July 6 – 12, 2019
News
Comment
Comment
Richard Denniss
Money, votes and the ‘pendulum’
“What if money didn’t matter much in Australian politics? Clive Palmer just spent $53 million on ads for his United Australia Party and had zero candidates elected. And Jacqui Lambie won a senate seat having gone through a lot of shoe leather but spent only $50,000.”
Comment
Paul Bongiorno
Faith and tax cuts as 46th parliament begins
“In politics, so the wisdom goes, ‘perception is reality’. And this week, with the opening of the 46th parliament, the perception and the reality of the federal election hit home, particularly for the vanquished Labor Party. But for the victors, not everything is as it seems.”
Letters, Poem & Editorial
Culture
Profile
Actress Zahra Newman takes on Wake in Fright
Renowned Australian actor Zahra Newman knows what it feels like to be an outsider. In bringing that experience to the Malthouse Theatre’s one-woman adaptation of Wake in Fright, she shines a light on discrimination and toxic masculinity in our society. “Part of the thing that is nightmarish about Wake in Fright is the culture having to stomach the reality of that reflection without just lashing out against it.”
Film
Parasite
Bong Joon-ho’s impeccable technical skills are on show in Parasite, his Palme d’Or-winning comic thriller, but the film’s social commentary doesn’t quite hit the mark.
Portrait
MONA FOMA and Dark Mofo’s Hannah Fox
“ ‘The issue,’ says Hannah Fox as we weave our way through the crowd to join the prospective swimmers, ‘is to try and avoid seeing anyone you work with’s penis.’ It’s early Saturday morning and Hobart’s Long Beach is overwhelmed with shivering nude bodies. The winter solstice swim has become one of the defining rituals of Dark Mofo. Over the years, the festival has earned a reputation for provocative, hedonistic and often confronting programming – a friend calls it ‘goth schoolies’. Fox has been part of Dark Mofo and its summer counterpart, MONA FOMA, for the past seven years. This year is her 10th festival, her first as associate creative director.”
Books
Life
Puzzles
Quotes
BIRTHDAYS
“The food may have been spoiled, but we remain solid.”
The daughter of Filipino dictator Ferdinand Marcos responds to a food poisoning outbreak at her mother’s 90th birthday, after more than 260 people were hospitalised. As ever, you can fill a lot of shoes at a party for Imelda Marcos.
ENVIRONMENT
“As the department’s briefing noted, this balancing exercise was for me to do.”
The former environment minister explains why she approved a uranium mine in Western Australia the day before the election was called, despite a risk the project could lead to the extinction of 12 species. She has the balance of a gymnast, standing on top of countless dead stygofauna.
DIPLOMACY
“Prayer is my response.”
The prime minister explains his approach to the rescue of Alek Sigley, an Australian tour guide missing in North Korea. Sigley was later found in China, a country known for its close relationship with Morrison’s god.
FAITH
“What the government are talking about is an issue that goes to protecting religion in an affirmative way as a freedom.”
The Labor senator confirms support for a religious discrimination bill. In keeping with tradition, the bill will be poorly translated and open to myriad destructive and repressive readings.
SUMMITS
“We will work with the G20 in finding consensus to resolve world crises.”
The Saudi crown prince celebrates his kingdom’s presidency of the G20. Consensus is easy enough to reach when you are dismembering journalists and imprisoning critics.
EMPLOYMENT
“This is a test of the prime minister’s integrity.”
The shadow foreign minister questions Julie Bishop’s new role with private aid contractor Palladium. It’s almost quaint to think you would need $500 million in government contracts to test Scott Morrison’s integrity.
