And Time Itself
Sorrowful. Caught. Surrounded. We wheeled on a diving arc. The country was a tragic wreck from one end to the other, made sadder by the terrible pretence that was the Federal election; the smooth unafflicted gormless face of the worst Prime Minister in Australian history; the truly appalling Opposition; the death of the pretence that Australia was a democracy, the shocking maladministration -- oh, and that grandmother being pepper sprayed on the streets of Melbourne for whom not a single Australian politician stood up to defend.
They destroyed the country and then pretended that nothing was wrong.
That was the odd thing about this period.
That while for many all hope had been extinguished, life for the savaged middle class, for those with resources and homes of their own, returned, in a sense, to some sort of quiet normality.
They still had coffee in the morning. They still bought new cars. Suburbs still spread around him; in this fringe urban country which would one day be the height of future sophistication.
Technological beauty.
Art forms not yet dreamed of.
Already they were arcane. Already these processes, for whatever trackage they acquired, were buried in a tumultuous river of history; were knocked back and forth in hostile waves, were carried on a great stream, were wild born and wild brad, carried a sentiment with them of the overcast, rose from the dead, were riven into space and time and most importantly in this instance place; as equally he wandered to be free.
It was all of a fuss. It was a circling. A hesitancy. A meeting not of minds for they were different; but of treachery, purpose, military attention, of a theoretical absence. They held firm. They still gathered down that long valley floor; the armies assembling. The lone sentinel now led armies. This complexity was vision soaked.
They spoke in whispers and images and the barking temple dogs; he knew what he wanted to do but had neither the staff, the scribes or the servants to achieve it. Here in the Shepherd's Hut; at the end of one Empire and the beginning of another.
He would come here and they would surrender.
If all war was deception the time was over.
Australia wheeled now into an uncertain future.
The greatness which would bless this realm was yet to begin.
The collapse of the central government seemed, still, a far off sentiment, or fantasy.
But they weren't here to talk pies and fairy floss; they weren't here as some part of a carnival of the soul, of circus rides and squealing children and happy families eating too much junk food on a glorious day out to the Easter show, that more than faintly absurd echo of days that had shook a primitive race forever.
For all is evolution.
And time itself the magic length of God.
MAINSTREAM MEDIA
SKY
Australia is set to no longer require travellers to return a negative COVID-19 test before boarding a flight Down Under.
The axing of the travel rule comes as Australia continues to wind back its COVID-19 restrictions.
"From 18 April 2022 travellers to Australia will no longer be required to undertake a COVID-19 pre-departure test before boarding their flight," the Department of Health said.
"Travellers are reminded that it is your responsibility to ensure you meet the requirements of the airline you are travelling with and any countries you transit through."
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Flight Centre CEO Graham Turner says it is good news and a "relief" to see so many people travelling again. Mr Turner spoke to Sky News Australia about the delays for passengers being experienced at Sydney Airport. "The good news is so many…
The move away from pre-flight testing was first announced by the federal government late last month.
Health Minister Greg Hunt had revealed the biosecurity emergency determination relating to coronavirus was not going to be extended for the first time in more than two years.
The emergency determination lapses at 11:59pm on Sunday. It first came into effect in March 2020 as Australia shut its borders in response to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Travellers into and out of Australia will still need to show proof they have received two doses of an approved COVID-19 vaccine and masks will also remain mandatory on international flights.
GUARDIAN
The prime minister has been in trouble for so long I’d almost forgotten the Scott Morrison that surfaced this week – the Morrison that barnstorms around the country with impeccable message discipline. But in true Easter spirit, Campaign Morrison rose from the dead, locked and loaded for his next big May miracle.
Anthony Albanese, not so much. After goading Morrison to call the election for a fortnight, the Labor leader fluffed his first pop quiz on day one – a damaging stumble for reasons that have been well ventilated throughout this week. The television news reports on the night of Albanese’s unemployment rate gaffe were beyond breathless – news anchors asked their travelling correspondents whether or not Albanese had just lost the campaign.
On day one.
It’s possible of course that a future Labor campaign review will conclude that Albanese lost the 2022 election on day one. But calling that eventuality on day one seemed brave given there’s a multitude of hours, days, nights and weeks between now and 21 May.
ABC
Sportsgrounds, showgrounds and crown land will be transformed into "mini-villages" to accommodate thousands of Northern Rivers residents left homeless after the devastating floods.
Key points:
The modular homes will supplement existing temporary accommodation options
They could be in place for up to two years
About 25 homes will be set up at the Wollongbar Sports Field in the Ballina Shire, the program's first confirmed location
The NSW government will send up to 2,000 modular homes to communities across the Tweed, Byron, Ballina, Richmond Valley and Lismore local government areas.
The temporary homes, which will cost a total of $350 million and can house between one to four people, will be supplemented by supporting infrastructure and amenities like toilets.
The government expects it will take four weeks to prepare sites, after which community housing providers will take control of their management.
The homes could be in place for up to two years while communities rebuild.
Flood Recovery Minister Steph Cooke said they would supplement existing accommodation options.
"In addition to these modular homes, there are a range of other temporary housing options in place including motorhomes, accommodation in recreation camps and 16-weeks' rental support," she said.
THE NEW DAILY
Reserve your seat on the couch, people.
Easter Monday is here and it’s time to put aside the politics and the federal election and concentrate on reality television, as the three rival commercial free-to-air networks go head to head with their top entertainment shows of the year.
The Ten network is serving up the 14th series of MasterChef Australia: Fans & Favourites, the Nine network has the fourth series of Lego Masters, and Seven has the 11th season of The Voice.
There’s cooking with past contestants and winners on MasterChef, with a bunch of 12 fans who have been recruited into the kitchen, and “spine-tingling performances” from amateur singers for The Voice coaches Keith Urban, Rita Ora, Guy Sebastian and Jessica Mauboy.
The darling of Australian television and Lego fanatic, Gold Logie winner Hamish Blake, returns in a legendary Evel Knievel suit to host and watch eight contestants build incredibly difficult pirate ships, bridges and rockets to impress the master.
Each network has spent big on lead-up campaigns, appealing to their fan bases using dramatic moments cut to music, emotional stories of hardship and desire to win a big prize, and the well-known faces of the judges we’ve come to respect and trust.