Vol 33 No 11

12 June 2023

ARTS AND CULTURE

Bridging histories: In conversation with Tony Birch
- Paul Mitchell
- 23 June 2023
1 Comment
Renowned author and academic Tony Birch is known for his insightful and compelling narrative explorations into societal issues like marginalisation, Aboriginal identity and racial struggles. In conversation with Paul Mitchell, Birch discusses his work, the unique intersection of academia and creative writing, and the profound impact of historical dispossession.
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ARTS AND CULTURE

Diamond Jubilee
- Juliette Hughes
- 22 June 2023
2 Comments
'Ten Pound Poms' adjusted from the harsh British winter to the austere migrant hostels of 1960s Australia. To mark the 60th anniversary of her own journey, Juliette Hughes recalls the trials and transformations, and the small moments that offered a glimmer of hope for the future.
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INTERNATIONAL

The elusive search for justice
- Max Jeganathan
- 22 June 2023
2 Comments
Encompassing the indictment of Donald Trump, the Russia-Ukraine conflict and Australia's Indigenous Voice referendum, the quest for justice has evolved into an abstract and bitter fight, obscuring our common humanity, and requiring us to find a restorative, forgiving route.
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ARTS AND CULTURE

Judith Wright thinks about computers
- Philip Harvey
- 21 June 2023
1 Comment
A forgotten, faded poem by Judith Wright, found in a second-hand book, explores the tension between humanity and the rise of computers in the 1960s, artfully questioning the supposedly superior nature of these early machines, reminding us of the enduring value of human experiences and qualities.
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RELIGION

Professional supervision after the Royal Commission
- Jamie Calder
- 21 June 2023
5 Comments
The Royal Commission into Institutional Responses to Child Sexual Abuse made a recommendation for professional supervision within religious and pastoral environments. But can professional supervision repair broken trust, ensure accountability, and promote a more ethical approach to care in the face of past failings?
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INTERNATIONAL

Reframing juvenile justice
- Julian Butler
- 20 June 2023
1 Comment
In the midst of societal debates about crime, rehabilitation, and policing, unexpected voices often surprise us, leading to thoughtful and transformative discussions. A conversation about youth crime between an ABC presenter and the Secretary of the Police Association challenges preconceived notions about youth justice and rehabilitation, paving the way for compassionate responses and a more humane society.
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AUSTRALIA

The refugee children of colonisation
- Andrew Hamilton
- 20 June 2023
5 Comments
Observing World Refugee Week and the Referendum on the Voice to Parliament together is appropriate because the First Peoples and later refugees have suffered in similar ways. Jordana Silverstein's latest book draws striking parallels between Australia's colonial past and the modern treatment of refugee children.
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AUSTRALIA

Judgment and the burden of ignorance
- Andrew Hamilton
- 15 June 2023
2 Comments
Kathleen Folbigg's release, prompted by the discovery of a genetic mutation that created reasonable doubt in her conviction, marks a significant intersection of science and law. However, the case highlights the need to critically assess the weight and limitations of scientific authority in our justice system, acknowledging the inherent uncertainty embedded within human affairs.
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ARTS AND CULTURE

The disquieting lessons of Ian McEwan
- Peter Craven
- 14 June 2023
Ian McEwan's Lessons marked a sharp twist in a five-decade literary career, and presents an opportunity to reflect on his expansive body of work. The one-time literary rogue and Booker laureate now stands as the unquestioned doyen of modern English fiction, his audacious work perpetually navigating undercurrents of unease.
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AUSTRALIA

Kathleen Folbigg, monster mythology and science
- Binoy Kampmark
- 14 June 2023
3 Comments
At the intersection of myth, science, and law is the contentious case of Kathleen Folbigg, accused of being a modern-day Medea. Convicted of killing her children and later exonerated, Folbigg’s story serves as a cautionary tale about the complexities of science in legal judgments and societal myths of motherhood cloud our interpretation of facts.
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CARTOON

The Voice
- Glen Le Lievre
- 14 June 2023
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ECONOMICS

Dawn of the multipolar world: A new order in global finance?
- David James
- 13 June 2023
1 Comment
From Moscow to Beijing, a change in global finance looms, set to challenge the long-standing economic hegemony. This imminent shift could redefine global power structures, disrupt currency markets and international trade. Amidst this uncertainty, one thing is clear: the game of geopolitical chess is no longer played on a Western-centric board.
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AUSTRALIA

Why the threat of AI is invisible
- David Halliday
- 13 June 2023
1 Comment
As artificial intelligence evolves, warnings of an AI surpassing us in cognitive abilities grow louder. Yet, these threats, which echo sci-fi nightmares, are met with skepticism and complacency, rather than fear. Are our human minds, fine-tuned by evolution to grapple with tangible, immediate threats, ill-equipped to comprehend the abstract risk of a runaway AI?
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AUSTRALIA

The RBA's man with the hammer
- James Massola
- 13 June 2023
2 Comments
In a year defined by surging living expenses, RBA Governor Philip Lowe finds himself the object of public ire, his failed rate predictions and aggressive anti-inflation measures becoming a litmus test for the enduring effects of a global crisis. Will the Labor party dare sever ties with Lowe, or will they allow him to continue wielding the hammer, regardless of the mounting human cost?
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Vol 33 No 11