•GriffithREVIEW71.indb 1 11/12/20 1:36 pm Praise for Griffith Review ‘A literary degustation... The richness of these stories is amplified by the resonance between them. It’s hard to think of so much fascinating story being contained within 270-odd pages.’ Ed Wright, The Saturday Australian ‘…informative, thought-provoking and well-crafted.’ The Saturday Paper ‘[An] outstanding collection of essays, reportage, memoir, poetry and fiction.’ Mark McKenna, Honest History ‘The Review doesn’t shirk from the nuanced and doesn’t seek refuge in simplistic notions or slogans. It remains Australia’s primary literary review.’ Professor Ken Smith, Dean and CEO ANZSOG ‘Griffith Review continues to provide a timely focus on contemporary topics through its high-calibre collection of literary works.’ Graham Quirk, former Lord Mayor, Brisbane ‘…an eclectic, thought-provoking and uniformly well-written collection.’ Justin Burke, The Australian ‘This is commentary of a high order. The prose is unfailingly polished; the knowledge and expertise of the writers impressive.’ Roy Williams, Sydney Morning Herald ‘For intelligent, well-written quarterly commentary…Griffith Review remains the gold standard.’ Honest History ‘Griffith Review is Australia’s most prestigious literary journal.’ stuff.co.nz ‘Griffith Review is a must-read for anyone with even a passing interest in current affairs, politics, literature and journalism. The timely, engaging writing lavishly justifies the Brisbane-based publication’s reputation as Australia’s best example of its genre.’ The West Australian ‘Griffith Review enjoys a much-deserved reputation as one of the best literary journals in Australia. Its contribution to conversations and informed debate on a wide range of topical issues has been outstanding.’ Hon. Ian Walker MP ‘This quarterly magazine is a reminder of the breadth and talent of Australian writers. Verdict: literary treat.’ Herald Sun •GriffithREVIEW71.indb 1 11/12/20 1:36 pm SIR SAMUEL GRIFFITH was one of Australia’s notable early achievers. He occupied positions of authority during some of the most momentous events in the history of the Queensland colony, the frontier wars, the ‘blackbirding’ trade of people from the Pacific, the shearers’ strike and Federation. At times he challenged power, at others he was willing to compromise. He was a man of colonial times, not all his decisions have stood the test of time. Twice the premier of Queensland, that state’s chief justice and the author of its criminal code, he was best known for his pivotal role in drafting the Constitution that led to Federation, and as the new nation’s first chief justice. He was also a reformer and legislator, a complex yet pragmatic man of words. Griffith died in 1920 and is now most likely to be remembered by his namesakes: an electorate, a society, a suburb and a university. Ninety-six years after he first proposed establishing a university in Brisbane, Griffith University, the city’s second, was created in 1971. His commitment to public debate and ideas, his delight in words and art, and his attachment to active citizenship are recognised by this publication that bears his name. Like Sir Samuel Griffith, Griffith Review is iconoclastic and non-partisan, with a sceptical eye, a pragmatically reforming heart, always ready to debate ideas. Personal, political and unpredictable, it informs and provokes Australia’s best conversations. During Griffith’s lifetime, and while he was in positions of power, the First Nations of Queensland resisted and suffered British invasion and dispossession. Sir Samuel made it possible for some Aboriginal people to testify in court when charges were brought against settlers. The first Australians survived, but at a terrible cost. In the twenty-first century, the need for a thorough and lasting settlement is urgent, one that respects and honours the rights, history and culture of the descendants of those who were dispossessed. Griffith Review staff acknowledge and pay particular respect to the traditional custodians of the lands on which their office is located, the Jagera and Turrbal people in South-East Queensland, and to elders throughout Australia. •GriffithREVIEW71.indb 2 11/12/20 1:36 pm GriffithReview71 Remaking the Balance Edited by Ashley Hay •GriffithREVIEW71.indb 3 11/12/20 1:36 pm GriffithReview71 INTRODUCTION 7 Create, destroy, reset ASHLEY HAY: Forging worlds with finite resources ESSAY 11 Breaking new ground GABRIELLE CHAN: Innovative approaches to farming 25 Masters of the future or heirs of the past? CLARE WRIGHT: Mining, history and the right to know 79 Generation Covid KATIE HOLMES: Crafting history and collective memory 104 It’s more than just the fruit ROBIN E ROBERTS: Consequences of climate change on Australian agriculture 115 Food insecurity in uncertain times BRONWYN FREDERICKS and ABRAHAM BRADFIELD: Ways forward post- pandemic 124 Sitting with difficult things SOPHIE CUNNINGHAM: Meaningful action in contested times 140 Accords and antagonisms TONY WOOD: