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Once in a death spiral, health insurers have now find themselves with a windfall
Amid the crisis, the single biggest expenditure item in the private health insurers' financial accounts disappeared overnight and created a rather embarrassing boon for the sector.
- by Colin Kruger
Opinion
The virus might have started in China. But it's no reason to vilify Asian Australians
Asian Australians are feeling the brunt of an irrational racist backlash to the coronavirus crisis - one that Australia needs to stamp out.
- by Tim Soutphommasane
'An exercise in hoping for the best': How remote learning will work
Parents will be staring into the unknown when school-children log on for the start of a one million strong, one term long home-schooling session on Wednesday.
- by Adam Carey
Coronavirus deaths surpass 2000 a day in US
The total confirmed dead from the virus in the US is now 18,586, putting it on the heels of Italy, which at 18,849 has more deaths than any nation on earth.
- by Lisa Shumaker
Calls for SES help climb as damaging winds lash Victoria
Parts of Melbourne experienced 95km/h wind gusts on Saturday, but some warmer weather is on the way.
- by Ashleigh McMillan and Nicole Precel
'I personally hold the current administration directly responsible for the untimely death of my father'
Nathan Lambrecht stressed that his letter has nothing to do with politics. "I won't pick a side. Rather, he said, this is a moral issue.
- by Nicole Brodeur
More top stories
Virtual Easter parades, backyard camp outs: It's a DIY isolation Easter
Families all across the country have had to get creative to celebrate the long-weekend this year.
- by Rachael Dexter
Collingwood recruiters admit a big 'stuff up' in overlooking Cripps.
A decorated recruiter, just departed from Collingwood, has explained this led to a change in thinking.
- by Jake Niall
Opinion
Easter
Epic home improvement in the face of COVID-19? There's wisdom in it
Our homes have become combination commodity, status symbol and base-camp.
- by Elizabeth Farrelly
Explainer
Coronavirus pandemic
Contact tracing: How disease detectives are closing in on COVID-19 in Australia
How do you track an outbreak? Who are contact tracers?
- by Sherryn Groch and Zach Hope
Think of it like quitting smoking: Larry David's guide to quarantine
The famously misanthropic comedy writer and germaphobe is coping quite well with life in the age of COVID-19.
- by Maureen Dowd
In Other News
Weekend Reads
A force for good: how the coronavirus crisis is sweetening our collective tune
Footpath concerts. Toilet roll donations. Online choirs. Celebrities getting real. Amid all the darkness in the world right now, the light of humanity is shining bright.
- by Konrad Marshall
Backpacks and broomsticks: how the fitness industry is keeping us active
Gyms, like most businesses, have had to adapt to survive, especially around what they can offer clients.
- by Greg Callaghan
Local
Exclusive
Coronavirus pandemic
Schools fear parents will flout order to keep children home
Victoria's Education Minister says the advice is clear - 'if you can work from home, your children must learn from home' - but the government has no plan to enforce restrictions.
- by Adam Carey
Exclusive
Pubs
Sale of Melbourne hotel empire collapses
The Australian Venue Company has backed out of a deal to take over eight pubs, including St Kilda's Esplanade Hotel, as economic fallout from the coronavirus pandemic spreads.
- by Cameron Houston
Exclusive
Roads
Metro Tunnel faces 'coronavirus delays' and costs, advisers warn
The $11 billion Metro Tunnel project could face months-long delays and millions of dollars in extra costs due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the project's independent cost advisers warn.
- by Timna Jacks
MPs want limits on pandemic powers of 'gang of eight'
Opposition and crossbench say the government is limiting personal freedoms without democratic scrutiny.
- by Noel Towell
Haileybury staff stood down in Zoom meeting
Staff at a high-fee Melbourne independent school were told in a Zoom meeting their roles were not required during the coronavirus crisis.
- by Anna Prytz and Adam Carey
From our partners
Politics
Taylor urges international effort to stabilise oil market
The Energy Minister has told an extraordinary meeting of G20 energy leaders international co-operation is needed to stabilise the global oil market.
