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Live
Federal budget
‘Roaring back to life:’ Josh Frydenberg delivers $74.6b spending splurge
Follow all the news and expert analysis as Treasurer Josh Frydenberg hands down the 2021 federal budget.
Latest live posts
LoadingA five-minute rundown of the federal budget
A summary of what you should know about this year’s federal budget.
Analysis
Josh Frydenberg
The budget marries pandemic and politics with a half-trillion dollar prenuptial agreement
The pandemic has given the government licence to spend big, to dream large, and to do it in a way that the country needs. And licence to do it in good time for its re-election campaign.
Federal budget: The winners and losers
The government has splashed cash on aged care, childcare rebates and infrastructure, but we could all lose out in the long term.
Spending splurge to create 250,000 jobs in two years, more money for aged care and mental health
Treasurer Josh Frydenberg is spending $74.6 billion in two years to create more than 250,000 jobs using income tax cuts, business tax breaks and a mammoth outlay on social services.
Glenyce vanished while camping at a roadhouse as a cyclone lashed the Pilbara. What happened?
Stranded on the side of the road in WA’s North West, Glenyce McGowan camped by a roadhouse with other travellers also forced to pull up. The following morning, she was nowhere to be found.
Yongah Hill detainee in isolation after escape tunnel plot foiled
Refugee advocates claim the tunnel is between 10 and 20 metres long and have released a video showing at least two detainees in the tunnel.
Former McGowan media adviser paid $300,000 over unfair dismissal
Stephen Kaless has been paid nearly $300,000 to settle two legal actions brought against the government after he was sacked when a work colleague accused him of indecently assaulting her at a work Christmas party in December 2019.
Exclusive
Coronavirus pandemic
Ex-guard fears more virus leaks from WA’s ‘festering’ hotel quarantine system
An ex-guard describes an unruly environment where guests would open their room doors at random and a man from China stayed undetected for three months.
Updated
Victoria
Victorian COVID-19 case ‘absolutely’ picked up in Adelaide quarantine hotel
A man who has become Victoria’s first local coronavirus case in 73 days likely caught the virus while isolating in South Australia, prompting calls for a national review of hotel quarantine.
Updated
AFL 2021
‘Another poor decision’: Rioli may be sacked by Eagles
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”.
Boral urges shareholders to reject $8b bid from Seven
The building materials supplier describes the bid by Seven Group Holdings as “opportunistic”.
Updated
Tragedy
Friend of boy killed as bin tipped into garbage truck tried to alert driver
Police say one of the boys started “banging on the door” of the cabin when the bin containing his two friends started to tip.
Thorpe to swim with Seven for the Olympics
Officially it is no comment, but Seven is set to snare the champion for its coverage.
Health fears as researchers find microplastics in instant rice
Researchers have found all rice bought in stores contains microplastics but instant packet rice contains the most, leading to calls for more regulation.
Opinion
Christine Holgate
Christine Holgate delivers revenge with rival posting
Hearing the former Australia Post chief landed a job at a multibillion-dollar freight and parcel rival brought on a surge of “right on, sister!”
Julie Szego
Author and freelance journalist
What is Prince Harry trying to say with his new series The Me You Can’t See?
As the Duke launches a new series, we look at what it tells us about his state of mind – and why he has no regrets over his Oprah interview.
The ‘daggy dad’ staple about to make a comeback
Dig out your Hawaiian shirt. The 1960s is the decade of choice for designers interpreting post-COVID “confident” dressing.
China’s population grows at slowest rate since 1961 famine
It is the long tail of the now-abolished One-Child Policy that has driven the result in the world’s most populous country. The coronavirus also played its part.
Federal budget 2021
Budget to bet on consumers spending their $130 billion 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
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.
Western Australia
Updated
Casinos
WA casino chief ‘distressed’ over reports of relationship with Crown staff
The man responsible for the oversight of casino regulation in WA says he received no formal training before being dealt the role.
