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Investigation
China's Spy Secrets
The moment a Chinese spy decided to defect to Australia
'We silenced them': A spy reveals how the Chinese government interferes in other countries.
- by Nick McKenzie, Grace Tobin and Paul Sakkal
More top stories
Analysis
Naked City
You think hitmen are cool calculators? They can be deadly blunderers
Croydon fruiterer Paul Virgona was gunned down driving on EastLink on his way to market. Police haven't ruled out mistaken identity. After all, it wouldn't be the first time a hit went wrong.
- by John Silvester
John Woodman: How 'the blood donor' moved money
The developer John Woodman was creative when it came to paying the people he wanted onside. The IBAC hearings into corruption at Casey council this week laid out his methods.
- by Ben Schneiders and Royce Millar
Prince Andrew to quit flagship Pitch project, reduce roles and staff
Andrew appears to have bowed to pressure and stepped down, with the move coming a day after one sponsor said his plans to continue leading Pitch were "not tenable".
Exclusive
Robert Doyle
Victoria Police seek answers from Robert Doyle as alleged victims come forward
Sex charges may be laid against Melbourne's longest serving lord mayor, Robert Doyle.
- by Chip Le Grand
Opinion
CCP influence
China's got tougher, but Keating's gone soft
One of the hardest men of Australian politics is failing to see that China has changed.
- by Peter Hartcher
'There's a misconception': Musician Beck on Scientology
It hasn't been an easy year for Beck. His latest album takes it's name from the button you press in Asteroids, when your spaceship is faced with a collision.
- by Andrew Stafford
Featured
GOod Weekend
The horse rescuers: saving one four-legged friend at a time
Reports on retired racehorse cruelty reveal just how blinkered we’ve been when it comes to bad treatment of our equine friends. It’s time to rein it in.
- by Candida Baker
Power and Paranoia: Why the Chinese government aggressively pushes beyond its borders
The Chinese government’s covert operations in Australia are considerable. Can Australia push back without economic consequences?
- by Peter Hartcher
Local
Spending an inheritance: Melbourne woman buys homes for the homeless
'It's a weight off my shoulders': A homeless Melbourne mum and three kids have a roof over their heads after a charity bought them a house to rent.
- by Carolyn Webb
Developer carved up Melbourne's green outskirts with allegedly-crooked deals
Woodman has been a big player in whittling away half of the land set aside in the 1970s as Melbourne's "lungs". These are his biggest victories.
- by Royce Millar and Ben Schneiders
Backing himself as economy shifts, the no-apologies premier digs in
Premier Daniel Andrews expects tougher times for his second term with Victoria in a 'different economy' from the boom times of his first years in office.
- by Noel Towell
National
You thought Myki was over budget? Sydney's light rail bill soars to at least $2.9 billion
- by Megan Gorrey and Matt O'Sullivan
POng su investigation
'Outlaw' tattoos and fingerprints reveal identity of Pong Su drug trafficker
Chin Kwang Lee revealed to police, in custody, his distinctive dragon tattoo and four Chinese characters inked on his back roughly translated to "outside the law".
- by Richard Baker
Did North Korea's money making agency run the Pong Su heroin deal?
The ship has been linked to the Hermit Kingdom's Division 39, whose operations include running drugs. So, who was the money intended for?
- by Richard Baker
Politics
Greens in late bid to delay Morrison government's union-busting legislation
Attorney-General Christian Porter appears on the verge of securing support to pass the government's union-busting legislation before Christmas, but a last-minute intervention may still delay its passage.
- by Dana McCauley
Exclusive
Aged care royal commission
'Pretty confronting': Up to a third of aged care services may be substandard
- by Judith Ireland
Business
The big squeeze: Qantas planning to grow and shrink at the same time
After its celebrated turnaround, some have been wondering if this is as good as it gets for Qantas.
