June 18 – 24, 2022
News
Comment
Comment
Paul Bongiorno
The week the energy crisis hit home
“This week, the need for the new Albanese government to fix the mess it has inherited became personal for millions of Australians at the mercy of a failed energy market. The threat of blackouts and of freezing in their homes in the middle of one of the worst winter cold snaps for years brought with it an unexpected urgency.”
Comment
John Hewson
A matter of integrity commission
“In December 2018, 34 former judges wrote a letter to the prime minister expressing their support for the establishment of a national integrity commission with the power to hold public hearings. Apparently, it was not Scott Morrison’s ‘job’ to take advice from those who are experts in what they do.”
Letters, Cartoon & Editorial
Culture
The Influence
Kate Grenville
The greatest influence on Kate Grenville was her mother, whose own passion for storytelling and record keeping is among the award-winning author’s earliest memories.
Fiction
The eulogy
“When you were little, you dreamed of a man in uniform. A man who would woo you with his charm and sweep you off your feet. You read a lot of Jane Austen. Underage and overeager, you and your friends would frequent the bars nearest the barracks. Stories of the strapping American soldiers with their sharp jaws and Southern drawls were too hard to resist. But it was an Aussie digger who met your eyes across the bar that New Year’s Eve. A Townsville local who went to school not far from you.”
Books
Life
Puzzles
Quotes
Farewells
“It is also appropriate to observe that the last time I had the honour of leading the Liberal Party Senate ticket I easily outpolled the Labor Senate ticket leader with below the line votes.”
The Tasmanian Liberal loses his senate spot after 28 years. The country is poorer for it, but only because of his pension.
Media
“This episode was far from ideal, and while there was no malice involved, I recognise our mistakes and apologise for them.”
The editor of The Sydney Morning Herald attempts to justify reporting that led to the outing of Rebel Wilson. People should be allowed to come out in their own time or after being arrested at Mardi Gras in 1978.
Power
“Matt Kean says the blackouts are caused by a market failure … that’s the failure, caused by the mad cult of closing down coal fired power stations.”
The former deputy prime minister complains that the power crisis is caused by a lack of coal. It’s like saying the Coalition lost because of a lack of Barnaby.
Writing
“The fact is, it’s not what you take but what you do with it that counts.”
The Australian author responds to evidence his latest book includes plagiarism of Svetlana Alexievich, as well as F. Scott Fitzgerald and Leo Tolstoy. Looked at another way, it’s four or five books for the price of one.
Gambling
“The key persons who were responsible for or failed to stop misconduct are no longer at Star.”
The senior counsel closes Star’s case, arguing the casino should keep its licence after claims it enabled money laundering and organised crime. The house always wins, except in inquiries.
Court
“He had the control and power and what he did was touch them deliberately in a sexualised way ...”
The prosecutor opens the case against former Craig Kelly staffer Frank Zumbo, who is charged with sexual touching and indecent assault. Zumbo has pleaded not guilty to all counts.
