March 30 – April 5, 2019
News
Comment
Comment
Barry Jones
The death of political debate
“We now have a sharply reduced political agenda. There is a widespread refusal to analyse and explain complex ‘wicked’ problems. On major issues – taxation, national security – we see policy convergence, largely out of fear, while on trivial issues, toxicity abounds – a sideshow of personal attacks and ‘gotcha!’ moments. ”
Comment
Paul Bongiorno
Morrison gears up for last-ditch budget
“The budget will be Scott Morrison’s attempt to buy his way back to the Treasury benches. But many of his troops believe it is too late. One MP who is battling hard to hold his marginal seat says, ‘Nothing can save us now.’ Not even massive tax cuts, which are sure to be the budget’s centrepiece, nor the promise to build roads, bridges and rail in every marginal seat in the country.”
Letters, Poem & Editorial
Culture
Profile
The perpetual motion of choreographer Amrita Hepi
For First Nations choreographer and dancer Amrita Hepi, the body is the first point of memory. Her new show, The Tender, interweaves oppression and connection. “Dancing is about being unashamed in our physical forms, and that’s tough shit when you’re a person of colour ’cause we’re constantly being looked at.”
Film
Destroyer
Despite a valiant performance from Nicole Kidman in Destroyer, Karyn Kusama’s feminist take on film noir ultimately shies away from true darkness.
Portrait
Theatre director Jessica Arthur
“A lot of my direction is asking questions that kind of lead to a point that makes sense – it’s like digging … or kind of diagnosing. You do want to get everyone on the same page when it comes to the world of the play, but you don’t want to set up too many rules. You want the actors to play within that realm – it’s so much more interesting to have the people in the play pushing it in every direction until it falls into place.”
Books
Life
Puzzles
Quotes
EQUALITY
“Women always want the spoils of victory without the fight.”
The Liberal Party vice-president makes her Q&A debut. Undermining her own maxim, McQueen fought tooth and nail to try to win the title of worst guest in the show’s history.
POWER
“You’d have the whole government by the balls.”
The One Nation Queensland state leader contemplates how $US10 million to $US20 million from the United States gun lobby could change Australian politics. Turns out all you need is two senate seats.
SPACE
“Mission managers decided to adjust the assignments, due in part to spacesuit availability on the station.”
The US space agency cancels the first all-female spacewalk due to a lack of appropriately sized spacesuits. Unfortunately female astronauts cannot use male spacesuits, as without the built-in corsets their bones will just fly off into space.
HISTORY
“I have read the book on it, Port Arthur. A lot of questions there.”
The One Nation leader suggests the 1996 mass shooting was a government conspiracy. Aides have warned Hanson off ever reading the comments under any YouTube video.
MEMORY
“I have no recollection of that.”
The prime minister claims to not remember proposing a $9 billion plan to detain people on bridging visas. When you’ve floated so many different policies to undermine the freedoms of migrants and refugees over the years, who can keep them all straight?
BREXIT
“I am prepared to leave this job earlier than I intended in order to do what is right for our country and our party.”
The British prime minister offers to resign, if conservative MPs agree to back her Brexit deal. David Cameron has asked her to stop stealing his moves.
