September 19 – 25, 2020
News
Comment
Comment
Marcia Langton
The destruction of the Juukan Gorge caves
“Here is a fact about life in Australia in 2020: the material and geographical manifestations of Aboriginal cultures developed over more than 65,000 years are being rapidly destroyed by mining companies, urban settlement, road and infrastructure development, and vandalism. This destruction is authorised by state and federal governments.”
Comment
Paul Bongiorno
The case against winding back JobKeeper
“Two weeks ago, during the last sitting of the federal parliament before the budget early next month, Anthony Albanese decided it was time to take up the fight against the government on the economy. The Labor leader sensed the prime minister and his treasurer, Josh Frydenberg, were embarking on a course of action that would see jobs and economic management become the key issue at the next election. Rather than it being the Coalition’s strong point though, Albanese saw what could be its fatal weakness.”
Letters, Cartoon & Editorial
Culture
Fiction
Breath
“He wasn’t certain when the slow-growing bacillus had entered his body, but Mycobacterium tuberculosis had stealthily spread through his system – a silent invasion as he coughed up great wads of red-stained sputum. He imagined the army of bacteria marching onwards, tiny warriors intent on harm, relentless in their advance.”
Books
Life
Puzzles
Quotes
Advice
“Leave the politics out of sport.”
The Liberal MP chides ABC journalist Patricia Karvelas for reminiscing about Cathy Freeman celebrating her 2000 Olympic gold medal win draped in the Aboriginal flag. Smith also advocates leaving the sagacity out of politics.
Careers
“Something clearly needs to be done.”
The federal minister for Social Services laments that young people are lazing on JobSeeker while jobs go unfilled. ABS figures show there are about 200 applicants for every advertised job.
Infrastructure
“Later some others may be the second to open it. That is quaint, nice, but let’s face it, also second.”
The former Nationals leader sparks furore in his New England electorate after announcing on Facebook he’d unofficially opened a bridge he just found. Locals should be assured that Joyce will let them cross the bridge, if they are able to answer three riddles.
Mining
“We cannot get this wrong and we are committed to doing anything we can to achieve that.”
BHP’s head of Indigenous engagement tells a senate inquiry that Rio Tinto’s destruction of the Juukan Gorge caves prompted a rethink of its own mining operations. In a gesture of incredible generosity, BHP will now only destroy 30 of the 40 significant Aboriginal sites it is permitted to blast.
Arena
“They have tried to abolish it and now they are trying to emasculate it.”
The Labor leader bemoans the government’s announced overhaul of the Australian Renewable Energy Agency. Apparently, a renewable energy agency that doesn’t support renewable energy is “feminised”.
Accountability
“For deliberate and blatant breaches when people refuse to wear a face covering, Victoria Police has no hesitation in issuing $200 fines.”
A Victoria Police spokesperson says without details it cannot investigate images showing three police officers taking selfies with a female member of the public in locked-down Melbourne, even though the officers were not wearing masks.
