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Exclusive
Federal budget
Intensive support: Budget to offer to retrain Australians in new skills
Australians will be offered “intensive support” to retrain for the economic recovery, in a sweeping package that will urge young people to sign up for new skills.
Budget to bet on consumers spending their $130b savings
Australians saved $130 billion through the pandemic. Josh Frydenberg is hoping they will spend that cash to offset a huge fall in COVID government support.
Hunt promises ‘record’ response to aged care royal commission in budget
On the eve of the budget, Council on the Ageing chief Ian Yates says he feels more confident than ever that the sector will see substantial changes.
Qld teachers want ‘broken’ NAPLAN to be overhauled
As students across 1700 Queensland schools begin to sit NAPLAN tests on Tuesday, the state’s main teachers’ union says an overwhelming number of members believe the test is broken.
Undercover police operative helped nab Stuart MacGill’s alleged kidnappers
The operative was used to investigate the brother of Stuart MacGill’s girlfriend after the former cricketer reported the incident to police.
Pfizer beats back variants as AstraZeneca receives boost
Pfizer’s vaccine seems to offer good protection against the South African variant of COVID-19, while British data has given AstraZeneca a lift.
Zero daily coronavirus deaths in England for only second time since pandemic began
Research suggests Britain’s rollout slashes the risk of dying from COVID-19 by up to 97 per cent.
Federal Court deals blow to India travel ban challenge
A judge has dismissed the first round of a legal challenge to the validity of the temporary ban on Australian citizens entering the country from India.
The Brisbane cafe chain with an Elle of a menu
With its dizzying array of options, Cafe 63’s monster menu has gone viral for its bizarre dish names, ranging from Elle Macpherson to the Carbon Tax.
As China freezes out Australia, the superpower befriends Indonesia
China and Indonesia staged a joint naval exercise in the Java Sea only days after Beijing offered to recover the sunken KRI Nanggala 402 off Bali for free.
Former Home and Away actor charged with drug offences in Byron Bay
Putu Winchester-Stanton was among seven men charged with drug offences after two investigations into the supply of cocaine in Byron Bay.
Bees dropped dead before they reached the other side: How a gas company cleared the Kimberley
One company has cleared more than 14,000 kilometres in a straight line of native Kimberley bush without needing a permit – the equivalent of the distance between Perth and London.
‘All bets are off’: Fire weather trumps forestry, prescribed burning
Extreme fire weather during the 2019-20 Black Summer bushfires overwhelmed factors such as fuel loads, raising questions about the role of forestry management and prescribed burning, researchers say.
‘These things just keep happening’: When some Aussies are more Aussie than others
Artist Peter Drew highlights questions of identity and rights in a series of posters and a new show opening in Brisbane this month.
Queensland
Health concerns after researchers find microplastics in instant rice
Researchers have found all rice bought in stores contains microplastics, but instant packet rice contains the most.
When it comes to passwords, complex is not always safer
Companies that force workers to create complicated passwords could actually be weakening their data security, Queensland researchers have found.
30,000 people move to Qld, sparking calls for bigger slice of GST pie
As the state sees its biggest population boom in 16 years, Treasurer Cameron Dick has called on the Morrison government “to support Queensland with investment in the budget”.
Man who raped four daughters denied appeal against jail term
The offender, who committed 23 “disgusting” sexual offences against girls as young as six over 20 years, was told his sentence was neither unreasonable nor unjust.
Exclusive
Arts
Black Summer fire ban fallout put Brisbane Festival in audit office’s sights
The government-owned organisation insists it remains debt free after ticket refunds and a secret settlement for 2019’s cancelled Fire Gardens and a recent auditor note about its financial position.
Politics
‘A scar I will always carry’: Holgate made CEO of parcel business Global Express
Christine Holgate said she was “very excited” to be back working in the parcels business, and at a key rival to Australia Post.
Business
Seven Group pounces with $8 billion bid for Boral
Kerry Stokes’ holding company has made an opportunistic play for the largest supplier of building products in the country.
Opinion
Interest rates
Risky business: The Fed and Elon Musk sound alarm on financial markets
Stephen Bartholomeusz
Senior business columnist
World
Hamas fires rockets deep into Israel as tensions escalate
The rockets set off air raid sirens throughout Jerusalem, after hundreds of Palestinians were hurt in clashes with Israeli police at a flashpoint religious site in the contested holy city.
Opinion
Little has gone right for the Morrison, but it’s not clear much has gone badly wrong
Sean Kelly
Columnist and former adviser to Labor prime ministers Kevin Rudd and Julia Gillard.
Time to revisit Australia’s golden goose
Paul Cleary
Darwin is turning into the Morrison government’s dumping ground
Stephanie Dowrick
Explore
Property bydomain
Brisbane suburbs now out of reach for buyers using government scheme
Rapidly rising prices have reduced the number of homes eligible for the government's loan deposit scheme, set to be expanded in the budget tonight.
'Brace yourself': This town may look sleepy, but be ready when it's on
The sunshine state is known for its golden beaches and far-north rainforests. Beautiful as they are, these well-worn tourist attractions often overshadow the quieter achievers.
Life & Culture
Burn, baby, burn: 2021’s most extraordinary film tosses rule book on the fire
Seductive drama “Ema” reveals the full force of a dancer’s fury as she burns bits of a Chilean city to the ground. Don’t expect a happy ending.
Sport
The $501 Waratahs: Bookies give Australian teams no chance in trans-Tasman Super Rugby
All five New Zealand teams are considered better hopes of winning trans-Tasman Super Rugby than any of the Australian franchises. The winless Waratahs are 500-1.
Opinion
Super Rugby
Was the Super Rugby final the most significant provincial game in Australia?
Tim Horan’s observation after Queensland’s thrilling win that “rugby is back” was on the money.
Wayne Smith
Why athletes don’t deserve to be caught in vaccine debate crossfire
Australia’s Olympians shouldn’t endure the scorn of a public they are so proud to represent.
‘Standard processes haven’t been followed’: NRL to grill refs on dodgy calls
Head of football said there was a clear “mismatch” between the expectation of the NRL and officials.
‘Everything will work out’: Jackson confident Cambage will compete at Olympics
Opals legend Lauren Jackson says she “knows” Liz Cambage will sort out her differences with the AOC.
Dressing room ‘leak’ disappointing but De Goey has our support: Adams
Magpies vice-captain Taylor Adams has opened up about his private conversation with Jordan De Goey.
‘They have to face the consequences’: Rival clubs urge NRL to punish Eels
COVID bubble restrictions have left Parramatta facing the prospect of having just 16 eligible players.
Have Your Say
Has the Super Rugby final wrecked Suncorp Stadium before Magic Round?
The NRL maintains the venue will be in tip-top shape.
