Greg Hunt’s hostile attack on the environment
As the government walks away from pricing carbon and dismantles climate initiatives, it reveals itself as our most radical in decades.
News
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Senate defeat for Pyne’s education reforms
““This isn’t a savings measure: it is ideology in search of a problem,” says The University of Canberra’s Stephen Parker. Yet Pyne remains confident of eventual success.”
The education minister’s bullishness in defeat of his university reforms epitomises the government’s struggles in the senate.
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The highs and lows of being drafted into the AFL
There’s talent aplenty amid the rookies recruited at last week’s AFL draft. But can the realities of professional footy live up to their dreams?
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International aid workers in harm’s way
Islamic State’s beheading of an American aid worker in Syria highlights the terrible risks – and fatal attraction – of humanitarian and journalistic work in war-torn regions.
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The Murray-Darling up the creek
The government spent billions buying water from farmers to save the Murray-Darling, but there’s now a push to sell water back.
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OPEC pulls global market levers again
China setbacks in HK and Taiwan. Third divorce for Thai prince? Sri Lankan elections.
Opinion
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Kate Holden
Malcolm Turnbull’s loyal remaking
“Few have noticed the highwire upon which Turnbull has been perched ever more precariously since the election. Only now is the wobble beginning to show. ”
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Paul Bongiorno
Abbott through the looking-glass
“Many coalition MPs are fuming at the government’s political woes and lay the blame squarely at the door of the PM and his senior ministers. Some worry that they are as delusional as Humpty Dumpty.”
Letters, Poem & Editorial
Culture
Peter Carey's latest novel, Amnesia, provides further evidence he will never forget where he came from.
Pop to popism at Art Gallery of NSW
A welcome revisit of Pop art's canny embrace of mass consumerism.
Whole Larder Love author Rohan Anderson
How Rohan Anderson turned his unhealthy life around by becoming a hunter/gatherer.
Food
Life
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We Are Handsome’s plan to be more than a swimwear brand
How swimwear lions We Are Handsome stay ahead of the game
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Controversy over e-cigarettes and ’vaping’ heats up
There’s no smoke but plenty of fire in the debate over e-cigarettes and tobacco control.
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Bronzed Aussie: Rachel Jarry, 23, basketballer
Rachel Jarry plays for one of Australia's most successful sporting teams. So where's the recognition?
Books
The Quiz
1. Which formula one driver is this year’s drivers’ world champion? (Bonus points for naming how many F1 world championships he has won, and the previous British driver to win multiple world titles.)
2. Which of these countries’ flags is not red and white: (a) Indonesia; (b) Austria; (c) Denmark; or (d) Morocco?
3. Actress Mamie Gummer is the daughter of which Oscar winner?
4. Which South Australian is leader of the opposition in the senate?
5. Who wrote Brave New World?
6. Typhoon Haiyan devastated which island nation in November 2013?
7. Bob Guccione snr is best known for founding which magazine?
8. What is the next prime number in this sequence: 2, 3, 5, 7 …?
9. Queen of the Nile, Indian Dreaming, More Chilli and Lucky 88 are all popular types of…?
10. What is the name for the method of cooking whereby food is sealed in airtight plastic bags then placed in a temperature-controlled water bath or steamer?
Quotes
NEGOTIATION
“Christopher Pyne is embarrassing himself and needs to stop harassing me and other crossbenchers.”
The Palmer United Party senator complains of being “inundated with text messages” from the education minister “virtually begging” him to support his university reforms.
SIMILE
“It’s like wading through molasses because we have eight crossbenchers.”
The education minister complains of how difficult it is to get reforms through the senate or text Glenn Lazarus while in a swamp of marmalade.
METAPHOR
“All of us put a lot of work into them, whether it’s writing them, delivering them, or explaining them afterwards.”
The opposition leader reflects on his blank-stamp, rubber-cheque, hall-of-mirrors mixed metaphors.
ROMANCE
“From Santa.”
Geoffrey Edelsten and fiancée Gabi Grecko pose for a Christmas card – her naked except for some tinsel and her wincing ambition, him dressed as a 71-year-old elf. Warning: if you have not seen these photographs, do not look them up.
ECONOMICS
“We want Australians to go out there and spend for Christmas – don’t let Santa down, go out there and spend for Christmas.”
The treasurer fends off collapsing commodity prices but seems to fundamentally misunderstand the notion of Santa.
GENDER
“I certainly don’t believe in that kind of political correctness. Let boys be boys, let girls be girls – that’s always been my philosophy.”
The prime minister responds to Greens senator Larissa Waters’ “No Gender December” campaign against stereotyped Christmas presents. Let boys be boys and girls be girls and Geoffrey be an elf.
