August 29 – September 4, 2020
News
Comment
Comment
Louisa Bochner
China’s influence on our campuses
“Last month, the University of New South Wales published on its website an interview with Human Rights Watch Australia’s director, Elaine Pearson, who also holds a position as an adjunct lecturer at the university. The interview focused on how the international community can respond to Hong Kong’s new authoritarian national security law imposed by China. UNSW posted a link to this article, with a quote, on its Twitter account on July 31. By that evening, individuals on the Chinese social media platform WeChat were encouraging one another to get on Twitter and demand the university delete the post.”
Comment
Paul Bongiorno
Aged-care failures continue to plague government
“Red-faced and contrite, the minister for Aged Care and Senior Australians and minister for Youth and Sport, Richard Colbeck, apologised in the senate and offered his ‘sincere condolences’ to hundreds of grieving families. That he cut a sorry figure in the red chamber, though, was not all his own doing. This government, with its failures in aged-care policy and delivery, must share a good deal of the blame.”
Letters, Cartoon & Editorial
Culture
Profile
Actor Catherine Văn-Davies
Catherine Văn-Davies found that her starring role in SBS’s Hungry Ghosts excavated intimate family histories. “For most of my life, Mum wouldn’t talk about the war. But with intergenerational trauma, even if they don’t tell us the experience in their own words, we’re so sensitive to our parents.”
Books
Life
Puzzles
Quotes
Politics
“If actions speak louder than words, Scott Morrison is truly the quietest Australian of all.”
The Labor leader finally remembers that he is a member of the opposition during an address to the National Press Club on Thursday.
Empathy
“It doesn’t help anyone. It just depressed me more.”
The One Nation leader reflects on the 11 weeks she spent behind bars in 2003 before her conviction was quashed on appeal. Her experience of unwarranted incarceration clearly gave her empathy and compassion for refugees held indefinitely in Australia’s detention centres.
Maturity
“I apologise without reservation to those I have offended, and hope I’ll be wiser and kinder in my thirties.”
The Liberal wunderkind resigns from the party amid a branch-stacking scandal. Wiser and kinder in his 30s, no doubt prime minister by 45.
Recall
“I take full responsibility for not having that information available to me at the time.”
The Aged Care minister apologises for being unable to recall the number of people in aged care who have died from Covid-19. Just for his reference, as of Wednesday this week, it was 353.
Reinvention
“We’re gonna make America great again, again.”
The United States vice-president speaks at the Republican National Convention. Like most sequels, this one really doesn’t need to be made.
Reform
“The changes that took effect in February were about reducing barriers and improving clarity for victims who want to talk about their experiences…”
Victoria’s attorney-general responds to outrage over law changes that threaten sexual assault survivors with a $3000 fine if they publicly identify themselves.
