May 29 – June 4, 2021
News
Comment
Comment
Megan Davis
The Uluru statement, four years on
“This year marks the beginning of the second decade of constitutional recognition. Who could’ve known when Julia Gillard created the expert panel, at the urging of the Greens and independents Rob Oakeshott and Tony Windsor, that 10 years, seven processes and nine reports later the nation would still be waiting for the Commonwealth to act?”
Comment
Paul Bongiorno
Joel Fitzgibbon and Victoria’s virus crisis
“Scott Morrison has found a very useful ally in an unlikely place. His name is Joel Fitzgibbon, opposition member for the New South Wales seat of Hunter, and the prime minister is certainly grateful for his contribution. The veteran Labor member, whose coalmining electorate encompasses much of the state seat of Upper Hunter, went on a media blitz early in the week, which gave no comfort to his own side.”
Letters, Cartoon & Editorial
Culture
Profile
My Bloody Valentine
As My Bloody Valentine add their lauded back catalogue to streaming services, and hint at the prospect of new music, Kevin Shields describes the fascinations and inventions that gave the band their sound.
Books
Life
Puzzles
Quotes
Business
“It’s a dreadful, horrible, stupid tax.”
The retail tycoon, who refused to repay $22 million in JobKeeper despite his profits doubling during the pandemic, rails against the Victorian government’s mental health support levy. Luckily overpriced whitegoods are a proven cure for depression.
Music
“Maybe ScoMo or someone could do a bit of a rap.”
The deputy prime minister brainstorms ways to encourage young people to get the Covid-19 vaccine. This remains the most thought-out proposal in the federal government’s rollout strategy.
Health
“People have made their choices.”
The minister for Aged Care Services suggests no resident in the 29 Victorian aged-care centres that are yet to receive any doses of the Covid-19 vaccine actually wanted to be vaccinated against the deadly virus that has killed 655 elderly people in aged-care homes across the state.
Empathy
“I haven’t received anything you’ve referred to.”
The attorney-general responds to the question, “Have you received empathy training?” during senate estimates. Her deftness in avoiding saying “I haven’t received empathy training” is matched only by her ability to manoeuvre a whiteboard.
Technology
“My client was in the course of buying a new computer and trading in the old one.”
The barrister for Ben Roberts-Smith, who’s suing Nine newspapers for defamation over allegations he committed war crimes, explains why his client wiped his computer hard drive. With everything else going on, Roberts-Smith clearly didn’t want his eBay seller rating to take a hit too.
Safety
“I don’t think parliament is unsafe for women at all.”
The minister for Women’s Economic Security is asked about the 19 accusations of sexual misconduct against parliamentarians, their staff or “official establishments” reported in the wake of Brittany Higgins’ allegations. She should have been asked for her definition of “unsafe”.
