May 23 – 29, 2020
News
Comment
Comment
Imran Mohammad
Resettled refugees in Covid-19 lockdown
“In 2018, my life changed forever. From being stateless, after seven years held in refugee detention, I became a permanent resident of the United States. The outcome is beyond words. Building trust in humanity was the most difficult part of my new life. I was free but, emotionally and mentally, I was still a prisoner. I, like other refugees, have not managed to overcome these emotions.”
Comment
Paul Bongiorno
China blunders and the fallout
“Just at the moment the government claimed vindication for a big win on the world stage, China ridiculed its grandstanding. A terse, one-paragraph statement from its Canberra embassy called Australia’s response ‘a joke’. If anything encapsulates how fraught relations are with our biggest trading partner, this was it.”
Letters, Cartoon & Editorial
Culture
Profile
Griffin Theatre Company artistic director Declan Greene
Four weeks after becoming the artistic director of Sydney’s Griffin Theatre Company, Declan Greene had to cancel two plays because of Covid-19. He speaks about this extraordinary challenge, his childhood flair for drama and his ambitions for the company. “I’m constantly thinking I should do more to change things in the world … I’m interested in reconfiguring the space I work in to make it a more equal place.”
Fiction
I will not be taking questions
“Is this their final offer? Was that the best you could get? You’ve had it all thoroughly looked over as I asked? There’s not going to be another round of discussions? Isn’t there some factor that we haven’t yet considered? Could we maybe have a bit of a brainstorm, if there’s time? Can we revisit that list of stakeholders, just quickly? Is there a loophole, or, not a loophole, that doesn’t sound good, I mean some unexamined section of the legislation that might give us a bit of breathing space? A bit of wiggle room? How many lawyers are on this right now? And I’m paying for that, am I?”
Books
Life
Puzzles
Quotes
MEDICINE
“I cannot stress enough. This will kill you.”
The Fox News commentator warns against taking hydroxychloroquine – a drug the network has spruiked as a Covid-19 cure – to guard against contracting coronavirus, a disease Fox said was a hoax.
PRUDENCE
“I have to take responsibility for this, I didn’t get organised and book anywhere.”
The New Zealand TV host explains why he, Jacinda Ardern and their daughter were turned away from a cafe on Sunday. The pair has clearly gone mad with power.
LANGUAGE
“Effective policing requires the careful exercise of judgment and the application of appropriate discretion, ensuring the police adapt their response to suit the circumstances.”
Victoria’s Police minister demonstrates the power of bureaucratic language in justifying a report that cleared a police officer who punched a 15-year-old girl in the face.
TACT
“I’m sorry about the barley farmers but at least we haven’t caved in and been bullied by them and we’ve got the investigation that we’ve wanted.”
The former MP displays the diplomatic acumen that defined his time as Foreign minister.
TRAVEL
“He has been given suitable advice about essential travel and reminded about the current guidelines.”
The Police Scotland inspector says she’s warned author Neil Gaiman for travelling from New Zealand to the Isle of Skye. Scotland, where there’s one set of rules for fantasy authors and another for everyone else.
DISTANCE
“To get the four metres squared, you’ll end up with 22 people on an aircraft of 180 seats.”
The Qantas chief says his airline won’t comply with social distancing rules once it starts flying again. Airlines prefer a 22 people per one square metre model.
