March 19–25, 2016
News
Comment
Letters, Cartoon & Editorial
Culture
Books
Life
Life
Tom Ballard’s eye-opening refugee visits inspire MICF show
Tom Ballard visited refugees in detention as research for a new show, but found his subject became his white guilt.
The Quiz
Quotes
IMPRESSIONS
“Like many in the Liberal Party, I do not fit the caricature of a Liberal that our political opponents and some in the media like to imagine.”
The former IPA director turned Liberal senator gives his maiden speech, wearing a blue tie and child’s face and neatly combed hair, and talking about how state intervention is the curse of the labour market. He probably meant a different caricature.
POLITICS
“I did make a silly comment to Bryan Green, I apologise for it. In the heat of the moment these things occur.”
Tasmania’s premier apologises for telling the opposition leader to slit his wrists. The “heat of the moment” was a debate on state tourism.
MEDIA
“Change is a permanent part of our industry. It is a reflection of what we know about the ways our readers are consuming our stories.”
The editorial director at Fairfax Media announces job cuts at The Age and The Sydney Morning Herald. Because what readers really want is news from 120 fewer journalists.
MUSIC
“I could sing it, Mr Speaker. I could sing it, Mr Speaker. But it would detract from the seriousness of the house.”
The leader of the house quotes Whitney Houston in a frankly bizarre answer to a question on the construction industry and the need for a “tough cop” and something about a “snake oil salesman”.
LEGACY
“He has always been a long-range thinker, a big thinker, a thinker and dreamer as big as the country from which he sprang.”
The prime minister farewells Ian Macfarlane, whose dreams included a failed attempt to defect to the Nationals’ party room.
TIMING
“It’s you people that get here early that’s the problem. Stay home, do your hair and make-up, have a tequila.”
The singer explains herself to a Brisbane crowd after arriving almost three hours late for a show. Madonna hasn’t been that far behind the times since she made American Life.
