May 20 – 26, 2017
News
The lessons of the WannaCry cyber attack
“The governments of the world should treat this attack as a wake-up call. They need to take a different approach and adhere in cyberspace to the same rules applied to weapons in the physical world. ”
The global WannaCry cyber attack reveals the vulnerability of our networked computer systems, and the disastrously risky practices of Western intelligence services.
Migrants targeted as refugee panic founders
“In short, Liberal supporters don’t much like foreigners, but they tolerate them for the labour they offer. And that explains a lot about the Turnbull government’s recent announcements about visas. ”
The government’s ‘Australians first’ rhetoric is a response to hardening community attitudes over immigration and job security.
Brexit and UKIP in Margate, England
“During the day, the boozers are full of UKIP supporters ... I hope the Tories know they’re relying on people who don’t work.”
The depressed English seaside town of Margate was the epicentre of Nigel Farage’s pitch to those left behind by globalisation. But it’s now Theresa May they’re counting on to deliver UKIP’s platform.
Australian missing in South Sudan
The sister of a young man who vanished on a family holiday to South Sudan believes her brother was kidnapped by rebel soldiers. Why then, she asks, is DFAT doing nothing to find him?
Widespread dismay at Trump intelligence
Donald Trump’s “Russian Thing”, Syria’s “de-escalation zones”, China’s One Belt One Road initiative, North Korea and the WannaCry ransomware attack
Comment
Comment
Hamish McDonald
Settling the maritime borders with Timor-Leste
“A maritime boundary fixed according to the best geological and legal principles would be an investment in Australia’s relationships with its region. In the short term, it would be a huge boost for the increasingly embattled secular-nationalist government of President Joko Widodo, who has made control and development of the archipelago state’s maritime zones a hallmark policy.”
Comment
Paul Bongiorno
Scott Morrison’s pitch for a post-budget bounce
“Morrison’s sales pitch still looks like it is coming from a government at war with its own past convictions. There is something dissonant about a Liberal treasurer talking about the banks “fleecing their customers”. He is, after all, a treasurer who still argues against the need to hold a royal commission into the economic power of the banks and their use or abuse of it.”
Letters, Cartoon & Editorial
Culture
Profile
Actor Benjamin Rigby on breaking into Hollywood
After years of juggling a day job and creative aspirations, actor and photographer Benjamin Rigby has a breakout role in blockbuster Alien: Covenant. So will previously closed doors begin to open?
Music
Coldcut and On-U Sound’s ‘Outside the Echo Chamber’
A collaboration between dance and dub legends Coldcut and On-U Sound delivers an impressively forward-thinking reggae album, with stellar contributions from Roots Manuva, Ce’Cile and Lee ‘Scratch’ Perry.
Portrait
James Joyce expert Frances Devlin-Glass
“Walking up to Frances Devlin-Glass’s front door, there’s the smell of wet earth and the rot of autumn leaves. My breath is visible in the cold morning air and the smell is not unpleasant. When Devlin-Glass opens the door and says hello, I’m surprised she has an Australian accent.”
Books
Life
Gardening
Reviving a garden for winter
The cold of late autumn can make it difficult to tend neglected gardens, but a fortifying nip can get you out improving the soil and installing seedlings.
The Quiz
Quotes
RADIO
“He who pays the piper calls the tune. I just love women. It’s been one of my great downfalls in life.”
The broadcaster defends his edict that all female staff wear skirts. His other great downfall is that a lifetime of gargling Valvoline and misogynistic entitlement has made him a complete shithead.
PITY
“No politician in history, and I say this with great surety, has been treated worse or more unfairly.”
The US president complains of his treatment by the media. It is possible – just possible – that no other politician has been worse or more unfair.
MONEY
“I’m just a pawn in her hands ... I live a frugal life.”
The former politician tells a court that his wife is responsible for his financial dealings. Nothing says frugal like allegedly siphoning money out of a mining company to fund a political party that bears your name while you plan to build a replica Titanic from the villa of your own dinosaur park.
AVIATION
“Most people don’t listen anyway.”
The Dutch royal explains that for 21 years he has lived a double life co-piloting commercial flights, but no one has recognised his voice on in-flight announcements. The revelation comes just as Prince Philip’s secret double life as a racist comes to an end.
CLOTHING
“If even a single illicit page remains, we will immediately discuss what legal steps to take against Facebook Thailand.”
The head of Thailand’s broadcasting and telecommunications commission warns that social media outlets could be banned for hosting pictures of King Maha Vajiralongkorn shopping in a tank top. The pictures and tank top are worse than you think.
FASHION
“They’re a pretty reputable, internationally renowned firm and we expect them to act with responsibility.”
The member for Kennedy expresses his hope Chanel will remove from the market a monogrammed boomerang that costs $1900 and was presumably designed to hunt dumb privilege.
