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Weekly feature
A Shakespearean view of Australian politics
by Adrian Phoon
 Malcolm Turnbull recently compared Kevin Rudd to the Shakespearean character Coriolanus, a reviled control freak. Politicians sometimes invoke Shakespeare to flatter their own cause. But
this is fraught with dangers:
they can come off sounding pompous, or their analogies
may backfire.
Read more
WEEK IN POLITICS
EUREKA STREET TV
From the vault
Popular
I am every asylum seeker
Greg Foyster 21-Jul-2010
 I am not here to get rich, to receive charity, steal your job, or cheat the system. I am
not a 'queue jumper'. I am not an 'illegal arrival'. I am not a
'political issue'.
I am an asylum seeker, and this is my story.
Forget Keating-Hawke soapie, give Rudd a hug
Michael Mullins 19-Jul-2010
 The public stoush between Paul Keating and Bob Hawke seems little more than soap opera for political
junkies. Australian Jesuit Fr Frank Brennan longs for a political morality
to guide politicians at times of political upheaval, such as Kevin Rudd's emotional departure from the Labor leadership.
Letting Aboriginal Australians speak for themselves
Frank Brennan 07-Jul-2010
 Kevin Rudd stood in the forecourt of Parliament
House Canberra and recalled with great emotion the morning on which he
had welcomed the members of the Stolen Generations. There was no mistaking his sense of solidarity: he knew there and then what it was to be dispossessed,
alienated and outcast.
Gillard sustains population myth
Ruby J. Murray 01-Jul-2010
 I don't know about you, but last time I got on an outrageously late,
over-crowded train at peak hour full of apparently longstanding Aussies
in business suits, the first thing I thought was: I really wish
Australia accepted fewer immigrants.
Moving forward from East Timor Solution
Frank Brennan 21-Jul-2010
 The idea of a regional processing centre for asylum seekers requires a lot of detailed diplomatic work.
If Gillard is elected Prime Minister, it could be Kevin Rudd's first test as Foreign Minister. Whoever is elected, and wherever such a
centre is located, it will not be East Timor.
Elegy for a priestly life
Andrew Hamilton 23-Jul-2010
 In contrast to Luther, John Molony never discovered the grace that would free him from the guilt and anxiety caused by his not meeting expectations. Nor did he reject the pattern of church relationships and theological assumptions that endorsed these expectations. He simply lost hope that he could live as a good priest.
The 'Julia Gillard' of theology
Peter Kirkwood 02-Jul-2010
 Gillard's ascendancy signifies a community acceptance that it is right and proper for a woman to be prime minister. Val Webb represents a growing acceptance of the female voice in Christian theology, which has been dominated by ordained men.
How my English teacher saved my life
Fiona Douglas 30-Jun-2010
 It occurred to me to approach my
school English teacher. This would be normal
enough, if not for the fact that she had been my teacher some three
decades prior. From the fog of my depression medication I somehow found my
phone and emailed her from my bed.
The strengths and shortcomings of Church apologies
Andrew Hamilton 08-Jul-2010
 Archbishop Denis Hart's letter of
apology for sexual abuse by Catholic priests drew a variety of responses. Some expressed gratitude, others found it inadequate. The letter and responses invite broader reflection on the
place of letters of
apology by leaders of churches.
Gillard mining deal betrays the common good
Michael Mullins 05-Jul-2010
 Julia Gillard is expected to exercise moral authority because she was chosen by her party to work
for the common good of the nation. Her agreement with major mining companies to take the sting out of the mining tax
shows a poor start.
Most Commented
I am every asylum seeker
Greg Foyster 21-Jul-2010
I am not here to get rich, to receive charity, steal your job, or cheat the system. I am
not a 'queue jumper'. I am not an 'illegal arrival'. I am not a
'political issue'.
I am an asylum seeker, and this is my story.
Not the Pacific Solution
Andrew Hamilton 07-Jul-2010
 Julia Gillard insists that the centre in East Timor centre would be properly 'run, auspiced and structured'. For the
Australian Government to ensure that such a centre respects the human dignity of asylum seekers will be difficult. Similar
arrangements with Indonesia were not satisfactory.
