June 17 – 23, 2017
News
Comment
Comment
Paul Bongiorno
Citizenship opportunism
“To the consternation of much of Australia’s legal fraternity, Dutton has set about the deliberate undermining of confidence in our judicial system. He framed changes to visa and citizenship requirements in terms of new members of society embracing Australian values and positively contributing to Australian society. ”
Letters, Cartoon & Editorial
Culture
Profile
Jai Courtney and his formidable Macbeth
Actor Jai Courtney, the latest Australian to make headway in Hollywood, returns to the theatre to give MTC’s Macbeth his muscle.
Music
Big Thief’s ‘Capacity’
The lean sound of Big Thief’s second album Capacity is a stripped-back platform for songwriter Adrianne Lenker to build on the promise of their celebrated debut.
Portrait
Tasmanian forest track-builders
“‘This was the escape run,’ Dave Bretz says, padding ahead in flip-flops, his boots forgotten in Hobart, nevertheless darting over marshy ground now and then at the wink of a discarded drink can or to retrieve a snarl of paper from a fern. ‘Fuckers,’ he says, pocketing the litter.”
Books
Life
Life
Roxane Gay and Mamamia
Roxane Gay and nonfiction authors like her will continue to open up their own lives, in the hope of changing those of others. May we not remain silent in the face of ignorance, stupidity or distress.
The Quiz
Quotes
LAW
“We’ve got a judiciary that takes the side of the so-called victim rather than the side of common sense.”
The former prime minister criticises the settlement paid to asylum seekers mistreated by his government on Manus Island. Related fact: his government paid the settlement to prevent legal discussion of this mistreatment; the decision had nothing to do with the judiciary.
JOURNALISM
“Met with Michael Gordon once. Silo Bakery, Canberra, at the time of the Hotham preselection. Kinda s**t myself!”
The Victorian attorney-general reflects on the departure of Fairfax political editor Michael Gordon, part of the latest redundancy round at the publisher. Unrelated fact: Silo Bakery was the scene of a salmonella outbreak in 2012, leading to a class action.
COMEDY
“It was beautiful. It was the most beautiful putting-me-at-ease ever.”
The prime minister mocks Donald Trump during an off-the-record monologue at the Midwinter Ball. In one short speech he managed to show he had no tact, humility or writers.
LAW
“The reason I’m here is not for damages. It’s to clear my name.”
The actor celebrates her win in a defamation case against magazine publisher Bauer Media. The world sleeps a little easier.
MEDIA
“The directors of Ten regret very much that these circumstances have come to pass.”
The Ten Network informs the Australian Stock Exchange that it is going into administration. Receivership is kind of like someone agreeing to voluntarily watch the station for a while, which is new.
PERSONALITY
“I say that in the solemnity of this parliament. I had never heard of such a foundation.”
The foreign minister says she has never heard of the “Julie Bishop Glorious Foundation”, set up by Chinese mining magnate and Liberal Party donor Sally Zou. Michaelia Cash quickly returned her membership.
