November 16 – 22, 2019
News
Comment
Comment
Russell Marks
George Pell’s appeal to the High Court
“The High Court’s decision to hear George Pell’s appeal against his conviction for five counts of sexually assaulting altar boys was met with dismay by survivors of clergy abuse and their advocates. But lawyers had expected the court would grant leave, given the way it has determined cases of historical child sexual abuse since 1994.”
Comment
Marly Wells Naparngardi, Harry Jakamarra Nelson, Valerie Napaljarri Martin, Ned Jampijinpa Hargraves
The killing of Kumanjayi Walker
“What has happened in Yuendumu is an outrage, an injustice, and an event that we must not allow to be swept under the rug … We are hurt. We are angry. We are suffering. We stay strong and we stay together – but we should never again have to be connected by grief like this.”
Comment
Paul Bongiorno
A burning issue
“It has been a long time coming and it has taken the biggest fire front in Australia’s history to do it, but climate change denial has finally lost its political potency. The pressure is now on Scott Morrison to resolve the fierce resistance in his own government’s ranks and respond with policies that persuade voters – thousands of them victims of this week’s inferno – that the federal Liberals and Nationals get it.”
Letters, Cartoon & Editorial
Culture
Profile
Empires of the sons
Packer & Sons looks at the extremes of Australian masculinity through the lens of its two most successful media dynasties. “It would be impossible to stage Packer & Sons, a play about three generations of Packer power, without the Murdochs. The two competing families have brawled, collaborated and defined themselves against each other. The Murdochs are the Greeks to the Packers’ Roman gods.”
Television
The Crown
Olivia Colman and Helena Bonham Carter shine in the third season of The Crown, which sees the royal family facing greater public criticism amid unrest in Britain.
Books
Life
Puzzles
Quotes
APPETITE
“Tony loves his steak – and the leftover portion of your steak as well. Even if it’s only the rib bone off the rib eye with a skerrick of meat left on, he was still very happy to oblige.”
The minister for Home Affairs describes Tony Abbott’s relationship with steak. And his relationship with the leftovers of the DLP.
AUDIO
“Many Americans want to hear directly from Rudy Giuliani. He is considering several options.”
A spokeswoman for Rudy Giuliani confirms the Trump adviser is considering hosting a podcast about the impeachment proceedings. His other idea is for one that’s just two mates talking about funny stuff that happens to them – it will be great.
HISTORY
“Abraham Lincoln was famously ... surrounded by people who were former political adversaries.”
The daughter of the US president explains why colleagues may testify against her father. The men are just so similar – mercifully, they have different tastes in theatre.
HORSES
“There is an unfairness at the core of the program’s approach and coverage.”
The chairman of Racing NSW sends a 21-page letter of complaint to the ABC after a program detailing cruelty towards racehorses. Balding is sure the issue could be resolved humanely if the journalist just joined him behind this white curtain.
FIRE
“Our media is full of images of brave men fighting the ferocious fires. As always, it’s usually men who do the really dangerous, difficult work.”
The sex therapist continues her increasingly bizarre campaign against women. Truly, the really dangerous, difficult work is pretending gendered violence doesn’t exist.
CLIMATE
“I acknowledge that the two people who died were most likely people who voted for the Green party, so I am not going to start attacking them. That’s the last thing I want to do.”
The former deputy prime minister links the deaths of two people to their political affiliations. If he does have a relationship with decency, he’s cheating again.