Gillard bombing on moral leadership
Michael Mullins 26-Jul-2010
Julia Gillard appears to be in no mood to countenance the type of conviction politics that would be required to ratify the ban of cluster bombs. This is a far cry from the glory days of Kevin07 when Rudd said he would ratify Kyoto, then did exactly that.
Gillard sustains population myth
Ruby J. Murray 01-Jul-2010
I don't know about you, but last time I got on an outrageously late,
over-crowded train at peak hour full of apparently longstanding Aussies
in business suits, the first thing I thought was: I really wish
Australia accepted fewer immigrants.
East Timor a not-so-simple solution
Jack de Groot 09-Jul-2010
 Julia Gillard said 'people like my own parents who have worked hard
all their lives can't abide the idea that others might get an inside
track to special privileges'. Managing similar perceptions in East Timor, where there is a tide of resentment against Australia among parts of
the population, will be a challenge.
Nauru solution a dodgy deal
Susan Metcalfe 15-Jul-2010
 While many are concerned about returning
to processing asylum seekers in poor Pacific countries, Nauru's caretaker
president is eager to be
involved. Australia should never again be engaged in dodgy deals with this
Pacific neighbour. For Nauru, it's all about the money.
Christian sect's gay snub
Andrew McGowan 16-Jul-2010
 Gay and lesbian youths are at greater risk from suicide and mental
illness, and from religious and other forms of exclusion than from their own sexuality. Jesus cared less about the risk he might 'promote'
Samaritanism than about the need to promote an ethic of unconditional
acceptance.
Gillard mining deal betrays the common good
Michael Mullins 05-Jul-2010
Julia Gillard is expected to exercise moral authority because she was chosen by her party to work
for the common good of the nation. Her agreement with major mining companies to take the sting out of the mining tax
shows a poor start.
How my English teacher saved my life
Fiona Douglas 30-Jun-2010
It occurred to me to approach my
school English teacher. This would be normal
enough, if not for the fact that she had been my teacher some three
decades prior. From the fog of my depression medication I somehow found my
phone and emailed her from my bed.
Nothing underhanded about Labor-Greens deal
John Warhurst 27-Jul-2010
 Appearing last week on ABC1's Q+A, Julie Bishop claimed that following a preference deal with the Labor Party, the Greens were now effectively a Labor faction. Preference deals are as old as the preferential system itself. The impact of these deals should not be exaggerated.
Retrospective
World Cup a triumph, now South Africa must keep its head
David Holdcroft 14-Jul-2010
 Like many emerging societies, South Africa is a long way from being truly inclusive. The World Cup experience brought it much closer to that goal. Now it needs to ensure this progress is not undermined.
Forgiving genocide
Bronwyn Lay 14-May-2010
 During the massacre Rurangwa's grandmother was murdered mid-prayer, various family
members called to god for help, while the killers, fellow parishioners
of the local church, struck their machetes until faith fell with
precious bodies into a pile.
Losing Ben
Chris Mulherin 12-May-2010
 The oldest of our five, Ben studied science, medicine in his sights,
healthy, not wealthy and wise beyond his years. Ben died quietly. He had no choice really, we turned off the machine.
The dignity of Carl Williams
Andrew Hamilton 21-Apr-2010
 When celebrities who have treated people violently suffer
themselves from violence, their suffering is approved because it is an
expected part of the plot. The death of Carl Williams has been covered as if it were an
episode of Underbelly. Williams deserves
better than this.
The trouble with school ethics classes
Neil Ormerod 16-Apr-2010
 The Sydney Anglican diocese is concerned that proposed ethics classes in schools might attract students away from
existing scripture classes. This looks more like a matter of turf wars, of seeking to maintain numbers and so
justify their continuance.
Refugee backflip misses what matters
Andrew Hamilton 12-Apr-2010
 The decision to suspend the processing of future asylum seekers from Afghanistan and Sri Lanka does not respect the dignity of asylum seekers. Now that the Government has bent to the populist winds fanned by an opportunistic Opposition, there are grounds for fearing the claims of asylum seekers will be judged in a way that unduly reflects the interests of the Australian Government.
