February 1 – 7, 2020
News
Comment
Comment
Eva Cox
Bettina Arndt and the Australia Day honours
“One of the questions I return to again and again in my work is how we value unpaid gifts of time and skills that meet social, communal and national needs. The Arndt affair’s blokey stab at gender equity offers an opportunity to question the criteria used to decide the value assigned to honours for which women are nominated.”
Comment
Paul Bongiorno
Scott Morrison’s rebranding mission
“Scott Morrison hates the pejorative nickname that has taken hold on social media. “Scotty from Marketing” was conferred on him by the satirical magazine The Betoota Advocate. The moniker has gained currency because it captures the growing gap between the prime minister’s performance and his salesmanship of it.”
Letters, Cartoon & Editorial
Culture
Profile
Vampire Weekend’s Ezra Koenig
After a six-year hiatus, Ezra Koenig’s band Vampire Weekend won a 2020 Grammy for their latest album, Father of the Bride. He reflects on the changing landscape of the music industry and how he handles his new-found fame. “We have a deep connection with a certain group of people, and we’ve grown it a little bit, but at a very sustainable rate.”
Books
Life
Puzzles
Quotes
GENEROSITY
“If you’re very wealthy you can afford to have as many kids as you want.”
The former prime minister looks at Australia’s shrinking middle class and blames women.
TELEVISION
“I campaigned for years to have Ross date women of colour.”
The Friends star tells The Guardian how he was a champion for greater diversity on the show. He wasn’t clear if he campaigned as hard as he did to be paid $US1 million an episode.
HONOURS
“Shame on … Jill Hennessy, the Victorian Attorney General for responding to muckraking from ideologues rather than seeking proper evidence.”
The commentator, who once interviewed a convicted paedophile about his persecution by feminists, takes umbrage on Twitter with calls to strip her of her Australia Day honour.
HARD SELL
“Morrison is not, and has never been, a marketer. He is an economist by training.”
The former marketing professor outlines his criticism of the prime minister’s new nickname, “Scotty from Marketing”, saying it isn’t fair to people in marketing.
RESPECT
“There’s only one thing longer than the list of Margaret Court’s tennis achievements: it’s her list of offensive and homophobic statements.”
The seven-time grand slam winner hits out at the decision to honour the controversial champion at this year’s Australian Open.
HARMONY
“Get rid of your chip off your shoulder.”
The One Nation leader, never one to hold a grudge, criticises Invasion Day protesters.
