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The mysterious case of Putin, the spacesuit and an Australian university website

By Sherryn Groch and Kishor Napier-Raman

Visitors to the Monash University website may have noticed a surprise guest in its promotional pictures.

Among the listed advantages of studying politics at Monash was a curious poster boy for “overseas opportunities”: Russian President Vladimir Putin – pictured in a tasteful spacesuit-business suit combo.

CBD stumbled across a strange poster boy for Monash University’s politics program: Vladimir Putin.

CBD stumbled across a strange poster boy for Monash University’s politics program: Vladimir Putin.Credit: Internet/Marija Ercegovac

Sadly, on further inspection, CBD confirmed this was not from Putin’s private collection but a rather jazzy Photoshop job.

As to how a foreign dictator ended up as an Australian university recruiting tool, speculation is running wild. Was it a rogue staff member? A student prank? A hack? The smoking gun of foreign interference in our university sector?

Bemused students first pointed out Putin’s space-faring cameo as far back as 2021 on Facebook, and a trawl through the web archive reveals it has been there even longer. But after CBD got in touch on Friday, Monash staff quickly booted the wannabe tsar for a more sensible travel image: a blue Vespa.

A spokeswoman said: “The university is aware that an image was inappropriately uploaded to a Faculty of Arts page, which has since been removed.”

Aim for the stars, kids, not the tsars.

TINA ARENA v THE PREMIER

It seems ScoMo’s favourite singer, Tina Arena, is still mad at Victorian Premier Daniel Andrews after the pandemic lockdowns she railed against.

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While she’s soon due to begin a hectic world tour for her new album, the pop star took time to check in on the comments section of an anti-lockdown social media account in Victoria now devoted to railing against the premier.

On Monday, the topic was an old favourite: the infamous 2013 car crash in which Andrews was a passenger in a car driven by his wife that collided with a cyclist. CBD waded back into that one on Monday when one impassioned Liberal MP and a citizen sleuth conjured up a room full of 3D models to help present their own theory of events.

Tina Arena recording with the Melbourne Symphony Orchestra.

Tina Arena recording with the Melbourne Symphony Orchestra.Credit: Laura Manariti

Of Andrews, one punter commented on Instagram: “The higher they stand, the harder they fall.” Arena responded: “Can only f hope.”

Arena recently quit her prominent role on the Australia Council, to which she was appointed by the Morrison government in 2019 (though CBD revealed she’d only been attending about half the board meetings). ScoMo has long gushed that his love for Arena’s music “borders on the unhealthy”.

It’s unclear if she features on the premier’s playlist. Both he and Arena’s reps were keeping mum on the latest dust-up on Monday afternoon.

Credit: John Shakespeare

TURNBULL & TANYA

Meanwhile, the troubled Yes campaign for an Indigenous Voice to parliament is bringing together traditional political rivals.

To mark Wednesday’s referendum date announcement, former prime minister Malcolm Turnbull will join Environment Minister Tanya Plibersek at Sydney’s Kings Cross Station for a spot of light campaigning.

He was approached by the Yes campaign, which presumably hopes Turnbull carries a bit of influence among his old constituents in Wentworth. All very wholesome, but enough to turn around the Yes campaign’s fortunes?

CADDICK’S BLING RING

Last December, liquidators began auctioning off the assets of presumed-dead fraudster Melissa Caddick to help repay the $23 million she stole off investors in her Ponzi scheme.

Despite a frenzied three days of bidding that raised nearly $1 million, a $39,200 Stefano Canturi diamond ring, bought by Caddick a week before her wedding to hairdresser-cum-DJ Anthony Koletti, fetched just under $7000.

Clearly, somebody thinks that price was too low. CBD’s informants spotted the ring, listed as belonging to Caddick, for sale at an antique shop in Blackheath, priced at $70,200.

Given the fascination with true crime, it’s no surprise that the infamy surrounding Caddick’s name might’ve inflated the price just a little. But it’s a shame none of the proceeds are going to the fraudster’s victims.

PELL AGAINST THE WORLD

Last week, the Catholic Church failed to overturn a Victorian Supreme Court decision that allowed the father of a choirboy allegedly sexually abused by Cardinal George Pell to sue it.

Pell remains a hero for many conservative Catholics worldwide after his convictions for alleged child abuse were quashed in the High Court.

What else could explain the hyperbolic blurb for the latest book on the late Cardinal, Pell Contra Mundum (Pell Against the World), published by Queensland-based conservative press Connor Court next month?

A new book on the late cardinal titled Pell Contra Mundum (Pell Against the World) is out from Queensland-based conservative press Connor Court next month.

A new book on the late cardinal titled Pell Contra Mundum (Pell Against the World) is out from Queensland-based conservative press Connor Court next month.Credit: Connor Court Publishing

“The world groans and the Church stumbles. Men fail to act and inspire. To whom can we turn for an example?”

The answer, of course, is Pell, who is described as a “white martyr with insights into the spirit of this age and the ongoing crisis in the Church”.

The tome, which collects writings by Pell and a handful of like-minded Catholics, is edited by American priest Robert Sirico. He runs Michigan-based conservative think tank the Acton Institute, which has evangelised on the “explicit blessing of the union between faith and economic freedom”.

Perhaps that explains the fascination with the Vatican’s former treasurer.

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Original URL: https://www.watoday.com.au/national/the-mysterious-case-of-putin-the-spacesuit-and-an-australian-university-website-20230828-p5e009.html