May 27 – June 2, 2017
News
Peter Dutton’s asylum seeker deadline
“The concept that they’ve been somehow conning the system, somehow refusing to lodge, is just completely false.”
Peter Dutton’s crackdown on ‘fake refugees’ has sparked claims that his announcement is not only prejudicial but also purely political.
Making sense of the Sydney siege
“The negotiators failed to pursue opportunities to attempt to engage with Monis because of a lack of experience in terrorist negotiations, a lack of flexibility in approach and a lack of initiative.”
The coronial inquiry into the Sydney siege finds mistakes made in awarding Man Haron Monis bail, and police tactics in need of review.
The social impact of declining literacy rates
“When the system fails those with literacy struggles, it can mark the beginning of a vicious circle … Once individuals find themselves in prison, they have limited opportunity to improve their circumstances.”
As declining literacy rates in Australia feed into unemployment figures, some studies claim they can also be linked to crime statistics and recidivism.
The adoption of strict Islamic law in Indonesia’s semi-autonomous Aceh province has delivered brutal public canings to punish the selling of alcohol, unwed couples spending time alone together and homosexuality.
Weapons deal repays Trump’s Saudi pivot
Trump singles out Iran on terror; Trump in Israel; Jared Kushner next in Russian link investigation.
Comment
Comment
Nayuka Gorrie
Cultural appropriation and power
“When our representations are reliant on non-Indigenous people they are bastardised in a way that is not empowering for us. In a world where we are not afforded representation, where our motifs and elements of our culture are ripped off and stolen, this bastardised representation informs and perpetuates ideas about who we are.”
Comment
Paul Bongiorno
Labor pushes on with budget reply
“Turnbull’s problem is he comes to the fray politically weakened thanks to his one-seat majority. It denies him clout in dealing with the hostile senate. ‘They can’t really govern,’ is the conclusion of one Liberal veteran. It’s certainly not in Shorten’s interest to make life easy for Turnbull, to just let go through everything the government bowls up. ”
Letters, Cartoon & Editorial
Culture
Profile
Songwriter Jimmy Webb on his partnership with Glen Campbell
As his main muse, Glen Campbell, delivers a final album, songwriter Jimmy Webb looks back at his own career in which he delivered some of American popular music’s best-loved songs.
Theatre
MTC’s ‘Minnie & Liraz’
In Lally Katz’s latest play, the MTC fails to capture the dramatist’s magic, despite fine performances by two grand dames of the stage.
Portrait
Recycling artist Sarah Goffman
“In her current exhibition at Wollongong Art Gallery, Goffman is sharing her collection of rubbish made beautiful. She has transformed discarded plastics into intricate replicas of traditional Chinese and Japanese ceramics. They look deceptively fragile. The designs are a ‘forgery’, she says. ‘The eye is fooled, and that is an interesting thing in itself.’”
Food
Chestnut, rosemary and pine nut cake
“The real name for this is castagnaccio, which I can’t pronounce responsibly so I call it chestnut cake. It’s a recipe I first encountered in Italy quite a few years ago and enjoyed immensely.”
Books
Life
Travel
San Juan, Puerto Rico
San Juan’s rich mixture of cultures, colonial and indigenous, invites immersion in the Puerto Rican capital.
The Quiz
Quotes
DISCOURSE
“The article continues to state that if a blast occurred in one of our studios, none of the likely casualties ‘would have represented the slightest reduction in humanity’s intelligence, decency, empathy or honesty’.”
The ABC’s managing director explains that edits to correct a piece in Quadrant wishing for the bombing of an ABC studio did not quite address the issue inherent in the article. The federal police investigated, and found no one read Quadrant.
MEDIA
“One down, many to go.”
The immigration minister celebrates a decision not to continue the ABC program hosted by Yassmin Abdel-Magied. Speaking of many to go, Dutton is on track to lose his seat at the next election.
DEBATE
“It’s very sad for Australian democracy and for enlightened liberal debate in this country.”
The outgoing president of the Human Rights Commission reflects on attacks mounted against women in public life. No better place to do so, unfortunately, than in senate estimates.
POLITICS
“It’s unfortunate that this aggressive behaviour from a liberal journalist created this scene at our campaign volunteer BBQ.”
The campaign spokesman for the Republican candidate for Montana’s congressional seat complains after his boss was charged with misdemeanour assault for allegedly slamming a Guardian reporter into the ground, smashing his glasses. The reporter was asking about healthcare.
EQUALITY
“I am disappointed that Qantas has become an active promoter for same-sex marriage.”
The former tennis champion explains that she will no longer fly Qantas, presumably because she believes equality interferes with navigational equipment. Brief reminder that tennis is a non-contact sport and this can’t be blamed on concussive injury.
TERRORISM
“An attack that targeted some of the youngest people in our society with cold calculation.”
The British prime minister responds to a terrorist attack that killed 22 people at a concert in Manchester.
