February 4 – 10, 2023
News
Comment
Comment
Frank Bongiorno
Labor’s arts revival takes centrestage
“The choice of the Esplanade hotel in Melbourne’s bayside St Kilda this week to launch Revive, a new national cultural policy, was pointed in its symbolism. The hotel was – for 20 years before his death in 1904 – the home of Alfred Felton, the country’s greatest arts philanthropist and the source of the National Gallery of Victoria’s famous Felton Bequest.”
Comment
Paul Bongiorno
Labor on a wild ride to get things done
“The Albanese government’s second year in power is shaping up as a wild ride. The prime minister is intent on using every opportunity to establish a legacy as a Labor reformer ‘changing the nation for the better’ Leader of the house Tony Burke has guaranteed we will notice what the government is up to. He is promising that, unlike the Morrison government, Labor will not spend 61 hours of parliamentary time moving motions to shut down debate.”
Comment
John Hewson
Treasurer Jim Chalmers’ mission for reform
“Treasurer Jim Chalmers has written an excellent, thought-provoking essay in the latest edition of The Monthly. It attempts to set his budgetary process, which he began last October and will advance in May, against the background of recent crises and in the context of the broader economic, social and environmental circumstances of our time.”
Letters, Cartoon & Editorial
Culture
The Influence
The Huxleys
The sense of danger in the performances of queer icon Leigh Bowery is an ongoing inspiration for artist duo The Huxleys.
Fiction
The joy of arriving
“When it became too much we would get up and walk the aisle, or Vivian would say perhaps we should sleep now. And we would hope that in the morning when we opened the blind we would be back in the gorges or the plains or the woods. We longed for quiet like fresh air, even though we never heard anything from the outside.”
Books
Life
Puzzles
Quotes
Religion
“I said no canonisations at funerals.”
The archbishop puts on a ghostly voice and pretends he can hear George Pell protesting against the generous eulogies at his funeral. The joke doesn’t quite work, because not speaking up was sort of a defining part of Pell’s service to the church.
Tasmania
“I would like to apologise for the distress this matter may have caused to all of you, but rest assured we always put you and your pets first.”
The owner of Kingston Animal Hospital issues a statement after a former employee was filmed having sex with a live trout. Fair to say this wasn’t how he thought his day would go.
Money
“I think it’s another attack on our systems, on our society and our institutions.”
The opposition leader complains that First Nations history will be featured on new banknotes rather than King Charles III. It’s a shame, too, because Charles is used to being the face of something in the process of being phased out.
War
“He said, ‘Boris, I don’t want to hurt you but, with a missile, it would only take a minute.’”
The former British prime minister recalls a conversation with Russian president Vladimir Putin ahead of the invasion of Ukraine. This was back when people still thought you needed weapons to blow up Boris Johnson.
Education
“I’ve been blessed with a great education that’s given me significant opportunities…”
The New South Wales premier responds to an investigation revealing bizarre teaching practices at Opus Dei schools, including at one where he was school captain. Apparently, students were taught pornography causes holes in your brain, which is ridiculous: everyone knows it makes you blind.
Law
“I contend that his conduct was driven by malice towards me personally. I also consider that his conduct was political.”
The former staffer lodges a complaint against Shane Drumgold, alleging the ACT director of public prosecutions failed to ensure a fair trial. No joke for this one – sorry.
ISRAEL–HAMAS WAR