Updated
Coronavirus pandemic
Perth, Peel get green light for Victoria travel in wake of COVID-19 clusters
People from Perth and Peel will be able to travel to Victoria without having to quarantine as of Monday night.
Student’s stark warning after drink spiked with date rape drug at Perth house party
A Safety Bay teenager is warning others about the danger of date rape drugs after her drink was spiked at a house party in Doubleview.
Exclusive
Restaurants
Labor MP slams ‘lawbreaker, bankrupt’ Perth restaurant boss in maiden speech
Under parliamentary privilege, David Scaife blasted The Local Shack owner’s actions during a court case, claiming he ignored proceedings and continually raised irrelevant matters.
More than 19,000 WA households in need but only one affordable home
Since the moratorium on rental evictions wrapped up at the end of March, service providers have been inundated with calls for help every week.
Politics
Andrew Laming refuses to give up committee position despite vow to stand down
The embattled MP rejected Labor’s claim he had a “long history of trolling” constituents online and the Coalition voted to retain him as a parliamentary committee chair.
Business
‘Round pegs into square holes’: Stockbrokers still failing mandatory compliance test
Almost one third of participants who sat the mandatory compliance exam have failed but this figure is expected to be much higher among stockbrokers.
World
What is happening in Jerusalem and Gaza?
There’s been a rapid escalation of violence between Israelis and Palestinians this week. Here’s what you need to know.
Opinion
Kerry Stokes thumbs a well-worn playbook for ‘$8 billion’ Boral bid
Stephen Bartholomeusz
Senior business columnist
We found the limits of hotel quarantine. It’s time we fixed it
Aisha Dow
Health Editor, The Age
Christine Holgate delivers revenge with rival posting
Julie Szego
Author and freelance journalist
Explore
Property bydomain
Why Australia's $30b home construction boom won't last
The take-up of HomeBuilder grants was four times more than what the government expected, but budget papers lay bare the challenge that lies ahead.
What’s missing for housing in this year’s federal budget
Analysis: There’s extra help to save a home deposit or to get into the market with a low deposit, but a big spending recovery Budget offered a chance to do more.
Life & Culture
The ‘daggy dad’ staple about to make a comeback
Dig out your Hawaiian shirt. The 1960s is the decade of choice for designers interpreting post-COVID “confident” dressing.
Sport
Updated
AFL 2021
‘Another poor decision’: Willie Rioli to face court, may be sacked by Eagles
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”.
Thorpe to swim with Seven for the Olympics
Officially it is no comment, but Seven is set to snare the champion for its coverage.
Opinion
2021 Tokyo Olympics
Why athletes don’t deserve to be caught in vaccine debate crossfire
Australia’s Olympians are deeply grateful for the chance to be vaccinated. They shouldn’t endure the scorn of a public they are so proud to represent.
Phil Lutton
Sports reporter
IOC president postpones trip to Japan amid spike in coronavirus cases
IOC president Thomas Bach has postponed a trip to Japan, site of the Olympics in a little over two months, because of a continued surge in coronavirus cases.
‘Treated as fools’: Test for Hawks, Roos as Tassie fans vote with their feet
As the battle for a standalone Tasmanian AFL side continues, Saturday’s clash between Hawthorn and North Melbourne in Launceston is seen as a ‘big test’ in the support of the home-away-from-home concept.
Opinion
IPL
‘We can give back’: Easy to condemn IPL from afar but far more complex for players
We can argue the case, but are our opinions at home really more important than a member of the IPL caravan living in a lockdown bubble amid a deathly crisis?
Malcolm Knox
Journalist, author and columnist
Snap Shot: COVID delays Rance’s football comeback ... for now
This week in Snap Shot: Alex Rance delays local football return; Roos stalk the halls of power; and why challenging decisions is old hat.
Have Your Say
Howzat for innovation? Researchers say bamboo cricket bats could replace willow
In a development that could send shudders through the game, researchers say bamboo bats lighter, stronger and offer a larger “sweet spot” than traditional willow.
