Abbott appointments are trusted class warriors
With an unprecedented fervour, the government is filling boards and commissions with old cronies.
News
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2022 FIFA World Cup slave labour deaths
“Each day, an average of two dead workers arrive at Tribhuvan International Airport in Kathmandu, their coffins clearly recognisable.”
Qatar’s World Cup is eight years away, but already hundreds of Nepali labourers have been worked to death.
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Unholy discourse clouds debate on Australians fighting in Syria
Does silencing dissent at home serve to encourage Muslim Australians to embrace jihad?
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How Mathias Cormann’s hasty backroom deal with Clive Palmer botched five years of deliberation on financial advice rules.
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Faulkner expects state conference defeat on party reform
Labor stalwart John Faulkner knows his call to empower party members will send the NSW state conference into chaos and splinter his own Left faction. He also knows it’s essential.
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Iran’s finger on the button of nuke deal
The wrong time to admire martyrdom; soft treatment for 'psycho' Prabowo.
Opinion
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James Wheeldon
ASIC a one-eyed watchdog
“It is hard to fault ASIC for charging Moylan. At least, it would be if ASIC had demonstrated similar enthusiasm for smashing the fraudsters at CBA.”
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Ella Delaney
Pyne’s plan for US-style unis misguided
“The tertiary education system in the US contributes to the bifurcation of the country into those who have everything and those who have nothing.”
Letters & Editorial
Culture
’Charlie’s Country’ director Rolf de Heer shows his Dutch courage
Rolf de Heer’s long-term friendship with actor David Gulpilil once again unearths filmic gold.
"All This Mayhem" documents a long grind
Documentary about champion skateboarding brothers sidesteps some home truths.
Food
Life
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When it comes to producing flavoursome spuds, you can’t beat homegrown. The question is, do you dig it?
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Artificial sweeteners may be fuelling rather than fighting weight loss
Artificial sweeteners may be leading to weight gain, but industry-funded studies seek to sugar-coat the research.
Read
On a roll: Matthew Flapper, 35, lawn bowler
Commonwealth Games debutant Matthew Flapper on the mind games of lawn bowls.
Books
The Quiz
1. Who was this year named Forbes magazine’s most powerful celebrity?
2. With regards to a credit card, the abbreviation CVV stands for…?
3. Who, according to the Bible, was restored to life by Jesus four days after his death?
4. Go Fish, Crazy Eights and Spoons are all types of…?
5. At 530 carats, what is the name of the world’s largest-cut fine-quality colourless diamond?
6. What is the name of the seventh and final Harry Potter book?
7. The Apollo 11 moon-landing crew comprised which three astronauts?
8. True or false: the lower the pH the more acidic the solution?
9. Which horse won last year’s Melbourne Cup? (Bonus points for naming second and third placegetters.)
10. Which three colours feature on the flag of Bulgaria?
Quotes
POWER
“The sauna was off; we were in suits.”
The Australian’s editor-in-chief, in a thorough and even-handed profile in his own newspaper, offers his version of “I didn’t inhale” – a clandestine dinner with Kevin Rudd in the InterContinental steam room, just after Rudd lost the leadership in 2010.
SCIENCE I
“Climate change has been going on for as long as the planet is here. There will always be a little bit of it.”
The newspaper proprietor explains climate science like one might bad eggs.
CRIME
“We never got to meet Allison, but dealing with the Dickie family and extended family … I feel we know her.”
The detective superintendent in charge of the Baden-Clay case speaks after Allison’s husband, Gerard, was found guilty of her murder.
SCIENCE II
“If the sea level rises six inches it’s a big deal. The Maldives might disappear or something. But, okay, we can’t mitigate that ... We’ve just got to stop building vast houses on seashores.”
The newspaper proprietor explains climate science as it will affect his holiday plans. The fate of the less vast houses of, say, Kiribati was not canvassed.
RELIGION
“Even we have this leprosy in our house."
The pontiff muses over the high rates of child abuse in families, but confesses “even” the Catholic Church has a problem with paedophilia.
WORLD
“The country used to be a place roamed by rascals and outlaws from Europe.”
China’s most popular tabloid responds to Foreign Minister Julie Bishop’s pledge to stand up to China. The editorial also took a dim view of the historic treatment of Aboriginals.
