January 29 — February 4, 2022
News
Comment
Comment
Osman Faruqi
Fact check: Actually Australians love big government
“It seems unlikely that embracing ‘can-do capitalism’ will prove to be a viable political strategy – especially in the midst of a social and economic crisis that has once again exposed the fraught nature of private markets and reminded us of the importance of community, solidarity and public services – but bizarrely it’s the one Prime Minister Scott Morrison has chosen.”
Comment
Paul Bongiorno
Send in the clowns
“The Australia Day holiday is now behind us. By convention, this signals that the nation is back at work. It also sets the clock ticking down for a federal election within four months. The sense of foreboding within the Morrison government is palpable. Likewise, excitement is mounting within the Labor Party that this time it will not be thwarted.”
Comment
John Hewson
A mosquito in a nudist colony
“We have finally arrived. After an almost daily campaign since the 2019 federal election, we are just a few months short of the next one. Naturally, attention is turning to focus on Anthony Albanese and his opposition. From one perspective – namely that governments usually lose elections and oppositions don’t win them – many feel Albo should be a shoo-in.”
Letters, Cartoon & Editorial
Culture
The Influence
Angela Tiatia
For Angela Tiatia, the performance art of Latai Taumoepeau was revelatory.
Fiction
The good robot
“Mysh arrived in the late morning, when humans were most alert. This timing typically led to fewer errors. Their errors, of course, not hers. Still, it was valuable to be patient with them. Their republic was her reason for being. And it was beautiful. The waitress offered Mysh a smile that was not beautiful: thin, yellowed and false. ‘I’m so sorry, honey.’ She fidgeted with her apron. ‘We don’t serve your kind here.’ She looked to her manager, William Tapper, a middle-aged male with dilated capillaries in his cheeks. ‘We’re not allowed, yeah? Tell her, Bill.’”
Books
Life
Puzzles
Quotes
Politics
“If I were her I’d be going to give the prime minister a hug.”
The assistant minister for Women offers her advice to former Australian of the Year Grace Tame. But what’s a withering glare if not a hug from the eyes?
Climate
“Maybe you can predict out a week or three weeks or a month or a year, but the farther out you predict, the more your model is in error.”
The psychologist and author claims climate modelling is unreliable because the time scales are too great. This is as true as his claim he can live solely on meat and hurt feelings.
Responsibility
“The government is off enjoying a day at the cricket instead of being accountable for the care for older Australians.”
The national secretary of the Health Services Union complains that Aged Care Minister Richard Colbeck went to the Ashes instead of fronting a Covid-19 inquiry. In fairness to Colbeck, no one died at the cricket while he was there.
Faith
“To keep bowing down to the media is essentially to allow them to continue to own the narrative around the world, above the truth.”
The daughter of Hillsong leader Brian Houston responds to criticism of a youth gathering that appeared to flout Covid-19 rules. The only thing they were spreading was love.
Military
“We don’t intend to invade at all. It’s very regrettable that it’s been portrayed the other way here and by our Western partners.”
Russia’s ambassador to Australia says his country is not planning to invade Ukraine. You can’t line up 100,000 troops on the border without people getting the wrong idea.
Sport
“What’s not fine is if that someone brings in a big banner and it’s got big poles attached to it.”
The chief executive of Tennis Australia reverses a decision to ban T-shirts asking “Where is Peng Shuai?” Banners will remain banned, presumably because China said so.
