October 10-16, 2015

News

The next phase of the refugee debate

Sophie Morris As a mother and her baby daughter test the legality of offshore detention, Peter Dutton looks to the possibility of a ‘Philippines Solution’.

News

Farhad Jabar shooting sees a change in the failed language of terror

“To date, Australia has focused very much on the punitive. We’ve invested a billion on security, but very little on prevention.”

Mike Seccombe The response to radicalised Parramatta shooter Farhad Jabar shows what is needed to combat terrorism in Australia.

Protesters outside Bendigo Town Hall on August 29.

News

Bendigo mosque clears first legal hurdle

Kevin Childs With another anti-Islamic protest set for today, October 10, supporters of a planned Bendigo mosque prepare for a Supreme Court appeal.

A Northern Territory road sign warns of the start of a “dry” zone.

News

Arnhem Land’s Indigenous community alcohol bans

Clare Martin For Indigenous communities in Arnhem Land, alcohol bans are forcing drinkers to gather in antisocial and dangerous roadside camps.

News

Mass shootings rife as Americans stick to their guns

“Such is the saturation of guns in the US, it has given rise to a persuasive, if perverse, logic: a sensible person would be armed. For decades now, the American people have engaged in an arms race against themselves.”

Martin McKenzie-Murray Despite this year averaging one mass shooting a day, and pleas from the president for legislative changes, the United States clings to its literalist interpretation of the right to bear arms.

US President Barack Obama meeting agriculture and business leaders on the benefits of the Trans-Pacific Partnership.

World

Robb holds firm over Big Pharma in TPP

Hamish McDonald Delicate China; No dice on rice.

Comment

Brigid Delaney
Don’t dream, it’s over

“A new Australian dream is needed. I like to imagine a future where the housing affordability crisis creates something amazing and unintended. A life that isn’t trapped in the foothills of shelter and safety, that instead draws its meaning from love and belonging and self-esteem.”

Comment

Paul Bongiorno
Malcolm Turnbull, trade deals and penalty rates

“Morrison says we need to have a mature discussion. But is there a grown-up way of cutting the wages and conditions of four million Australians?”

Gadfly

Bob Ellis
Gadfly: Papaling the house

Letters, Cartoon & Editorial

Cartoon

Read

Editorial
Sobering fudges plague Aust’s treatment of asylum seekers

Letters

Game already over

I enjoyed James Brown’s comprehensive, as can be, coverage of the players in the Game of Syria (“The deepening quagmire”, October 3-9). Without a shadow of doubt in my mind (as a former …

Definitely a contender

Pryor’s wonderfully insightful cartoon is perhaps too kind to Tony Abbott (“Only in the movies”, October 3-9). Our ex-PM is more tragic than melodramatic, more Jake LaMotta than Terry Malloy. …

Culture

Profile

Jocelyn Moorhouse and ’The Dressmaker’

Steve Dow

Acclaimed director Jocelyn Moorhouse returned from the US because family was more important than the Hollywood machine.

Television

TV’s new prime-time soap opera ‘Empire’

Helen Razer

Dressed to thrill, the family saga Empire sings from the same song sheet as the fabulously over-the-top prime-time dramas of the 1980s.

Portrait

MTC’s Sam Strong on his new role in Queensland theatre

Nic Low Incoming QTC artistic director Sam Strong on not always sticking to the script.

Food

Read

Food

Guacamole

Andrew McConnell Dip in to some delicious Mexican fare.

Books

Geraldine Brooks
The Secret Chord

Margaret Atwood
The Heart Goes Last

Magda Szubanski
Reckoning

Life

Science

Using sniffer dogs to diagnose prostate and other cancers

Wendy Zukerman Studies suggesting dogs can detect cancer may lead to innovative early detection technologies.

Travel

Jakarta’s Taman Mini Indonesia Indah cultural theme park

Patrick Lau A visit to a theme park where the theme is the nation itself, and the tourists are locals.

Sport

Ultimate power: Simplice Ribouem, 32, weightlifter

Jack Kerr Weightlifter Simplice Ribouem’s journey from Cameroonian asylum seeker to Australian Olympic Games hopeful.

The Quiz

1. Alphabetically, which US state comes first? (Bonus points for listing the three other states beginning with the letter A.)

2. Who wrote and directed Staying Alive, the 1983 sequel to Saturday Night Fever?

3. What is a spirometer used for measuring?

4. What are the largest animals known to have lived on Earth?

5. Minion, Cambria and Palatino are all varieties of what?

6. Name this year’s NRL and AFL premiers.

7. The “Marcha Real” is the national anthem of which country?

8. Name the president of Indonesia.

9. Sofie Laguna won this year’s Miles Franklin award for her novel The Eye of the…?

10. What is the largest airline of Hong Kong?

Click through for answers.

Quotes

RELIGION

“According to what the Bible is presenting it does appear that 7 October will be the day that God has spoken of: in which, the world will pass away.”

Chris McCannThe leader and founder of the eBible Fellowship foretells of the Apocalypse. In fairness, he is a full four years closer than his previous prediction of May 21, 2011.

LAW

“I’m only a little person, but it’s not the size of the dog in the fight, it’s the size of the fight in the dog.”

Yvonne D’ArcyThe cancer survivor celebrates a High Court win against the patenting of genes by drug companies. There is no joke about this: it is good and sensible news.

POLITICS

“I am confident that the record will be well appreciated as time goes by.”

Tony AbbottThe former prime minister talks legacy with political journal the Manly Daily. The record in question was not, alas, for number of onions eaten while in office.

AWARDS

“The Premier’s Literary Awards were not cancelled, they were not banned, we simply took away some sponsorship.”

Campbell NewmanThe former Queensland premier speaks on the launch of his biography. He didn’t lose the last election, either; the public just took away some votes.

RETIREMENT

“It was a prophecy that has come true.”

Philip HigginsonThe former honorary federal treasurer of the Liberal Party celebrates the resignation of federal director Brian Loughnane, who in this telling is a kind of Banquo to Higginson’s witches.

BELIEF

“Smiling, happy Holy Father leaving after most effective visit ever.”

Rupert MurdochThe media magnate continues to use Twitter to communicate with the Ghost of Christmas Past. Or whatever it is he’s doing.