Day 1

Blank suburbs

In a home in one of the blank suburbs, rows of houses wilting under the endless Australian sky, a father and son celebrate the nation’s birthday by watching Mad Max on DVD, sucking up the wide spaces through bleary eyes.  The living room curtains are shut tight to keep out the light and heat of the mid-afternoon sun.  There’s more human contact on the TV screen than in the deserted street outside.

I know which way I’ll be voting

The newsreader is an attractive young blonde with industry-standard tits.

“Australia Day barbecues were ruined for hundreds of families earlier this afternoon after fighting broke out among drunken youths as crowds gathered on the river foreshore for tonight’s fireworks.  Disturbances have become common at the annual celebration of Australia’s birthday, but police said this incident took on sinister overtones, as it involved clashes between young caucasians and a group of youths of Middle Eastern appearance.  An Australian flag was also torn up and spat on, a police officer was assaulted, and twenty-seven people were arrested.  Damage was also reported to shops in the area.  This was after the organisers of the Big Day Out music festival called for the Australian flag to be banned, because, they said, it was being used as a symbol for racist attacks.”

Tiffany glances down at her notes and looks up again to camera, a well-practiced move to focus the audience’s attention.  “So, the Australian flag, symbol of national pride or rallying point for racist hooligans?  Have your say in tonight’s Australia Day Six News Poll.  To vote, get on line at six news dot com dot au.  I know which way I’ll be voting.”