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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.
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The Quiz
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.