- by Patrick Hatch
Devil in the detail rocks Westpac as crisis puts heat on bank chief
- by Clancy Yeates and Sarah Danckert
World
Analysis
Trump's White House
In wild Fox News interview, Trump again shows his obsession with 2016 election
A TV interview showed anew just how laser-focused Trump remains on things that happened three years ago.
- by John T. Bennett
Opinion
A numbers game: how the Westpac crisis will play out
Elizabeth Knight
Business columnist
We say we want climate action but we won't vote for it
Waleed Aly
Columnist, co-host of Ten's The Project and academic
Working longer? This age-old question gets up voters' noses unless there's an answer
David Crowe
Chief political correspondent
Living with the big guy in the crowd, China
Philipp Ivanov
Explore
Editor's Picks
Property bydomain
![The figure that hints at a bumper year for Melbourne property in 2020](http://web.archive.org./web/20191123001639im_/https://res.akamaized.net/domain/image/upload/t_web/c_crop,h_588,w_905,x_119,y_94/c_fill,w_640,h_360/v1574285126/Saturday_Age_-_property_listing_numbers_5_mz4tze.jpg)
The figure that hints at a bumper year for Melbourne property in 2020
Melbourne's house prices started to rebound a few months ago but another key piece of the puzzle took longer to return - until now.
- by Melissa Heagney
![Will this run-down house in a top suburb sell at auction?](http://web.archive.org./web/20191123001639im_/https://res.akamaized.net/domain/image/upload/t_web/c_fill,w_1024/c_fill,w_640,h_360/v1573878058/DSC_2159_unczn8.jpg)
Will this run-down house in a top suburb sell at auction?
Buyers are becoming more open to improvable homes in unimprovable locations, one agent says, with competition strong as the year draws to a close.
- by Jim Malo
Culture
Exclusive
Australian film
'Dream come true': Matt Okine's debut novel to become a feature film
The Australian comedian has teamed up with an Oscar-nominated producer to turn his book about grief and growing up into a big-screen production.
- by Josh Dye
Meet Martha Cooper, the woman who brought street art to the world
Back in 1978, New York photojournalist Martha Cooper began documenting the city's illegal graffiti scene. More than 40 years on, a film documents her story.
- by Karl Quinn
Lifestyle
Food bygoodfood
Travel bytraveller
Cars bydrive
Sport
LIVE
Test cricket
LIVE: Australia vs Pakistan Test Day 3 from The Gabba
Australia will be looking to bat themselves into an unassailable position in the first Test today.
- by Andrew Wu
'I wasn't out of form, I was out of runs': Warner says he never felt pressure
David Warner has taken advantage of a no-ball let-off to banish his Ashes demons with his first Test hundred since his return from suspension.
- by Chris Barrett
In their sights: Part one of your club-by-club guide to the AFL national draft
What shape is your club's list in heading to the AFL draft? And what players are in their sights?
- by Peter Ryan and Daniel Cherny
Analysis
Test cricket
There's no place like home as openers dine out on runs
Australian openers David Warner and Joe Burns refamiliarise themselves with the Gabba, and Pakistan's Naseem Shah tyro looks at home in Test cricket.
- by Greg Baum
ICC ready for no-ball review trial after teenager denied maiden Test wicket
The ICC will launch a new trial in India next month giving the television umpire the responsibility for calling no-balls in close to real time.
- by Chris Barrett
Former Cat Ryan Abbott becomes a Saint
St Kilda have now added six players from other clubs to their list after signing former Geelong ruckman Ryan Abbott as a delisted free agent.
- by Peter Ryan
Bale blasted in Spain for flag celebration
Gareth Bale has been heavily criticised in Spain for celebrating Wales' Euro 2020 qualification by holding up a flag that seemed to show his passion to play for Real Madrid was down the pecking order.
Have Your Say
Fairness at core of Sun Yang case despite headline hysteria
Ignore the media frenzy, the CAS hearing is about the rules for the collection of samples being crystal clear and whether they have been followed. It's as simple as that.