April 3 – 9, 2021
News
Comment
Comment
Kevin Rudd and Thom Woodroofe
A foreign policy for the climate
“Acting on climate change not only makes economic sense for Australia, it makes diplomatic sense as well. Our refusal to act meaningfully on climate change will increasingly be a thorn in the side of our relations with all of the world’s advanced economies. ”
Comment
Paul Bongiorno
Government reset on women
“All governments have horror stretches; the Morrison government is certainly no exception, as the past six weeks attest. But it is how governments deal with these political crises that can seal or save their fate. The Americans have a colourful turn of phrase to describe how politicians in similar fixes often resort to ‘putting lipstick on a pig’. In other words, they do not address the underlying problems but rather hope a few cosmetic flourishes will persuade the public they are on to it. So on Monday we had the ‘new look’ Morrison cabinet rolled out. Except it wasn’t.”
Letters, Cartoon & Editorial
Culture
Profile
Comedy trio Aunty Donna
With a Netflix show and a headline at the Melbourne International Comedy Festival, the surreal troupe Aunty Donna has come a long way from their Ballarat days.
In Progress
June Jones
Working under lockdown on her new album, while contending with a diagnosis of ADHD, meant a wholly different process for musician June Jones.
Fiction
All that matters
“It’s so exciting you’re here to stay. I remember when I was the new one. A lifetime ago. You’re going to love it here. Our friend is so amazing. All friends are… Well, almost all. But ours is the best. When I was new there was an old one already here. They were lovely, so kind. They taught me everything I needed to know: where to go, how to ask for in and out, what kind of games to play until I came up with some of my own. Then they and our friend played those games with me. I was so proud. They’ve gone now, the old one, long ago. I miss them. One came from the place with strange, sharp smells. Not all places are happy. That one brought some of those bad scents along and the old one left. Their smell was so different the moment they went and our friend cried, so hard, for so long. I did everything I could to help, but sometimes pain is simply there until it’s not. ”
Books
Life
Puzzles
Quotes
Politics
“I would kill to be sexually harassed at the moment.”
The Liberal Party vice-president says there are lower rates of sexual harassment among “women my age”. She later apologised for the “attempt at humour”.
Promotions
“When someone does a good job ... then they show that they can take on responsibility.”
The PM makes a “merit” argument for giving Stuart Robert the Small Business portfolio, in spite of robo-debt, billing taxpayers $2000 a month for home internet use and Rick Morton’s story on the front page of this paper.
Realism
“I have no doubt we won’t retain the seat.”
The New South Wales premier adopts Zak Kirkup’s fatalistic approach when asked about the byelection in the wake of Nationals MP Michael Johnsen’s resignation. As long as she doesn’t lock down NSW though, it seems she could get away with anything.
Quandary
“Either the prime minister is ignorant of the cultural issues at hand, or he understands them completely and is making calculated moves to perpetuate them.”
The Australian of the Year calls out the decision to elevate Amanda Stoker to assistant minister for Women. The senator controversially defended Bettina Arndt interviewing Tame’s abuser, which Stoker points to as proof she supports women.
Future
“The fact is that unless we have a policy to shape the future, then we’re captured by events beyond our control.”
The Labor leader chastises the Morrison government’s rhetoric on electric vehicles, following the announcement of its own EV policy. No word yet on where Labor landed on Albanese’s plan to ban fruit in beer if he becomes prime minister.
Persona
“You don’t really believe the peeing in bottles thing, do you?”
The tech giant’s PR team takes a direct approach to hosing down bad press, tweeting at a United States congressman. An employee thought the tweet so strange they were compelled to make a formal report fearing the account had been hacked.
