December 21, 2024 – January 10, 2025
News
Comment
Comment
Thomas Mayo
Young men and the far right’s influence on them
“My concern of late has been the realisation that the far right is targeting boys and men in its campaign for power. I have observed how material on social media is exploiting men’s propensity to be protectors of their families, especially when they are led to believe there is an enemy at their door. Cue Dutton and a scary minority.”
Comment
Paul Bongiorno
This election will be a watershed moment for renewable energy
“Only a foolhardy politician on the cusp of an election year would insert themselves into the summer holiday rituals of the Australian populace. Better to let the voters enjoy the beach, the barbecues and the cricket than bombard them with anything that looks like blatant electioneering.”
Comment
John Hewson
The age of independents promises better government
“Community independents have already made a very significant contribution to better government in Australia. They have pushed for climate targets and policy responses to achieve them, campaign funding and lobbying reform, gambling advertising reform and improved integrity and accountability in government.”
Letters, Cartoon & Editorial
Culture
Profile
Actor Hugo Weaving
Hugo Weaving’s acting career has brought him international acclaim, but his latest film – an adaptation of Paul Kelly’s song “How to Make Gravy” – reflects his devotion to Australian stories.
Film
Emilia Pérez
Jacques Audiard’s Golden Globe-winning musical Emilia Pérez is superficial, ham-fisted and fails to access the subversion made possible by camp.
Television
Best television: Shrinking, Kaos and The Bear’s third act
The Saturday Paper’s television critic looks back at the highlights of 2024.
Fiction
Dry
“It’s not as if they don’t all know. She’s told them, several times. She explained when the family WhatsApp messages went round about who was bringing what and who needed the most room in the freezer and what kinds of berries would not cost a fortune, the endless chipper shorthand as if they all were genuinely looking forward to seeing each other and couldn’t wait to wade through first the logistics and then the bacchanalian blowout all over again.”
Books
Life
Puzzles
Quotes
Food
“Just leave Christmas.”
The former Nationals leader complains that the Parliament House cafeteria is selling “Gingerbread People”. Joyce likes to know the gender of his baked goods and whether he’d leave his wife for them.
Media
“I think it’ll make me a better leader, having watched that play out in the media.”
The former head of Nine Entertainment reacts to the scandals at his old company, after being appointed managing director at the ABC. The national broadcaster is looking forward to a boss who really loves the staff.
Court
“I will not be engaging in a running commentary in the media.”
The former broadcaster reads a statement after pleading not guilty to 34 counts of indecent assault. His respect for legal process is new and admirable.
Sport
“People assumed that we had developed it, that we had approved it.”
The Olympic breaker explains why she had her lawyers shut down a comedy show called Raygun the Musical. If you could trademark mediocrity, Australia wouldn’t have a television industry.
War
“Those who carry out crimes against Russia … always have accomplices.”
The former president of Russia says the “miserable jackals” at The Times in London are legitimate military targets. The problem with newspaper editorials is that nobody reads them and the people who do plot to kill you.
Demographics
“To put that in context, that’s almost the combined population of the ACT and Tasmania.”
The head of health statistics at the ABS says almost one in 20 Australians identify as LGBTQIA+. It does explain why the ACT and Tasmania are so nice.
Insects
“It is a rare day when the humans actually get to win one against the insects.”
The pest program manager at the Washington State Department of Agriculture says America has succeeded in eradicating a giant “murder hornet”. The country is still wrestling with a second outbreak of “Donald Trump”.
Rail
“This is not a toy train set.”
The New South Wales transport minister expresses frustration after the rail union won court protection for industrial action over the holiday period. Her favourite part of toy trains is that none of the workers are paid properly.
