Opinion
Opinion
AFL
Fake news: AFL cheapens its showpiece with cheap grand final treatment
The game's governors have gone too far in their cynical manipulation of football supporters.
- by Caroline Wilson
Latest
Analysis
North America
Congress has a breaking point. Trump may have found it this week.
This week, in a remarkable series of bipartisan rebukes to the president, Congress showed sings of pushing back.
- by Sheryl Gay Stolberg and Michael D. Shear
Opinion
National
If students can strike, why shouldn't they have the vote, too?
Young people have cognitive and ethical capacity: they want clarity, they ask insightful questions, make good judgment and are often courageous.
- by Judith Bessant
Opinion
Victoria
The amazing bond of Dudley Marrows and the U-boat captain he saved
Dudley Marrows, the war hero who destroyed a German submarine, saved its crew, and 40 years later became the friend of the captain, dies at 101.
- by Tony Wright
Analysis
Europe
Muppet! Traitor! Spineless! Insults fly as MPs kick the Brexit can. Again
The week that was supposed to sort out Brexit ended up doing nothing of the sort. But at least Westminster's MPs knew who to blame: everyone else.
- by Nick Miller
Analysis
The economy
The worst may already be over for the global economy
The world economy may be the rockiest it's been since the global financial crisis, yet there are reasons to hope the current slowdown will prove short-lived.
- by Simon Kennedy and Zoe Schneeweiss
Analysis
Companies
Should planes be able to fly themselves?
These days, planes largely fly themselves, but the recent tragedies in Indonesia and Ethiopia have raised questions about the downside of all that automation.
- by Jack Nicas and Zach Wichter
Opinion
Companies
Facebook's outage reveals its value to society
When the service goes down, users spend more time offline — but also become less informed.
- by Stephen L. Carter
Analysis
North America
Question of air safety becomes a question of American leadership
The US Federal Aviation Authority for decades represented the gold standard for air safety. Is this still true in the time of Donald Trump?
- by Anthony Faiola
Opinion
Workplace
Dump truck operator back pay decision highlights mess of 'casual' work
A legal decision to grant a "casual" worker back pay has employers worried and legal experts calling for clarification of this employment category.
- by Shae McCrystal
Analysis
Companies
At tense meeting with Boeing executives, pilots fumed about being left in dark on plane software
The meeting followed the deadly crash off Java of a Boeing 737 Max 8 operated by Indonesia’s Lion Air. Some pilots were furious that they were not told about the new software when the plane was unveiled.
- by Aaron Gregg, Jonathan O'Connell, Andrew Ba Tran and Faiz Siddiqui
Opinion
Small business
It's time to restore confidence in the franchising industry
The franchising system as it stands no longer follows the mantra that many franchisors have been peddling, "their success is our success."
- by Deborah O'Neill
Opinion
Climate change
Let the children strike as a lesson to all who live on this planet
Why criticise school children for their global climate strike? After all, we teach them to be critical thinkers, writes the Gonski Institute's deputy director.
- by Pasi Sahlberg
Opinion
Small business
Penalised for having a work-life balance?
There are so many work-life balance entitlements on offer, but is fear of punishment stopping employees from using them?
- by James Adonis
Opinion
National
We're at a global debt precipice and our central banks are failing us
The Reserve Bank of Australia is part of the problem - central banks obsessed with the inflation bogeyman or pulling their liquidity levers, all to no avail.
- by John Hewson
National
Climate action: Nationals a puppet for miners, not farmers
Readers debate how to tackle climate change while maintaining the power grid.
Opinion
Federal
Scott Morrison has settled on his best chance to arrest the havoc
Scott Morrison's warning about his enemies now applies just as much to his friends.
- by David Crowe
Opinion
NRL
Bennett and Souths yet another league marriage of convenience
Despite standing them up back in 2012, it didn't take long for Wayne Bennett to have Rabbitohs eating out of his hand in the 2019 pre-season.
- by Andrew Webster
Opinion
Health & wellness
Dear Pete Evans, please spare us the toxic advice. Yours, parents
There is always the risk that some may not recognise celebrity brand-building for what it is, and could take the advice literally.
- by Wendy Tuohy
Consumer affairs
Josh Frydenberg needs to explain his about-face on mortgage brokers
The Treasurer’s backdown over trailing commissions sends a bad signal.
Opinion
Rugby Union
World in union? Nations Championship falters in Dublin
Not for the first time, rugby is at a crossroads. A meeting underway in Dublin to discuss a 12-team Nations Championship will have wide-ranging ramifications.
- by Georgina Robinson
Analysis
NRL
Right and wrong: Has Bennett erred with Inglis switch?
He is revered as the best coach ever, but Wayne Bennett's plan to play Greg Inglis on the right-hand side against the Roosters doesn't add up.
- by Roy Masters
Explainer
Europe
Brexit crunch week: here's what's happening and why
A series of crucial votes in the UK Parliament is determining how Brexit plays out. Here's your guide on what, when and why.
- by Nick Miller
Analysis
Cricket
Why Australia selectors are staying the course with captain Finch
The reversal of Australia's fortunes in India may have raised further questions over Aaron Finch the batsman but his stocks as leader have never been higher.
