to the offence”. Well, that’s a dictionary definition anyway. For many…... Read more
Adelaide gets a bit of heart and soul
Three years ago I interviewed former Victorian Premier Jeff Kennett about the lack of a bold, long-term vision for Adelaide.…... Read more
Crap TV: Breeding ignorance and feeding my frustration
Tonight is Australian TV’s night of nights – the red carpet love-fest that is the Logies. But really, is there…... Read more
The Royal Wedding - get your freak on
Britain’s Royal Family is now officially a very old, very profitable freak show. The proof lies in the sheer scale…... Read more
Labor’s woes will not end with this man
For a blubbering, lonely, unlucky-in-love, toxic politician with a ‘hit-me’ sign on his back, SA Police Minister and former Treasurer…... Read more
Politics has no place in how we choose to die
There’s nothing like a good euthanasia debate to make you wary of doctors. Sure, they come across all innocent with…... Read more
No-go fishing zones, bait for amateur anglers
What do you call a fishing town with no fishing? Dead. So you’d hope the South Australian government is genuine…... Read more
I’ll take Sweet Caroline over screechy Rihanna any day
Remember when you first felt old? I do. It was Thursday night, watching pop star Rihanna playing at the Adelaide…... Read more
Children can turn mothers into monsters
Even cute babies have ugly mothers. That’s how it was in the Bonds Baby online beauty contest last week, when…... Read more
Arm yourselves, it’s a milk war
Put the shopping basket down and step AWAY from the dairy aisle. Admit it. You were about to buy the…... Read more
Don’t tar and feather all AFL players
Something about the Warne/Hurley tryst got right up Peter Costello’s nose last week. In a rant that first bagged Warne…... Read more
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Abbott’s crass logic: trash the Parliament in order save it
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Our special forces don’t always need special treatment
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A good holiday is about unrest, not rest
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choice ringside rantings
From: They must pay for one’s bitter disappointments
Michael S says:
"A teacher at Geelong Grammar had criticised her for using words that were too long, which had left her confused and had made her doubt her ability to write essays. She became ''quite distressed'' when her English marks began to fall." I can sympathise. My scholastic mentors conveyed to me a causal relationship… [read more]From: Welfare for breeders is a bonus for everyone
Change Up! says:
I have no problem paying my taxes. As a single, childless person on a very decent income, I can afford it and not have my life severely altered. Plus I understand that my taxes paying for things like schools, childcare and infrastructure is ultimately a good thing. A better community is better for me… [read more]Gentle jabs to the ribs
They must pay for one’s bitter disappointments
A private school girl’s family is sueing her elite, extremely expensive private school for not… Read more
