Actually, it is climate change
“There are areas now burning at an intensity and in a season at which they never have before. And there are communities where fire has simply never occurred, moist refuges in the landscape since before the break-up of Gondwana, back 60, 80, 100 million years.”
As the prime minister refuses to discuss the science linking climate change and the bushfires burning in eastern Australia, former Howard adviser Geoff Cousins compares the political strategy to the tactics of the American gun lobby. With photography by Stephen Dupont.
News
Read
Co-designing the Voice to Parliament
Despite an early promise by the Morrison government to deliver better outcomes for Indigenous Australians, they remain no closer to being recognised in the constitution.
Read
Proposed reforms to NSW consent law
“The draft includes specific mention of the ‘freeze’ response and an entire page of proposed jury directions designed to encourage jurors to question their own perspectives and prejudices … However, there are ongoing concerns about the efficacy of the draft amendments to the relevant sections of the act.”
The draft proposals on consent law in NSW contain some vital reforms, but experts maintain that further action is needed to combat sexual violence.
Read
Scott Morrison imposes discipline
Scott Morrison has gone on the front foot, rewriting the cabinet handbook and setting the agenda for how decisions in his government will be made.
Read
Holocaust survivor targeted by racist abuse in Italy
Hindu nationalism in India. Press freedoms under threat in Vanuatu. Evo Morales ousted as Bolivian president. Racism, xenophobia and anti-Semitism on the rise in Italy.
Read
Some people have been unkind enough to criticise former New Zealander, man of weatherboard and iron, drought envoy and one-time deputy prime minister the Honourable Barnaby Joyce, MP, after he claimed Green voters not only caused the catastrophic fires this week but also made the ultimate sacrifice for their beliefs. Did he go too far, you ask? Not at all. In the scheme of utterances from Cockies Corner, this is sensible stuff and goes down a treat.
Opinion
Read
Russell Marks
George Pell’s appeal to the High Court
“The High Court’s decision to hear George Pell’s appeal against his conviction for five counts of sexually assaulting altar boys was met with dismay by survivors of clergy abuse and their advocates. But lawyers had expected the court would grant leave, given the way it has determined cases of historical child sexual abuse since 1994.”
Read
Marly Wells Naparngardi, Harry Jakamarra Nelson, Valerie Napaljarri Martin, Ned Jampijinpa Hargraves
The killing of Kumanjayi Walker
“What has happened in Yuendumu is an outrage, an injustice, and an event that we must not allow to be swept under the rug … We are hurt. We are angry. We are suffering. We stay strong and we stay together – but we should never again have to be connected by grief like this.”
Read
Paul Bongiorno
A burning issue
“It has been a long time coming and it has taken the biggest fire front in Australia’s history to do it, but climate change denial has finally lost its political potency. The pressure is now on Scott Morrison to resolve the fierce resistance in his own government’s ranks and respond with policies that persuade voters – thousands of them victims of this week’s inferno – that the federal Liberals and Nationals get it.”
Letters, Cartoon & Editorial
Read
According to the Department of Foreign Affairs “blue book” – given to the Morrison government after the election – the threat of “populism, nationalism and authoritarianism” is only growing in the region. “We need to work hard to respond to the challenges,” the document warns, “enhancing global co-operation and limiting coercive power.” The world it describes is a troubled one. Tensions are rising. Orthodoxies are breaking down.
Culture
Packer & Sons looks at the extremes of Australian masculinity through the lens of its two most successful media dynasties. “It would be impossible to stage Packer & Sons, a play about three generations of Packer power, without the Murdochs. The two competing families have brawled, collaborated and defined themselves against each other. The Murdochs are the Greeks to the Packers’ Roman gods.”
Olivia Colman and Helena Bonham Carter shine in the third season of The Crown, which sees the royal family facing greater public criticism amid unrest in Britain.
Read
Maxine Beneba Clarke
Surveillance
the blood-truth is:
it’s much less about the camera
and much more to do with the body
that it’s worn on
the body with the baton
hanging from its belt, the body
in blue, the body on the cop beat
clenching fists around a point-blank
pepper-spray can, the body
who holds the rein, that rears the riot
horse, the body trained
to wield
the gun
Life
Read
An early-morning visit from the author’s mother delivers news that could affect her life and the lives of her children.
Read
The smashing success of women’s wrestling
The demand for women’s wrestling is growing, and along with it a coterie of ambitious proponents following their squared circle dreams.
Books
Puzzles
1. Who, on November 16, 1988, became the first woman in modern history to lead a Muslim country?
2. What beginning with ‘c’ is the first form of milk produced by mammals, which contains antibodies to protect the offspring against disease?
3. Which New Zealand netballer played her 150th Test match in Perth last month? (Bonus point for naming the Australian Diamonds player who retired from international duties after the same game.)
4. Who directs the new Charlie’s Angels film?
5. What nationality was artist Gustav Klimt?
6. What do plants extract from the air to use in photosynthesis?
7. World War I ended in what year?
8. Relating to navigation, GPS is an abbreviation of what?
9. In Moby-Dick, what is the name of Captain Ahab’s whaling ship?
10. In order of distance, what planet is seventh from the sun?
Quotes
APPETITE
“Tony loves his steak – and the leftover portion of your steak as well. Even if it’s only the rib bone off the rib eye with a skerrick of meat left on, he was still very happy to oblige.”
The minister for Home Affairs describes Tony Abbott’s relationship with steak. And his relationship with the leftovers of the DLP.
AUDIO
“Many Americans want to hear directly from Rudy Giuliani. He is considering several options.”
A spokeswoman for Rudy Giuliani confirms the Trump adviser is considering hosting a podcast about the impeachment proceedings. His other idea is for one that’s just two mates talking about funny stuff that happens to them – it will be great.
HISTORY
“Abraham Lincoln was famously ... surrounded by people who were former political adversaries.”
The daughter of the US president explains why colleagues may testify against her father. The men are just so similar – mercifully, they have different tastes in theatre.
HORSES
“There is an unfairness at the core of the program’s approach and coverage.”
The chairman of Racing NSW sends a 21-page letter of complaint to the ABC after a program detailing cruelty towards racehorses. Balding is sure the issue could be resolved humanely if the journalist just joined him behind this white curtain.
FIRE
“Our media is full of images of brave men fighting the ferocious fires. As always, it’s usually men who do the really dangerous, difficult work.”
The sex therapist continues her increasingly bizarre campaign against women. Truly, the really dangerous, difficult work is pretending gendered violence doesn’t exist.
CLIMATE
“I acknowledge that the two people who died were most likely people who voted for the Green party, so I am not going to start attacking them. That’s the last thing I want to do.”
The former deputy prime minister links the deaths of two people to their political affiliations. If he does have a relationship with decency, he’s cheating again.
