Another Christmas. It seems to mean less and less every year when you’re not actively engaged in trying to keep children happy. If it feels even more subdued than usual in 2021, the reasons are not hard to find. Now the Health Minister, Greg _unt, is telling us we don’t need to wait five months for a booster, or even four months, but a mere three months! Soon it’ll be a matter of simply rolling up a sleeve and sticking your arm out of the window. The only problem is that there seem to be errr… supply issues. Quelle surprise! We’re reassured there are plenty of booster doses available, but when the government decided to cut the margins for doctors and pharmacists, making it barely worth their while to set up vaccination hubs, is it surprising there are shortfalls?
Remember, this is the same government that handed $20 billion of taxpayers’ money to firms making healthy profits during the lockdowns.
The end of the year has seen the poitical demise of NSW Arts Minister, Don Harwin, who seems to have been too old, too ready to spend money, and too closely aligned with the Church of St. Gladys, to satisfy Premier Perroquet. Don’s downfall has brought cheering in some quarters, such as those opposed to the wretched Powerhouse Museum debacle, and genuine regret in others. He was, for instance, a big supporter of the National Art School and the Sydney Film Festival. What’s more he had an enthusiasm for the arts, which has not always been the case with Arts Ministers.
Don’s sins, which include old-fashioned ones such as gluttony and pride, were most notable in the sphere of party politics. He is rumoured not to have favoured the Powerhouse to Parramatta scheme, but became its most vociferous defender – stonewalling with business plans, ignoring expert advice and criticism, huffing and puffing as though he were bringing enlightenment to the benighted western suburbs instead of a development opportunity to Liberal Party donors. He’s also open to accusations of channelling funds to people that he liked (and who liked him), rather than to institutions in greatest need.
Does this make Don a hypocrite, or simply a politician? Today there seem to be only two kinds of pollie: shameless and successful, or complete zero. The NSW Opposition is pretty close to zero, even though the government has given them ample opportunities to score points. Don, by contrast, was a showman who loved the limelight. Let’s hope his replacement, Ben Franklin, is less flamboyant but more responsive to a broad range of appeals, and to well-meant criticisms of government projects. First-up should be a reconsideration of regional arts funding, and a veto of the Powerhouse Ultimo as a “fashion and design” hub. If the museum is to make sense going into future it has to be a whole lot more than that, and should not be waylaid by self-interested parties.
Matt Kean has shown that a Coalition government can make serious headway with climate policies in the teeth of Federal inactivity, now we’ll see if a new minister can do the same for the Arts.
I’ve only got one piece being published in the newspapers this week: a round-up of Boxing Day new releases in the Australian Financial Review. I’ve said a few words about a new batch of movies from Spielberg’s remake of West Side Story to some lesser known titles. If you’re willing to venture out of the house during the Omicron storm, there’s plenty to see.
Me, I’m home for what other people call “the holidays”. Home, with novels by Simenon and Mauriac, and a biography of Coco Chanel, plus a wide range of viewing options. Going out can wait till next year, and then I’m aiming for the wide blue yonder.
All the best for Christmas and New Year to the dedicated readers of this cranky newsletter. I’m grateful for your perseverance. See you in 2022!