July 17 – 23, 2021
News
Comment
Comment
Bob Brown
Saving Tasmania’s Tarkine rainforest
“Bob Hawke’s first act as prime minister in 1983 was to save the Franklin River in Tasmania. In 1987, he over-rode Queensland’s bull-headed premier, Joh Bjelke-Petersen, to save the Daintree wet tropics. These rainforests faced death by a thousand cuts, from mining, logging and real estate developments. In that way, they were just like Tasmania’s takayna/Tarkine rainforest in 2021. ”
Comment
Paul Bongiorno
Covid-19 lockdowns and the PM for NSW
“If a picture is worth a thousand words, nothing was more eloquent than the joint news conference of Scott Morrison and Gladys Berejiklian at the prime minister’s Sydney accommodation, Kirribilli House, this week. The Lodge in Canberra has been relegated to temporary digs status, giving reinforcement to accusations from Victoria that Morrison sees himself as ‘prime minister for New South Wales’. Like John Howard, he’s turned Sydney into the capital of Australia. ”
Letters, Cartoon & Editorial
Culture
Profile
Director Edson Oda
Brazilian–Japanese director Edson Oda left a flourishing career in advertising to tell his own stories. Now his surreal debut, Nine Days, is generating excitement.
Books
Life
Puzzles
Quotes
Race
“Those responsible for this appalling abuse should be ashamed of themselves.”
The British prime minister condemns the vilification of England’s Black soccer players. For a man expert in racism, he still has little authority on the subject of shame.
Advertising
“…my clinical colleagues tell me that in fact the symptoms she is displaying are not those of a person who would have Covid.”
The public health expert responds to the government’s graphic coronavirus advertising. The actor’s symptoms are still significantly more real than the chance of a woman her age getting vaccinated.
Health
“I have the hiccups 24 hours a day.”
The Brazilian president is admitted to hospital after 10 days of constant hiccuping, possibly connected to an intestinal obstruction. It’s likely his own body is finally rebelling against the misinformation he has spread on coronavirus.
Environment
“It’s important countries that are voting on this need to be able to say they have put their head under the water and have spoken to world experts.”
The government’s “reef ambassador” prepares a snorkelling trip for UNESCO representatives in the hope of avoiding an “in danger” listing for the Great Barrier Reef. That, or he’s threatening to waterboard them.
Politics
“I did chuckle when I saw the story.”
The federal Health minister shrugs off reports former prime minister Kevin Rudd helped procure a faster supply of the Pfizer vaccine. It’s nice to know there’s still time for a little chuckle: like, who called it hypoxemic respiratory failure and not Delta airways?
Family
“While I’m humbled by the support, the situation has not changed and I will not be contesting the next election.”
The member for Dawson resists calls from supporters of Barnaby Joyce to stand for another term, saying he would like to spend more time with his family. Joyce understands the sentiment, just not the concept.
