October 27 – November 2, 2018
News
Comment
Comment
Jane Caro
Running against Tony Abbott in Warringah
“I keep asking myself what I have done by putting up a tentative hand as a possible independent candidate for the seat currently held by former prime minister Tony Abbott. And, more to the point, why exactly have I done it? Do I really have anything worthwhile to offer the people of Warringah? Am I the right person for this job?”
Comment
Paul Bongiorno
Morrison and the tide of Wentworth
“Voters don’t like Shorten, or trust him, because, among other negatives, ‘he knifed two prime ministers’. But a new book by respected press gallery journalist David Speers, On Mutiny, casts serious doubt on Morrison’s ‘plausible deniability’ that he had nothing to do with the decapitation of Turnbull. Speers writes that Morrison’s closest supporters, Alex Hawke and Stuart Robert, had been on the phones ‘for more than twenty-four hours, albeit without a declared candidate’. We are expected to believe they were doing this without Morrison’s approval. ”
Letters, Cartoon & Editorial
Culture
Profile
‘Triple threat’ Maya Rudolph
Known for her masterful Saturday Night Live impersonations and starring role in the comedy hit film Bridesmaids, Maya Rudolph is now tackling the subject of married mundanity in the new series Forever. But while her own life is far from dull, her priorities for work and family remain very simple. “For me, when I became a mum, I changed, and my needs changed. I didn’t want to be away from my kids … If something I’m loathing is taking me away from my kids, then I shouldn’t be there.”
Television
Wanderlust
While Netflix series such as Wanderlust have made middle-aged women – and their hitherto latent desires – suddenly visible, the question is, are these shows entirely worth seeing?
Portrait
Artistic director Nici Cumpston
“Nici is flustered and tired when she arrives at the cafe but her smile is characteristically bright; it annexes her entire face when she sits down for a cuppa. I don’t know how she found the time. The TARNANTHI Art Fair is on this weekend at the Tandanya National Aboriginal Cultural Institute and so is the feature exhibition, John Mawurndjul: I am the old and the new, of which Nici is one of the co-curators. The Art Gallery of South Australia collaborated with the Museum of Contemporary Art in Sydney and Maningrida Arts and Culture to present the exhibition. A poster – taller than I am – of John Mawurndjul’s handsome face advertises the exhibition from the back wall of the information counter. His hair is a puff of white. I hope I can pull off grey with that aplomb when it inevitably spreads over my head.”
Books
Life
The Quiz
Quotes
CANBERRA
“It’s called parliament, Senator Leyonhjelm.”
The senator interjects during David Leyonhjelm’s question to Trish Bergin of the Office for Women, in which he asked whether her work would be undermined by an Office for Men. Leyonhjelm made the exact same joke a few minutes later, to rapturous laughter and unanimous agreement.
LEGACY
“Not interested. Not happening. Very happy in my law firm xenlaw.com.au (Mention this tweet for a $50 discount off your bill).”
The former senator rules out another run for office. He’s back where he always felt most comfortable: chasing ambulances.
GREETINGS
“I actually put my hand under his nostrils first and touched his mouth, that’s what I always do, that’s how they recognise that it’s me.”
The actor describes his special horse greeting, called “The Russell”. A helpful clarification for those who mistakenly thought “The Russell” was where you throw a phone at the hotel concierge.
RACISM
“99% of what Senator Anning has been saying is solid gold … 1% of what he is saying, that is totally unacceptable.”
The Katter’s Australian Party president announces the party is disendorsing Fraser Anning after the senator called for a plebiscite on non-European migration to Australia. With Anning, it’s surprising to hear such specific percentages and not be talking about blood purity.
LEADERSHIP
“Once he crashed and burned, like all socialist leaders he would try to take the whole show down with him.”
The former speaker of the house reflects on Malcolm Turnbull’s leadership loss. By her description, it sounds like a sort of fiery taxpayer-funded helicopter crash, probably chartered for non-ministerial duties.
PERSPECTIVE
“The book is generous about 90 per cent of my cabinet colleagues…”
The former prime minister spruiks his new memoir this week. Like a child angling the heat of the sun through a magnifying glass onto an ant, he’s chosen to focus his anger on the other 10 per cent. Well, basically, just on Wayne Swan.
