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Opinion

Ben O'Shea

Margot Robbie and Jacob Elordi in Wuthering Heights.

review
review
Review
review
Margot Robbie in Wuthering Heights is disappointingly lame

Maybe there’s a way to turn Bronte’s Wuthering Heights into a glossy, bodice-ripper and still maintain the gothic cruelty of the book, but, for all her talents, Margot Robbie is simply not the actor to do it.

Ben O'Shea

Alex Honnold climbed Taipei 101 without any protective equipment.

opinion
opinion
Ben O’Shea
opinion
Climber Honnold’s harrowing feat a convenient distraction

Watching Donald Trump’s America is a lot like watching Alex Honnold’s record-breaking free solo climb of the Taipei 101 skyscraper, streamed live on Netflix over the weekend. 

Ben O'Shea

Ben O'Shea

What we have in the South West is not overtourism. It’s a mildly inconvenient seasonal influx, writes Ben O’Shea.

opinion
opinion
Ben O’Shea
opinion
Benefits of tourism outweigh inconvenience in the South West

Comparing the Busso Jetty to the Trevi Fountain is a ‘bit of a stretch’ when dealing with the South West’s influx of tourists.

Ben O’Shea

In 2026, Australian politics feels one press conference away from descending into a full-blown culture war, while American politics feels like a post-apocalyptic Hollywood movie, only with less convincing performances.

opinion
opinion
Ben O’Shea
opinion
2026 could be gloomy amid chaotic politics, climate change

Two weeks into the year and it’s fair to say 2026 might not be a huge improvement on last year, which was, in technical terms, a dumpster fire.

Ben O’Shea

You don’t have to freak out about right to disconnect laws, writes Ben O’Shea.

opinion
opinion
BEN O’SHEA
opinion
Right to disconnect laws are no cause for panic

As of this week, the Albanese Government’s right to disconnect laws will also apply to small businesses, which, for those keeping score at home, represent nearly 97 per cent of all businesses in WA.

Ben O'Shea

Ben O'Shea

The seemingly harmless 'Grow a Garden' has sinister undertones, writes Ben O’Shea.

opinion
opinion
Ben O’Shea
opinion
Sinister side to kid’s ‘sedate’ online gardening game

If you pay even casual attention to what your children do on their devices, you may have heard the name Grow a Garden mentioned recently.

Ben O'Shea

Ben O'Shea

Being pooped on by a bird on election day apparently was lucky for incumbent Monique Ryan, who saw a swing her way in Kooyong.

opinion
opinion
Opinion
opinion
Labor majority sends crossbench wish lists to the shredder

After weeks of published polls widely predicting a Labor minority government, you could forgive the Lower House crossbenchers for pre-emptively composing wish lists for the next three years.

Ben O'Shea

Ben O'Shea

Parents around the world — including the one writing this column — grapple every day with the Big YouTube Dilemma., writes Ben O’Shea.

opinion
opinion
Ben O’Shea
opinion
YouTube marks 20 years of rotting kids’ brains & cat videos

Whether its cat videos, cooking demos, Dude Perfect stunts or Ed Sheeran music clips, there is something for everyone on YouTube, but a little moderation never hurt.

Ben O'Shea

Ben O'Shea

‘By this time next week, Donald Trump’s second presidency will have officially begun and the world may never be the same again,’ says Ben O’Shea.

opinion
opinion
Ben O’Shea
opinion
Trump’s suck-ups & sycophants put us on perilous path

By this time next week, Donald Trump’s second presidency will have officially begun and the world may never be the same again. 

Ben O'Shea

Defying gravity is a neat trick, but the real magic of Cynthia Erivo’s Elphaba is living up to the ridiculously high expectations of millions of Wicked tragics.

review
review
Movies
review
Totally Wicked musical is sure to enchant audiences

Defying gravity is a neat trick but the real magic of Cynthia Erivo’s Elphaba is living up to the ridiculously high expectations of millions of Wicked tragics.

Ben O'Shea

Then all it takes is one person to mention it at a backyard barbie, believing it to be true, and this misinformation spreads beyond social media to the real world. 

opinion
opinion
Ben O’Shea
opinion
Cuzzy, Kamala & online lies spreading like wildfire

It’s hard to imagine anything more creepy than the world’s richest man offering to impregnate a woman he has no relationship with. 

Ben O'Shea

Ben O'Shea

An AI generated image of French President Emmanuel Macron swimming in The Seine

opinion
opinion
Ben O’Shea
opinion
Poetry in Paris poo protest

Parisians are apparently feeling shitty (quite literally, as you’ll soon learn) about the Olympics, which are due to kick off in the City of Light at the end of next month. 

