April 14 – 20, 2018
News
Comment
Comment
Marcia Langton
Royal commission into police needed
“While crime rates are declining in Victoria, Dutton made claims about lack of deterrence of crime in Victoria. In a radio interview he said Victorians were ‘bemused’ when they looked at ‘the jokes of sentences being handed down’ due to ‘political correctness that’s taken hold’. In an extraordinary attack on the Victorian judiciary, he demanded that Daniel Andrews’ government pass stricter bail laws and stop appointing ‘civil libertarians’ as magistrates. This is racist bullshit from an old Queensland cop. It is also dangerous. I’d welcome him on the stand at a royal commission.”
Comment
Paul Bongiorno
Life after 30 for Malcolm Turnbull
“The same strategic miscalculation was at play when other ministers decided to answer journalists’ questions with the same candour as Dutton. It was simply extraordinary that Treasurer Scott Morrison or Energy Minister Josh Frydenberg didn’t see that the last thing the government needed was them adding to the perception that new leadership would be needed thanks to Turnbull’s failure. The most agile was Foreign Minister Julie Bishop. She said her priority was to focus on the ‘jobs and responsibilities I have now’. The only conclusion can be that the others didn’t do this because they are off and running and want to make sure their colleagues in the party room know what their options are.”
Letters, Cartoon & Editorial
Culture
Profile
Artists Soda_Jerk remixing Australian history
Following the outrage over their “unAustralian” video opus Terror Nullius, artists Dominique and Dan Angeloro reflect on their collective practice as Soda_Jerk. “We always had this idea that we wanted Terror Nullius to be a film somewhere between the arthouse and grindhouse. A piece of art that embraces bad taste or maybe a piece of bad taste that aspires to be art.”
Music
Confidence Man and Space Invadas
Confidence Man and Space Invadas both deliver refurbished R&B, but one polishes vintage grooves and the other delivers a fun-packed take on a ’90s dancefloor.
Portrait
Teaching artist Zoe Hogan
“Zoe Hogan is as modest as this room, reluctantly agreeing with me that what she does is extraordinary. She understands the challenges for adults learning to speak another language, especially those who have been in crisis and transplanted to a foreign country. Nothing can be forced. Everything she does in the class seems to come effortlessly, although I know from speaking with her that it’s the result of years of education, great commitment to the idea of drama as a learning tool, and, above all, compassion for those in need.”
Food
Smoked eggplant with salted cheese and mint
“This eggplant is a pretty classic Middle Eastern dish, similar to a baba ganoush. The eggplant picks up and holds the flavour of the smoke, while the skin protects it. This technique ends up both smoking and steaming the eggplant.”
Books
Life
Science
The neuroscience of thrillseeking
While neuroscience studies are finding differences in the brains of people who are excited by risky behaviour, thrillseekers say anyone can turn fear into a challenge.
The Quiz
Quotes
HEADSCARVES
“Senator, it’s a fashion program.”
The ABC’s managing director reassures Eric Abetz over the impact of Yassmin Abdel-Magied’s broadcasting on the oppressed women of Iran. Abetz is a defender of all women except when he is linking abortion to breast cancer or just being himself.
LEADERSHIP
“I can tell you there are very good reasons for me not to be singing and it’s got nothing to do with not knowing the words.”
The prime minister denies claims he doesn’t know the words to John Farnham’s “You’re the Voice” after he was filmed mumbling at the Commonwealth Games. He used to know the words, but then he also used to hold a credible position on climate change.
INFLUENCE
“That’s correct.”
The minister for communications confirms that he is a member of the Institute of Public Affairs, which calls, among other things, for the sale of the ABC. The minister says he doesn’t hold that view.
RESPONSIBILITY
“If I am here for one more term, my kids will only have known me as a weekend dad.”
The United States Republican announces he will not seek re-election as speaker of the House of Representatives. His children will have to be content knowing him as a supply-side ideologue who hates gays, women, immigrants and the environment but has a fondness for guns and Ayn Rand.
TECHNOLOGY
“It certainly doesn’t feel like that to me.”
The Facebook founder tells a US Senate committee hearing that he doesn’t believe his company has a monopoly. To be fair, it’s only 2.2 billion users and half of all internet traffic.
ESPIONAGE
“At the moment I do not wish to avail myself of their services, but, if I change my mind, I know how to contact them.”
The daughter of a former Russian spy thanks the Russian embassy for its “kindly” offer of assistance. The offer came after Skripal was almost killed with nerve toxin, presumably by the same embassy.
