How Reclaim Australia hid a ‘terrorist’
“Many serious members are paranoid: about the erosion of white culture, the spectre of a caliphate. But the most intense paranoia is of each other. ”
Inside the fractured groupings and white power fantasies of Australia’s far right, an alleged terrorist plot was forming.
News
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Josh Frydenberg’s approach to environment and energy
“No matter what I say, I will disappoint Bob Brown ... And dare I say, I will disappoint people like Alan Jones.”
The new minister for the environment and energy, Josh Frydenberg, is ready to balance his portfolios and disappoint critics on the left and right.
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Who audits the Big Four auditors?
While some thought the suspension of PricewaterhouseCoopers’ audit of the Vatican a blow for church transparency, it is the Big Four accounting firms themselves that remain hypocritically inscrutable.
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The military ponders the Thai royal succession
Does the imminent ascension to the throne of Thailand’s playboy prince Vajiralongkorn make it more or less likely the military junta will loosen its grip on power?
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Census attacks raise issue of security of foreign investment in infrastructure
“If things became ugly between us and the Chinese ‘they could potentially develop something to attack our critical infrastructure ... However, if we sell it to them, they can just turn it off.’”
The attack on the census website highlights concerns over more damaging cyberwarfare, potentially state-sponsored, leading some experts to caution against foreign investment in critical infrastructure.
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Al-Qaeda affiliates renounce jihadism
India’s bold GST; Japan’s succession; Thai Prince Duntroon links; Kim goes for gold
Opinion
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Maxine Beneba Clarke
Our unnamed racism holds us back
“There is a reason people such as Leak fear and resist the word racism. It is powerful. It is definitive. It carries the inescapable burn of hard truth. ”
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Paul Bongiorno
Coalition’s eye on the numbers
“The green light was given for the first online census, to outsource it and to extend the length of time for names and addresses to be held. All without serious explanation or adequate planning. The government even left the Australian Bureau of Statistics leaderless for a year and substantially cut its budget.”
Letters, Poem & Editorial
Culture
Artist Mike Parr’s relentless self-portraiture
Mike Parr retains the ability to unsettle gallery directors, though he may be the country’s most deeply engaged, self-analytical artist.
Nicholas Mangan’s ‘Limits to Growth’
Nicholas Mangan explores the tension between capital and dwindling natural resources, and how they come together in the grim story of asylum seekers held on Nauru.
Food
Life
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Not letting bipolar define your life
Diagnosed with bipolar disorder, Cay readily found information about symptoms ‘but nothing that tells you how to be a human being’.
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The proposed demolition of the Sirius building in Sydney robs Australians of an iconic piece of Brutalist architecture.
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Scorching all-rounder: Hilton Cartwright, 24, cricketer
All-rounder Hilton Cartwright on choosing between batting and bowling, and playing for Zimbabwe, England or Australia.
Books
The Quiz
1. Who was Australia's 27th prime minister?
2. Which movie musical features the lyrics: “Everything's up to date in Kansas City”?
3. What is the symbol for manganese on the periodic table?
4. The media is also known as the what estate? (Bonus point for naming who wrote a 1996 novel of the same name.)
5. Born James Newell Osterberg Jr., who is often referred to as the “godfather of punk”?
6. The limestone formations known as The Pinnacles are in which Australian state or territory?
7. Which spelling is correct: (a) harrassment; (b) harassment; or (c) harrasment?
8. Who is Australia’s team captain for the Rio Olympic Games?
9. What is the name of the newly released Harry Potter stage play?
10. Who is older: Donald Trump or Hillary Clinton?
Quotes
DETENTION
“Certainly some have made false allegations in an attempt to get to Australia.”
The immigration minister dismisses as “hype” the log of thousands of abuse claims made on Nauru. Other useful words are “appalling” and “unconscionable” and “you’ve been sacked from your ministry for gross negligence”.
POLITICS
“In many respects, you know, they honour President Obama. He’s the founder of ISIS. He’s the founder of ISIS. He’s the founder. He founded ISIS.”
The Republican presidential candidate suggests Barack Obama started Daesh. We are now precisely three days from him declaring 9/11 was an inside job.
DATA
“Which heads roll, where and when, will be determined once the review is complete.”
The prime minister promises to punish someone for the shambles of Tuesday’s census. The head of the bureau of statistics is meanwhile desperately trying to get his name off the documents.
WATER
“We were expecting the pool to be blue again in the morning.”
The Rio organising committee spokesman explains why that the Olympic diving pool turned vivid green, blaming an unexpected number of athletes jumping into it.
MEDIA
“I think Four Corners should be ashamed of what they’ve done.”
The Northern Territory’s outgoing chief minister criticises the ABC for airing evidence of child abuse so close to an election. The shirtless little boy with a bag tied over his head could have stayed strapped in that chair for a few more weeks.
SPORT
“It was very good.”
The Adelaide-born 18-year-old celebrates winning gold in the 100-metre freestyle at the Rio Olympics. He is the first Australian to win the event since 1968.
