We live in an age of paradoxes: a time when Australia tries to conceal its mistreatment of refugees through various nefarious methods – for example, criminalising the disclosure of child abuse in the Nauruan detention system ­­– even as it trumpets its concern for violence against women, which is, according to Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull, ‘unAustralian’. Yet, in the case of ‘Abyan’ – the refugee on Nauru flown to Australia for a termination following a rape on the island and then deported before the procedure could even occur – violence is the direct result of Australian government policy.

When Victorian senator John Madigan trained his raygun-of-righteousness on the rate of ‘gender-selective’ abortion in Australia last week, the response was, largely, bewilderment: there is no evidence that the practice even occurs in Australia.

Yesterday the Guardian published a story called: ‘I took secret photos of my abortion to empower and educate women’. Sensibly, the woman who wrote it remained anonymous – because these are dangerous times for women and our bodies.

The latest Meanjin, Volume 70, the first edition for 2011, is also the Meanjin-swansong of its editor Sophie Cunningham who took the helm in 2008 and resigned unexpectedly in 2010. Sophie’s editorial wraps-up her time with the journal and welcomes the newly appointed Sally Heath. This edition of Meanjin begins with the rather droll ‘Mulgrave, […]

GetUp! has a new ad about Tony Abbott and his archaism:

An Abbottonian prophecy – courtesy of The Onion. (There is, unfortunately, a 15 second advert for Zombieland first.)