A number of important Australian writers, critics, historians and social commentators have been associated with the newspaper including David Malouf (writer, poet), Joan Kerr (art and cultural historian, academic), Jack Carmody (Professor of Medicine, opera and theatre critic), Shane Porteous (actor), Alan Frost (historian), Graeme Rowlands (poet and critic), William Yang aka Willie Young (photographer), Peter McCawley (economist, senior civil servant, Asia specialist), Brian Toohey (economist, newspaper editor, political commentator), Michael O'Neill (political activist), Dan O'Neill (academic and political activist), Susan Geason (journalist, political adviser, writer), Lenore Taylor (Walkley-winning journalist, author, now editor of Guardian Australia), Julianne Schultz, John Birmingham, Clinton Walker and Humphrey McQueen.

In 2005 its editors included Daniel and Sarah Spencer, who went on to form the influential underground rock band Blank Realm.

[4] A similar article appearing in the August 2022 edition of Semper, this time called “the Subtle Art of Shoplifting”, made headlines internationally.

Its anonymous author rehashed some of the points made by the original article, as well as adding some modern techniques to circumvent the increasing sophistication and technological expansion of security.

Australian networks such as Newscorp, Seven, Fairfax, and the ABC ultimately criticised the publication for its promotion of criminal behaviour.