Maybe it was federal parliament’s virtual return, or the revelations about branch stacking in the Liberal Party (not the ALP, just for a change) — whatever it was, politics got back to a semblance of normality this week. The feds were getting stuck into Victoria and Queensland over border closures (so much for that national unity thing), ministerial incompetence once again reared its head in parliament (come on down, Richard Colbeck) and, in Victoria, politicians managed to pass sexual assault laws which essentially criminalised the victims. Memo to all pollies: read the fine print, it’s your job. (I mean, does Dan Tehan really want his university fee reforms to undermine Western civilisation?)

So, yes, the new normal is taking shape — and, sadly, it doesn’t look like much fun unless you happen to own a superyacht or sell your shares at the right time. Being rich brings its own burdens. Crikey this week considered the plight of Twiggy Forrest, who donates millions to the campaign against slavery but makes billions from selling iron ore to China, which in turn is “re-educating” its Uyghur citizens. Perhaps Twiggy will address the dilemma in his forthcoming Boyer lectures for the ABC. (Perhaps someone at the ABC will tell us how Twiggy got to give the lectures in the first place…)

So, as Victoria’s COVID-19 numbers fall, the federal government deflects attention away from the aged care debacle and the economic downturn bites, our immediate future is taking shape. It ain’t going to be that pretty, but there are always reasons to be hopeful. In a Christchurch courtroom this week, we witnessed one: no matter how unspeakable the suffering, the human spirit endures.

KISHOR NAPIER-RAMAN 6 minute read

The Christchurch terrorist has been sentenced to life in prison, after a cathartic sentencing hearing. But the landscape that allowed the killers' ideas to enter the mainstream remains.

GUY RUNDLE 5 minute read

The lie of the Liberals' claims of liberalism is again laid bare — they scorn the value of anything but power in the name of power itself.

ADAM SCHWAB 4 minute read

This Australian software services company is a poster child for a new era of overvaluation.

GEORGIA WILKINS 3 minute read

Three of Scott Morrison’s closest friends and associates have teamed up to form a new advisory firm, one that appears to be walking a fine line between providing advice and lobbying.

MICHAEL BRADLEY 4 minute read

Victorian parliament's passing of a bill which suppresses the voices of rape victims is the result of lazy pollies.

BERNARD KEANE 3 minute read

While the residents of Newmarch House died from COVID-19, bureaucrats, clinicians, managers and staff were locked in constant teleconferences that achieved little except waste valuable time.

MADONNA KING 3 minute read

We listen to health experts about the pandemic, and economists about the recession. So why don't we listen to teachers and principals about education?

BERNARD KEANE 4 minute read

Everyone hates Google and Facebook, right? But the government's proposal to force them to hand a colossal sum of money to local media companies is the nearest thing to 'sovereign risk' you'll ever see.

AMBER SCHULTZ 4 minute read

The new legislation was meant to make it easier for sexual assault survivors to share their stories. Instead, it's made it much, much harder.

BERNARD KEANE 4 minute read

Being a 'sovereign citizen' is less about a specific ideology than resentment that white privilege is being undermined.

GUY RUNDLE 5 minute read

To understand the layers of irony in Dan Tehan's plan to destroy the study of humanities, you would need... well... a humanities degree.

KISHOR NAPIER-RAMAN 4 minute read

It's a tough time for some, but if you're rich or famous or have friends in high places it's all good: the rules just don't apply.

MICHAEL BRADLEY 4 minute read

Off the back of Morrison's denial of federal responsibility for COVID-related scandals and disasters, the prime minister is now looking to extend the government's powers over states and territories.