Book blogger Angela Meyer sits down for a chat with author Mardi McConnochie, whose novel The Voyagers is a tender love story between a sailor and an aspiring musician.
May, 2011
theatre reviews 
Sleepyhead — MKA, Melbourne
Sleepyhead is a convincingly horripilant piece of Australian gothic from Nathaniel Moncrieff. MKA has assembled a really strong team which puts the writing front and centre, writes Andrew Fuhrmann.
Deaths in custody: prisoners’ families still waiting for answers
Anger, frustration and helplessness are recurring themes for the families of prisoners who die in custody, writes Inga Ting, freelance journalist and associate of the Australian Centre for Independent Journalism
film reviews Snowtown — devastatingly brilliant
First time director Justin Kurzel’s gripping film about the ‘bodies in barrels’ murders isn’t just one of the best Australian films of the year. It’s also the scariest Australian film ever made, writes Luke Buckmaster.
A chilly drive through Turkey
Pleasure-seeking humans are invariably drawn to sunny skies and welcoming climes. Which would explain the absence of fellow tourists in Turkey when Nicola Heath visits in February, driving to freezing cold Gallipoli and barely-crowded Ephesus.
The Flintstones to be remade by Family Guy creator
After long and drawn out negotiations Family Guy creator Seth Macfarlane has been given the green light by Warner Bros Television to remake cartoon classic The Flintsones, reports Matt Smith.
Newspoll: 60-40 to LNP in Queensland
Newspoll finds that not only is Queensland Labor almost back down to its late 2010 primary vote nadir, but that the Newman-led LNP has sucked in huge numbers of votes, writes William Bowe.
BHP and the new maths of nuclear reactors
BHP is charging ahead with its Olympic Dam project despite the worldwide pause on nuclear power caused by Fukushima.
Simons: writing, arguing and, wow, winning with Malcolm Fraser
Crikey’s own Margaret Simons, along with her co-author Malcolm Fraser, took home a double at last night’s NSW Premiers Literary Awards, thanks to their book Malcolm Fraser: The Political Memoirs. Simons reflects on writing the book with Fraser.
The rewriting of our fiscal history
There’s a concerted effort to rewrite fiscal history under Labor, and it’s highly offensive.
In NSW, a renewable energy policy of ill repute
The renewables industry has experienced multiple policy convulsions over the past decade that have stalled its development, but none may be so damaging as the decision last week by the NSW government to make retrospective changes to its feed-in tariffs, writes Giles Parkinson.
Maley: IMF disgrace tempts a Greek default
The arrest of International Monetary Fund boss Dominique Strauss-Kahn, for allegedly assaulting a maid in a hotel, prompted howls of dismay from Greek newspapers, writes Karen Maley.
Banks’ actions a danger to the economy
It is possible banks have lent so much to home buyers and investors that any significant tightening in lending standards would lead to not only a massive drop in the banks’ profitability, but also place their solvency in question.
Tobacco lobby’s plain-pack threat not based on reality
British American Tobacco’s long threatened campaign against plain packs kicked off today. Has there ever been a more complete demonstration of Shakespeare’s “the lady doth protest too much”?
Budget breakdown: why Gillard’s Labor has lost its heritage
Does anything distinctively Labor remain in the Gillard government, asks John Quiggin, an economist from the University of Queensland?
Bottled water: some hospitals pay big time, some tap into savings
Several of Sydney’s largest hospitals pay hundreds of thousands of dollars a year for bottled water, while other hospitals around the state buy tap water for reasons of cost and the environment, writes freelance journalist Elise Dalley.
Five reasons why the govt should be wary about set-top boxes
Is the federal government’s $308 million plan to provide pensioners with digital set-top boxes really a vital service for vulnerable Australians?
Guy Rundle: The phones are manned, vote now on Slutwalk
No one appears to have mentioned the Reclaim The Night marches — which still continue, though their heyday has long passed — in the current discussion of the Slutwalk phenomenon.
Daily Proposition: Afghani food, a world away from war
It’s a country we mainly hear about in bleak ABC news crosses to Sally Sara. But Afghani food in Australia is a wondrous world away from roadside bombs and terror groups, says Crikey intern Esther Ooi.
Video of the Day: A salute to fallen journalists
A haunting video tribute showing the photos of more than 800 journalists killed while pursuing the news. It was put together by Newsuem, the Washington DC museum dedicated to news and journalism.
Tips and rumours: Tips and rumours
BER burns architectural firm. The Building the Education Revolution program just won’t go away. A case against a Sydney-based international architectural practice just getting under way in the Federal Court includes issues around the way it handled its commission to document more than 60 schools in western Sydney for the BER program. Rather than employ additional staff, […]
Your Say: Daily Mail readers' feedback: A media meltdown
Crikey readers have their say.
Morning Market Report: A bailout package for Portugal
European finance ministers approved a bailout package for Portugal and are currently in talks with Greece to provide additional support.
