June 1 – 7, 2019

News

New federal Labor leader Anthony Albanese at Parliament House on Thursday.

News

Image for article: Corrections system in lockdown
Image for article: Brexit Party hearty after European vote

Comment

Letters, Poem & Editorial

Poem

Evelyn Araluen
Unreckoning

Sis, I have a ghost story:

A river flows fat of bream and cod and perch. Here where the soil has parted for the belly of creators, the stones in the shape of the foot of god, the river ripples songs for their journeys through the land. Black bodies splash shards of golden light, there is enough and enough and enough.


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Editorial
Women at risk

The ritual has a familiar shape by now. Four women killed in Melbourne, four public deaths in less than a year. Eurydice Dixon, Aya Maasarwe, Natalina Angok and Courtney Herron. With each there was a shading in of the question of vulnerability – of the violence faced by women of colour, and international students, and the twin complications of addiction and homelessness. But all four of these women were killed by men.

Letters

Malakootis’ plight a crying shame

Tearfully, I read Abdul Karim Hekmat’s “Hearts in darkness” on Sadoullah Malakooti (May 25-31). Tearfully, I mowed the bourgeois lawn and pondered. Who can be happy in a country …

Not money well spent

It hardly seems possible to read the tragic story of Sadoullah Malakooti and his daughters in the same breath as Scott Morrison’s claiming a miracle for his election win. Spending millions of dollars …

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Culture

Actress Kat Stewart, currently onstage in Melbourne Theatre Company’s Heisenberg.

Profile

Actress Kat Stewart’s realms of possibility

Although Kat Stewart is well known for playing dark, in-your-face characters, her life experience has led her to a greater appreciation of hope and contentment. Her latest stage role is in Melbourne Theatre Company’s Heisenberg. “The idea I really love is that we spend all this energy trying to control our lives and take comfort in that … but we have very, very, very little control and what this play confronts you with is: What if that is not a bad thing?”

Image for article: Carly Rae Jepsen’s Dedicated

Music

Carly Rae Jepsen’s Dedicated

On her fourth album, Dedicated, Canadian popstar Carly Rae Jepsen continues to explore heartbreak, love and infatuation against a backdrop of disco synths and catchy melodies.

Books

Image for article: Griffith Review 64: The New Disruptors

Ashley Hay (ed.)
Griffith Review 64: The New Disruptors

Image for article: Bedlam at Botany Bay

James Dunk
Bedlam at Botany Bay

Image for article: Sweatshop Women: Volume One

Winnie Dunn (ed.)
Sweatshop Women: Volume One

Life

Image for article: Pine mushroom and hazelnut soup

Food

Pine mushroom and hazelnut soup

Image for article: Switching off the smartphone

Education

Switching off the smartphone

With studies showing too much time on smartphones adversely affects children’s mental and social development, is it time for teens to be forced to disconnect – at least occasionally – from their online lives?

Image for article: Stan Tsaikos’s knack in the saddle

Sport

Stan Tsaikos’s knack in the saddle

Far from the glamour of Melbourne Cup mounting yards, Stan Tsaikos ekes out a living as a journeyman jockey, travelling the length and breadth of the country to get rides. But despite the gruelling graft, it’s a life he loves.

Puzzles

Quotes

MEDIA

“Like ScoMo, I just want to get back on the horse.”

Alan JonesThe broadcaster renews a two-year contract with 2GB, on $4 million a year. The figure set aside for baseless defamations was not disclosed.

MUSIC

“But as Billy Bragg said, not everything that counts can be counted.”

Anthony AlbaneseThe new leader of the Labor Party quotes the British singer-songwriter on value. Bragg also said if you can’t say it in three minutes, it’s not worth saying.

RACE

“Some years ago I opined that London was not really an English city any more. Since then, virtually all my friends from abroad have confirmed my observation.”

John Cleese The resident of the Caribbean island of Nevis complains about the cultural make-up of London. John Cleese is not really a comedian anymore – and virtually all our friends have confirmed it.

POLITICS

“We must burn for the Australian people every day.”

Scott MorrisonThe prime minister restates his willingness to burn for his country. Be it climate policy or offshore detention, it’s a tasteless reference.

SPACE

“I’m going to go away for awhile.”

MobyThe singer decides to take a break from public life. He’ll be fine, though: he’s just going to pretend he’s dating someone really nice.

JUSTICE

“I decided to donate all monies to help provide some relief to the victims of the massacre... It wasn’t mine to keep.”

Will ConnollyThe boy who smashed an egg on Fraser Anning donates the money that was crowdfunded for him to victims of the Christchurch massacre. Anning donated back his senate seat, which was nice, too.