April 8 – 14, 2023
News
Comment
Comment
Jo Dyer
The political persecution of Julian Assange
“Even as Stephen Smith paid a concerned visit to Julian Assange in Belmarsh prison this week, the new high commissioner to Britain said firmly that Australia was not ‘lobbying for a particular outcome’. Concerned Australians might ask, ‘Why the hell not?’”
Comment
Paul Bongiorno
Voice exposes Dutton’s desperation
“By midweek it was obvious Peter Dutton wasn’t looking for a way to reconnect with the broader electorate, which is clearly what is needed. On the very morning Newspoll published a consolidated survey over three months of majority voter support across a majority of states for a constitutional Voice to Parliament, the Liberals spurned its findings.”
Comment
John Hewson
The Liberal Party is tragically broken
“What happened in Aston is simple … The voters of Aston endorsed the positive agenda of the Albanese government against the vagueness and negativity of the Dutton strategy. Mary Doyle achieved a historic win in what the Liberals had basically taken for granted as a traditional and ‘safe’ Liberal seat.”
Letters, Cartoon & Editorial
Culture
The Influence
Zoey Dawson
When she was a child, theatre-maker Zoey Dawson watched Bette Midler in the iconic 1980s film Beaches and realised who she wanted to be.
Poetry
Four poems
“On the day I finally visited you
I forgot how to make the shower hot
as if some part of me
was denying myself that.
On the long drive out
an old yellow rose gone rampant
at the edge of an unreadable business
and the hot pink bougainvillea arching
animal-like
opposite the entrance
to the place where you were held.
Tymon Dogg’s voice my constant companion
on replay
in odd chorus with the directions bot
that in the coming weeks
would be another kind of replay.”
Books
Life
Puzzles
Quotes
Politics
“I stay because I know I’m not the only person who thinks that way. I stay because I think the Liberal Party is at a crossroads.”
The Tasmanian Liberal explains why she stays in the party despite her concern over its direction. It’s easy to see why she thinks it’s at a crossroads: Peter Dutton absolutely looks like someone who buys and sells souls.
Police
“Constable Rolfe’s intention is to appeal the decision and exercise the full legal options available to him challenging the validity of the decision…”
Zachary Rolfe’s lawyer responds to the officer’s dismissal from the Northern Territory Police Force. Honestly, it’s the most thought the NT cops have put into something before firing.
Crime
“I’d rather live next to good neighbours.”
The 66-year-old celebrates after charges against him were dropped following a neighbourhood dispute where he allegedly threatened to kill singer Guy Sebastian. Let’s talk again about the real crime here: the robbing of Shannon Noll in season one.
China
“Wokeness is weakness.”
The Liberal senator warns that a focus on identity politics puts Australia at risk from a rising China. This is the same man who uses senate estimates to get upset about who’s on Play School.
Media
“There does seem to be a hint that this case is being driven more by, and I say this with the greatest respect, ego and hubris and ideology than anything else.”
The judge in the defamation case between Lachlan Murdoch and news website Crikey assesses both parties’ motives. With the greatest respect, he’s right.
Carnivals
“There will be no music played that is rapper music, or has swearing words through it, or has any offensive language.”
The general manager of the Sydney Royal Easter Show explains a decision to ban rap music from the event. The ban was in response to gang violence at the show, especially among the competitive sponge bakers.
