September 9 – 15, 2017
News
Comment
Comment
Richard Cooke
Australia chases America’s decline
“Now the once-mighty bald eagle of American power is barely hanging onto its perch. You might think this de-soaring would provoke some quietude, or at least acknowledgement that building schools in Kabul instead of Kansas hasn’t turned out very well. Instead, Australian conservatives are doubling down, slating the yawning inequalities and teetering infrastructure in the United States to the usual suspects: Obama, regulation, taxes. These clichés have become the litany of a suicide cult.”
Comment
Paul Bongiorno
Coalition tensions fuel energy debate
“Many Liberal backbenchers are furious with the Nationals. One says Joyce’s unwillingness to forgo his ministerial salary is being put ahead of the government’s best interests. A minister says it has more to do with him not wanting to let a Liberal get their hands on the resources, water or agriculture portfolios. These Coalition tensions and jealousies aren’t far below the surface at the best of times. Turnbull fears they are about to erupt spectacularly as he confronts the need to come up with a credible energy policy. ”
Letters, Cartoon & Editorial
Culture
Profile
Alice Chipkin and Jessica Tavassoli find comic relief
Alice Chipkin and Jessica Tavassoli’s graphic memoir takes an insightful look at big issues such as clinical depression and sexuality – but at its heart it’s also just an intimate portrait of long-time friends.
Television
ABC TV’s ‘Get Krack!n’
With their new show Get Krack!n, Kate McLennan and Kate McCartney have expanded their satirical universe from food culture to the dumb decline of the knowledge class.
Portrait
Neighbourhood life
“People with dogs, or parents with young children, are dragged out into the street no matter the weather: windy days where the pink-trunked angophoras throw gumnuts, 40-degree days itchy with dust and pollen, or in the grey of a misting winter. These neighbours become as familiar to me as the house facades.”
Food
Cotechino sausage with braised lentils
“Cotechino is not hard to make, if you have a mincer and a sausage filler and a good butcher. This sausage requires a much larger casing than you would use for your humble snag, but is an easy one to master if you’re a beginner. Having said that, there are still plenty of good Italian butchers around who sell a damn fine cotechino.”
Books
Life
Travel
Sri Lanka’s Sigiriya
Visiting the UNESCO-listed Sigiriya rock fortress in Sri Lanka becomes as much an exercise in people watching as it is a lesson in ancient history.
The Quiz
Quotes
RHETORIC
“I can confirm Malcolm Turnbull has used the ‘C’ word. He once said ‘Hey Cory!’ ”
The conservative senator weighs in on a story about Malcolm Turnbull getting drunk and calling Tony Abbott a “cunt” on a plane. He does so by suggesting his name is literally a synonym for “cunt” now.
MARRIAGE I
“Now that the court has said no, it’s the community’s chance to say yes.”
The independent MP sees his challenge to the non-binding, entirely pointless postal survey on marriage equality shot down in the High Court. Political courage is now in the same territory as Bunnings catalogues and flyers for discount pizza deliveries.
ENVIRONMENT
“They’re charities, apparently. A charity whose job it is to completely destroy the economic base of Australia.”
The deputy prime minister tells the Minerals Council of Australia how terrible are environmental charities. It is unsurprising to find a New Zealander has such contempt for this country and its health.
MARRIAGE II
“I will respect the people’s vote on SSM and, if ‘yes’, facilitate the passage of a bill. 1/3.”
The former prime minister responds on Twitter to news that the postal survey on same-sex marriage will carry. He also appears to give the truthfulness of his statement a rating out of three.
WEATHER
“This is something without precedent.”
The governor of Puerto Rico describes hurricane Irma, a storm that destroyed entire islands in the Caribbean. For a man with a comb-over, Donald Trump is still not taking this terribly seriously.
DEATHS
“Saddened beyond measure to report the death last night of Peter Luck. My dear friend, and great journalist and writer.”
The writer and broadcaster mourns the death of journalist Peter Luck. The former This Day Tonight reporter was 73.