Ben O'Shea

Ben O'Shea

Bundles of newspapers.

opinion
opinion
Ben O’Shea
opinion
Sorry to be the bearer of bad news

Before you blame the media for creating a negative environment that seems to be contributing to news avoidance, it should be noted the audience metrics in the digital age reveal the stories you lot click on. 

Ben O'Shea

Ben O'Shea

Melissa Barrera as Joey in Abigail, directed by Matt Bettinelli-Olpin and Tyler Gillett.

review
review
Ben O’Shea
review
The horror-comedy remake of Dracula’s Daughter

While the new horror-comedy Abigail is not directly linked to Stoker’s famed bloodsucker, it certainly wouldn’t exist without it.

Ben O'Shea

In tonight’s episode, Ben O’Shea reveals why e-scooters could ruin your Christmas, and why Gen Z is desperate to get onto the property ladder.

Up LateWhy Gen Z is desperate to get on the property ladder

In tonight’s episode, Ben O’Shea reveals why e-scooters could ruin your Christmas, and why Gen Z is desperate to get onto the property ladder.

| Tue, December 19

Ben O’Shea unpacks the challengers who want to unseat David Honey for pre-selection in Cottesloe.

Up LateUnpacking David Honey’s Cottesloe pre-selection challengers

In tonight’s episode, Ben O’Shea unpacks the challengers who want to unseat David Honey for pre-selection in Cottesloe.

| Thu, December 14

In tonight’s show, O’Shea delivers the cold, hard truth on the big change Australia Post is making, and looks back on the polarising tenure of WACA chief executive Christina Matthews.

Up LateThe cold, hard truth on the big change Aus Post is making

In tonight’s show, O’Shea delivers the cold, hard truth on the big change Australia Post is making, and looks back on the polarising tenure of WACA chief executive Christina Matthews.

Up Late | Wed, December 6

Ben O’Shea unpacks Roger Cook’s plan to make a plan for Unit 18.

Up Late Unpacking Roger Cook’s plan to make a plan for Unit 18

In tonight’s episode, Ben O’Shea unpacks Roger Cook’s plan to make a plan for Unit 18, doesn’t lose sleep over Musk’s attempt to ruin his social media platform and why you should stop posting Spotify Wrapped.

| Thu, November 30

In tonight’s episode, Ben O’Shea blasts the idiots making life difficult for firies fighting Perth bushfires, and reveals why so many high-profile celebrities are being sued for sexual assault this week.

Up LateThe last thing DFES needs right now

In tonight’s episode, Ben O’Shea blasts the idiots making life difficult for firies fighting Perth bushfires, and reveals why so many high-profile celebrities are being sued for sexual assault this week.

Up Late | Thu, November 23

In tonight’s episode, Ben O’Shea grills supermarkets over meat prices, reveals why Boomers are finally feeling the cost-of-living crisis and looks at the animal activist who wants you to consider sex with animals.

Up LateWhy meat might be off the menu this Christmas

In tonight’s episode, O’Shea grills supermarkets over meat prices, reveals why Boomers are finally feeling the cost-of-living crisis and looks at the animal activist who wants you to consider sex with animals.

Up Late | Wed, November 15

In tonight’s episode, Ben O’Shea slams the Bunbury council for weaponising The Wiggles, and reveals the one black mark on the resume of new Eagles chief executive Don Pyke.

Up LateBunbury council slammed for weaponising The Wiggles

In tonight’s episode, Ben O’Shea slams the Bunbury council for weaponising The Wiggles, and reveals the one black mark on the resume of new Eagles chief executive Don Pyke.

Up Late | Thu, November 2

In tonight’s episode, O’Shea unpacks Biden’s unhelpful advice for Albo and explains why the biggest danger to AUKUS is the US Congress.

Up LateUnpacking Biden’s unhelpful advice for Albo

In tonight’s episode, O’Shea unpacks Biden’s unhelpful advice for Albo and explains why the biggest danger to AUKUS is the US Congress.

Up Late | Thu, October 26

In tonight’s episode, Ben O’Shea reveals the horrifying reason parents are being urged to delete social media apps from their kids’ phones, and unpacks the latest tragedy at the Government’s notorious Unit 18 youth detention facility.

Up LateUnpacking the latest tragedy at Unit 18

In tonight’s episode, O’Shea reveals why parents are being urged to delete social media apps from their kids’ phones & unpacks the latest tragedy at the Government’s notorious Unit 18 youth detention facility.

Up Late | Thu, October 12

In tonight’s episode, Ben O’Shea highlights the biggest Voice misinformation you may have fallen for already and looks at the mysterious threats landing in letterboxes in Perth’s leafy western suburbs.

Up LateThe Voice misinformation you may have fallen for already

In tonight’s episode, Ben O’Shea highlights the biggest Voice misinformation you may have fallen for already and looks at the mysterious threats landing in letterboxes in Perth’s leafy western suburbs.

| Wed, October 4