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BUDGET DAY 2021
Exclusive
Federal budget
The seats where men retire with twice as much super as women
Figures showing men’s retirement balances are almost twice the size of women’s in some electorates have given ammunition to groups pushing for super to be paid on parental leave.
Budget to bet on consumers spending $130 billion in 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.
Zero daily COVID deaths in England for second time since pandemic began
New research suggests Britain’s world-leading vaccine rollout slashes the risk of dying from COVID-19 by up to 97 per cent.
Man faces attempted murder charges after NZ stabbing attack
Court documents show the man has been charged with attempting to murder four people, two men and two women, in Dunedin.
Microplastics in instant rice sparks health fears
Researchers have found all rice bought in stores contains microplastics – but instant packet rice contains the most, leading to calls for more regulation.
Five essential ingredients to add to your pantry right now
Barely a day goes by on the internet without a new list of “it” ingredients. Here are five that deserve to be in your pantry.
Italy’s La Scala reopens after seven-month pandemic closure
With COVID-19 cases and deaths decreasing, Italy is assessing loosening lockdown measures and plans to lift quarantine restrictions.
Willie Rioli to face court on drug possession charges
The West Coast forward will front a Darwin court tomorrow charged with possessing a dangerous drug.
‘All bets are off’: Fire weather trumps forestry, prescribed burning
Extreme weather during the Black Summer bushfires overwhelmed other factors such as fuel loads, raising questions about the role of forestry management and prescribed burning, fire researchers say.
Crackdown on youth crime a ‘Band-Aid at best, a death sentence at worst’
New laws set to pass this week are expected to result in more youths detained at Don Dale detention centre, with plans to reopen wings to accommodate the increase.
NBC drops Golden Globes after a Hollywood backlash over ethics
The Hollywood Foreign Press Association has been under close scrutiny following an investigation that showed the group of 87 journalists had no black members.
Breaking
Melbourne emergency
Georgian national jumps ship, rescued in chilly Port Phillip Bay
A Georgian national was found by the clinging to a navigational marker 5km out from the dock.
Editor's Picks
Opinion
Diversity
For attitudes to change, more African voices are needed
Stephane Shepherd, John Kuot, Berhan Ahmed and Selba Gondoza Luka
Just in
FEDERAL BUDGET 2021
Hunt promises ‘record’ response to aged care royal commission in budget
Council on the Ageing chief executive Ian Yates says he feels more confident on the eve of the budget than ever before that there will be substantial changes to the sector.
Explainer
How does the federal budget work – and how is it different from yours?
What is a federal budget trying to do? How does the government decide where to spend its money? And where did rituals such as ‘the lock-up’ come from?
Local
Yarra councillor attacked near South Yarra club
A Yarra City councillor was injured last month outside a South Yarra nightclub, in a violent altercation that is now under investigation by Victoria Police.
Asylum seekers blindsided in snap caseload crackdown
Asylum seekers have been given two weeks to prepare for interviews for temporary protection visas in a process that refugee advocates say compromises fairness and denies justice.
Disgraced former lord mayor tearfully apologises to victims
Former lord mayor Robert Doyle has embarked on a television and radio blitz, apologising for the hurt and “offence” caused by his actions towards three women during his time in office.
Mum saw fear in daughter’s eyes as partner interrupted call, court told
A woman killed in her home, allegedly by her partner, was accused by another man of trying to extort money over a rape claim, a court has heard.
Truck protesters doubt new freight rail link’s congestion-busting benefits
Maribyrnong Truck Action Group, which lobbies for the removal of trucks from inner-western roads, fears a proposed Inland Rail hub will do little to alleviate road traffic and rising pollution.
CORONAVIRUS CRISIS
Federal Court deals blow to India travel ban challenge
A judge has dismissed the first round of a legal challenge to the temporary ban on Australians entering the country from India, which was brought by Gary Newman, who’s stuck in Bangalore.
India’s COVID-19 cases hold close to record highs, lockdown calls widen
India has recorded 22.66 million COVID-19 cases and 246,116 deaths as hospitals run out of oxygen and beds and morgues and crematoria overflow.
Politics
Exclusive
Trade
Industry, unions warn of fresh wave of ‘dumped’ foreign imports
The coronavirus-induced economic downturn has fuelled a global oversupply of steel, paper, alloy, glass, processed food and solar panels among other products.
Business
‘You have to have your own back’: Women engineers building startups
Davina Adisusila is used to being one of the few women at software engineering events.
World
Hamas fires rockets deep into Israel as tensions rise
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
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Property bydomain
Melbourne 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.
First-home buyers flock to the ‘wild, wild west’ to get into fast-rising market
Desperate home buyers are ditching their 'cool' addresses for these less affluent 'burbs, realising there are cafes and wine bars on the other side of town.
Life & Culture
When some Aussies are more Aussie than others
Questions of identity and rights are underlined in a series of posters by artist Peter Drew.
Sport
Opinion
AFL 2021
The Bont v Cripps: a free agent gap opens up
Once shoulder to shoulder, Marcus Bontempelli and Patrick Cripps have now diverged as sharply as the performance of their teams in the final quarter on Sunday.
Jake Niall
Chief football writer, The Age
Willie Rioli to face court for alleged drug possession
Willie Rioli will front a Darwin court on Wednesday charged with “possessing a schedule 2 dangerous drug in a quantity less than trafficable (under 50 grams) in a public place”.
Updated
AFL 2021
Tigers star Bolton injured in nightclub fight
Shai Bolton will miss the next two to three weeks of football with a fractured wrist sustained in a nightclub fight, after stepping in to defend teammate Daniel Rioli and his girlfriend.
Analysis
AFL 2021
The troubling stats behind Carlton’s fadeouts
Carlton’s capitulation to the Western Bulldogs on Sunday was the 18th time during David Teague’s tenure that the Blues have conceded five or more unanswered goals.
Updated
AFL injury ward
Caldwell’s season in doubt, Stephenson sidelined
Boom Essendon recruit Jye Caldwell’s season could be over, with the Bombers considering surgery for the midfielder after he suffered a relapse of a hamstring injury at training last week.
‘I’m in, baby’: Cambage says she will play in Tokyo
Cambage had threatened to boycott the Games over what she described as the “whitewashing” of two AOC promotional shoots.
Fulham relegated from EPL after loss to Burnley
London’s oldest professional club needed to draw or win to stay alive, but defeat ensured they will go down.
Have Your Say
‘The Cameron effect’: How ex-Giant is transforming the Cats
This week on the Real Footy podcast, Michael Gleeson, Jake Niall and Greg Baum discuss how Jeremy Cameron’s arrival from GWS has changed the Cats – and how the Cats have helped Cameron.
