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Behind GW’s best features: we go deeper into our most intriguing issues.


New advice from the WHO has reingnited the debate on airborne transmission of COVID-19 and mask-wearing.

New advice on COVID spread puts air quality in the spotlight

Experts call for focus on airborne virus spread, with one saying “you could be washing your hands until the cows come home and you could still get COVID-19”.

Opinion
India

Australia is a beacon of multiculturalism. How did it lose its humanity?

It’s horrifying to see the ease with which leaders propose sending Australians to Christmas Island to quarantine at a detention centre so awful it’s meant to deter asylum seekers.

Latika Bourke
Latika Bourke

Journalist

Woman-friendly budget: Funding for domestic violence prevention, health programs

Greg Hunt has put together a women’s health package worth $354 million for Tuesday’s federal budget.

The focus on women comes after a difficult three months in which the Morrison government was rocked by allegations of sexual assault and the poor treatment of women in the Federal Parliament.

Labor mulls supersizing paid parental leave scheme

With all eyes on Josh Frydenberg’s Tuesday federal budget, Labor is war-gaming how it will respond to the government’s offering.

Volleyball advocates Jack Lowenstein and Ilaria Marra front the Tamarama Beach Volleyball group at Tamarama Beach, Sydney. May 6, 2021: Photograph by James Alcock/SMH.

‘It’s just out of control’: Push to ban volleyball from the beach

Waverley Council officers will hit the beaches for face-to-face feedback about the volleyball nets, which a small group of local residents say have become a hazard. 

Exclusive
Religion

Anglicans elect migrant, former-Buddhist, person of colour as Archbishop of Sydney

Sydney Anglican Archbishop-elect Kanishka de Silva Raffel will be consecrated later this month.

The first non-European in the role, Kanishka Raffel was raised Buddhist but converted to Christianity after reading the Gospel of John at university.

Exclusive
LGBT

‘Parents are the primary educators’: Catholics backflip on Latham’s anti-trans bill

The Parramatta diocese of the Catholic church has yielded to a backlash from parents and priests over its opposition to a bill that would ban the discussion of gender diversity in schools.

Exclusive
NRL 2021

‘I can’t imagine what she’s going through’: Williams apologises for Hayne post

Tony Williams has apologised to the victim in the Jarryd Hayne sexual assault case after attacking her in an Instagram post.

Tony Williams knew he had done the wrong thing well before his mother scolded him about how he would feel if his daughters were the victims of rape.

Analysis
Rabbitohs

Rehab has changed my life, says Burgess

Sam Burgess after an appearance at Moss Vale court in February.

The former South Sydney star says his next ambition is to become involved in rugby league again.

Exclusive
Social media

The room where it happens: Meet the Australian on Facebook’s ‘Supreme Court’

Law professor Nicolas Suzor is one of 20 global experts who decide whether the social media giant’s content decisions are right or not.

Sia Goutzas with her daughters who all went to single-sex schools (from left) Tiana, 18, Elizabeth, 16, and Giorgia, 20.

Which is better: single-sex or co-ed schools?

With many single-sex schools looking to move into the co-educational field we look at the pros and cons.

The Hemsworths hit peak Byron Bay with their White Party

Chris Hemsworth and Matt Damon on the far right at the white party in Byron Bay.

It appears when you invite a Hemsworth to your party, an entire village of shiny, perfect, rich people turn up.

Exclusive
Emerald City

Noughties glamour couple Wayne Cooper and Sarah Marsh split after 25 years

Wayne Cooper and Sarah Marsh are understood to be going their seperate ways.

It is believed the fashion designer and his former model wife’s split is the reason they put their $10.5 million Tamarama trophy home on the market.

Why Slater unloaded on the PM

Clearly shaken, Slater told me he meant no disrespect.

Peter FitzSimons
Peter FitzSimons

Columnist and author

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NRL 2021

Jason Taumalolo crashed over for the Cowboys.
Cowboys 19 Broncos 18

A reliable rivalry delivers again as stars rise to save Cowboys

Valentine Holmes and Jason Taumalolo would make the telling plays as the Cowboys came from behind to beat the Broncos 19-18 in a thriller in Townsville.

Drew Hutchison.
Updated

Roosters star still in hospital, Brown facing three-week ban

The NRL has wasted no time axing the bunker officials who failed to pick up a couple of key incidents during the Roosters-Eels clash.

Sydney

Witnesses have described hearing an explosion like a bomb going off after a car became airborne and catapulted towards a home in Sydney’s south on Saturday morning.

‘Almighty rocket explosion’: Young boys in lucky escape from Sydney crash

Three young brothers walked away unharmed from the wreckage, in what was hailed as an extraodinary escape by emergency services.

