August 6 – 12, 2022
News
Comment
Comment
Megan Davis
What happens next for the Voice?
“Curiosity and impatience for referendum detail is unsurprising. This is the second decade of the constitutional recognition journey in Australia, and it is Australia’s first referendum since 1999. It is worth pointing out, however, that much of the early mainstream media discussion is consciously or subconsciously mimicking the republic referendum debate.”
Comment
Paul Bongiorno
The Peter Dutton schtick
“It still hasn’t dawned on the Liberal and National parties why they suffered such a stunning defeat at the May election. Maybe Labor’s slender majority masks the rejection of the Liberals in their heartland seats, which resulted in a near-record number of independents. So far the Liberals seem to have no obvious strategy to win back support.”
Comment
John Hewson
Budget reality bites
“The policy challenge for the Albanese government is compounded by pressures left deliberately by the Morrison government, or attributable to its incompetence and neglect – in aggregate, record debt with budget deficits stretching as far as the eye can see. Important and urgent structural challenges are needed in the health system, and aged and disability care in particular, along with energy, housing, defence and climate policy.”
Letters, Cartoon & Editorial
Culture
The Influence
Gordon Hookey
Gordon Hookey’s epic series MURRILAND! was inspired by Congolese artist Tshibumba Kanda-Matulu’s rewriting of colonial history.
Fiction
The crab
“I came across a crab while surfing an empty beach break one afternoon. It was a real big one. ‘Howdy, partner,’ he said as I waited for a wave. ‘G’day,’ I said, in my friendliest voice. I didn’t want any trouble. ‘How’s it going?’ he said, just floating there on the surface of the water. He didn’t seem to mean any harm. His blue claws, both bulbous and sharp as a tack, remained closed. ‘Pretty good, man. Say, I thought you guys sort of just scuttled along the sea floor?’ ‘Hehe,’ he said, but it sounded forced. ‘Nah, mate.’ He showed me his back legs, shaped like paddles. ‘I’m a swimmer crab, see?’”
Books
Life
Puzzles
Quotes
Politics
“I value integrity.”
The Victorian opposition leader accepts his chief of staff’s resignation, after it was alleged he had asked a donor to spend $100,000 with his private marketing business. If there was a brown paper bag full of money with a grease stain on it, Matthew Guy would be the grease stain.
Climate
“This bill records the government’s ambition to take the country forward on climate action…”
The prime minister celebrates his climate change bill passing through the house of representatives. Finally.
Work
“In light of these matters, Ms Petinos’s service as a minister will cease with immediate effect.”
The New South Wales premier announces the sacking of Small Business minister Eleni Petinos after bullying accusations against her. Of course, bullying staff is the essence of small business.
Travel
“George Christensen has never been a mate of mine and it’s a good thing he’s not in this parliament.”
The Nationals leader distances himself from his former colleague after the release of federal police advice on Christensen’s frequent travel to Manila. We are sure he just really liked the weather.
Race
“Everything about the proposed Voice drips with entrenching separatism as an atonement for dispossession...”
The former prime minister argues against an Indigenous Voice to Parliament. Surely a system that gave the world Tony Abbott is not above improvement.
Court
“The game has not been worth the candle.”
The federal court judge criticises Clive Palmer and Mark McGowan for wasting resources in their defamation claims against each other. He awarded both of them minor damages.
