December 5 – 11, 2020
News
Comment
Comment
John Hewson
How rorts, mates and marketing took over politics
“Consider some of the most notable and concerning examples of ‘bad behaviour’, excess and the abuse of power and privilege of just the past couple of decades, which have seen an alarming erosion of ministerial responsibility, transparency and accountability.”
Comment
Paul Bongiorno
PM looks rattled as he feeds the trolls
“Upon mature reflection, it is increasingly looking as though Scott Morrison’s angry reaction to a ‘truly repugnant’ social media attack from a Chinese government official has only deepened the crisis in the relationship between the two nations … In lashing out, Morrison broke one of the cardinal rules of social media.”
Letters, Cartoon & Editorial
Culture
Profile
Artist Alice Potts
An artist whose work incorporates fashion, visual art and biomaterials, Alice Potts’ contribution to the NGV Triennial has been profoundly shaped by her experience of Covid-19 in Britain.
In Progress
Kate Mulvany
Playwright and performer Kate Mulvany is working on her next play in an unusual space – under quarantine in a Brisbane hotel room.
Poetry
Three poems
“I can’t wish on stars in unseasonal cold. / They’re older than they look. / And they keep shtum in shivery night / even when I sneak up on them. / Still they spread a stern and spiky glow / on my uneven thinking about / how things turned out, horizon / to horizon, birth to dust.”
Books
Life
Puzzles
Quotes
Resolution
“I’m sorry to cut and run – it has sometimes been a hairy career, but I hope a productive one and always fun. My gratitude for all your participation.”
The journalist and cruciverbalist calls time on a monumental career. Mungo, thank you – this country, and our paper, are all the better for your sharp mind. You will be missed. Mungo’s Cryptics will appear in the paper through to next March.
Scoop
“No.”
The Four Corners executive producer responds to questions from Sharri Markson about whether the TV program hired private investigators to tail federal ministers Christian Porter and Alan Tudge. Once again, The Australian’s understanding of journalistic ethics falls short of the mark.
Truth
“The climate wars that have been going on in Australia for over a decade now are just – honestly they are such a suicidal situation.”
The architect of the Paris climate agreement reflects on Australia’s response to the climate crisis. Surely she can’t argue we won’t reach our non-existent emission targets “at a canter”.
Diplomacy
“It is an absolutely outrageous and disgusting slur.”
Our prime minister falls victim to the Streisand effect. Lashing out at a Photoshopped meme posted by a Chinese government troll, Morrison brings the Brereton inquiry’s allegations of war crimes perpetrated by Australian special forces to global attention.
Royalty
“I fear a generation of viewers who did not live through these events may mistake fiction for fact.”
The British culture secretary calls for Netflix’s The Crown to clearly label itself as fiction. Or will a generation of viewers know the truth – that Charles and Camilla deserved one another.
Phenomenon
“One of them looked back at us all and said, ‘Leave no trace.’ ”
The photographer recounts watching on as four men removed the strange metal monolith that appeared last week in the Utah desert. Many people believed it was taken by aliens, but it turns out it was an even rarer creature: travel bloggers who care about the environment.