Inside the home that’s part of Australia’s literary history

composite - 1 Werona Avenue  Killara, which was once the home of the author Ethel Turner on 08 May, 2021. Photo: Brook Mitchell

Within these state heritage-listed walls, Ethel Turner penned what was to become Australia’s most popular children’s book, Seven Little Australians.

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City life

‘A very prestigious location’: 350-seat auditorium to go under State Library reading room

An artist’s impression of the new auditorium to be built under the Mitchell Reading Room of Australia’s oldest library.

The Mitchell Library has been awarded further funding for a new underground auditorium and photography gallery.

Exclusive
Exhibitions

Pitch to turn Powerhouse Ultimo into design hub

Gene Sherman at the SCCI Pavilion Centennial Park.

Sydney philanthropist Gene Sherman has called for the Powerhouse Museum at Ultimo to be dedicated to design, decorative arts and fashion.

The three issues to decide NSW byelection – and next federal poll too

The Upper Hunter is seen as a rural idyll - and the centre of a fight over fossil fuels.

There are many parallels between the NSW Upper Hunter and the concerns of voters in the rest of Australia.

Parnell Palme McGuinness

Columnist and communications adviser

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WEEKEND READS

Cut it out: from rock’n’roll to runway, the mighty mullet shows no signs of crawling away 
to die in a corner.

Run with the hair: the mullet is back

From rock’n’roll to runway, the biggest fashion barf of recent times shows no signs of crawling away to die in a corner.

Struggling with pre-schoolers? Take Bluey’s lead, say experts

Struggling with pre-schoolers? Take Bluey’s lead, say experts

In a rare double act, Bluey is almost as popular with adults as it is with kids. As the creator explains, that’s no accident.

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Business

I invested in shares for the first time this week: here’s how I did it

Hundreds of thousands of Aussies are dipping their toe into the sharemarket for the first time. Here’s how to join the investing revolution.

Jessica Irvine
Jessica Irvine

Senior economics writer

World

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Property bydomain

'We feel very sad': Moving on from a classic Sydney house

'We feel very sad': Moving on from a classic Sydney house

One of the city's rapidly dwindling cache of classic Beachcomber houses has come up for sale – from the woman who helped turn them into icons.

'Easy way out': Home buyer schemes do little for supply, experts warn

'Easy way out': Home buyer schemes do little for supply, experts warn

The government will go guarantor on more loans for first-home buyers and single parents, and expand super savings for homes. But who is being left behind?

Life & Culture

Sport

Sam Burgess after an appearance at Moss Vale court in February.
Analysis
NRL 2021

Rehab has changed my life, says Burgess

The former South Sydney star says his next ambition is to become involved in rugby league again.

Tony Williams has apologised to the victim in the Jarryd Hayne sexual assault case after attacking her in an Instagram post.
Exclusive
NRL 2021

‘I can’t imagine what she’s going through’: Williams apologises for Hayne post

Tony Williams knew he had done the wrong thing well before his mother scolded him about how he would feel if his daughters were the victims of rape.

James O’Connor is swamped by teammates.
Reds 19 Brumbies 16
Match report

O’Connor try after the siren seals Reds win in thrilling final

In one of the greatest finishes Australian rugby has seen, the Reds, well into extra-time, crossed the paint through the team’s inspirational leader.

Australia’s Ashleigh Barty returns the ball to Aryna Sabalenka of Belarus during their women’s final match at the Mutua Madrid Open tennis tournament in Madrid, Spain, Saturday, May 8, 2021. (AP Photo/Bernat Armangue)

Barty finally loses on clay as Sabalenka claims Madrid crown

The world no.1 had not lost in 16 matches on clay courts but Aryna Sabalenka overpowered Ash Barty to win the Madrid Open.

James Tamou gives a pep talk to Tigers teammates behind the line after another Titans try.
Tigers 28 Titans 36
NRL 2021

‘That was embarrassing’: Tigers botch chance to honour Raudonikis ... again

After failing to do the right thing last month, the Wests Tigers had another chance to honour the late Tommy Raudonikis against the Titans.

MELBOURNE, AUSTRALIA - MAY 08: Tom McDonald of the Demons is congratulated by team mates after kicking a goal during the round eight AFL match between the Melbourne Demons and the Sydney Swans at Melbourne Cricket Ground on May 08, 2021 in Melbourne, Australia. (Photo by Quinn Rooney/Getty Images)

Demons dig deep to keep Swans at bay

There will come a point this year when long-suffering Melbourne fans allow themselves to dream. That moment cannot be too far away after the Demons held off a late challenge from Sydney.

Jason Taumalolo crashed over for the Cowboys.
Cowboys 19 Broncos 18
Match report

A reliable rivalry delivers again as stars rise to save Cowboys

Valentine Holmes and Jason Taumalolo would make the telling plays as the Cowboys came from behind to beat the Broncos 19-18 in a thriller in Townsville.

Racing

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