“‘His knowledge of the works in our collection was extraordinary, and he instantly understood the arc of art history and the way that we’ve deployed the collection to tell that story,’ Mitzevich says.
“He stopped in front of #BluePoles and said ‘Oh, well, this is one of the most important works of the 20th century, and you’ve hung it next to a work by [#Pollock’s wife Lee Krasner], oh and look at the de Kooning in dialogue’. And he was equally fascinated by things that he hadn’t seen before, like #SidneyNolan’s #NedKelly [series].” A)
VS
“In 2016 a new #Liberal senator, a mere stripling of twenty-eight years, had a foolproof idea for getting himself noticed. #JamesPaterson told the media the government should sell #JacksonPollock’s #abstract#expressionist masterpiece, Blue Poles.
“Some people feel like they’ve got a real attachment to Blue Poles, and I understand that,” said Paterson, who had come to parliament from the free-market #InstituteofPublicAffairs. “I don’t think it’s a good enough reason for the Australian government to tie up such a significant amount of #money in a single painting which is hung in a #gallery in #Canberra most of the year, and which most #Australians won’t ever see face to face in their #lifetimes. It’ll only be #worth something to #taxpayers when we #sell it.” B)
A person admires Blue Poles from afar. As a young Art student I crept right up close to take a look at the brush strokes. And to my surprise, flakes of paint gathered beneath the painting. It looks like you can’t do it now.
“People obviously are over the ads and just want #election day out of the way and get on with their lives. I get all of that. But you know, we live in the greatest #country in the world. It’s worth #fighting for and #protecting and #defending and that’s what the #debate is about”
“I think #alcohol is the first essential ingredient, I’m sure of that, responsible drinking as well, but NOT WATCHING THE ABC would be a good start.
For the young ones, #listening at home, FORGET THE ABC. And if you do that, you can probably start with a good night.” — #PeterDutton
“The #truth is, in what became an impressive field of advocates, #Albo did more to secure my freedom than any other politician or public figure, even more than the late Pope, whose support was both moving and significant.
Against all expectations for an #Australian politician, once elected, he kept his word.
#Albanese lobbied former US president #JoeBiden at several meetings, pushing for Assange’s release.
Albo hasn’t just stood up to the #US to end the #PoliticalImprisonment of an #Australian – he’s also intervened for other Australians detained in difficult circumstances, including in #China. This government has proven itself unusually capable of rescuing #Australians caught up in #sensitive political situations.
Does this mean Albo will put Australian interests first and skillfully navigate tensions between the US, #EU, and China? I can’t say for sure. But I do know this: He can. Albo did right by me ... You don’t need to be a #bully to have a #backbone.”
“Price was appointed to lead a government efficiency unit if the #Coalition government is elected after 3 May. The unit, which would sit within the prime minister’s department, has been compared to one led by US #tech billionaire Elon Musk (#TechWeenie, #Oligarch), whose Department of Government #Efficiency, or Doge, is taking a razor to US government departments.
“Let’s be very, very clear, media, you’re obsessed with Donald Trump 🎃. We’re not obsessed with Donald Trump. We’re actually obsessed with ensuring that we can improve the circumstances for #Australians,” she said.”
“The #Nationals#leader, #DavidLittleproud, called it a “slip of the tongue” when Price, the shadow minister for #GovernmentEfficiency and Indigenous #Australians, told a campaign rally she wanted to “make #Australia great again” on Saturday. The #senator later claimed she hadn’t “even realised” she made the comments, then accused the media of being “obsessed” with the US president.
Guardian #Australia has obtained an image of the senator at an event with her family over the Christmas period wearing a Maga hat.
…
Guardian Australia has approached #Coalition campaign headquarters for comment.”
#PeterDutton (#LNP / #Liberal) has announced a $10bn tax cut measure, which would give #Australians who earn up to $144,000 relief of up to $1,200 in the upcoming financial year.”
What a load of horse💩. Where is the strategy to industrialise the housing Industry to drive down costs and increase quality? <https://www.youtube.com/watchv=36I6jCrWTvQ>
Does #Labor want people to #buy or #rent? Where is this discussion? If not where is the plan to rollback (middle class #welfare) house investment & #NegativeGearing? Where is the talk of #EducationalDebt? Free TAFE for Tradies won’t solve these problems.
“Nearly half of all #renters sit in the bottom 40% of income levels, compared with just one-fifth of first home buyers.
“If you’re in the bottom two #quintiles of income, you’re probably not really going to have enough #income to be servicing a #mortgage, whichever way you go,” Phillips says.
“There’s not a lot that we’ve seen in the election #campaign to really help those people, and they’re the people who really are #struggling.”
That leaves nearly half the renting population, or four million #Australians, beyond the reach of homebuyer help even before the new #policies arrive.”
If you don’t own or cannot afford a home, Australian politicians are not interested in you.