The Booklist
A weekly newsletter for book lovers from books editor Jason Steger.
Daily Crosswords
Challenge yourself with today's quick and cryptic puzzles.
Examine newsletter
Science explained and analysed with a rigorous focus on the evidence.
Bouquets and brickbats: Victorians deliver their verdict on the budget
A cross-section of everyday Victorians share their thoughts on Tuesday’s federal budget, with aged care, childcare and debt dominating the discussion.
What they said: Industry, political, union responses to the budget
Leaders from business have welcomed policies aimed at promoting business investment, while unions say the government has missed the opportunity to make the big structural changes.
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.
Analysis
Scott Morrison
Missed it by that much: good effort at marketing misses the main chance
They coulda been contenders. But Scott Morrison and Josh Frydenberg let it escape them.
Victoria to benefit from multibillion-dollar GST windfall
The state has missed out in the federal budget on funding for two key passenger rail projects but will gain on the GST front.
Analysis
Federal budget
No game-changer: A gender audit of the federal budget
How does the budget rate when viewed through a gender lens?
‘Without childcare I couldn’t work’: Mothers say time for help is now
Donna O’Neill has seen many of her female colleagues’ careers held back because the high cost of childcare. She wants that to change.
Opinion
Sketch
Josh Frydenberg is rolling in the red, and mighty proud of it
Treasurer Josh Frydenberg, delivering a budget of record deficit and debt, seeks to turn adversity to advantage.
Tony Wright
Associate editor and special writer
Editorial
Opinion
A budget for its time, but one day we’ll have to pay for it
Treasurer Josh Frydenberg had little choice but to keep his foot down on the fiscal stimulus pedal.
The Age's View
Editorial
‘Is it realistic?’: Pierre has a masters but no job, now the government says he needs more training
With employers warning of labour shortages while the country’s borders are closed, the government is under pressure to do more to help people who have been out of work for at least 12 months.
Analysis
Josh Frydenberg
Marriage of convenience comes with some hidden hazards
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.
Updated
Coronavirus pandemic
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.
Pretty please: How a bias against ugly plants could spell their doom
A prejudice among botanists for the study of pretty plants with bold colours leaves the wallflowers at risk of being left behind in research and in conservation.
Opinion
Phones
What is an iPhone? Apple’s Epic Games stoush will not be its last fight over the App Store
Is Apple abusing a monopoly over how over a billion iPhone owners download their apps? The question seems to be one that serves mainly to lead to more questions.
James Titcomb
Opinion
Parenting
Parents need to learn to love their kids taking risks
The parental protective impulse is a powerful one - but is it always the best choice for our children?
Doug Hendrie
FEDERAL BUDGET 2021
Border closure to cost country 174,000 new migrants
The budget reveals the government now expects permanent migrants and international students to begin gradually returning from mid 2022, a year later than it forecast in October’s budget.
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
Coroner investigates baby Isabella’s unexplained death
A mother has demanded answers after it was revealed her child repeatedly vomited and appeared unwell over a 22-hour period before medical help was sought.
Updated
Tragedy
‘Too late’: Friend of boy killed as bin tipped into garbage trunk tried to alert driver
South Australia Police say one of the boys started “banging on the door” of the cabin when the bin containing his two friends started to tip.
Updated
Melbourne emergency
Georgian national jumps ship, rescued in Port Phillip Bay
A 31-year-old Georgian national was found by the air wing clinging to a navigational marker 5km out from the dock.
‘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.
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.
CORONAVIRUS CRISIS
COVID vaccine success fans hopes of mRNA shot for cancer
Over the past decade Drew Weissman and Katalin Kariko have been working on a variety of vaccines. The pandemic accelerated the trials of their technology.
Zero 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.
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
Putin orders gun control review after students killed in Russian school shooting
At least seven students and two school employees have been killed and many others wounded after a gunman opened fire in a school in the Russian city of Kazan.
Opinion
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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
What is Prince Harry trying to tell us 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.
Sport
World No.1 Barty declares she’s not the one to beat in France
Ashleigh Barty has been quick to downplay her chances for another Roland Garros title, despite enjoying a sizzling season on clay in her return to the tour.
Hamstrung Stringer faces contract wait
Injured Essendon star Jake Stringer is without a contract for next season and rival clubs have been put on notice of his potential availability.
Updated
AFL 2021
‘Another poor decision’: Rioli to face court, may be sacked
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”.
Olympic heavyweight Huni to get just 15 per cent of cut in Gallen fight
Justis Huni knows a win over Paul Gallen could do as much for his profile as an Olympic medal. Which is why Gallen will take almost all the financial spoils.
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.
Olyroos hoping to unearth hidden gems from Europe
Young Socceroos coach Gary van Egmond says he hasn’t seen a more talented crop of players since the “golden generation” of the late 1990s and early 2000s.
Researchers say bamboo 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.
Have Your Say
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.
