Category

Australian Politics

In the Australian of the Year ceremony a man, whose cruel refugee policies still disgrace Australia, presented an award to a refugee advocate. Then a man who trivialises Indigenous objections to the date of Australia Day presented an award to an Aboriginal woman. Then a man whose political party doggedly opposed GST exemption for tampons for 18 years presented an award to a young Australian who supports international distribution of female sanitary products; and finally, a man who has consistently refused to criticise a co-religionist who failed to report child sex abuse presented an award to a sex abuse survivor. Next year, instead of insulting award-winners in this way, how hard would it be to find a presenter who actually cares about some of their causes? (Sydney Morning Herald, January 27, 2021)

Steve Cornelius

Been clear to me for a long time that for Morrison to utter a word of criticism of Trump, QAnon etc would be tantamount to resignation from the circle of his closest friends. He is guided by mysterious forces and beliefs that most of us don’t even begin to understand.

Paul Barratt

Let’s not hear any more moral lecturing from so-called conservatives. When the test came in the US (but here too) a clear choice between institutions and chaos, democracy and their own system-wrecking advantage, most either actively cheered, or stayed silent. Authority gone.

Mark Kenny