June 21 – 27, 2025
News
Comment
Comment
Joëlle Gergis
The moment for bold climate action is now
“As I write, I’m listening to the sound of repairs to my home following the impacts of Tropical Cyclone Alfred, a rare category 2 system that tracked as far south as the Gold Coast in March, and left a trail of destruction throughout northern New South Wales and south-east Queensland.”
Comment
Paul Bongiorno
Albanese on the AUKUS sidelines
“Donald Trump’s cavalier treatment of his supposed friends should have come as no surprise to Australia’s prime minister, left sitting on the sidelines of the G7 summit in Canada without so much as a phone call cancelling a much-heralded meeting.”
Comment
Stan Grant
The year that changed the present
“In 1979, I was entering my last years of school and The Clash released their landmark album London Calling. It became the soundtrack of my emerging political awareness. Its startling array of jazz, blues, rockabilly, ska, reggae, funk and disco, with a punk attitude and energy, was a cry of anguish from a generation who had lived with the Cold War fear of nuclear war.”
Comment
John Hewson
Fifteen minutes with Trump
“High expectations had been set for Prime Minister Anthony Albanese’s meeting with United States President Donald Trump on the sidelines of the G7 summit. Opposition Leader Sussan Ley sent him off with the relatively constructive comment that, ‘The Coalition wants the government to succeed here because that is in our national interest.’”
Letters, Cartoon & Editorial
Culture
Film
Actor Abou Sangaré
Abou Sangaré drew from his own life as a young man seeking a better life in France for his lead role in The Story of Souleymane, which opens in Australia this week.
Books
Life
Puzzles
Quotes
Sport
“Could a woman make your team, fellas?”
The American president addresses a bemused Serie A Juventus team gathered for a photo op in the Oval Office. It’s been reported as a jibe about transgender athletes, but he was really just trying to work out how much wool Melania would need.
Politics
“It’s mostly white.”
The independent member running for re-election in the Tasmanian seat of Franklin, who switched from Labor, responds to a voter noting the Labor-red lettering on his corflute. He might be better off pointing out that his name is mostly Talking Heads.
Sales
“We are particularly concerned that Optus engaged debt collectors to pursue some of these consumers.”
The ACCC deputy chair comments on the $100 million penalty Optus faces after selling phones and contracts to customers who could not afford them. Sure, but the slogan is: “It starts with yes.” It doesn’t mention stopping at extortion.
C-suite
“We’re probably doing something right in Australia, where we’ve seen a real breakout in CEO pay in other countries.”
The Australian Council of Superannuation Investors comments on chief executives being paid 55 times more than average workers. The chiefs must be doing almost as much work as the phrase “something right” in this sentence.
Art
“There will be lots of objectification going on, okay?”
The Tasmanian artist comments on the possible attire of the male butlers who will serve in her Ladies Lounge, which is relocating to the Gold Coast. We understand its new title is “Coals to Newcastle”.
News
“Doctor Who Supplied Ketamine to Matthew Perry Will Plead Guilty”
A headline in the tabloid reveals the plea of the defendant in a court case relating to the death of the Friends actor. They don’t call him the Time Lord for nothing.
