August 13 – 19, 2022
News
Comment
Comment
Kieran Pender
Australia’s frayed anti-discrimination laws
“In early May, the High Court delivered a judgement that further undermines the fragile patchwork quilt of anti-discrimination law in Australia. You might have missed it – Citta Hobart v Cawthorn received little attention with all eyes on the federal election. But pensioner David Cawthorn’s case highlights the increasing challenges facing those who experience discrimination in its many forms and wish to seek legal redress.”
Comment
Paul Bongiorno
Diplomatic, systematic, emblematic: Dutton’s ceased enlightening
“Opposition Leader Peter Dutton is putting extreme strain on Australia’s bipartisan foreign policy when it comes to dealing with our biggest trading partner, China. He continues to speak very loudly while Australia is carrying a stick he admits isn’t yet big enough.”
Comment
John Hewson
Keeping politics above board
“Our society is losing sight of the significance and requirements of ‘good governance’. Governance refers to the system by which our key organisations are managed, most importantly elected governments and corporations. It clearly identifies who are the decision-makers and how they are held accountable.”
Letters, Cartoon & Editorial
Culture
The Influence
Daniel Dodds
Watching Claudio Abbado conduct the Berliner Philharmoniker taught violinist Daniel Dodds about the genius of the ensemble.
Fiction
Thirteen seconds
“The 13 seconds in which you break both your legs and reflect – but briefly – on the virtue of humility
Are long.
They are long. There are only 13 of them but they feel like – like minutes. Like a meaningful period of time. Not the time you’d regularly spend squinting and doing that funny mouth-breathe you do while waiting to sneeze. More like the sort of time you could buy some drugs in, or watch a few overs of Test cricket. Honest time. Proper time. Not this.”
Books
Life
Puzzles
Quotes
Media
“We are vastly more profitable and have created a potent platform for even greater growth …”
The News Corp chief executive announces Rupert Murdoch’s global business has reported record profits of $14.9 billion over the past financial year. Good for him.
Politics
“These are natural conversations that a premier or a prime minister has with their team.”
The New South Wales premier admits to discussing post-politics jobs with the state’s transport minister. In fairness, he does have a large family to feed.
Crime
“My beautiful home … is currently under siege.”
The former US president announces that the FBI raided his Mar-a-Lago estate, seizing boxes of documents. It’s becoming quite clear that Trump doesn’t know what “siege” means.
Health
“It is clear this app failed as a public health measure and that’s why we’ve acted to delete it.”
The health minister retires the CovidSafe app, which cost $21 million to develop and only identified two unique cases of Covid-19. Speaking of wasted money, wait until they hear about offshore detention.
Liberties
“Some of these work sites ... are potentially very, very dangerous places.”
The Victorian premier explains why he has passed laws that could jail people for a year if they protest against logging. It’s not the real reason, but it’s better than the truth.
Deaths
“Our love for each other transcends our understanding.”
The husband of Olivia Newton-John announces her death. She was 73.