- by Mike Foley
Australia 'probably on cusp' of curbing virus to point it 'dies out'
- by Paul Sakkal and Angus Livingston
Business
Opinion
Coronavirus pandemic
Premier Group boss is still waiting for a call from the landlords
Until COVID-19, most retailers were scared to criticise their landlords for fear of retribution. But the tone-deaf messages by Westfield owner Scentre Group about trading through the pandemic will put the spotlight on shopping centre landlords like never before.
- by Adele Ferguson
World
Analysis
US votes 2020
Low profile Joe Biden has plenty to smile about
The 77-year old is never going to be an electrifying nominee. But Biden has a lot to feel good about seven months from election day.
- by Matthew Knott
Opinion
Are some lives less equal than others?
Greg Baum
Sports columnist
This virus could change the way we live for years, not months
David Crowe
Chief political correspondent
Explore
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Editor's Picks
Property bydomain
![Home sellers in limbo after occupied property inspections banned](http://web.archive.org./web/20200411120226im_/https://res.akamaized.net/domain/image/upload/t_web/c_crop,h_330,w_584,x_147,y_139/c_fill,w_640,h_360/v1586579267/Ban_on_inspection_of_occupied_properties_-_David_Izzard_4_xeemwq.jpg)
Home sellers in limbo after occupied property inspections banned
For those who bought somewhere new to live when the world was normal, selling and moving on will be a challenge after the rules changed again.
- by Elizabeth Redman
![Who are the vulnerable people in your area? Now's your chance to find out](http://web.archive.org./web/20200411120226im_/https://res.akamaized.net/domain/image/upload/t_web/c_crop,h_573,w_954,x_0,y_109/c_fill,w_640,h_360/v1586394639/Woolooware-4_f9vq4p.jpg)
Who are the vulnerable people in your area? Now's your chance to find out
I am not proud of the fact that it has taken this pandemic to properly meet my elderly neighbours. It took an hour to fix four years of procrastination.
- by Vivienne Pearson
Life & Culture
How my dog helped me through the darkest of times
Whenever Kate Leaver was laid low by depression, her faithful dog stuck by her, his wordless affection reminding her of what it was like to be alive.
- by Kate Leaver
Food bygoodfood
Travel bytraveller
Cars bydrive
From Our Partners
Sport
Collingwood's 'stuff up' overlooking Cripps led to change
A decorated recruiter, just departed from Collingwood, has explained how the Pies "stuffed up" by missing Carlton's gun Patrick Cripps and how this led to a change in thinking.
- by Jake Niall
NSW government gave NRL written permission to restart competition
A letter from the NSW Police Commissioner dispels any suggestion the NRL has gone rogue in attempting to restart the competition.
- by Adrian Proszenko
How AFL quarantine hubs could work
The AFL is looking at quarantine hubs as a potential way to resume the season but won't move until the government approves.
- by Peter Ryan
Teenage sensation joins rich vein of Australian talent in NBA Draft
Nineteen-year-old guard from Sydney, Josh Green, who starred for the University of Arizona in the 2019-20 US college season, is turning professional.
- by Peter Mitchell
Ricciardo's Renault applies for job retention scheme
Daniel Ricciardo's Renault team has furloughed most of their race team until May due to the COVID-19 pandemic, with management also taking a pay cut.
Paine denies Aussies went easy on Kohli to protect IPL contracts
Former skipper Michael Clarke has claimed that Australia went soft on India captain Virat Kohli in their 2018-19 series for fear of losing lucrative IPL deals.
- by Nick Mulvenney
Cycling riders' union won't accept global pay cuts
The Professional Riders' Association (CPA) said it won't accept any global pay cut plan for cyclists amid the coronavirus crisis, calling for unity across the sport.
Have Your Say
'Australia were out of control two years before'
One of the umpires in cricket's 2018 ball tampering scandal paints a damning picture of Australian team, describing them as 'pretty average people'.