Charting the war on young people
A suite of policy settings, from wage cuts to unaffordable education, shows the government turning its back on a generation.
News
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Safety fears for Manus Island murder witness
“I don’t want to die for doing right thing. I did testify for murder of my roommate and one of my best friends. Why should I be punished for doing right?”
As the Immigration Department faced senate estimates, a witness to the murder of Reza Barati fears retribution from the man he helped convict.
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Reporting Robert Xie’s murder of Brenda Lin’s family
In 2009, her world was torn apart by the murder of her parents, brothers and aunt. Now, following her uncle’s long-awaited conviction, Brenda Lin faces the glare of the media again.
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Senior Liberals caution Malcolm Turnbull on style
“Turnbull’s colleagues proffered the view that if he focused on an overarching narrative for the government, Abbott’s interventions would gain less traction.”
As Turnbull’s supporters become anxious about an absence of narrative and clear advice, his problems are greater than a vengeful Tony Abbott.
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Criminalising the homeless of Melbourne’s CBD
Rough sleepers have been moved on from Melbourne’s city streets, but without a long-term assistance strategy, how can they rebuild their lives?
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Trump says opponents behind hate crimes
Putin's presdiential rivals brave; Saudi's King Salman visits Indonesia; Geert Wilders' mixed ancestry
Opinion
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Paul Bongiorno
Coalition divides and stonkers
“Attempts to dismiss Abbott as a resentful backbencher underplay his status as a former PM. If he were a mere maverick his views could be more easily dispatched. ”
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Guy Rundle
The class shift splitting labour parties
“The culture- and knowledge-producing class has become steadily less interested in a real transformation of a privatised, neoliberal economy. After all, they have done quite well out of it. ”
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Gadfly
Oh Fatherland, show us the sign
Diarist-at-large Richard Ackland flies about the nation.
An insider’s outside view
Returning for a second season
The Lucky Country is an insider’s outside view of Australia’s most important political and economic debates. Hosted by The Australia Institute’s Chief Economist Richard Denniss, The Lucky Country is a weekly podcast from Schwartz Media which applies common sense to complex issues.
Find The Lucky Country on iTunes or wherever you get your podcasts.
Letters & Editorial
Culture
Sarah Snook talks Noël Coward and HBO
From stage to television to film, Adelaide-born Sarah Snook is an actress in high demand. Her choices are proving as shrewd as they are diverse.
The Magnetic Fields’ ‘50 Song Memoir’
Composing a song for every year of Stephin Merritt’s life has resulted in The Magnetic Fields’ eclectic five-album tour de force, 50 Song Memoir.
Food
Life
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It’s not always easy to quiet the mind, even under the venerable direction of a monk in a Buddhist temple.
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Ménière’s disease and hearing disorders
Hearing impairment is underestimated and costly, but a new inquiry is set to amplify attention on the problem.
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Game of throws: Bevan Calvert, 30, handballer
Australian handball team captain Bevan Calvert on building domestic skill levels.
Books
The Quiz
1. What was named the Macquarie Dictionary’s Word of the Year for 2016?
2. What is the highest number on a roulette wheel?
3. Which soccer club is currently on top of the English Premiere League ladder?
4. Which Scotsman wrote the novel Trainspotting?
5. What name is given to comics created in Japan or by creators in the Japanese language?
6. What is the literal translation of “mardi gras”?
7. Bongo, eland and kudu are varieties of which species of animal?
8. In military terms, the acronym SAS stands for …? (Bonus point for naming their motto.)
9. What is the name of Google’s parent company?
10. In which year did Michael Jackson die?
Quotes
FILM
“I’m sorry, no, there’s a mistake. Moonlight, you guys won best picture. This is not a joke.”
The producer of La La Land realises his film has been given the Oscar for Best Picture in error. Because any prize given to a musical is a mistake.
SPEECH
“Most of these fuckers have their own TV shows.”
The Labor senator identifies those apparently silenced by the Racial Discrimination Act. Sam might not have a show himself, but his hair does look like it’s come from the standby props department at Grundy Television.
WELFARE
“We felt that it was appropriate to release the information.”
The secretary of the Department of Human Services defends leaking private information related to a critic of Centrelink’s debt collection. Privacy is expensive and the poor can’t afford it.
RACISM
“The committee bowed at the altar of political correctness, they heeded the caution of the saturated mattress.”
The rogue senator complains that a committee did not recommended changes to the Racial Discrimination Act, taking to new heights the right’s obsession with urination and being racist.
LOGIC
“Diversity is the weaponisation of political correctness, and it’s going to kill us all.”
The conservative columnist explains why women should not participate in the military and also why conservative columnists have a reputation for being batshit crazy.
POLITICS
“From now on, America will be empowered by our aspirations, not burdened by our fears.”
The US president uses his first speech to Congress to pretend that he did not just win an election built entirely on the burden of people’s fears.
