March 26 – April 1, 2022
News
Comment
Comment
Paul Bongiorno
‘They are cacking themselves’
“The equivalent of a political nuclear bomb hit South Australia last weekend and its shockwaves are reverberating through the nation. Blown to smithereens are the notions that the Covid-19 pandemic is a guarantee for the survival of incumbents or that opinion polls are not tracking the real mood of the nation.”
Comment
John Hewson
Can Morrison buy his way back into office?
“Talk about mixed messages on the economy. The government deliberately politicised the budget by moving it forward to March 29, so it could be delivered before a May election, and having set aside $16 billion in the most recent midyear economic statement for pre-election spending.”
Letters, Cartoon & Editorial
Culture
The Influence
Bruce Gladwin
Back to Back artistic director Bruce Gladwin found the brilliance of the ordinary in Jeremy Deller’s re-enactment of the battle between striking British miners and the police.
Fiction
Violettowne
“This might be about what Bert Billingsworth did to Tho. North’s youngest brother, or George Ley’s cousin, who knows, but the Honourable told me to write down as much as I could remember. The Honourable said every detail, every bit, don’t skimp, it’ll all help, it might save your life Ivan. So I’ll start by saying this happened in Violettowne and Violettowne is a rough raw uncivilised place and there’s not much there apart from pigs and horses. ”
Books
Life
Puzzles
Quotes
Culture
“If Albanese was asked about unconscious bias and cultural appropriation and critical race theory, all these things… he’d say ‘Oh yeah, they’re valid theories.’”
The former Labor leader says he doesn’t believe Anthony Albanese represents “mainstream values”. Latham has a large scar on his forehead, presumably where they took out his brain.
Church
“I must admit we were very disappointed and shocked to hear the news.”
The prime minister responds to Brian Houston’s resignation from the Hillsong church after allegations of inappropriate behaviour towards two women. It does explain why Morrison tried to get Houston into the White House: he and Donald Trump would have gotten on famously.
Rubbish
“Political advertising should not be undertaken except when there’s an election on, and there’s no election on yet.”
The mayor of Hornsby warns that rubbish from bins with pictures of Scott Morrison on them may not be collected by council. As in office, said bins will be left to overflow with putrid garbage.
Energy
“Angus has united the energy sector in a way I’ve never seen in my life. Everyone disagrees with him.”
The former prime minister criticises Angus Taylor’s woeful handling of the energy market. This is the same Malcolm Turnbull who appointed him to the ministry.
Politics
“I can no longer sit on the sidelines. Incredibly, it’s gotten worse in Canberra.”
The South Australian announces he is again running for the senate. A lot has changed since he was last in office although his hair is still the same colour.
Refugees
“I felt really annoyed about that. I found that quite threatening.”
The Tasmanian senator says Scott Morrison threatened her with jail time if she talked about her apparent “deal” for voting to repeal medevac laws. This week, the government finally accepted New Zealand’s offer to resettle 450 refugees.
