April 23 – 29, 2022
News
Comment
Comment
Tony Windsor
Rorters, rooters and the country’s lost decade
“Australian politics should not be bogged in a time warp of short-term political advantage. We cannot afford a second decade of inertia … Leadership should be about connecting the dots in such a way as to provide guidance for a safe and better future.”
Comment
John Hewson
Scott Morrison is being economical with the truth
“What a tragedy that the campaign is now ‘my scare is bigger than your scare’. We all have to fear that the more frustrated and desperate the major players get, the more they will resort to dirtier tactics and less substance in terms of what they would propose as a future for our nation.”
Letters, Cartoon & Editorial
Culture
The Influence
Daniel Riley
For Australian Dance Theatre’s new artistic director, Daniel Riley, William Forsythe’s Three Atmospheric Studies – a dance work about the American occupation of Iraq – was a formative experience.
Fiction
Big baby
“At first Andrea thought there was a problem with her eyes. She went to the optometrist at lunch. He had her read off a chart and blew puffs of air on her corneas. ‘Tip-top,’ he concluded. ‘You shouldn’t be having any trouble seeing the stage.’ But she hadn’t said the stage, she’d said the actors. She could see the stage just fine. As she headed back to the theatre she stuffed a 7-Eleven sandwich into her mouth, trying not to choke while texting her partner How is he? Is he awake? Is he hungry?”
Books
Life
Puzzles
Quotes
Election
“I am grateful to know that I will have access to the world’s best healthcare if I need it, because of Medicare.”
The Labor leader announces he has tested positive for Covid-19 and will isolate at home for seven days. Two weeks ago, this would have really helped his campaign.
Diplomacy
“We don’t want our own little Cuba off our coast.”
The deputy prime minister responds to news China has signed a security pact with Solomon Islands. As ever, Joyce manages to sound as if he is living in 1961.
Media
“We’re maxed out and I don’t want to lay off our employees.”
The right-wing commentator announces his website, InfoWars, has filed for bankruptcy. Proof that a business based entirely on dietary supplements and the false claim that the Sandy Hook school massacre was a hoax just can’t hold on forever.
Television
“I feel like Nelson Mandela when he came out of prison. It’s like the long walk to free speech freedom.”
The former British tabloid editor likens his year away from television to the anti-apartheid leader’s 27 years in jail. In fairness, Mandela didn’t have to sit down with Donald Trump when he got out.
Disabilities
“Jenny and I have been blessed, we’ve got two children that haven’t had to go through that.”
The prime minister celebrates the fact his children are not disabled. He later apologised for the offence he caused.
Communication
“The moral of the story is don’t send text messages.”
The New South Wales premier responds to news that a text message exchange with Scott Morrison was leaked to the press. The other moral might be “Don’t trust Scott Morrison”.
