April 16 – 22, 2022
News
Comment
Comment
Alison Croggon
The campaign to destroy the arts
“For state and religious authorities, art has often been the enemy. It’s easy to see why. Art tends to be anti-authoritarian. It argues against the simplistic. It opens possibilities. It values freedom. It imagines. Worst of all, it destabilises the idea of authority itself.”
Comment
Paul Bongiorno
Nobody likes a bad dentist
“A shock, a self-inflicted wound on day one of the six-week formal election campaign has put Anthony Albanese on the back foot. That has to be the biggest takeout of week one, making the next five even more fraught for the Labor leader as he tries to persuade voters to give him a go in the top job.”
Comment
John Hewson
Independents versus a broken system
“Despite the efforts of the media to discredit the independents’ movement, attempting to tag them as ‘fake independents’ and otherwise minimising their coverage, there should be little doubt that many conservative members sitting in what they had thought were ‘safe’ seats are already recognising the strength of the contest.”
Letters, Cartoon & Editorial
Culture
Profile
Melbourne Arts Precinct head Katrina Sedgwick
Katrina Sedgwick brings a rich background in performance and civic life to her new job as chief executive of the Melbourne Arts Precinct.
Books
Life
Puzzles
Quotes
Politics
“It has come as no surprise to many people that, for a long while, I have diverged with the views of the government.”
The National Party defector announces he is running for One Nation in the senate. His spot on the ticket is regarded as unwinnable, even before he was announced as the candidate.The National Party defector announces he is running for One Nation in the senate. His spot on the ticket is regarded as unwinnable, even before he was announced as the candidate.
Consequences
“Now I feel an even greater sense of obligation to deliver on the priorities of the British people.”
The British prime minister is fined £50 for attending a party at Downing Street for his birthday, in violation of lockdown laws. This will be his single greatest contribution to paying down government debt.
Election
“I get it, that people are tired of politics.”
The prime minister announces he has called an election. The empathy coach might be working.
Campaigning
“Google it, mate.”
The Greens leader responds to a journalist asking if he can quote the wage price index. Another example of the tech giants taking reporters’ jobs.
Living
“Ultimately, in government, you have to make these choices.”
The shadow Foreign minister defends Labor’s plan not to raise the rate of JobSeeker. Those choices include keeping tax cuts in place for the nation’s richest.
Region
“We have asked Solomon Islands respectfully to consider not signing the agreement and to consult the Pacific family in the spirit of regional openness…”
The Liberal senator urges the island nation not to sign a defence agreement with China. Speaking of family, the climate change his government refuses to address will affect the Pacific first.
