May 3 – 9, 2025
News
Comment
Comment
Marcia Langton
Dutton, Advance and the Welcome to Country
“Tapping into the historical racism that began with the British invasion has proved easier for the race-baiters than even I could imagine. Building on their success in opposing the Voice referendum, the ‘No’ campaign apparatchiks have manipulated the meaning of the Welcome to Country ceremony to portray it as an assault on the nation’s sovereignty.”
Comment
Paul Bongiorno
Voters poised to hit the eject Dutton
“On Saturday, we will find out if it is possible for a major party to run a very poor campaign and still win an election. The likelihood of Peter Dutton pulling off this feat seems remote. He would need a bigger miracle than his predecessor Scott Morrison managed in 2019.”
Letters, Cartoon & Editorial
Culture
Profile
Artists Mere Nailatikau and AM Kanngieser
Artists Mere Nailatikau and AM Kanngieser have co-created a sensory installation that brings the landscapes, sounds and wisdom of the Pacific region to the Venice Biennale.
Fiction
Dominion
“Occasionally he addresses his subjects in their towns or villages, smiling down at them from the stage. He is struck – during a speech at a well-manicured park – by a young child clutching a placard adorned with his official portrait. Their eyes meet and they chuckle at her clumsy attempt to clap while holding the sign – a dimple forming on just one of her perfect little cheeks. He is far, far away by the time the girl sees the sponge block the sunlight from her town.”
Books
Life
Puzzles
Quotes
Polling
“How’s your bum? How’s your bum? Sore today?”
The father of Labor MP Jerome Laxale taunts a Liberal volunteer in what was apparently a homophobic exchange. Laxale later said, “I love my dad, but the things he said were deeply offensive and completely unacceptable.”
Media
“Okay. Next one?”
The opposition leader responds to the question, “Mr Dutton, how do you expect people to vote for you when you won’t answer these hard questions and you’re just skipping over journalists?” He’s almost as funny as he looks.
Food
“Many recipes are bound to share common steps and measures: if they don’t, they simply don’t work.”
The celebrity baker responds after being accused of plagiarism by rival Nagi Maehashi. It is the second-most gripping food-based story this week.
Endorsement
“I made a public offer to work for their zoo for free for six months or any other wildlife conservation if he would call President Trump and ask for me to be released…”
The star of Tiger King endorses Anthony Albanese in the hope he might lobby for his release from prison. It’s an unbelievable blow to Dutton’s campaign.
Film
“Now, more than ever, we need to talk to each other, listen to one another cross-culturally.”
The director announces he had been working on a documentary with the late Pope Francis. The film will sadly not be called Raging Papal Bull.
Court
“The prosecution will not be suggesting that there was a particular motive to do what she did.”
The Crown prosecutor in the mushroom murder case says she will not attempt to explain why Erin Patterson allegedly poisoned her guests with death cap-laced beef Wellington. The trial continues.
