News

What is going on with WikiLeaks’ Julian Assange?

Martin McKenzie-Murray WikiLeaks’ publishing of emails hacked by Russia to embarrass Hillary Clinton shows that its founder has not changed, the world has.

News

News

Jane Halton, the last of John Howard’s departmental heads, steps down

Karen Middleton Jane Halton, the bureaucrat at the centre of the ‘children overboard’ affair, reflects on a career of toughness and discretion.

News

Solicitors-general support Justin Gleeson in argument with George Brandis

Richard Ackland A gathering of former solicitors-general has supported Justin Gleeson’s view that Attorney-General George Brandis misunderstands the Law Officers Act.

News

Veteran UK banker Paul Fisher on climate change and the financial sector

“In some countries now – China for example – if you lend to a polluting company, then you as the lender can be held to account, not just the polluter. ”

Mike Seccombe A veteran of Britain’s central bank, Paul Fisher says climate change will have a massive impact on the global financial sector. He talks about managing the risks.

News

The Coalition attacks on statutory authorities

“It’s not limited to Gleeson and Triggs. The same trend is manifest in the way the government has reacted to a whole series of people who disagree with policy on legal grounds.”

Mike Seccombe Senate committee attacks on statutory officers reveal a government prepared to undermine independent institutions and hound advisers out of office when their counsel is politically unwelcome.

World

Duterte words offend West’s commentariat

Hamish McDonald Royal Thais in bind; African nations quit Hague crime court

Opinion

Opinion

Peter Garrett
Why the ALP must focus its policy on the environment

“As things stand, a reform-minded federal Labor government could, with strong policies and political will, lead the effort to arrest this tidal wave of decline. ”

Opinion

Paul Bongiorno
The rising toll of PM Malcolm Turnbull’s disappointments

“Turnbull is being seen as ‘weak’ – unable to stand up for what he really believes in against the conservatives in his party. Worse, he ‘stuffs up’.”

Diary

Gadfly
The search for the Nile

Richard Ackland Diarist-at-large Richard Ackland flies about the nation.

Letters, Cartoon & Editorial

Cartoon

Read

Editorial
Fate of the nation

Letters

Nauru’s children not forgotten

Since the Nauruan and Australian governments do not allow a range of journalists to visit and report on conditions endured by asylum seekers on Nauru, they are in no position to complain …

Nothing from Dutton

Coalition indignation over the minister for immigration not being invited to trot out the party line on the recent ABC Four Corners program is all a bit pathetic. I mean, what would be the point? Perhaps …

Read More

Food

Read

Food

Zing of pearls

Andrew McConnell Enjoy the pop from pearls of indigenous finger limes.

Books

Julia Baird
Victoria: The Queen

Sebastian Barry
Days without End

Gary Younge
Another Day in the Death of America

Life

Technology

Whistleblowing to The Saturday Paper via SecureDrop

Erik Jensen Introducing The Saturday Paper’s SecureDrop – an encrypted system for secure communications with whistleblowers.

Life

‘League of Legends’ and eSports

Andrew McMillen With hundreds of millions of players, online gaming now has professional ‘eSport’ competitions watched by huge global crowds.

Sport

Pace odyssey: Liam Hatcher, 20, cricketer

Richard Cooke Fast bowler Liam Hatcher on being able to take as good as you give.

The Quiz

1. Is Tanzania in the northern or southern hemisphere? (Bonus point for naming its capital city.)
2. How many current Summer Olympic sports begin with the letter ‘h’?
3. Who are the running mates of United States presidential candidates Hillary Clinton and Donald Trump?
4. Who produced Michael Jackson’s 1982 album Thriller?
5. In which wine-producing region is the Jacob’s Creek winery?
6. Which 1992 film has been turned into a stage musical set to tour Australia next year?
7. In which year was Indira Gandhi assassinated?
8. What politically charged phrase was named Macquarie Dictionary Word of the Year for 2015?
9. Dora Maar was the muse and lover of which artist?
10. A shoat is the weaned infant of which animal?

Click through for answers.

Quotes

DENIAL

“How does it feel to be more unpopular…”

journalistA reporter begins to ask the prime minister about his poor showing in Newspoll. It seems only fair that, having taken all of Tony Abbott’s policies, Malcolm Turnbull should get his popularity, too.

ISOLATION

“Just speak up a little bit.”

Malcolm TurnbullThe prime minister encourages the reporter to be a little louder as he asks about his poor showing in Newspoll. Turnbull might be as unpopular as Tony Abbott, but his ears are not as big.

ANGER

“How does it feel to be a more unpopular prime minister than Tony Abbott?”

journalistThe reporter loudly asks the prime minister about his poor showing in Newspoll. Voter satisfaction with Turnbull is now a point below Abbott’s worst rating. To quote Abbott: “You bet you are; ah, ah, you bet I am.”

BARGAINING

“Sorry, you had a question.”

Malcolm TurnbullThe prime minister deftly pretends not to be taking a question on his poor showing in Newspoll. To be clear: only 29 per cent of people register satisfaction with his prime ministership.

DEPRESSION

“Graham Quirk is a very popular Lord Mayor. Did you ask for any tips today?”

journalistA reporter brings up Brisbane’s mayor, who is apparently a yardstick on popularity. You cannot argue with a guy who literally believes koala tourism will replace mining revenue in his city.

ACCEPTANCE

“Well, Graham, give me some tips. Give me some tips.”

Malcolm TurnbullThe prime minister gives up. Quirk delivers no advice, but last month he did offer this: “To say that Brisbane is the koala capital of Australia is not an overstatement … It’s not a case of taking advantage of the koala, it’s just simply saying we have this wonderful, treasured iconic little animal and we ought not lose that opportunity.”