August 5 – 11, 2017
News
In the week of a friendly ABC profile and the launch of his confessional memoir, Sam Dastyari’s speedy rehabilitation after his Chinese donations scandal has irked many, even within his party. Is his brash style a positive or a flaw?
“Tax avoidance is like a balloon. You squeeze it in one place and it bulges out somewhere else.”
As politics comes to reckon with inequality, Bill Shorten’s former defence of discretionary trusts has morphed into a policy to more harshly tax them.
Exporting Australia’s offshore detention policy
The Manus Island detention centre may be closing, but its legacy lives on in Europe, where leaders have looked to Australia for lessons on how to stop the boats – no matter the human cost.
The assisted dying campaign in Victoria
“When you pick a fight with ethnic communities and faith-based communities over a social policy issue like this, it’s likely to have electoral ramifications.”
As the Victorian government makes the case for assisted dying legislation, a strategic campaign from social conservatives and religious groups hopes to torpedo the proposed amendments.
John Kelly moves to White House chief of staff
Talisman Sabre and US strategy; new head of defence; Boris Johnson addresses Lowy Institute dinner.
Comment
Comment
Paul Bongiorno
Turnbull’s conviction problems
“There are three policy areas that hitherto have been identified with Turnbull: climate change, marriage equality and the republic. While it is true that politics is the art of compromise, any accommodation becomes dangerous if it is seen as a sellout. Voters are weary of the betrayal of a belief for no other purpose than realising an ambition.”
Comment
Ruby Hamad
Misunderstanding Islamophobia
“Faith is immaterial to Islamophobia. Blanket suspicion of Islam is not really about what Muslims do and do not believe. It is a means of asserting “Western” values above Islamic ones, based on the predication that the two are inherently incompatible.”
Letters, Cartoon & Editorial
Culture
Profile
Filmmaker Amiel Courtin-Wilson
Almost a decade after making Bastardy with actor Jack Charles, filmmaker Amiel Courtin-Wilson refuses to see himself as a detached observer, instead drawing in his subjects as collaborators.
Music
‘Jen Cloher’ review
That Jen Cloher’s inventive fourth album is self-titled reflects its personal themes, as she writes with candour about her relationship and her place in the world.
Portrait
Photographer Jonny Lewis
“Jonny guides me through his collection of portraits, reliving moments in time. One after the other, their faces appear, strangely familiar, yet random, unknown. Nameless people documented in black and white. A mother with her swaddled baby, Buddhist monks and men from Nepal, an Egyptian woman, two Aboriginal men who have travelled from Moree.”
Food
Scallops roasted with seaweed butter
“What makes the live scallop quite spectacular is not just the sweetness and freshness of the flavour but also the firm texture. When we clean the scallops we release the muscle and remove the lid, leaving the muscle and entrails intact. The muscle is what we know as the scallop – the white parcel in the middle of the shell.”
Books
Life
Travel
Panboola wetlands, NSW
As a child, the author spent time at Alexandra Seddon’s farm in southern NSW, unaware of her connections to Russian royalty. Now he visits the the Panboola Wetlands she established with her inheritance.
The Quiz
Quotes
HOMELESSNESS
“Completely uncomfortable.”
The NSW premier explains how the homeless people camped in Martin Place make her feel. Discomforting is one way to describe the human expression of your government’s punitive approach to social disadvantage. Ashamed works, too.
CHURCH
“Young boys don’t want to do things with girls. It’s just natural.”
The American cardinal blames the involvement of women in the church for the presence of clergy abuse. Still tempting to consider the responsibility of paedophile priests and the hierarchy that actively protects them, though.
COMPLIANCE
“I’ve had to pick up the pieces from an organisation that was run incompetently and by people who were not up to doing the job.”
The leader of Pauline Hanson’s One Nation blames the workers of Pauline Hanson’s One Nation for electoral breaches by Pauline Hanson’s One Nation. Hate has always been a terrible bookkeeper.
RACISM
“I think that Western culture, Australian culture, is superior to other cultures.”
The turncoat senator explains his insularity and tendencies towards bigoted positions. He also believes privilege is superior to disadvantage and that boys are better than girls.
CORRUPTION
“This brings to an end a long and comprehensive process. I thank my family and colleagues for their support throughout.”
The Liberal senator greets news that the Independent Commission Against Corruption made no findings against him. It recommended charges against Joe Tripodi and Tony Kelly for attempting to doctor a cabinet minute.
DRINKS
“She loves it.”
The former royal chef confirms that the Queen drinks about six units of alcohol a day: a gin and Dubonnet just before lunch, a glass of wine, a martini and a flute of champagne. The rest of the time she’s drunk on inherited power.