- by Andrew Wu
Opinion
Small business
Jig is finally up for the 'shameful' franchise sector
The 354-page parliamentary report is a withering indictment of a sector that has been allowed to do the wrong thing by its franchisees for years.
- by Adele Ferguson
Opinion
National
Uni admission scams: we're not the US, but it happens here
It's not all about Hollywood stars paying bribes to get their children into college. In Australia, children of advantage also get a headstart.
- by Jenna Price
Opinion
Health & wellness
How to balance your digital nutrition
For a while, Instagram made up the bulk of my empty digital calories: I'd pop in for a quick look, then find myself gorging on other people's aesthetics and achievements until I felt sick, or at least fairly hollow about my own.
- by Rachel Cocker
Opinion
National
The case for a living wage has never been stronger
A living wage is a powerful moral and economic force. A decent, civilised society cannot allow full-time workers to labour in poverty.
- by Nick Dyrenfurth
Opinion
NRL
I know about the sex scandals, but can we please get back to the game?
Once the whistle blows I don't demand anything from the players, other than they don’t miss tackles and actually make some breaks.
- by Karen Hardy
Opinion
Workplace
The truth about exit interviews
If the truth is going to hurt, should you tell it?
- by Jonathan Rivett
Analysis
Banking & finance
Shelving its wealth management demerger was the only call for CBA
CBA, confronted by the costs and uncertainties permeating the wealth management sector, had no realistic option but to suspend its plan.
- by Stephen Bartholomeusz
Opinion
Companies
'Too little, too late': Boeing has already lost control of the narrative
Boeing's new-found appreciation for putting safety first doesn't excuse their previous behaviour.
- by Kerrie Sutherland
Opinion
Victoria
This is why we don't leave justice in the hands of victims
In this most polarised of public dramas, Chief Judge Peter Kidd was a meticulously moderate character: a mix of just rage and compassion.
- by Waleed Aly
Analysis
Europe
The farce and the furious: how May's government shot itself in the foot
Was it a pig's ear, a dog's dinner or a cat's arse? Today was one of the May government's worst political screw-ups, and that's really saying something.
- by Nick Miller
Opinion
Workplace
How to overcome hard times in a job you love
Work can be a dark place at times, writes Jim Bright.
- by Jim Bright
Opinion
Small business
'Irony' lost on ATO staff as spin goes into overdrive
A review into the ATO has been seized on by the ATO to verbal a joint media investigation.
- by Adele Ferguson
Opinion
Banking & finance
ING profits from new disrupter on the market - Hayne royal commission
Australia’s lesser-known retail bank, ING, has produced earnings growth that leaves its big four competitors in the dust.
- by Elizabeth Knight
Opinion
National
Democracy sausages and independent voices
Sausage sizzles are now a feature of many polling places on election day - a celebration of Australian democracy.
- by John Warhurst
Opinion
National
We need a law against risky goods (that's right, we don't have one)
Australia's product safety regime usually relies on intervention after someone is injured or has died. The head of the consumer watchdog wants the law fixed.
- by Rod Sims
Opinion
Climate change
As an ex-coal boss, I'm telling politicians: wake up to climate threat
The Reserve Bank now understands the economic perils of global warming but politicians keep ignoring it, writes a former oil, gas and coal industry executive.
- by Ian Dunlop
National
Clubs and discrimination: Talking about issues with our own gender
Readers discuss whether it is discriminatory to have single-sex clubs and institutions.
Opinion
Victoria
Why George Pell's case needed to be decided by jury
I recently served on a jury. It was not the trial of some abstract white-collar crime but of the molestation of children.
Victoria
Pell case shows no one is above the law
Given the scepticism of many who cannot bring themselves to believe George Pell has been convicted, providing the public with direct access to the sentencing reasoning was a fine thing to do.
Opinion
AFL
Super blooper: the tale wagging the dog
“Our club was born in blood and boots,” a Bulldogs' run through once read, “not in AFL focus groups.” Playing dress-ups in left-over AFLX stock surely sells them short now.
- by Greg Baum
Opinion
The economy
Global slowdown is becoming more intense - and no one knows why
The weakness of post-crisis economic growth despite a decade of low interest rates and expansionary fiscal policies is a conundrum and has economists befuddled.
- by Stephen Bartholomeusz
Opinion
National
Pell thought the boys would never tell. One did - and millions believe
The jailing of Cardinal George Pell resonates because he was so powerful in an institution that covered up the abuses of its clerics.
- by Joanne McCarthy
Analysis
Victoria
Everyone wants a piece of Dan's plan for infrastructure
What the Victorian Premier and his colleagues have done - build the things they said they would and let the voters know - is not an easy trick to pull off.
- by Noel Towell
Opinion
Companies
Going green? Mining's dirty secret won't survive climate change
Factor in what happens when iron ore is turned into steel, and that shiny new green image can quickly turn rusty.
- by David Fickling
Opinion
Banking & finance
Mortgage broker debate is everything that is wrong with our democracy
Australians deserve mortgage brokers who are incentivised to not only ferret out the cheapest loan for potential borrowers, but also encourage them to adopt a prudent attitude to debt.
- by Jessica Irvine
Opinion
Victoria
Pell verdict: Judge Kidd got it absolutely right with the sentence
It was a brave and brilliant decision to allow a live streaming of court and thus give regular people an insight into the difficult job of sentencing.
- by Duncan Fine