Mike Seccombe With the government set to refund $721 million over the robo-debt fiasco, the scheme’s early critics are feeling vindicated. And the damage in cash terms could be far worse following a class action trial set to begin next month.

Rick Morton Victoria’s participation in China’s $US1 trillion Belt and Road Initiative has attracted widespread criticism and created conflict between the state and the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade.

Mahmood Fazal A visitation ban in NSW prisons during the coronavirus crisis has cut off a key entry point for drugs into these facilities, but with so many inmates struggling with opioid dependence, tensions are rising.

Maddee Clark Using glass as a medium, Yhonnie Scarce makes art that testifies to the trauma enacted on Aboriginal people and communities. She speaks about travelling to memorial sites around the world and the importance of truth-telling. “I don’t like being lied to … They were setting off bombs, and they knew there were blackfullas around in that area, but they didn’t care.”

Richard Denniss It’s easy to avoid a hard question by simply saying the government ‘should’ provide more money to the universities. But there’s a long list of things the Morrison government should do: extend the JobKeeper payment to casuals and temporary residents; permanently boost unemployment benefits; provide support to the arts and entertainment industry; introduce a carbon price. And avoiding hard questions, by focusing on what ‘should’ happen, isn’t going to spare the academics in the vice-chancellors’ firing lines. So, what can be done?

Paul Bongiorno As if Scott Morrison hasn’t got enough on his plate, now he has been dragged into the quagmire of Donald Trump’s increasingly ugly campaign to cling to office. The invitation to attend the September summit of G7 world leaders in the United States would normally be a feather in the cap for an Australian prime minister. Now it only complicates Australia’s interests at home and abroad.

Richard Ackland Just as a grateful nation thought Cory Bernardi, the former pub keeper, former Liberal and former Australian Conservative, had stumbled off into that special pantheon reserved for “unrepresentative swill”, we find he’s back, looking to put his hand in your pocket. Yes. Cory Bernardi Confidential has been launched – a special website with intriguing gems behind a paywall, including “Who’s been swimming naked?” and “Is this the new normal?”

It’s my face, man.
I didn’t do anything serious, man.
Please.
Please.
Please, I can’t breathe.

Karen Middleton While Josh Frydenberg admits Australia has slid into its first recession in 29 years, he maintains government stimulus can spark a recovery.

Jonathan Pearlman Trump’s response to George Floyd’s killing fuels racial tensions. Hong Kong bans vigil for Tiananmen Square massacre. New Zealand lifts coronavirus restrictions. Concerns raised about impact of Covid-19 on girls’ education and child marriages.

Michelle Law Drawing on director Alan Yang’s family story to depict a Taiwanese migrant in America, Tigertail is beautifully shot and acted, but the film doesn’t live up to its emotional potential.

Khalid Warsame None of us were certain when the hole first appeared. Initially, we ignored it and sometimes would forget it was even there, except when we were sitting outside, hanging up our washing, or if we happened to look out of the large bay window above the kitchen sink that faced the backyard. ‘It’s just a hole,’ said Yusuf. Pitch black inside, perfectly circular, about the size of a basketball. It looked improbable and strange. ‘Maybe it will go away,’ said Soraya. But soon it became obvious to us that the hole was growing. Idhil dropped by to finish wrapping presents for her friend Maryam’s birthday. She commandeered my room and turned my desk into an arts and crafts station, attaching little cardboard cutouts of birds to a small gift bag.

Annie Smithers

Stephanie Dowrick The Covid-19 pandemic has brought with it devastating health and social consequences. But it has also delivered an opportunity to learn valuable moral lessons that could benefit all of humanity.

Cindy MacDonald Test your general knowledge with our weekly quiz.