September 30 – October 6, 2017
News
Comment
Comment
Richard Ackland
The pointless exercise of suppression orders
“There is a tension between lawyers championing the cause of a free press and what the free press does once it gets its hands on the information. Last year, the NSW Court of Criminal Appeal made some important in-principle rulings about take-down orders affecting news media websites. Even though these judgements contained important rulings on the relevant law, they were themselves subject to non-publication orders because of trials that were under way.”
Politics
Paul Bongiorno
Name-calling in the energy debate
“It is completely disingenuous for Turnbull to accuse Labor of not heeding warnings eight years ago on how the intense export drive could affect domestic supply and prices. Those warnings were offset by assurances from the exporters that it would not happen. Hollow assurances as it turns out. Sound familiar? ”
Letters, Cartoon & Editorial
Culture
Profile
Oscar-winner Eva Orner on what drives her
Known as a fearless documentary filmmaker, Eva Orner has shone a light on tragic situations in Iraq, Kabul and Nauru. In her latest work, she turns her attention to the problem of mobile phones. ‘If I think it’s compelling, important, interesting, worthwhile, that overtakes everything else.’
Television
‘Curb Your Enthusiasm’
Larry David’s return as a cantankerous version of himself in a new series of Curb Your Enthusiasm is a chance to reflect on the roots of comedy and the discontent that produces it.
Portrait
Composer Him Sophy
“‘With a requiem, as in Mass, you wish the dead body to become good in the next life, the same as bangsokol ritual,’ the composer tells me. ‘You remember your ancestors who have passed away. But bangsokol also gives hope to people who are still alive … It’s good to not only think about death, but also about the living.’”
Food
Catalan-style braised broad beans with smoked lardo
“The warmer weather is not the only indicator of spring. For me, the sign that spring is here is the appearance of certain vegetables. Broad beans represent the season perfectly, and always find a place on the menu when they’re available.”
Books
Life
Food
The best wine of spring 2017
A guide to the season’s top wines, from the experts at Cutler & Co, Supernormal, Cumulus Inc, Cumulus Up, the Builders Arms Hotel and Meatsmith.
The Quiz
Quotes
ENERGY
“No, we’re not interested in a khaki solution.”
The treasurer rejects Tony Abbott’s suggestion that wartime defence provisions could be used to force states into expanding gas production. Because it’s not enough for Abbott to divide the country; he wants to invade it.
MARRIAGE
“That’s like asking how much pocket money I give my wife – or how much she gives me, I should say.”
The conservative senator declines to reveal how much he is spending on robocalls against same-sex marriage, or how much he pays his wife. Here we were thinking there wasn’t enough pocket money in the world to make you marry Cory Bernardi.
SPORT
“Footy fans shouldn’t be subjected to a politicised grand final. Sport is sport!”
The man who coined the term “Team Australia” argues politics should stay out of sport, after the announcement that US “rapper” Macklemore will sing his hit “Same Love” at the NRL grand final. It could be worse; it could be Meatloaf.
TERRORISM
“One call was a wrong number; the other was a parent worried their kid was dating a Muslim.”
The $3.9 million helpline for people reporting radicalisation reveals it has received about five calls since it launched. The three others were from Bernardi on same-sex marriage.
FILM
“He wrote one of the worst scripts I’ve ever read … His fake Shakespeare-rap script about the LA riots. Oh, you’ve gotta read it. It’s just fuckin’ terrible.”
The actor shares his views on one of Steve Bannon’s unmade films. The horror story Bannon is directing in the White House is playing to significantly bigger crowds.
NEW ZEALAND
“All I’m asking for is a bit of understanding rather than the tripe some people are putting out, malicious, malignant, and vicious in the extreme.”
The New Zealand First leader castigates the press while refusing to be drawn on forming government. Coincidentally, “Malicious, malignant, and vicious in the extreme” is also Peters’ promise for government.
