The news business relies on a certain shorthand. Folks often in the news tend to develop nicknames, signalling their role or importance. Sometimes this is just an interesting way of describing them — better than an official title anyway. Sometimes they signify prominence, in a snappy way. Sometimes it’s legal code. A “colourful racing identity” can mean, well, a fishy character, but you are less likely to sue for being called “colourful”. If you read Australian news closely, the owners of these epithets will just roll off your tongue. So try to figure out who these famous Australian identities are. The answers, once you’re done, are here.
- Corrupt former NSW minister
- Embattled Senator
- Controversial One Nation Senator
- Prominent transgender advocate
- Spin king
- Hardline Marxist academic
- Iron ore heiress
- Construction union heavyweight
- Press gallery doyenne
- Casino mogul
- SAS hero
- Human headline
- Multimillionaire gambler
- Red-bandana-wearer
- Flamboyant medical entrepreneur
- Billionaire rag trader
- Golden tonsils
- Self-confessed union bagman
- Disgraced sports scientist
- High-profile bookmaker
- Preference whisperer
- The Parrot
- Fast food king
- PR queen
- Larrikin adman
- Octogenarian media mogul
- Nine’s highest-paid talent
- Controversial medico
- Celebrity spin doctor
- Controversial gambling figure
- Outspoken Nationals backbencher
- Self-proclaimed billionaire
- Melbourne gangland identity
- Disgraced detective
- Prominent publisher
- Libertarian Senator
- Flamboyant former deputy mayor
- First lady of racing
- NSW Liberal powerbroker
- Disgraced entertainer
I’m actually horrified that I instantly knew so many of those.
The place won’t be the same without you Myriam.
All the best for wherever you’re headed, in what promises to be a *very* interesting 2017.
Thanks Paddy 🙂
What? Where/when/why is Myriam going? And having seemingly written the majority of Crikey for the last week!
Hi AR. It’s come out on Twitter, so I guess the news is making its way around. I (reluctantly) leave Crikey on Jan 14 – I’m joining Fairfax mid-Jan in the markets team.
Joining Fauxfux as it sinks beneath its many self inflicted disasters?
That’s crazy!
Wishing you every success in the future Myriam. Although not always a fan of the subject matter you’ve dealt with here at Crikey, you do seem a competent and capable journo.
You mentioned a reluctance to leave but can console yourself with the thought that you’re not off to Newscorpse !
Thanks for all your amazing work at Crikey, Myriam. I was very sad to hear you are leaving but then very happy to hear you are joining Fairfax. The two news outlets I subscribe to and am very loyal to. What is the markets team? Sharemarket?
Yep – so stock markets, currencies, commodity price movements, that kind of thing. Always something I’ve wanted to understand better. Thanks for the encouragement and well-wishes 🙂