September 7 – 13, 2024
News
Comment
Comment
Barry Jones
How voting systems change outcomes
“Party insiders argue that elections ought to be like AFL grand finals – only two teams are on the field. Independents and single-issue candidates are more attracted to the model of a horserace or Olympic sprint. All voting systems have inbuilt anomalies, however.”
Comment
Chris Wallace
Labor’s path to majority government
“If the government takes a cue from what worked this week, and extends it to land clear messages on the things that matter most in election campaigns – jobs, wages, tax and cost of living – it could just make retaining majority government possible.”
Comment
John Hewson
Jim Chalmers and the Reserve Bank
“The claims that Treasurer Jim Chalmers is ‘at war’ with the Reserve Bank of Australia are becoming ridiculous and irresponsible. Initiated by the opposition and shamelessly supported by the Coalition’s media arm, the Murdoch media, the specious campaign comes at an important time in the conduct of monetary policy.”
Letters, Cartoon & Editorial
Culture
Profile
Filmmaker Martin Provost
French filmmaker Martin Provost has long been interested in investigating the lives of unfairly neglected women artists. His latest feature looks at the hidden life of Pierre Bonnard’s wife, Marthe.
Fiction
Lucy
“Lucy Tran looked in the mirror and felt invisible, behind her black hair and huge school blazer. She felt invisible on most days. She never thought she would actually disappear, be taken, have her life squeezed out of her. If anyone had told her that her face would be on every television channel, she’d snort in disbelief.”
Books
Life
Puzzles
Quotes
Identity
“Let’s make being a straight white male with a wife and two children great again.”
The United Australia Party senator outlines his support for “the most persecuted of us all”. Hard to fit it all on a cap or his head in one.
Courts
“That’s why she spoke up. That’s what she is being sued about.”
The barrister representing Brittany Higgins says her client spoke about her assault in the hope of changing the system. Higgins is awaiting a decision.
Relevance
“You don’t achieve change when your sole trick is to pontificate from the sidelines.”
The former member for Goldstein explains his approach to politics. It also seems to be a fairly accurate description of the IPA.
Music
“The Oasis tour isn’t just about their music. It’s about the height of Britain.”
The online misogynist celebrates the Britpop band, who have announced a reunion tour. Few things scream “men’s rights” as much as two brothers who have spent three decades talking about their mother.
Tourism
“The Eiffel Tower should not become an advertising outpost.”
The chair of the Association of Gustave Eiffel’s Descendants criticises a decision to leave the Olympic rings on the structure. If nothing else, it’s a bit disrespectful to the 1889 World’s Fair.
Politics
“The fundamentals are sound.”
The New South Wales Liberal leader defends his chaotic party machine. The only way that’s true is if he meant to say “fundamentalists”.
