Top Stories
- City
- Melbourne
- Condition
- Mostly sunny
- Current temperature
- 5.1°
- Minimum temperature
- 4°
- Maximum temperature
- 21°
Exclusive
Coronavirus pandemic
Hospitality industry serves up plan to bring back dining
Restaurant and cafe owners have delivered a detailed blueprint to the Andrews government for safe, post-lockdown dining in the hope that COVID-stricken cafes and restaurants will be allowed to open sooner than planned.
- by Chip Le Grand
Trump lashes out at report that he paid little or no federal income tax for years
In a series of tweets, US President Donald Trump appeared to be most annoyed by the suggestion that he is not as wealthy and successful as he claims to be.
- by Michael D. Shear
Death tally approaches 1m worldwide as India records more than 6m COVID cases
India's Health Ministry reported 82,170 new coronavirus cases yesterday, taking that nation's tally beyond 6 million. The global death count is expected to pass 1m today.
- by Mary Ward
Exclusive
Education
One Nation wins caveat on freedom of speech in return for vote on uni funding
A definition of academic freedom that some universities say will make it hard for them to discipline racist academics will be included in proposed university funding laws in exchange for One Nation's support.
- by Lisa Visentin
More top stories
'I felt like a small child': Melburnians' mixed reactions to curfew's end
While some revelled in the chance to walk the dog late at night, others said they didn’t feel anything had changed.
- by Carolyn Webb
Analysis
Coronavirus pandemic
Cascade of errors followed hotel quarantine original sin
Too much logistics, not enough health. Not enough information. Non-decisions. Confusion. Very little went right.
- by Michael Bachelard
Melbourne's five-kilometre rule: Is it really worth it?
Experts are not convinced about the merits of the 5km rule and say benefits must be weighed against its costs.
- by Melissa Cunningham
State on track to meet reopening targets
Epidemiologists warn reopening too soon would increase the chances of a third wave of the deadly coronavirus.
- by Liam Mannix and Craig Butt
George Pell returns to Rome for first time since acquittal
When he left Rome in 2017, the Cardinal was head of a team working on cleaning up finances and eliminating abuse.
- by Sonali Paul
CORONAVIRUS CRISIS
'Devastation and despair': Quarantine failures blamed for 768 deaths
- by Clay Lucas and Tammy Mills
Picnicking rule-breakers face $5000 fines with police to blanket parks
Police will patrol 'populous places' including parks to check the addresses of people gathered outdoors.
- by Simone Fox Koob
Contact tracing of COVID cases 'improving' in Victoria
The state's beleaguered contact tracing system is inching closer to standards in other states, with the latest figures revealing only one case where the health department took more than 48 hours to notify close contacts.
- by Jewel Topsfield
Local
Stormy, wet times ahead with La Nina predicted
The weather bureau is expected to declare a La Nina event is under way in the Pacific.
- by Peter Hannam
Gobbo complaints have 'air of unreality', royal commission lawyer says
Barrister-turned-informer Nicola Gobbo’s claim she was mistreated during the royal commission has been dismissed as mystifying by the inquiry’s top lawyer.
- by Chris Vedelago
Drug outreach worker guilty of trafficking heroin appeals jail term
A man who won an award for supporting drug-affected people is fighting a one-year prison sentence for trafficking heroin near a supervised injecting centre.
- by Adam Cooper
Swimmers lap up reopening of outdoor pools
Melburnians are dusting off goggles and donning bathers as outdoor public pools reopen for the first time in months.
- by Emma Anvari
Bound for glory: how a bunch of Hawk diehards bought the Batmobile
The Batmobile was a bizarre feature of the 1991 grand final, where Angry Anderson belted out Bound for Glory.
- by Daniel Cherny
From our partners
Politics
Exclusive
Coronavirus pandemic
Big cheques and big spending needed to get 135,000 people into work
Two new reports show the Morrison government may have to spend up to $60 billion extra to get unemployment down below 6 per cent.
- by Shane Wright
Union peace deal in tatters following Commonwealth's war-of-words with wharfies
- by Rob Harris and Tom Rabe
Business
'Our rivers are poisoned': Residents raise Rio Tinto human rights claims
Bougainville residents have asked Australia to investigate Rio Tinto over claims it failed to clean up millions of tonnes of mine waste on the island.
- by Nick Toscano
World
India’s confirmed coronavirus tally reaches 6 million cases
The world’s second-most populous country is expected to become the pandemic’s worst-hit country in coming weeks.
- by Sheikh Saaliq
Opinion
To make change in a dark world the left needs more of what Susan Ryan had
Eva Cox
Writer, feminist, sociologist, social commentator and activist.
Too good to be true for athlete no one saw coming
Malcolm Knox
Journalist, author and columnist for The Sydney Morning Herald.
We need to hear what went wrong in aged care
Jesse Zanker
Explore
Got a news tip?
Share information with our journalists securely and confidentially. Learn more
Editor's Picks
Property bydomain
The other reason it's so hard to find a family home in a top suburb
It's not high house prices or unemployment. This long-term trend means there can be more competition for family-sized homes near jobs and transport.
- by Jemimah Clegg
After seven-week ban, Melburnians waste no time in booking inspections
Some agents were inundated with calls within minutes of the ban being reversed, which they hope will start to reawaken the city's market.
- by Melissa Heagney
Life & Culture
Keep an eye out for the 'curbside carnies' bringing circus to lockdown
Sophie deLightful had a brainwave: if audiences can't come to her shows, could she turn "travelling troubadour" and bring a show to them?
- by Nick Miller
Exclusive
Radio
The Beatles, John Laws and 78 years on radio: Bob Rogers hangs up headphones
- by Garry Maddox
Food bygoodfood
Travel bytraveller
Cars bydrive
From Our Partners
Sport
Updated
Richmond
Lynch ruled out as Tigers look to continue Queensland dominance
They finished third again but once again they will enter the finals as red-hot favourites, aided by an imposing record in the sunshine state.
- by Peter Ryan and Jake Niall
Breaking
AFL 2020
'Extra incentive': Eagles welcome back stars ahead of Collingwood clash
West Coast will have "extra incentive to win" against Collingwood in this week's elimination final after health officials advised they'd have to quarantine in their homes for another 14 days if they lose.
- by Sam McClure
Updated
AFL off-field behaviour
Crows players allegedly caught with cocaine
Adelaide say they are conducting an investigation after two Crows players were allegedly caught in possession of an "illicit substance" in the early hours of Monday morning.
- by Jake Niall and Daniel Cherny
Alaphilippe's well-timed attack delivers world title
Julian Alaphilippe attacked over the top of the final climb and soloed to a sensational victory in Imola on Sunday to become France's first world road race champion in 23 years.
Pucovski ready for hub life as teammates make changes
Peter Handscomb and Marcus Harris have made technical changes to push for a Test recall while Will Pucovski is ready to again take to the field.
- by Jon Pierik
Updated
AFL 2020
Bennell retires an unfulfilled talent after hub breach
Sources with knowledge of Bennell's contract situation say he had a good chance of winning a contract extension into 2021 before he left Melbourne's hub, without permission.
- by Anthony Colangelo
Boost for broadcasters as Melbourne's grip on Boxing Day Test tightens
Falling COVID-19 cases in Melbourne have given Cricket Australia, Seven West Media and Foxtel greater clarity and buoyed hopes of a Dean Jones tribute come Boxing Day.
- by Jon Pierik
Have Your Say
'It's going to be very, very close'
This week on the Real Footy podcast, Michael Gleeson, Caroline Wilson and Jake Niall take a look at which teams are likely to win this weekend, and why.
