Centrelink’s debt collection ‘pushed him over the edge’
“An artless system that aggressively demands fictional debts from our most vulnerable people has, unsurprisingly, caused considerable misery. ”
As Centrelink continues its campaign of flawed and inscrutable debt collection, a young man commits suicide.
News
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Changes to citizenship to also reopen debate on Australian identity
With the government preparing security-driven changes to citizenship, it is also readying to kickstart a new debate on Australian values.
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Disability Employment Services causing heartache
“Tom wants what others have: a job and the self-respect that comes with having a job. He wants a chance.”
While the government claims to offer expert employment support to those with a disability or health condition, the flawed system is being abused, much to the detriment of the job seekers’ dignity and self-confidence.
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The death of broadcast television
As the number of traditional viewers fall, what does the future of broadcast television look like?
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Malcolm Turnbull’s switch on power sources
“It’s sad to see someone who was once prepared to stake his leadership on addressing climate change now betray all that he once stood for.”
The further Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull gets into defending the Coalition’s climate change policy, the clearer it becomes that he is living two lives.
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Flynn out as Russian connections linger
Kim Jong-un’s brother murdered; Jokowi’s hopes for Jakarta governor; Lú-Olo poised in Timor-Leste
Opinion
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Mike Gilligan
Recalibrating Australia’s Defence focus and budget
“There is no requirement under ANZUS to spend more than we need on defence to enable us to join militarily with the US in its global aspirations.”
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Paul Bongiorno
Parliamentary attacks reveal politics out of touch
“Political attacks often thrill partisans but appear puerile to innocent bystanders. They reinforce the impression that the politicians are more interested in themselves than voters’ concerns.”
An insider’s outside view
A new podcast from Schwartz Media
Join Richard Denniss, The Australia Institute’s chief economist, as he tackles Australia’s most important political and economic issues in a new weekly podcast.
Find The Lucky Country on iTunes or wherever you get your podcasts.
Letters & Editorial
Culture
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Writing ‘Mark Colvin’s Kidney’
Tommy Murphy's stage show portrays ABC journalist Mark Colvin and business adviser Mary-Ellen Field’s relationship after the News of the World hacking scandal.
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Richard Long, Vernon Ah Kee and Diller Scofidio + Renfro
Amid a deluge of data, land and lore tell a compelling story of the actual over the virtual world.
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Designer and film historian Peter Dietze
A pioneering Melbourne designer discovers a family link to the birth of the Indian film industry.
Food
Life
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Britain has approved an IVF technique to prevent mitochondrial disease from being passed on to children, resulting in babies with three biological parents.
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Polar bear spotting in Churchill, Canada
Watching polar bears in the wild tundra offers the thrill of a close encounter, but the terrible feeling such experiences may soon be impossible.
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Strike force: Jason Belmonte, 33, tenpin bowler
Jason Belmonte on the trials, tribulations and triumphs of the international tenpin bowling tour.
Books
The Quiz
1. Which team this month scored a stunning come-from-behind win in Super Bowl 51? (Bonus point for naming their star quarterback.)
2. According to the Shakespeare character Falstaff, “The better part of valour is …”
3. Which river runs through the city of Amsterdam?
4. In our solar system, which is the sixth planet from the sun?
5. In which United States city was the Declaration of Independence signed?
6. Name the lead guitarist of Guns N’ Roses.
7. According to Greek mythology, who is Zeus’s father?
8. Name the two species of panda.
9. Saintpaulia is the botanic name for which common household plant?
10. Chartreuse is a shade of which colour?
Quotes
COMEDY
“I don’t regard it as anti-gay. I regard it as anti-Sydney Morning Herald.”
The former Liberal MP defends a bizarre speech in which he obsessed over “gay clubs” and “The Sydney Morning Homosexual”. Ross is definitely not gay, for the record, and cheated on his wife to prove it.
TAPES
“I had all the Trump… him saying the N-word stuff. I had all the outtakes on The Apprentice.”
The former celebrity and loose meat restaurateur claims Hillary Clinton begged him to release incriminating tapes of Donald Trump. Which would be the only Tom Arnold release anyone anywhere has ever begged for.
LOVE
“It’s not by accident; it’s by a carefully contrived but disingenuous mind control program, melded together by two Norwegian homosexuals who graduated from Harvard.”
The One Nation candidate explains why some Christians are now supporting same-sex marriage. She linked the mind control to Nazis and common decency.
INTELLIGENCE
“It’s not like these people wear badges that say, ‘I’m a Russian intelligence officer.’ ”
The former chairman of Donald Trump’s campaign denies alleged contact with Russian spies. It’s true that they’ve stopped with the badges, but the eye patches are still a dead giveaway.
MONEY
“It could have been for parties, I don’t know… I’m sure it was for a legitimate purpose.”
The dinosaur park owner says he cannot recall why his failed Queensland Nickel business transferred $US15 million into his account. It seems a lot for a party, but that depends on how many lower house seats it’s contesting.
FORGIVENESS
“Everyone has done something.”
The One Nation leader excuses Vladimir Putin’s alleged role in the deaths of 38 Australians aboard flight MH17. Because who among us hasn’t corruptly built a totalitarian regime, slaughtered opponents and interfered in foreign elections?
