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ALP leader Bill Shorten faces big test on civil liberties
The opposition leader is being wedged on data retention laws, not just by the government and the Greens, but by his own party.
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POLITICS
“In any campaign you’ll see people express themselves in all types of ways and we welcome it.”
The NSW premier addresses public opinion. The casual observer might not even notice he was talking about someone having spray-painted enormous penises onto the side of his campaign bus.
ART
“That is where she belongs, above Lake Burley Griffin. That is where she was commissioned, she was born there, that is where she belongs.”
The artist responds to news her pendulous boob turtle, Skywhale, will not be included in Canberra’s Balloon Spectacular. Criminally, funding was instead allocated to balloons representing Yoda and a character from Angry Birds.
MEDIA
“Fracas with a BBC producer.”
The BBC explains why it finally suspended Jeremy Clarkson, host of Top Gear. Because homophobia is okay, and a bit of racism, especially directed at Mexicans, and the odd bit of sexism even, but you just can’t go around hitting people.
MUSIC
“This affects the creativity of young musicians who hope to stand on the shoulders of other musicians. Let my clients go forth and continue to do their magic.”
The lawyer representing musicians Pharrell Williams and Robin Thicke defends the fact all but two bars of their song "Blurred Lines" were lifted from Marvin Gaye’s "Got To Give It Up". It’s obviously hard to write your own melodies when you’re busy riffing humorously on date rape.
WORLD
“People can change.”
The Australian death-row prisoner inscribes a portrait he painted of Indonesian President Joko Widodo after learning his bid for clemency had been rejected. His final appeal, alongside Andrew Chan, has been set over for next week.
INDIGENOUS AFFAIRS
“It is not the job of the taxpayer to subsidise lifestyle choices.”
The PM explains why he supports the closing of remote Aboriginal communities. Of course living in the community where you were born and where your family has thousands of years of connection is a lifestyle choice, like literacy rates and life expectancy and deaths in custody. Oh, and being a bigot.