Although the Australian is inherently biased and full of contradictions and paradoxes it is still a fantastic newspaper. They have great sections on Higher Education, Arts, Media, Business and Travel even for that matter. Even it's National Affairs coverage is first rate, despite how they frame it all. It's worth reading and I am glad I have it delivered daily, although I would avoid the opinion page where it seems an overwhelming amount of ill informed wannabes send in their partisan attacks on trivial issues. I think it is such a shame that for a first rate newspaper much of the comments in that opinion section are published. The Oz is certainly hunting for a regime change and you'd have to be ignorant to think otherwise, however despite their relentless pursuance of personalities and also their failure to critically analyse much of the policy substantively they are still quite a good newspaper.
The Spectator is a wonderful read, although I read some of it and cringe. I do enjoy reading a lot of the articles thoroughly and they are terrifically written.
Now I'm on this topic, I seriously think the Daily Telegraph truly is a threat to the economic viability of this nation, but also democracy in general. Their vitriol towards immigration as a whole is staggering, and will have huge implications on Australia's higher education sector in the future if they are enabled to run rampant like they have.
I grew up in a household where we were told to move forward and engage in critical thinking. One of my parents was a Media Professor so naturally we were skeptical of much we heard and no surprise for anyone out there we were staunch left wingers to an extent (on the social side at least). But I can understand conservative philosophy, and I don't think they should be regarded as stupid. I don't have a problem with Social Conservatives who don't support gay marriage or euthanasia, or the need for a multicultural society. They have their right to disagree, however should that conservatism adversely and substantially effect someone who is a good natured, kind hearted citizen then I have a problem. It's fair enough to oppose gay marriage, but it's not fair enough to say to that person "you fucking faggots should die" or something like that. It's fair enough to oppose immigration, but not fair enough to say it explicitly, and go down the pathway of Pauline Hanson and use such vitriolic language.