February 29 – March 6, 2020
News
Comment
Comment
Richard Denniss
The inequality of the superannuation system
“A part-time cleaner earning $18,000 a year will receive zero tax concessions for their compulsory superannuation contribution; meanwhile, a chief executive of a big bank can get tens of thousands of dollars every year in taxpayer support for their “retirement nest egg”. This is the strange world of Australia’s retirement income system: a world in which those who need the most get the least.”
Comment
Paul Bongiorno
Scott Morrison’s quest for immunity
“There’s an old saying in politics, ‘Never waste a good crisis.’ And it’s crystal clear Scott Morrison isn’t wasting any moment where he can be seen responding to the threat coronavirus – or COVID-19, as it’s now known – is posing to Australia and the world. It stands in stark contrast with his derelict early response to the bushfire emergency.”
Letters, Cartoon & Editorial
Culture
Profile
Bhenji Ra goes vogue
Community has always been important to dancer and artist Bhenji Ra, who found solidarity in New York’s ballroom culture. In the wake of this summer’s devastating bushfires, she turned her focus back home, to the NSW south coast community that supported her to pursue her dreams. “It was the most incredible New Year’s Eve I’ve had. I’d never felt so intimate with my family. We were all there together – except for my older sister, who lives in Los Angeles – and with our community as well.”
Books
Life
Puzzles
Quotes
DIVIDES
“[It’s] definitely a regional facility.”
The North Sydney mayor defends North Sydney Olympic Pool winning a $10 million grant earmarked for regional and rural sporting facilities. Anyone who lives south of the Harbour Bridge would agree with her.
OPTIMISM
“The biggest misconception is that I’m boring.”
The Democratic hopeful responds incorrectly to a debate question. The biggest misconception about the Minnesota senator is actually that she can’t name the president of Mexico. Because she definitely can.
CIRCUMLOCUTION
“We’ve brought the budget back to surplus, next year.”
The treasurer defies time, grammar and all available evidence to assure the Australian public that the economy is fine.
ME TOO
“He took it like a man.”
Harvey Weinstein’s lawyer describes her client’s response to his guilty verdict. “But I’m innocent” was the former movie mogul’s verbatim response, which he repeated three times.
ESCAPE
“They operated as a modern relationship and I’m fine with that.”
The federal Health minister offers his blessing for the marriage between three baboons who escaped a Sydney hospital this week. Polygamy is still easier to accept than climate science, it seems.
APLOMB
“It’s a training centre. People get to be prepared for future jobs.”
The Chinese diplomat is asked about the camps where it’s estimated one million Uygurs are detained by the Chinese government. This transcript appears to have forgotten the scare quotes.
