September 1 – 7, 2018
News
Comment
Comment
David Marr
Scott Morrison and the ‘strongman’ capitulations
“A curious pattern has emerged from the shambles of the leadership challenge. The strongmen of the cabal that pulled Turnbull down want the party to cave on at least three issues where the old prime minister had shown modest courage: global warming, Catholic schools and Pauline Hanson. The rhetoric of the plotters was all about strength and determination, but by now it’s becoming clear the real point of getting rid of Turnbull was to wave white flags.”
Comment
Paul Bongiorno
Aftershocks of Morrison’s victory
“Earlier in the week, Bishop announced she would go to the back bench and was coy about her plans up to or beyond the election. She has no ambition to be opposition leader. Friends say the role of governor-general wouldn’t appeal. An ambassadorship or United Nations role certainly would. Morrison may be able to reward her closer to calling an election.”
Letters, Cartoon & Editorial
Culture
Profile
Bangarra’s Stephen Page on the language of dance
Stephen Page has known acclaim and accolades as head of Bangarra Dance Theatre. Off stage he’s had more than his fair share of personal tragedy. Here, he talks to about family, his latest show, Dark Emu, and the power of language to change Australia. “Through this symbolism of visual art and story, under that came this kinship idea of connection to land, people and story. That’s why lore and customs exist.”
Music
The Lemon Twigs’ ‘Go to School’
The two young brothers, Michael and Brian D’Addario, who make up The Lemon Twigs, deliver an improbable rock opera masterpiece about an ape raised by humans.
Portrait
Author Will Kostakis
“In 2016, when he was 26 and ‘scared shitless’, Will wrote a post on his blog titled ‘Reintroducing Myself’ and told his readers, ‘I liked kissing boys.’ At first no one reacted. Then, after he’d finished a school visit, Will noticed five missed calls from his agent. A Catholic school, where he’d previously had a speaking engagement, had cancelled his next visit. He was told the content of The Sidekicks wasn’t suitable for Year 7. ‘But it wasn’t the content of the book, it was the content of me.’ ”
Food
Grilled mud crab with curry butter
“I was lucky enough to recently find myself on an immense cattle station in the Gulf of Carpentaria with a group of friends. We camped, fished, hunted and gathered among the broad biodiversity that existed on the property. As it was the end of the wet season, there were huge and complex river and freshwater systems teeming with barramundi, mussels, crazy birdlife and mud crabs.”
Books
Life
Visual Art
No one is watching you: Ronnie van Hout
A 30-year retrospective of Ronnie van Hout’s work includes a dazzling variety of distorted sculptural and filmic self-portraiture, with the effect of interrogating what is real.
The Quiz
Quotes
LAW
“Is it seriously to be suggested that middle-aged white men who graduated from the University of Sydney constitute a vilified or demonised sub-class in Australian society?”
The judge throws out Mark Latham’s defence in a defamation case brought by journalist Osman Faruqi. Mark’s right: the terrorists have already won.
TRUST
“The question should be: Do you really trust any politician? To which my answer is no.”
The former deputy prime minister responds to the Coalition’s instability. Certainly, you wouldn’t trust one enough to marry him.
FAREWELLS
“Last week’s events were the last straw.”
The Liberal member for Chisholm announces that she will not contest the next election. It’s unlikely she will find out what it’s like to live on $40 a day but she’s doing her best.
FREEDOM
“I was just told to ‘Shove your freedom of speech up your arse, and fuck off’.”
The policy director at the Institute of Public Affairs recounts a recent exchange with Julian Burnside at a high school event. The QC then reportedly proceeded to give Breheny a wedgie before doing a lap of the auditorium, arms raised, chanting, “Burnside rules!”
IMMIGRATION
“As I understand it, she never overstayed the visa, hasn’t committed any offences, and I thought it was an application of common sense.”
The minister for Home Affairs explains why he intervened to prevent the deportation of a French au pair. He said it was a humanitarian issue, which is conclusive proof he doesn’t understand what the word means.
VISAS
“She has a lot to say, and we have nothing to fear.”
The Australian journalist criticises a decision to deny a visa to whistleblower Chelsea Manning, who he was due to interview on stage. Greste left an Egyptian prison for this kind of freedom.
