September 21 – 27, 2019
News
Comment
Comment
Ruby Hamad
Protecting the white body politic
“There are no accidents in the rhetoric of protection: it intends to seal off white Western society from the remainder of the world’s population both biologically and geographically. The white female body was, and often still is, regarded as in need of protection, not for the sake of the women but because they function as stand-ins for white society itself. Of course, this alleged protection does not apply to non-white women.”
Comment
Paul Bongiorno
Entering Trump’s dinner circle
“The duchessing of Scott Morrison in Washington begins today with one of the most colourful ceremonies Donald Trump can muster. The United States Old Guard Fife and Drum Corps, resplendent in their 18th-century uniforms and playing antique instruments, will perform in the prime minister’s honour on the South Lawn of the White House. This will be followed by the rare privilege of a white-tie official state dinner … But the hoopla in America for this Morrison visit will do nothing to help him manage the strained relationship with Beijing.”
Letters, Poem & Editorial
Culture
Profile
The fiery resistance of journalist Mona Eltahawy
Journalist and activist Mona Eltahawy has dedicated herself to fighting what she calls the most dangerous ideology in the world: patriarchy. “The quickest way for these men in power to show their power, to flex their muscles, is over the bodies of women … History is not linear. Just because we achieve progress in something, it doesn’t mean that it’s going to continue progressing.”
Film
Sophie Hyde’s Animals
Despite some missed opportunities in its storytelling, Animals is sustained by riveting performances from its two leads, and by Sophie Hyde’s generosity as a director.
Portrait
Trans rights activist Rebekah Robertson
“The amount of oversight in our lives was extreme. So, I think when I hear people fanning the flames of doubt and fear about the amount of scrutiny that families like ours go through in order to access treatment for our young people, they seriously don’t know what they’re talking about.”
Books
Life
Puzzles
Quotes
INFLUENCE
“I nearly died of shock when I found out who I was sitting next to.”
The founder of Katter’s Australian Party expresses surprise at realising he is sitting next to Gladys Liu after rushing into the chamber to vote against Labor. He later discovered the motion would have required Liu to explain her past membership of groups linked to the Chinese Communist Party.
CLIMATE
“Don’t invite us here to just tell us how inspiring we are without actually doing anything about it because it doesn’t lead to anything.”
The teenager tells the United States congress to try harder to address climate change.
PARLANCE
“I’ve always treated people with respect.”
The union leader defends his record, which includes calling his wife a “weak fucken piece of shit”, a “treacherous Aussie fucken cunt” and a “fucken dog”; telling the Labor Party to “suck me off”; and referring to Rosie Batty’s activism as a denial of rights to men.
BRITAIN
“I deeply regret the outcome and accept that my approach failed. The decisions I took contributed to that failure. I failed.”
The former British prime minister waits until a week before the publication of his memoirs to apologise for unleashing Brexit.
SENATE
“These people need to move on with their lives. Get over the hate, the pain of a break-up, it’s about working together to find the answers to all this.”
The senator, recently appointed co-chair of a family law inquiry, suggests women lying about domestic violence is a widespread problem, citing her son’s experience as evidence.
HERESY
“I called the royal commission because I wanted to shine a light on the aged-care industry.”
The prime minister takes credit for the aged-care royal commission, first put forward by the Greens and Labor, which he fought for months.
