The August Monthly is home to big investigations into broken systems, shadowy influence and institutional manoeuvrings.
Walkley Award–winning journalist Sally Neighbour has written our cover story, for which she returned to her former employer, the ABC, and spoke to more than 60 people – past and present staff, onlookers and commentators – to try to understand the events leading up to the sacking of the former director of news, Justin Stevens.
Katherine Wilson digs into the power of the gun lobby in Victorian state politics, uncovering a disturbing willingness to turn a blind eye to violent tactics and systemic abuse by this macho subculture. As the state election looms, and criticism mounts about the Big Build and shady relationships with union pressure, Wilson reveals another facet to a Labor government struggling with special-interest capture.
Russell Marks looks at the Australian media forces – social and otherwise – whose lack of moderation is hastening a drastic change in our politics. Hannah Bambra makes the link between anti-abortion advocacy and the pressures felt by families going through the grief and loss of miscarriage. Erik Jensen visits the video artist Shaun Gladwell as he creates new work – one that is in conversation with both Arthur Boyd and Nebuchadnezzar – for an exhibition called Man on Fire.
Plus… the Lake Eyre Basin, an internationally acclaimed food writer in country Victoria, books, film, and a tribute to a much loved dog. All in the August issue of The Monthly.