May 3 - 9, 2014

News

Factional rivals, then mining minister Chris Hartcher, left, and then premier Barry O’Farrell.

Liberal slush funds expose Hartcher and bitter factional wars

“The Central Coast has operated like a law unto itself for a long time. Hartcher for years separated himself from the party. It was like an independent kingdom up there.”

Mike Seccombe Behind the ICAC revelations that have already toppled a premier, a factional feud threatens the entire party.

News
Dr Rodney Syme, vice-president of Dying With Dignity.
Image for article: Joe Skrzynski on how he leaves SBS
Cliven Bundy at his ranch house in Nevada just before his “freedom of speech” fall from grace.

Comment

Letters, Cartoon & Editorial

Cartoon

ReadCartoon image, links to full cartoon page

Editorial
Time for party donation reforms

Letters

Taking issue with Labor’s stance

It is disheartening to learn that Labor aims to adopt the disgracefully negligent approach to opposition formerly taken by the Liberal-National Coalition (Sophie Morris, ‘‘Inside …

We can handle the truth

In your recent editorial (“PPL will make a mockery of the budget”, April 26-May 2) you gave the federal treasurer credit because “he correctly diagnoses one of the major structural problems …

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Books
Image for article: Foreign Soil

Maxine Beneba Clarke
Foreign Soil

Image for article: Joyful

Robert Hillman
Joyful

Image for article: The End of the World

Maria Takolander
The End of the World

Life
Image for article: Prince Alfred Park pool an urban oasis

Architecture

Prince Alfred Park pool an urban oasis

Laura Harding The designers of the new Prince Alfred Park pool went to great lengths to deliver a distinguished building, with subtle nods to summers past.

Image for article: Seeking divine approval at Chilkur Balaji

Travel

Seeking divine approval at Chilkur Balaji

Alana Rosenbaum At a temple in south India, devotees find that prayer is the most effective way to cut visa red tape.

Image for article: Fast on her feet: Miao Miao, 33, table tennis player

Sport

Fast on her feet: Miao Miao, 33, table tennis player

Richard Cooke Australia’s most successful table tennis player, Miao Miao compares table tennis in China and Australia.

The Quiz
1. Dutchman Jacco Verhaeren is head coach of which Australian sporting body?
2. How many strings on a mandolin? (Bonus points for naming how many strings on a cello, a standard acoustic guitar, a double bass.)
3. Where in the body is insulin produced?
4. George R. R. Martin wrote the international best-selling series of epic fantasy novels that became the television series…?
5. What is the English translation for the Spanish phrase “Tengo hambre”?
6. Which two colours make up the flag of Ukraine?
7. What are the three given names of the son of Prince William, Duke of Cambridge, and Catherine, Duchess of Cambridge?
8. Culinary duo Clarissa Dickson Wright and Jennifer Paterson were better known as…
9. What name has been given to the Scottish thistle mascot of the 2014 Glasgow Commonwealth Games?
10. Who is deputy premier of NSW?

 

Click through for answers.

Quotes

RETIREMENT

A quarter of a century is a long time, and my current term still has three years to run.

John FaulknerThe reigning king of senate estimates shows what “no surprises” government really looks like, giving a three-year warning he will retire.

ELECTIONS

I do have concerns in the middle of an election about the timing.

Gerry AdamsThe Sinn Féin leader acknowledges the awkwardness of being arrested for questioning over the murder of Jean McConville at the same time as his party campaigns for seats in the European elections. He denies his involvement.

FREEDOM

In Tecoma to see ppl exercising human rights. No protestors, only customers speaking thru spending & @McDonalds property rights.

Tim WilsonThe human rights commissioner backs the incontrovertible rights hidden in all Happy Meals, visiting the much-protested McDonald’s outlet in the Victorian town of Tecoma.

DEATH

He was one of the nicest and best actors I have ever worked with.

Michael CaineThe actor mourns Bob Hoskins, whom he starred opposite in Mona Lisa. Hoskins died of pneumonia this week. He was 71.

PROMISES

If there was a permanent increase in taxation, that would certainly be inconsistent with the sort of things that were said before the election.

Tony AbbottThe prime minister muses over whether a “deficit reduction levy” might clash with the “sort of things” said before the election, like that there would be “no new tax collection” under a Coalition government.

DRUGS

I realise that this has caused some commotion and some people feel that they’ve been let down, and I deeply apologise for that.

Geoff HuegillThe one-time champion swimmer responds to being arrested for alleged cocaine possession. At press time, a decent “black line-white line” joke was yet to be written.

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