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.
Recovery hit by ‘third-rate vaccine rollout’, says Labor
Shadow Treasurer Jim Chalmers said last night’s budget was, overall, hampered by the government “getting vaccine rollout so horribly wrong”. Follow our live coverage of national news, including reactions and fallout from the federal budget.
Bouquets, brickbats: Victorians deliver their budget verdict
A cross-section of everyday Victorians share their thoughts on Tuesday’s federal budget, with aged care, childcare and debt dominating the discussion.
Spending splurge to create 250,000 jobs, more cash for aged care, 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 main chance
They coulda been contenders. But Scott Morrison and Josh Frydenberg let it escape them.
Mental health services to get record investment
The funding is designed to help those who fall between the general primary care system and hospital services or intensive state-based community care.
Analysis
Federal budget
Billions promised to fix aged care, but real reform takes more than money
The federal government has committed $17.7 billion over five years to fixing aged care. But now, the fight begins.
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 2020.
Companies get help to combat China’s trade strikes
The Department of Foreign Affairs will gain staff to help Australian exporters and other countries deal with the trade disruptions caused by COVID-19 and China’s trade strikes.
Business gets $20b in tax incentives to boost investment
The budget will extend tax breaks aimed at bringing forward business investment such as spending on utes, tractors, and manufacturing equipment.
Small businesses win breathing space over disputed tax debts
Small businesses will be able to ask an umpire to stop the ATO pursuing them for disputed debts until the issue is resolved.
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.
Opinion
Coronavirus pandemic
We found the limits of hotel quarantine. It’s time we fixed it
For many months, experts have been sounding the alarm on the problem of poorly ventilated hotels.
Aisha Dow
Health Editor, The Age
Dozens dead as Israel, Hamas escalate aerial bombardments
The Israeli city of Tel Aviv was under fire from a barrage of 130 rockets launched from the Gaza Strip in an attack so relentless that Israel’s Iron Dome rocket-defence system seemed to be overwhelmed.
MasterChef recap: So tense, you could hear an immunity pin drop
As the old saying goes: once screen printing is involved, it’s time to stop making desserts.
Updated
AFL 2021
Rockliff in hospital with blood clot, Lycett rubbed out
Third-placed Port Adelaide have been dealt a double blow, including having veteran Tom Rockliff hospitalised.
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.
FEDERAL BUDGET 2021
Analysis
No game-changer: A gender audit of the federal budget
How does the budget rate when viewed through a gender lens?
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.
Local
‘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.
Ellie Price spoke of being ‘choked’ by boyfriend before her death, court told
A woman killed in her home, allegedly by her boyfriend, told her mother she was choked by her partner and feared she would die during an earlier Valentine’s Day holiday, a court has heard.
Education Department pleads guilty to breaches after seven-year-old’s death
Victoria’s Education Department faces being fined up to $3 million after pleading guilty to breaching safety laws over the death of a boy whose wheelchair fell from a school ramp.
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.
CORONAVIRUS CRISIS
New coronavirus case in Victoria: What we know so far
The Department of Health said a full public health response was under way after the man, aged in his 30s, tested positive on Tuesday morning.
Scott Morrison warns of pandemic threat in new sign of border caution
The pandemic is more threatening today than it was one year ago, the Prime Minister has declared in a private warning to government MPs about continuing the cautious approach to opening international borders.
Politics
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
Breaking
Earnings season
CBA’s quarterly profits surge to $2.4b
CBA’s March quarter profits bounced back as the banking giant cut its provisions for bad debts in response to the improving economy.
World
Putin orders gun control review after nine die 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
Marriage of convenience comes with some hidden hazards
Peter Hartcher
Political and international editor
Frydenberg’s no Oprah, but sure spins the wheel of fortune
Shane Wright
Senior economics correspondent
Coalition eager to prove it works for women too
Katina Curtis
Political reporter
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Property bydomain
This Kew house with a derelict kitchen and bathroom has sold for $7.24m
It has ripped-up linoleum floors, missing bathroom tiles and water stains on the ceiling but still sold at auction for more than $1.7 million above its reserve.
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.
Life & Culture
Turning symptoms into songs, here comes COVID-19 the musical
The musical, created by bestselling novelist Jodi Picoult, includes scenes called Fever, Aches, Swelling and Irritation, Fatigue and Shortness of Breath.
Sport
Analysis
AFL 2021
Why Richmond aren’t punishing Bolton and Rioli
Once upon a time at Tigerland, the fact of Shai Bolton being a gun player coming off contract would probably have been grounds for cynicism about a non-penalty. Richmond aren’t that kind of club any longer.
Manchester City clinch third Premier League title in four seasons
Manchester United losing 2-1 to Leicester left City with an unassailable 10-point lead with three games remaining.
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.
Have Your Say
‘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.
