Why I walked away

CRAIG WING has revealed he had flirted with the idea of returning to rugby union from the moment he graduated from Sydney Boys High. However, last December, with his career at the crossroads, things got serious.

End of a dream

Peter Costello achieved much in his political life, but he never got the thing he wanted most, writes Shaun Carney.

Madden defies factional push

EMBATTLED Planning Minister Justin Madden has defied ALP factional heavies by declaring he will not move to a safe lower house seat for next year's state election.

The cure for Labor's dysfunction lies in giving members a voice

Vibrant branches can help combat the abuse of power by a few.

A Dingo Stole Our National Identity

IN the imagination of the world, what is the most powerful idea about Australia? I'm not talking about scenery or fauna or personalities. We can assume the world knows about kangaroos and Uluru and Nicole Kidman and the shrimps on Paul Hogan's barbie. But the world's response to that sort of stuff is never more than slight amusement.

Tv Previews

Blood And Guts: A History Of Surgery SBS, 8.30pm Desperately Seeking Doctors SBS, 7.30pm Party Animals ABC1, 8.35pm The Museum ABC1, 7.30pm

The White Stuff

Loving Cate and buying Murakami at Readings. Kenneth Nguyen asks: What makes a true Melburnian?

Triple M-emories ...

A FEW weeks ago, Triple M reached its 20th year on air in Melbourne. There was no party, however. Not even a cake. So why the lack of fanfare?

Saturday, November 15 - Critic's View

Chappelle's Block Party

Simian Party Animals

The Simian duo thrive in a club habitat, writes Andrew Drever.

Get The Party Started

Time for a bit of debauchery, writes Keith Austin.

The Stuff Fantasies Are Really Made Of

BEOWULF (M): Director: Robert Zemeckis Stars: Ray Winstone, Angelina Jolie, Anthony Hopkins, Robin Penn-Wright, John Malkovich **** Screening: Greater Union Shellharbour, Hoyts Warrawong, Roxy Nowra Certain to rock the socks off Dungeons & Dragons geeks and their dads, this spectacular animated fantasy boasts a fire-breathing dragon, a rampaging troll, a he-man hero and Angelina Jolie in the buff.

Liberals 'blessed' To Have Turnbull In The Team, Says Nelson

BRENDAN Nelson has heaped praise on his rival Malcolm Turnbull, declaring his party "blessed" to have him, but behind the scenes Liberals remain deeply divided between their leader and the pretender.

'fortress' Mentality Locked Pm, And Party, Into Indefensible Stance

Loyalists warned John Howard to hand over the leadership to ensure the government's viability, write Katharine Murphy and Michelle Grattan.

Desperate Tactics

Where on earth did the Liberal Party rank and file get the idea that it was fine to stoke fear, suspicion and hatred?

Best Little Whorehouse In Rio

Brazil's party people have cooked up a new mix of sex and style - brothel chic, Tom Phillips writes.

More Membership Claims Rock Towke

THREE more Liberal Party members have admitted that Michael Towke paid for their memberships - claims that could be a killer blow to Mr Towke's chances of being endorsed as the Liberal candidate for Cook by the party's state executive next week.

A Hip Girl's Macro Hop

Romy Hoffman tells Anita Beaumont how to mix the big picture with the urge to party.

The Party With No Invitation

The doyens of Sydney society are experts at raising money for a worthy cause, writes Steve Meacham.

Irate Iemma Gives Party Boss Cold Shoulder

MORRIS IEMMA has fallen out with one of his closest confidants and the man who helped install him as Premier - the general secretary of the NSW Labor Party, Mark Arbib - amid continuing turmoil over the Paul Gibson affair.