November 13 – 19, 2021
News
Comment
Letters, Cartoon & Editorial
Culture
The Influence
Jacek Koman
A major inspiration behind Jacek Koman’s current role is the father-son love story in Marilynne Robinson’s Gilead.
Fiction
Game plan
“You would have said, remember that the opening exchanges are just rituals: how you are, what you’ve been up to, the weather, the traffic – it isn’t all that important what any of you say, it’s just the saying itself that matters. It’s not seeking information but just signalling safety, how you show each other you belong, that you’re friend not foe. You would have said, you’re basically just dogs sniffing at each other’s butts. No. Not that bit, actually. You would most likely have remembered that no one ever takes that well.”
Books
Life
Puzzles
Quotes
Law
“Is there any prospect of this matter ever being completed? Or will we be stuck in a perpetual vortex of updating?”
The judge responds to an attempt by Attorney-General Michaelia Cash to introduce secret evidence into the Bernard Collaery case. At this point, the trial would be less secretive if it were held in Timor-Leste’s cabinet offices.
Art
“It puts a different spin on the work, for sure…”
The art critic for The Age confesses he reviewed a work by British artist Jeremy Deller without realising the subjects of the two burning life-sized candles were Rupert and Lachlan Murdoch. It’s not clear if he realised they were made of wax or thought they were just very ill.
Diplomacy
“I mean, it would make a cat laugh.”
The former prime minister argues that it is misguided for the United States to think of China only as a “stakeholder” in its plans for Asia. His first speech at the National Press Club in 26 years insulted everything but the audience’s intelligence.
Media
“People could ask questions as to whether it was wise for journalists to pressure the French president … in regards to the comments he made.”
The Finance minister blames the media for the diplomatic rift with Emmanuel Macron. It sounds vaguely threatening, until you look at Simon Birmingham.
Environment
“The Labor Party likes to tell people what to do … that’s not my approach, that’s not the government’s approach.”
The prime minister suggests Labor would increase petrol prices to push people towards electric vehicles. This is not true, but it does mean he has now made up more policies for Labor than his party took to the last election.
Faith
“It was fought tooth and nail. It was really at risk for a long time.”
The managing director of the Australian Christian Lobby says the government’s religious freedom bill will contain a “Folau clause” to prevent people being sacked for expressing religious views. Of course, religious organisations will still be able to sack people for being gay or divorced.
