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Breaking
Federal politics
‘Everybody knows’: Malcolm Turnbull says minister must go public on rape claim
The former prime minister says the cabinet minister accused of a 1988 rape should make a public statement because he owes it to the government and the people to answer the claim against him.
Opinion
Workplace culture
Presumed guilty until only the mud sticks: Let’s tread carefully with minister accused of rape
There is almost no prospect of any criminal trial, let alone a fair one. Let’s not assume an inquiry will serve the national interest.
Tom Percy
Breaking
Mental health
‘We are failing. And it is costing lives’: State pledges biggest mental health system reform in generation
Restraint and seclusion in mental health care would be eliminated within 10 years and compulsory treatment would be used only as a last resort under reforms recommended by the Royal Commission.
Victoria records no new coronavirus cases for fourth day running
Victoria has recorded a fourth consecutive day of no new local cases of COVID-19, taking the number of active cases to 10.
‘No excuse for knee-jerk reactions’: Business calls for borders to open in line with vaccine rollout
The nation’s biggest business lobby group has warned governments the rollout of the coronavirus vaccine will make it hard to justify snap border and economic restrictions it estimates are costing $170 billion a year.
Labor gears up to fight election on super, parental leave, climate
Labor is considering major policy promises, including 26 weeks of fully paid parental leave, ambitious emissions targets and raising the super guarantee to 15 per cent.
Surging property prices force interest rate rise onto agenda
Some economists believe the RBA may have to start lifting rates as early as next year to deal with house prices, which rose 2.5% in Melbourne last month, and even more in Sydney.
Miners begin divorce from mega union that vowed to topple governments
Internal battles within the CFMMEU are set to cost the union about a fifth of its membership as the mining division begins to walk away.
Opinion
Aged care royal commission
Time for Australians to reimagine aged care
The findings of the aged care royal commission have given us a crucial opportunity to reboot our aged care system.
Sean Rooney
Government open to Medicare levy increase to fix aged care
Commissioners warned fixing aged care could not be left to the industry and the government must change its approach to aged care in order to do it.
$6 daily meal budget causes ‘staggering’ malnutrition
Witnesses told the royal commission unplanned weight loss was rife because there wasn’t enough money to buy food or staff to help residents eat.
Exclusive
Energy
State’s rapid rise in renewables to slash prices, threaten coal
Victoria is experiencing a rapid increase in new wind and solar farms, escalating the pressure facing coal-fired power.
Exclusive
Pacific diplomacy
Australia to bankroll $300m of Pacific infrastructure as China’s lending tapers off
The infrastructure blitz will include loans and grants for strategically important renewable power projects, telecommunications, transport and health facilities across the region.
Rising rivers of plastic polluting Port Phillip Bay
About 2.5 billion pieces of rubbish are flowing through the Yarra and Maribyrnong rivers each year and the problem is getting worse.
CORONAVIRUS CRISIS
Updated
Coronavirus fragments found in wastewater at Werribee as state records third day of no new cases
Victoria has recorded no new cases of COVID-19 as office workers flock back to the city. Meanwhile, coronavirus fragments were detected in wastewater in Melbourne’s west, with residents urged to get tested.
They’ve helped the aged, now UK ready to give 40somethings their shots
More than 20 million people - almost four in 10 adults - have already been vaccinated in Britain, and the government is looking to fund a third booster jab.
Local
Neo-Nazi demanded to see journalists, allegedly bashed Channel Nine guard
A security guard was allegedly attacked by a neo-Nazi group leader in the hours before the network broadcast a story about his organisation’s activities.
Exclusive
National security
Hospital returns cash donated by man accused of foreign interference
The Royal Melbourne Hospital has handed back a donation made by the first person in Australia to be charged under foreign interference laws
Exclusive
Education
Thousands more teenage sexual assault stories to be published
A new website reveals thousands more allegations of teenage sexual assault across Australia, spanning former students of private, Catholic and public schools.
‘I thought there was no one else like me’: Honor asked for help, but hit a broken system
Honor Eastly spent a lot of her 20s thinking there must be something especially wrong with her. The mental health system, she assumed, made sense, but somehow she didn’t fit into it. It took her years to realise she wasn’t the problem.
‘That could be now. That could be me’: Artist brings vivid colour to old Melbourne
From his home in Preston, artist Benjamin Thomas is putting colour to the people and places of Melbourne’s past.
Politics
MPs warn about witch-hunts, trial by media over rape accusations
Federal MPs have warned each other against publicly fuelling a trial-by-media mentality over historical rape accusations levelled at unnamed colleagues.
Business
Exclusive
Money apps
Appster creditors want ‘justice’ after report finds ‘very concerning’ conduct
Appster’s directors have been accused of breaking the law by funnelling millions of dollars offshore and placing their interests above their customers. Now the creditors want justice.
World
‘Gracious!’: Queen pokes fun at herself during first Zoom call to Australia
The Queen has cracked jokes about a new life-sized bronze statue of herself during a rare call.
Opinion
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Property bydomain
Former lord mayor sells inner-city pad for more than $2m
Robert Doyle sold his South Melbourne terrace home during one of the biggest auction weekends across the city.
Empty rentals no more: The capitals where landlords are in the driver's seat
Tenants in most capital cities will be hard pressed to get a good deal right now with the number of empty properties plummeting across the country.
Life & Culture
Pauline Menczer’s eyes are puffy from crying. But they are happy tears
The former surfing champion has been overwhelmed by the success of a campaign to raise the prizemoney she never received for winning the title in 1993.
Food bygoodfood
Travel bytraveller
Cars bydrive
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Sport
Bombers ask for clash against Hawks to be relocated
Essendon say that the request to move their round one fixture from Marvel Stadium to the MCG had been made in an effort to allow up to 25,000 more fans to attend.
Djokovic ties Federer’s record for weeks at the top
Novak Djokovic is gaining on Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal in grand slam standings, and he’s already caught Federer in significant stat.
Tigers whittle down train-on list ahead of deadline
Richmond confirm West Adelaide midfielder Nic Couroupis has been released and will ply his trade in the SANFL this season.
Police detain ex-Barca president in raid
Catalan police arrested four people – including former president Josep Maria Bartomeu – after raiding Barcelona’s stadium.
Labour gains: Treloar in frame to take on Dees
Adam Treloar was suffering from a calf complaint last month but completed most of the Dogs’ training session on Monday.
Analysis
AFL 2021
How footy department cost cutting may impact season
In 2021 everyone employed in the AFL system has been asked to do more work for less money.
Wayne Campbell
Wildcards revealed as All-Star Mile field finalised
Streets Of Avalon, Shout The Bar and Mugatoo have won the final three spots in next weekend’s All-Star Mile after their connections agreed to take up wildcard offers.
Have Your Say
Ashes loom, but are selectors in a spin over Asia tours?
Nathan Lyon remains the frontline spinner but where do selectors turn ahead of slated tours of Pakistan, Sri Lanka and India next year?