Making progress in the combat for climate policy 148 A long half- life IAN LOWE: Nuclear energy in Australia 195 Trash fish, sand, sea snails ELSPETH PROBYN: Why little things matter 241 State actions and libertarian lawsuits ANNE ORFORD: Lessons from Covid for the climate emergency 251 Touching the future GENEVIEVE BELL: Stories of systems, serendipity and grace 264 Postnatural, post- wild, posthuman LESLEY HUGHES: Our troubled relationship with the Blue Marble 275 Gifts across space and time NARDI SIMPSON: Journeying together in speak/listen trade MEMOIR 39 Returning value to profit ALAN SCHWARTZ: On my late onset political awakening 89 Verdigris LESLEY- ANNE HOUGHTON: The elements of corrosion 227 The professor and the word JULIAN MEYRICK: On value in culture and economics REPORTAGE 51 Tales from the frontline JO CHANDLER: The emotional impact of climate change •GriffithREVIEW71.indb 4 11/12/20 1:36 pm 95 Eating for the climate MATTHEW EVANS: Reframing the debate about ethical diets 173 Hail hydrogen NICOLE HASHAM: Powering the debate on future fuel INTERVIEW 72 ‘A poem is a unicycle’ BARBARA KINGSOLVER and ASHLEY HAY: A conversation on poetry, politics and post-truth IN CONVERSATION 205 Animal perspective ERIN HORTLE, LAURA JEAN McKAY and CHRIS FLYNN: Breaking the language barrier FICTION 135 Provenance JANE DOWNING 186 Blue crane INGA SIMPSON POETRY 76 How to have a child 77 How to shear a sheep 78 How to do absolutely nothing BARBARA KINGSOLVER 114 urgent biophilia CHLOË CALLISTEMON 134 The Biyula novels DECLAN FRY 215 Qualifying ode to experience JOHN KINSELLA PICTURE GALLERY 161 The crimson line TRENT PARKE Marian Drew, Melon, Coral, Clouds [detail] 2014 Inkjet print, 60 x 90 cm Image courtesy of the artist Griffith Review gratefully acknowledges the support and generosity of our founding patron, the late Margaret Mittelheuser AM and the ongoing support of Dr Cathryn Mittelheuser AM. Contents.indd 5 16/12/20 3:56 pm GriffithReview71 2021 Griffith Review is published four times a year by Griffith University. Publisher Julianne Schultz AM FAHA Editor Ashley Hay Associate Publisher Jane O’Hara Managing Editor John Tague Senior Editor Carody Culver Marketing & Events Co-ordinator Emma Reason Business Co-ordinator Esha Buch Proofreader Sonia Ulliana Chair, Advisory Board Scott Harrison Publicity Brendan Fredericks Typesetting Midland Typesetters Printing Ligare Book Printers Distribution NewSouth Books/ADS ISBNs Book: 978-1-922212-56-6 PDF: 978-1-922212-57-3 Epub/Kindle: 978-1-922212-58-0 ISSN 1448-2924 Contributions by academics can, on request, be refereed by our Editorial Board. Details: griffithreview.com GRIFFITH REVIEW South Bank Campus, Griffith University PO Box 3370, South Brisbane QLD 4101 Australia Ph +617 3735 3071 Fax +617 3735 3272 [email protected] griffithreview.com SUBSCRIPTIONS: See griffithreview.com/product-category/subscriptions Institutional and bulk rates available on application COPYRIGHT The copyright in material published in Griffith Review and on its website remains the property of the author, artist or photographer, and is subject to copyright laws. No part of this publication should be reproduced without first contacting Griffith Review. Opinions published in Griffith Review are not necessarily those of the publisher, editor, Griffith University or NewSouth Books. FEEDBACK AND COMMENT [email protected] •GriffithREVIEW71.indb 6 11/12/20 1:36 pm INTRODUCTION Create, destroy, reset Forging worlds with finite resources Ashley Hay WE’RE TERRAFORMING, MY son and me. We’ve done this in the real world before, tree by tree – but this time, it’s virtual, pixelated. Digging down and piling up, creating landscapes and buildings and ponds. I place green blocks of grassy stuff slowly, one by one. My son deals his out like a top-table croupier. ‘So how much of this stuff do I have?’ I ask. Another block. Another cube. ‘As much as you want, Mum.’ ‘There’s no limit to the resources I can use?’ ‘Nothing runs out.’ Grass. Wood. Stone. Fish. Food. Water. Glass. Gems. Tools. Another crop. Another building. Another panda. Another cow. Nothing is earned or purchased: it’s all just there to use. And there’s a curious satisfaction in laying down piece after piece of green, brown, blue without having to think about shortage – or consequence. This seductive bounteousness: as much as you want. Minecraft, for those who don’t live with a twelve-year-old, can be played in two modes: creative and survival. There are internal games, variations and opportunities, but it’s fundamentally a world-building app, like Lego on-screen, allowing the construction, block by block, of everything from basic to elaborate topographies, residences, lands. I painstakingly complete my row of grass. My son spawns llamas, chickens and pandas, and plants more corn – this profligate abundance. He dumps bucket after bucket of never- ending water into a new pool for more dolphins, turtles, sharks and more of Minecraft’s 3,584 different kinds of available tropical fish.