March 12 – 18, 2022
News
Comment
Comment
Kristine Ziwica
Playing games with women’s safety
“In early September last year, in an audacious, tone-deaf act that would come to symbolise the political opportunism and bad faith with which the Morrison government has approached the development of the new National Plan to End Violence Against Women, Prime Minister Scott Morrison announced that the keynote address at the National Summit on Women’s Safety would be reserved for himself.”
Comment
Paul Bongiorno
The cabinet minister organising against Morrison
“A senior member of the government – a minister in Morrison’s cabinet – has begun contacting ‘like-minded’ colleagues by email to arrange meetings where they can discuss the crisis. One recipient says, ‘The last time this happened, the leader was toppled.’”
Comment
John Hewson
Morrison’s Katrina
“It is most disappointing that natural disasters seem to bring out the best in the Australian people and the worst in our politicians and political processes. We see the enormous outpouring of goodwill from neighbours rescuing neighbours, the phenomenal clean-up and recovery efforts from the ‘mud army’.”
Letters, Cartoon & Editorial
Culture
Music
Writer, illustrator, musician and composer Matt Ottley
The latest book by the award-winning writer, illustrator, musician and composer Matt Ottley is a stunning exploration of mental illness.
The Influence
Dimity Azoury
For The Australian Ballet’s Dimity Azoury, the power of Simon Stone’s 2013 production of Hamlet opened up the possibilities of performance.
Fiction
Random words: Grand Reign Aisle Zero
“I remember homes, I remember safety, before our government fell, before I went on the run, before the magnate, before they started hunting those of us who resisted. I barely remember how the fall began, how it all ended. All I remember was posters and propaganda, fake news and overt lies, alternative truth and money. Too much money.”
Books
Life
Puzzles
Quotes
Disaster
“We’re standing by those communities hit by these floods and will help them to recover and rebuild.”
The prime minister promises to help those whose lives have been destroyed by flooding in Queensland and New South Wales. Of course, there are two very different meanings of the phrase “standing by”.
Recovery
“You’ve got people who want to live among the gum trees – what do you think is going to happen?”
The head of the federal government’s disaster recovery agency blames flood victims for the situation in which they find themselves. Frankly, it also sounds like a needless dig at John Williamson.
Mining
“He’s the worst Australian who’s not in jail.”
The Western Australian premier describes Clive Palmer in text messages made public during a defamation trial. Even in private, state premiers cannot stop fantasising about prisons.
Law
“He suffered enormous damage to his reputation. It’s not a nice thing to be called a stalker when it’s utterly untrue.”
The lawyer for friendlyjordies producer Kristo Langker confirms his client is considering legal options after NSW Police Force dropped all charges against him. The decision shows it is not illegal to be unfunny or talk to politicians in parks.
Life
“It’s a non-story mate. My accountant advised me to set something up now in case I need it.”
The Labor member dismisses concerns about the fact he failed to disclose the establishment of a business called Fitzgibbon Advisory. Coal hold-out doesn’t set up a lobby firm after politics – now that would be a story.
Politics
“If Labor is successful in the coming federal election, I will take my lead from Bob Hawke and his successor, Paul Keating.”
The Labor leader outlines his vision for government. Reassuringly, he is still promising to be anyone but himself.
