Vol 34 No 21

21 October 2024

ARTS AND CULTURE

In Juice, Tim Winton turns to mad dystopian climate fiction
- Peter Craven
- 25 October 2024
In Juice, Tim Winton crafts a haunting world where climate apocalypse and moral ambiguity collide. This monolithic novel depicts a dystopian future scarred by climate change, with Winton’s intricate prose showcasing his mastery and leaving readers to grapple with its fierce ethical landscape.
READ MORE
AUSTRALIA

Faking friendship: The rise of the AI companion
- Daniel Nellor
- 25 October 2024
An AI-driven companion designed to connect with people living with dementia raises important questions about companionship, care, and the human experience. Can an AI truly replace the role of a human caregiver, or are we compromising what it means to connect?
READ MORE
AUSTRALIA

Priced out of parenthood: How Australia's housing crisis is lowering the birthrate
- David James
- 24 October 2024
Soaring property prices and declining fertility rates are entwined in a feedback loop, threatening long-term economic stagnation. As younger Australians are priced out of the market, many are delaying or forgoing parenthood, leading to an increasingly divided and unsustainable society.
READ MORE
AUSTRALIA

A time for risk and a time for caution: Albanese’s dilemma
- James Massola
- 23 October 2024
As Prime Minister Anthony Albanese navigates a slow but steady decline in approval, his cautious leadership approach is increasingly under scrutiny. With rising pressures on housing, the economy, and global events, is it time for him to take the bold political risks necessary to stave off the threat of minority government?
READ MORE
AUSTRALIA

300 Australians that no one wants
- John Schumann
- 23 October 2024
There are approximately 300 Australians like Will currently held in forensic disability facilities, hospitals, mental health facilities, the prison system and providers of last resort. After two decades of seclusion, his story reveals a broken system where lives deteriorate, not improve, despite efforts for reform.
READ MORE
INTERNATIONAL

Betting on lost causes
- Andrew Hamilton
- 23 October 2024
In the spirit of Spring Racing, the United Nations promotes its own high-stakes race: World Disarmament Week and United Nations Day. Despite heavy odds and the relentless rise of nuclear threats, these efforts remain crucial for global peace. Can the underdog of diplomacy prevail in the face of overwhelming opposition?
READ MORE
INTERNATIONAL

Bitter harvests: The killing of Yahya Sinwar
- Binoy Kampmark
- 23 October 2024
The death of Hamas leader Yahya Sinwar, architect of the October 7 attacks on Israel, has been hailed by Israeli and U.S. leaders as a significant victory and a turning point in the Gaza conflict. But as strikes continue, history suggests such assassinations often fuel further conflict, not lasting peace.
READ MORE
ARTS AND CULTURE

A new film will recast light on an age-old problem
- Ray Cavanaugh
- 23 October 2024
Set in the aftermath of World War II, Nuremberg has psychiatrist Dr Douglas Kelley seeking to unravel the psychological roots of evil by studying Nazi officials on trial at Nuremberg. His chilling findings led to unsettling conclusions about human nature, culminating in a tragic personal end that mirrored the darkness he encountered.
READ MORE
AUSTRALIA

The ruler in a shack on the other side of the universe
- Michael McVeigh
- 21 October 2024
With King Charles and Queen Camilla’s pending arrival in Australia, I have a guilty admission to make. The older I’ve become, the more fondness I have for our constitutional monarchy. That’s not to say I wouldn’t welcome a move to an Australian republic. However, I’m cautious about the sort of republic we might make for ourselves.
READ MORE

Subscriber login

Vol 34 No 21