March 22 – 28, 2025
News
Comment
Comment
Paul Bongiorno
Pre-election budget deficit the order of the day
“Shadow treasurer Angus Taylor, who some colleagues believe has not laid a glove on Chalmers, says everything will be revealed in due course. In the meantime, the clock is running down and all we are getting are general statements masquerading as serious policy.”
Comment
John Hewson
Four leaders unwriting the rule of law
“One of the most disturbing recent global trends has been the attempts by governments to attack the independence of the judiciary. United States President Donald Trump has become almost obsessed with undermining the Department of Justice and weaponising its processes.”
Letters, Cartoon & Editorial
Culture
Profile
Comedian Lou Wall
Comedian and theatre maker Lou Wall embraces the chaos of live performance, with winning results.
Books
Life
Puzzles
Quotes
Culture
“We’re going to get some very good shows. I guess we have Les Miz coming.”
The United States president touts his favourite programming for the John F. Kennedy Center, over which he now presides. An American leader hasn’t endangered a theatre crowd like this since Lincoln saw Our American Cousin.
Cinema
“I wish I had rented it and saved a fiver.”
The News Corp columnist reflects on the shortcomings of the film Conclave. She would have enjoyed it more if it were leaked to her corruptly a few days before its release.
Courts
“I thought, Cool, it’s a toe.”
The Melbourne woman charged with offensive conduct involving human remains tells a court she could have sold the human toes she found in an animal shelter bin online for $400. To her credit, she also considered giving them away – or “rehoming” them.
Military
“It was the weakest, most limp-wrist response you could see from a leader.”
The opposition leader criticises Anthony Albanese’s response to China’s live-fire drills. The old question remains: Fellas, is it gay not to fire blanks in someone else’s waters?
History
“It’s only because of the United States of America that the French are not speaking German right now.”
The White House press secretary responds to a French member of the European Parliament’s suggestion that the US return the Statue of Liberty. At least it’s clear the Project 2025 briefings worked.
Universities
“Our greatest research partner in the US is looking like it’s becoming unreliable.”
The chief executive of Universities Australia responds after the Trump administration cuts funding to six Australian universities over “woke gender ideology”. This is different to the Coalition, which cut funding just because they didn’t like them.
