Behrouz Boochani:
A Letter From Manus Island
Today, The Saturday Paper published Behrouz Boochani's poetic manifesto, A Letter From Manus Island.
To mark this piece, and Behrouz's contribution to public discourse while held on Manus, the essay was performed in the courtyard at the Malthouse Theatre by writer and poet Maxine Beneba Clarke.
Special thanks to the Malthouse Theatre, Maxine Beneba Clarke and Behrouz Boochani for making this happen.
This week
Sexual abuse survivor rebukes Hillsong head
While Brian Houston celebrates Hillsong’s new multimillion-dollar church in New York, a victim of his father’s sexual abuse crowdfunds to pay for cancer treatment.It’s just hypocrisy, isn’t it? It’s nothing to them to walk over some people to achieve their dreams … They run a dreadful business and I use that word deliberately. It’s a business, not a church.
Exclusive: Detainees denied cold water, cooling before NT prison riot
Documents released under freedom of information reveal the brutal conditions as a riot unfolded at Alice Springs Correctional Centre.
In an attempt to win back Queensland voters, Anthony Albanese expressed support for coal exports this week, confirming that Labor’s path back to government remains fraught.
News stories and real estate websites paint a picture of an ever booming and expanding property market. The reality may be quite different.
Using her brilliant wit as a tool for political activism, writer Lindy West has fought for social justice issues such as fat liberation and abortion rights. The author of Shrill – now an acclaimed TV series – and The Witches Are Coming speaks about her work. “There’s something intoxicating about being defiant, especially when you start to articulate all the ways in which your life has been made smaller and more difficult by systems of power.”
Australia should lead way on refugees
Next week, the first United Nations Global Refugee Forum will take place, where member states will try to co-ordinate a response to the largest global refugee crisis since World War II. It is the first step towards a necessary international processing and resettlement agreement. Marise Payne, Australia’s foreign minister, has not committed to attending. Nor has the Morrison government made any public statement about what role Australia might play in the UN talks.
PM’s clouded judgement on climate
On a day when thick, acrid smoke made Australia’s largest city virtually uninhabitable, the prime minister claimed climate policy success. Scott Morrison told a news conference – which had been called not to respond to the crisis but to discuss the freedom of religions to discriminate – that ‘our actions on climate change are getting the results they’re intended to get’. No one could miss the irony.
What a miracle it was that Brian Houston, leader of the Hillbilly Church and spiritual adviser to Schmo Morrison, managed to get his White House ban lifted. There he was inside the cabinet room, no less, announcing he had prayed for the Pussy Grabber, presumably asking God to remedy his bone spurs.
We don’t know for sure if Nero played violin while Rome burnt. If it did happen, it was likely a different instrument, perhaps a kithara. But that other question – of whether a leader could be so frivolous and uncaring in the face of such catastrophe – was answered this week by Scott Morrison.
Women campaign to raise Newstart rate
Six women who have experienced the struggle of living on Newstart explain why they have turned to activism.
NZ volcano: Australian death toll climbs
Zelensky and Putin meet for the first time. Whakaari/White Island volcano eruption. Aung San Suu Kyi defends Myanmar in International Court of Justice. Widespread concerns about Afghanistan war revealed in Washington Post.
Harry Styles’ second solo album, Fine Line, is at its best when the pop star reveals his vulnerable side, but the record needs some reining in.
Yhonnie Scarce and Edition Office’s In Absence
At NGV International, an architectural collaboration between Edition Office and Yhonnie Scarce invites visitors to reflect on the erasures of colonisation.
A senate inquiry into thalidomide in March called for survivors to be better supported and compensated. Months later the government still has done nothing.
Track cycling world champion Stephanie Morton
Following Anna Meares’ retirement, Stephanie Morton has emerged as Australia’s new track sprinting star. This weekend the reigning world champion races in Brisbane, but her sights are firmly set on Tokyo 2020.
Which team won this year’s WBBL championship?
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