The crucifixion of Christine Nixon
Moira Rayner 09-Apr-2010
 No firestorm of blame would be raging in the media were Christine Nixon not a
woman, a decent and strong woman, a prominent woman and an
ethically sound woman of an age and with the experience to possess a
raging integrity of her own and, by her very being, to offer ruthless
men a soft target.
Easter's image of compassion for abused and abusers
Andrew Hamilton 01-Apr-2010
 It is appropriate to attend to the
complex patterns of sin that are involved in abuse and its
consequences. This kind of
gaze resists the temptations to deny or to minimise the extent of sexual
abuse and the harm done by it.
Abbott, Santamaria and Catholic Liberals
John Warhurst 30-Mar-2010
Tony Abbott had a close association with B. A. Santamaria and personifies church ties with politics through his
relationship with the man he has called his confessor, Cardinal Pell. The question is whether Abbott is a one-off or represents a
larger group of Catholic Liberals.
'Bumbars' evict homeless from shared spaces
Joshua Anderson 25-Mar-2010
 The construction of space reveals society's attitudes to
different groups of people. A Brisbane council's plan to replace conventional bus shelter seating with horizontal 'bumbars' sends a distinct message of exclusion to the homeless people who sleep there.
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Today's lead
POLITICS
What welfare policies?
Frank Quinlan
 The current kind of content-free campaigning, appealing to popular
biases and stereotypes, has real
consequences for the social services sector and the people they serve.
Recent leads
EDUCATION
Will a real university please stand up
Neil Ormerod
 In 2012 Australian universities will experience a radical shift in government policy, resulting in a marketplace where universities must hawk their wares in a bid to attract the best and brightest. Whether all the present universities will survive in this competitive marketplace is an open question.
6 comment(s) about this article.
POLITICS
The trial and sentencing of Comrade Duch
Tony Kevin
 The former head of the Khmer Rouge's main interrogation centre has just been sentenced to 30 years prison. There are important lessons internationally. If a state becomes evil, its orders must be resisted.
2 comment(s) about this article.
Nothing underhanded about Labor-Greens deal
John Warhurst
Appearing last week on ABC1's Q+A, Julie Bishop claimed that following a preference deal with the Labor Party, the Greens were now effectively a Labor faction. Preference deals are as old as the preferential system itself. The impact of these deals should not be exaggerated.
16 comment(s) about this article.
SPORT
Aker sacking an example for political parties
Andrew Hamilton
 It seems appropriate that Jason Akermanis was sacked in the middle of an election campaign. The tensions between conflicting interests that led to his sacking have also been exhibited in the election campaign. But in politics they have been negotiated much more disreputably.
2 comment(s) about this article.
APPLICATION
Caravaggio's profane eye for the sacred
Luke Walladge
 If Caravaggio hadn't been such a drunken, violent, criminal, he may
never have been human enough, disturbed enough or repentant of enough
sin to produce the most arresting, influential and remarkable sacred art in the history of the
Christian West.
6 comment(s) about this article.
THE MEDDLING PRIEST
Moving forward from East Timor Solution
Frank Brennan
The idea of a regional processing centre for asylum seekers requires a lot of detailed diplomatic work.
If Gillard is elected Prime Minister, it could be Kevin Rudd's first test as Foreign Minister. Whoever is elected, and wherever such a
centre is located, it will not be East Timor.
11 comment(s) about this article.
POLITICS
Election year blogs stifle democracy
Ben Coleridge
 The fact that we are 'discussing' more
than ever before due to the internet and the blogosphere, does not prove
that our democracy is in better shape. The environment precludes reasoning because reasoning requires a willingness to listen to the other and to approach questions
through mutual respect.
5 comment(s) about this article.
MEDIA
Polanski's art not greater than his crime
Binoy Kampmark
 The decision by a Swiss judge not to extradite film director Roman Polanski to the US has again triggered the debate about how artists are treated by the law. The case has been running simultaneously to that of Russian musician. The parallels are striking.
6 comment(s) about this article.
POLITICS
Nauru solution a dodgy deal
Susan Metcalfe
While many are concerned about returning
to processing asylum seekers in poor Pacific countries, Nauru's caretaker
president is eager to be
involved. Australia should never again be engaged in dodgy deals with this
Pacific neighbour. For Nauru, it's all about the money.
