July 10 – 16, 2021
News
Comment
Comment
Lucie Krahulcova and Lizzie O’Shea
The growth of digital surveillance
“When Prime Minister Scott Morrison fronted up to the press conference to announce the outcome of Operation Ironside last month, he seemed even more pleased with himself than usual. Hundreds of alleged offenders had been charged and millions of dollars’ worth of drugs had been seized. It was almost as though it was an election year, and Morrison knew that fear mongering and surveillance powers play well with certain voters.”
Letters, Cartoon & Editorial
Culture
Profile
Actor Virginia Gay
Virginia Gay’s new gender-flipped adaptation of the French classic Cyrano de Bergerac takes the tragedy out of the comedy.
Books
Life
Puzzles
Quotes
Health
“The suggestion that somehow there was a vaccination rate that would have put us in a different position right now to what was planned last year is simply not true.”
The prime minister defends his vaccine rollout and says even if it had been on track, which it isn’t, Sydney would still be in lockdown. There are several factors here: for example, everything would be easier with a competent government.
Wealth
“I truly believe that space belongs to all of us.”
The multibillionaire announces a plan to get himself into space nine days before Amazon founder Jeff Bezos. He says his mother taught him to reach for the stars and this dim literalism poses real questions about why his company is still called Virgin.
Strategy
“At some point we’re going to move to a stage where we’re going to have to accept that the virus has a life which will continue in the community.”
The NSW Health minister suggests that if certain groups don’t heed lockdown orders, the government may have to give up on containing coronavirus. It was a strange, unhelpful moment in which to make his first foray into honesty.
League
“I love the game so much and it pains me to see the impact it’s had on the game.”
The rugby league player is sacked after hosting an illegal party during lockdown. Sources said this was his third strike after an earlier sexting scandal and another biosecurity breach, although they did not clarify whether they were the same thing.
Football
“We dug deep and we got there when it mattered.”
The England soccer captain expresses his joy at getting through to the Euro 2020 final. It only took confusion over there being two balls on the field at the same time and a fan shining a laser pointer in the eye of the Danish goalkeeper to get there.
Schools
“Acknowledging that the college does not determine vaccination priority, it welcomed the opportunity to offer the vaccine for students.”
The principal at St Joseph’s College in Sydney explains why about 160 year 12 students were bussed to a NSW Health facility to receive the Pfizer vaccine. He didn’t design the privilege, he just cultivated it.
