May 13 – 19, 2023
News
Comment
Comment
Anonymous
Failing our duty of care in youth detention
“The children who live at the Parkville Youth Justice Precinct in Melbourne are in state care. In a way, we are all their parents – we have a duty of care to them. It is our voting power, our voices, our interest and our considerations that determine what happens to them. As it stands, we are failing them.”
Letters, Cartoon & Editorial
Culture
Profile
Artist Mithu Sen
Mithu Sen, one of India’s most acclaimed contemporary artists, brings the linguistic mischief of a poet to her visual work.
The Influence
Paul Capsis
Singer and actor Paul Capsis is inspired by the damaged beauty of Kurt Weill’s music, a signature of the Weimar Republic.
Fiction
Can I borrow a feeling
“My therapist stops writing. Takes his glasses off. He’s got these big bags under his eyes. Looks like he gets less sleep than me.
The only rule, I say, is that you can’t kill them. But there’s a few cases where I think that’s happened. There’d be no way of knowing who did it, though. It’s untraceable. We have names like Cookie Monster, Cousin Greg, Walter White.
He glances at the clock behind me. Back at me.”
Books
Life
Puzzles
Quotes
Royals
“I was quite surprised that some people thought I was Meghan Markle in disguise.”
The Welsh composer addresses rumours that he was Meghan Markle in a bad wig and moustache. He just looks like that.
Economics
“I’ve brought in the budget surplus. The test for the prime minister and the treasurer is will they recognise that?”
The Nationals MP brings a lump of coal to a Sky News interview, to indicate that the budget surplus is a result of mining. It is not.
Fruit
“Bananus.”
The member for Kennedy uses a banana to illustrate how the Heavy Vehicle Road User charge will affect farmers. In his telling, the bananus is the farmer’s profit – and also good eating.
Law
“These accusations … have caused serious and potentially irreparable harm to her reputation.”
The lawyer launches defamation proceedings on behalf of Moira Deeming, following attempts to expel her from the Liberal Party after she attended an anti-trans rally. She’s not a bigot, she’s just bigot-curious.
Lights
“Of course I respect the new king but I’m mindful of where and when we spend taxpayers’ money.”
The New South Wales premier explains that the Opera House was not lit up for King Charles III because it costs too much to do so. Really, the unadorned white sails better remind the king of the boats that stole the country for him.
America
“We’re very happy.”
The advice columnist responds after Donald Trump was found guilty of sexually abusing and defaming her. The former president denies the assault but he also denies losing the election and his hair.