20 comment(s) about this article.
HUMAN RIGHTS
World Cup a triumph, now South Africa must keep its head
David Holdcroft
Like many emerging societies, South Africa is a long way from being truly inclusive. The World Cup experience brought it much closer to that goal. Now it needs to ensure this progress is not undermined.
1 comment(s) about this article.
Morocco's queer uprising
James Dorsey
 One Moroccan organisation for lesbians,
transsexuals and homo- and bisexuals, estimates
that some 5000 people have been jailed in Morocco or forced to emigrate
because they are gay. Mithly, the Arab world's only gay magazine, hopes to steer the debate into calmer waters.
5 comment(s) about this article.
POLITICS
Election year mental health test
Simon Rice
 Advocacy from the likes of esteemed psychiatrist Professor Patrick
McGorry continues to highlight Australia's mental health system crisis. If Julia Gillard wants to lead on this issue, she will need to further the Coalition's $1.5 billion electoral commitment to mental health services.
6 comment(s) about this article.
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Today's extra
FILMS
Asylum seeker's island hell
Tim Kroenert
 As Meredith approaches, two boys appear on the cliff and call for the boat to turn back. This allegory for the asylum seeker experience is not entirely out of place: Meredith seeks asylum from personal horrors that lie in her wake. But the curdled milk of human unkindness flows readily.
1 comment(s) about this article.
RECENT EXTRA
FICTION
Defying the ebook revolution
Brian Doyle
 Went to return a book the other day and it refused to go
in the BOOKS ONLY slot. I tried again, thinking
perhaps I had suddenly aged beyond belief and could not muster the
muscle to cram it through the wall, but no, it was the book itself,
adamant, recalcitrant, bristling and ruffling indignantly, that would
not allow itself to be returned.
3 comment(s) about this article.
POETRY
Ode to f***book
Cecilia Condon
 Your profile .. Your pics, updated .. Your 746 Friends .. Fend off the texture of the universe. F***book will f*** You.
3 comment(s) about this article.
EDITORIAL
Gillard bombing on moral leadership
Michael Mullins
Julia Gillard appears to be in no mood to countenance the type of conviction politics that would be required to ratify the ban of cluster bombs. This is a far cry from the glory days of Kevin07 when Rudd said he would ratify Kyoto, then did exactly that.
23 comment(s) about this article.
BOOKS
Elegy for a priestly life
Andrew Hamilton
In contrast to Luther, John Molony never discovered the grace that would free him from the guilt and anxiety caused by his not meeting expectations. Nor did he reject the pattern of church relationships and theological assumptions that endorsed these expectations. He simply lost hope that he could live as a good priest.
7 comment(s) about this article.
EUREKA STREET/ READER'S FEAST AWARD
The mingled yarn
Bronwyn Lay
My granddad was a fourth generation white Australian who worked with
sheep. I used to tell the
story that he was a small town racist who disliked Blacks, Catholics and
Jews. The punch line was that his daughter married a Fijian, his son
married a Jew and my dad married a Catholic.
FILMS
Sympathy for the man who killed God
Tim Kroenert
 The
idea of 'killing God' causes Darwin great anguish. In one scene, after a
night spent scribbling his manuscript, he is shown frantically scrubbing
at the ink stains on his fingers — Lady Macbeth trying to remove
mythical blood.
1 comment(s) about this article.
NON-FICTION
I am every asylum seeker
Greg Foyster
I am not here to get rich, to receive charity, steal your job, or cheat the system. I am
not a 'queue jumper'. I am not an 'illegal arrival'. I am not a
'political issue'.
I am an asylum seeker, and this is my story.
32 comment(s) about this article.
POETRY
Charlie Darwin
Various
 Definitely simian features beneath those whiskers ... definitely a great big hairy chest .. Beneath that stiff Victorian coat.
EDITORIAL
Forget Keating-Hawke soapie, give Rudd a hug
Michael Mullins
The public stoush between Paul Keating and Bob Hawke seems little more than soap opera for political
junkies. Australian Jesuit Fr Frank Brennan longs for a political morality
to guide politicians at times of political upheaval, such as Kevin Rudd's emotional departure from the Labor leadership.
13 comment(s) about this article.
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