January 28 – February 3, 2023
News
Comment
Comment
Tony Windsor
The case against fossil fuel giant Santos
“The EPBC Act was set up by John Howard in 1999 with the intent of giving the Commonwealth some jurisdiction over matters of environmental law. It provided a framework for the protection of the Australian environment, including its biodiversity and its natural and culturally significant places. It did not include water.”
Comment
Chris Wallace
Looking for Labor’s grand plan
“The federal government response to crime rates in Alice Springs dominated federal politics this week. Prime Minister Anthony Albanese made a better-late-than-never visit. His sombre expression contemplating the conditions there was a reminder of just how heavy a responsibility leading a nation can be.”
Comment
John Hewson
The future of garbage
“Although Australian governments have set ambitious targets for recycling – overall 80 per cent of waste is to be recycled by 2030 – we are transitioning slower than other global players and, at 60 per cent overall recycling, are falling off the pace to meet our targets. A recent ABC news report emphasised our lags in three areas: glass, food and plastic recycling.”
Letters, Cartoon & Editorial
Culture
The Influence
Xavier Hennekinne
The philosopher Michel Serres showed publisher, writer and humanitarian worker Xavier Hennekinne that life can take you along several coinciding paths.
Fiction
Let them eat cake
“The morning of the day she gets to choose, Olivia catches the train from Central Station to Chatswood without cringing at the scratches on the grungy windows or the smell of old Maccas in the train carriage. She smiles at the Chinese man playing the violin in the tiled tunnel and pulls her cardigan close. Today, rather than having a Nescafé at her desk, she stops and buys a flat white from the new cafe beside her building, where the baristas have styled facial hair and blocky ink tattoos. Scrolling on her phone as she waits for her coffee, she feels a tap on her shoulder.”
Books
Life
Puzzles
Quotes
Law
“Being homosexual isn’t a crime.”
The pontiff criticises laws that criminalise homosexuality as “unjust”, saying he regards it as a “sin” only. Honestly, though, the church has not shown great judgement up to now in deciding what constitutes a crime.
Honours
“My ‘after’ is as I am now: cellulite, stretch marks, folds, rolls, all the things.”
The body positivity campaigner is named Australian of the Year for her advocacy work. The awards are sponsored by Chevron Australia, whose “after” is a climate-ravaged wasteland where survivors war for food.
Shopping
“Frankly, it’s an insult to migrant Australians.”
The Sky News commentator criticises Kmart for refusing to stock Australia Day merchandise. If you can’t buy your jingoism at a discount chain store started by Americans, where can you buy it?
Business
“The group has always been in compliance with all laws.”
The chief financial officer at Adani Group defends the company after claims of stock manipulation and money laundering wiped $US9.4 billion from its market value. Just wait until investors hear about what they’re doing to the environment.
Sport
“Živeli Russiyani.”
The father of Novak Djokovic poses with Vladimir Putin supporters at the Australian Open. With a son like that, he’s probably just sick of backing the winning team.
Media
“Is this evidence of some shocking decline in the brains and talents of males, but only males with white skins.”
The News Corp columnist worries that there are no white men among the Australian of the Year winners. Bolt’s services to brittleness and exaggerated self-pity remain unrecognised.
ISRAEL–HAMAS WAR
