In court with Cardinal George Pell
“Before the hearing, it felt like we were waiting for an eclipse – great anticipation of something we knew would be fleeting. A masked protester stood silently, holding a placard.”
As Cardinal George Pell faces the Melbourne Magistrates’ Court on historic sexual abuse charges, he confronts a system unmoved by his status.
News
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The impact of public sentiment on the economy
“Public messaging is acting as a material alternative to the usual fiscal and monetary levers – impacting both positively and negatively, deliberately and by accident.”
More than ever, markets read between the lines, making volatile every pronouncement by the government or Reserve Bank.
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The Uluru statement and Indigenous recognition
“It’s involving people in the process, a living, ongoing form of recognition.”
The Uluru statement’s call for a voice to advise parliament surprised some for its pragmatism, sidestepping earlier recognition debates. As a result it will test the major parties’ avowed commitment to give greater power to Indigenous Australians.
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Rising tension on Manus Island
As the Manus Island detention centre is closed, refugees are under mounting pressure to resettle in an area of PNG where they are unsafe and unwanted.
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Redeveloping social housing in Sydney’s Waterloo
As the NSW government moves towards redeveloping a pivotal public housing area of Sydney, many residents believe its motives are purely to profit from the planned ‘social mix’.
Opinion
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Santilla Chingaipe
Opinion journalism and clickbait
“Uhlmann made some strong statements on his personal position on North Korea’s missile testing and his view of how that should have been handled, as well as his views on Russia and China’s recent actions. It raised questions about a journalist’s role at events such as the G20 summit – whether they are there to reflect opinion or to have one.”
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Paul Bongiorno
Canavan’s dual citizenship imbroglio
“Already there is some natural justice in politics. The prime minister was quick to condemn the Greens for “incredible sloppiness”, while Trade Minister Steve Ciobo was even harsher, accusing the Greens of amateur-hour incompetence. Those assessments have now come back to bite them, though Ciobo refuses to acknowledge it.”
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Gadfly
Devine inspiration rewarded
Journalist and naval historian Mike Carlton has come up with the Kenny Awards – prizes for right-wing commentary that might otherwise go unnoticed and ungarlanded. The awards are named after former bag-carrier for Fishnets Downer and Iraq war champion Chris Kenny, who scribbles for The Catholic Boys Daily.
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
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The death of Elijah Doughty is a signal moment. In pondering the value of a human life, the judge asked the community to do the same. He asked unintentional questions, too: Is a black life worth less than a white one? Does this country grieve the same now as if a white boy were run down on a city street?
Culture
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Author Robert Drewe on his latest satire, ‘Whipbird’
Author Robert Drewe’s award-winning novels are much loved for their sharply drawn portraits of Australian life. For his latest, Whipbird, he has turned his satirical eye to the type of monied professional chasing the settler tradition by owning a modest vineyard.
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Jenny Watson’s ‘The Fabric of Fantasy’
Jenny Watson’s assured handling of paint, and the worlds hidden beneath it, as well as her exploration of feminism and psychoanalysis, make her a vital Australian artist.
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“For a film that is, at its heart, two men eating lunch, the repartee is tremendously fast paced, almost manic. Is it difficult, I ask, to dial it down at the end of the day, when filming wraps? ‘Well, when I’m on screen, I’m sort of dialling it up,’ he explains, and I can’t help wondering if he’s deliberately missing the point of my question. ”
Food
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Pumpernickel sandwiches with bacon and marmalade
“Pumpernickel is a curious beast. A dark, soft loaf hailing from the Westphalia region of Germany, traditionally, it was cooked in a sealed container in a steam-laden oven. This more modern version hails from the United States, where it is a little lighter and is allowed to bake with a crust.”
Life
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Death literacy and dying at home
When the end comes, most of us would rather die at home among family than in a hospital, but our reluctance to discuss the inevitable can leave it too late. That also denies us the great solace some find in grieving with the deceased.
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Travelling the Balkan borderlands from Serbia to Greece is a navigation of the bristling enmities of the former Yugoslavia.
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Moore experience: Stephen Moore, 34, rugby player
Fresh from standing down as Wallabies captain, Stephen Moore talks about the importance of experience and a balanced life off the rugby field.
Books
The Quiz
1. What is the first name of Grace Kelly’s character in Rear Window? (Bonus point for naming the occupation of Jimmy Stewart’s character, L.B. “Jeff” Jefferies.)
2. Timpani are musical instruments also known as what beginning with ‘k’?
3. Which ancient Greek wrote: “Sing, O muse, of the rage of Achilles, son of Peleus, that brought countless ills upon the Achaeans”?
4. How many British F1 Grand Prix titles has Lewis Hamilton won?
5. Jodie Whittaker is set to take over which long-running television role?
6. Nacre, a hard, iridescent substance that forms the inner layer of certain shells, is commonly known as what?
7. Which musician’s 14th studio album is titled 4:44?
8. In which order are the swimming strokes raced in a medley relay?
9. W. E. Johns created which fictional pilot and adventurer?
10. Titan is the largest moon of which planet?
Quotes
RESPONSIBILITY
“It has been such an honour to represent the Australian mining sector over the past year.”
The senator resigns his ministry after his mother made him an Italian citizen without him knowing. Canavan pleaded that the only power to which he had conflicting obedience was coal-fired.
DISCOURSE
“Mr Abbott, when he campaigned for government, one of those campaign platforms was the elimination of the Australian Human Rights Commission.”
The outgoing HRC president tells the truth. As she has been doing for five years, in the face of great opposition.
WATER
“We have taken water, put it back into agriculture, so we could look after you and make sure we don’t have the greenies running the show.”
The deputy prime minister explains his environmental policy to a pub in Shepparton. Because this country’s real future is in heavily subsidised cotton crops.
MILITARY
“Our military must be focused on decisive and overwhelming victory and cannot be burdened with the tremendous medical costs and disruption that transgender in the military would entail. Thank you.”
The US president announces that transgendered people will not be allowed to serve in the military in any capacity. His logic was unclear but then most hate is ill formed.
POLITICS
“Oxford University? That’s a school for stupid people.”
The president of the Philippines hits back at a study showing he paid to increase his popularity on social media. Given the thousands of extrajudicial killings he’s ordered to increase his popularity since, it seems a minor point.
DEATHS
“People are going to be talking about G for the next 100 years.”
The Indigenous rapper marks the death of Dr G Yunupingu. He was 46.
