November 30 – December 6, 2019
News
Comment
Comment
Jana Favero and Kon Karapanagiotidis
The importance of medevac
“Medevac works, medevac is saving lives, limbs and hope. It is a clinical process, led by doctors – robust, orderly – wherein 86 per cent of all successful applications are in fact approved by Peter Dutton himself. Before medevac was enacted, 12 people died in Australia’s care in offshore processing. Since medevac, there have been no deaths.”
Comment
Paul Bongiorno
Taylor twist as Morrison phones a ‘friend’
“Scott Morrison’s handling of the police investigation into Energy Minister Angus Taylor this week brazenly flouted conventions of propriety and integrity. The prime minister actually phoned the New South Wales police commissioner, Mick Fuller, and then told parliament based on that call he was not required to stand the minister aside.”
Letters, Cartoon & Editorial
Culture
Profile
Publisher and writer Hilary McPhee
Once a powerhouse of Australian publishing, Hilary McPhee traded the comfortable life she knew for a mysterious job with Middle Eastern royalty. In writing about this adventure and the collapse of her marriage to Don Watson in her new memoir, Other People’s Houses, she traces her strange journey back to herself. “I dreaded coming back to Australia because I left feeling I’d lost everything, I’d lost my marriage. We’d been together for more than 20 years, so it was quite a lot of life.”
Books
Life
Puzzles
Quotes
AUTO
“Should have done steel ball on window, *then* sledgehammer the door. Next time…”
The Tesla founder explains why the “bulletproof” glass of his new Cybertruck smashed when tested during its launch. Luckily the truck’s future carjackers will never go sledgehammer first.
DYNAMISM
“We need to ensure we have a strong and vibrant night-time economy that reflects our position as Australia’s only truly global city.”
The New South Wales premier announces the end of Sydney’s lockout laws, except in Kings Cross. Punters would surely consider The Star casino’s revenues as “strong and vibrant”.
TECHNOLOGY
“Can’t find my password.”
The former United States ambassador to the United Nations is revealed to have used unsecure communications after North Korea tested a ballistic missile in 2017 because she was locked out of her classified emails. Surely Nikki1234! isn’t that hard to remember?
REMITTANCE
“Brian leaves the bank with a strong balance sheet, with each of our businesses number one or two in their markets.”
The Westpac chair farewells Brian Hartzer. With only $11 billion wiped off the bank’s share price, the former chief executive’s $2.686 million payout seems paltry.
CONGENIALITY
“Of course he has never brought my bins in.”
The NSW police commissioner walks back what he told Ben Fordham last year about his relationship with Scott Morrison. Taking in your bins, taking your call – it’s all just being neighbourly.
VALE
“Keep in mind that shorter is better, and that a single line is best.”
The literary giant offers some advice to journalists penning obituaries. He died, aged 80, in Cambridge on November 24.
