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Coronavirus pandemic
Border Force travel rejection rates raise racial bias questions
Travel exemptions for people in India wanting to come to Australia were rejected three times more often than those arriving from Britain and the US last year.
Risk versus reward: Why Scott Morrison may go to the polls early
Fear of the coronavirus seems stronger than ever despite the country’s extraordinary success against COVID-19. That fear has the power to decide the next election.
Opinion
Federal
The high cost of life in our gilded cage, Australia
Peter Hartcher
Political and international editor
Victims demand more than ‘generic apology’ over Diana interview scandal
The first colleague to confront Martin Bashir over the famous TV tell-all says the BBC should offer more than a “generic apology”.
‘Like Cuba’: Australia may soon be awash with cheap luxury cars, but it will be costly
Australian taxpayers could have to pay for another “cash for clunkers” scheme to get all the cheap, polluting luxury cars off the roads after carmakers dump them here, analysts warn.
What Gillard did next: Former PM’s new mission to raise $6.5 billion
Julia Gillard had a choice after she left office: join the crowded ranks of opinionated former prime ministers or pursue a second act.
Berejiklian has her eye on history in Upper Hunter
The NSW Premier made an 11th-hour pitch to voters in Muswellbrook on Saturday morning, urging them to support the Nationals’ candidate Dave Layzell.
World domination? Not even a pandemic can slow down hotel tsar’s $200m spree
Justin Hemmes plays his cards close to his chest, declining to name the next targets of his acquisition rollout, but Merivale boss concedes more deals are brewing.
Exclusive
Roads
If you thought Saturday traffic was getting worse in Sydney, you’re right
Transport Minister Andrew Constance said new data was evidence the pandemic would likely not have a long-term impact on the way Sydneysiders moved around the city.
Exclusive
Development
Insurance hike to raise costs of renovating
A hike of up to 50 per cent in premiums for building work on apartment blocks, terraces and townhouses will start to be passed onto owners from late July.
Exclusive
Education
Eastern suburbs school board schism over fraud, debt and falling results
Moriah College’s board elections are the most heated in more than a decade amid concern about falling HSC results, a $7.3 million fraud and a $25 million bank debt.
Executive says Westpac fired her after she blew the whistle
Westpac chief Peter King urged a senior risk executive to seek whistleblower protections just months before she was dismissed from the bank, according to a legal complaint.
Exclusive
Private Sydney
Ex-madam fears key clues were missed in Revelle case
Jane King believes police may have missed vital clues in the disappearance of Revelle Balmain, saying she urged them to interview three people. But two of them were never questioned.
Club considers legal action that could halt Folau’s comeback plans
Super League club Catalans Dragons believes the cross-code superstar is still contracted to them in a fresh impediment to his ambition of playing for the Southport Tigers.
How sandpaper Test might never have been played
The actions of Cameron Bancroft came after a feisty Test series with South Africa, involving insults, physical confrontations and a threat by Australia to abandon the tour.
Mickelson on track to become golf’s oldest major winner
At a time when most professionals have moved into semi-retirement on the senior tour, the 50-year-old is closing in on a piece of history.
Editor's Picks
Just in
NRL 2021
Sharks 13 Dragons 12
Griffin bemoans high-tackle edict as Sharks win thriller
Another three players fell foul of the NRL’s mid-season high-tackle crackdown as the southern Sydney derby was decided in extra time.
Warriors 30 Tigers 26
Walsh lays down rookie challenge to Walker as Warriors hold on
The Warriors No.1 inspired a victory over the Wests Tigers and is starting to challenge Roosters young gun Sam Walker for rookie of the year honours.
Sydney
More Virgin flight delays expected, as investigation finds source of outage
Virgin Australia passengers should expect flight delays and possible cancellations on Saturday as the network recovers from a major outage that hit airlines around the world on Friday night.
Driver on the run after crashing car and injuring passenger in Dubbo
Police are searching for a driver who allegedly crashed a vehicle into a power pole fleeing on foot, leaving a passenger with serious injuries behind.
School climate strikes resume around Australia with more to come
NSW students have vowed to continue regular strikes for climate action, defying bad weather and a demand by the Education Minister to stay in school.
AstraZeneca vaccines pile up as GPs wait for doses
At one clinic in south-west Sydney, roughly 3000 AstraZeneca doses have piled up as the practice struggles to fill 50 appointments a day.
Exclusive
Government grants
‘Hiding the truth:’ NSW government accused of withholding documents
The Berejiklian government insists it has disclosed all documents relating to controversial sports grants, amid Opposition claims it is hiding the extent of its pork-barrelling.
WEEKEND READS
From screens to snakes: Keeping busy after a treechange
Escaping city life for a remote property is an idyllic proposition for those wanting to wrench their kids off their devices. Just be aware other creatures were there before you.
Huawei? No way! Why Australia banned the world’s biggest telecoms firm
Upgrading Australia’s communications network meant our national security experts had to get to grips with tech titan Huawei’s ties to the Chinese government. A ban would infuriate Chinese leaders. The alternative was worse.
Politics
Exclusive
Defence
No rainbow morning teas: Dutton cancels ‘woke’ culture at Defence
The Defence Minister has ordered his department and serving military personnel to stop pursuing a “woke agenda” after Defence held morning teas where staff wore rainbow clothing.
Business
Opinion
Nuix investigation
‘Stuck with the rancid bacon’: Despite a tip-off, ASIC dropped the ball on Nuix
The aftermath of the Nuix float should prompt soul searching inside ASIC, alongside a thorough investigation of what went wrong.
Adele Ferguson
Investigative journalist and columnist
World
‘Shaking’ 72-storey Shenzhen skyscraper closed down for investigation
People ran in panic from the SEG Plaza on Tuesday after the tower began to wobble - even though there was no seismic activity in the area.
Opinion
Adults need to be honest with boys and girls about biology
Parnell Palme McGuinness
Columnist and communications adviser
A demolished bridge too far: the unholy rush to replace charm with concrete
Elizabeth Farrelly
Columnist, author, architecture critic and essayist
Outrage nation: The rapid decay of discourse
Waleed Aly
Columnist, co-host of Ten's The Project and academic
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Property bydomain
Renovation boom to blow out time taken for home upgrades
Renovators could face delays and price hikes as soaring demand puts pressure on the supply of building materials and trades.
Mother and son splash $100m+ on Sydney property in just five months
If there is a single factor fuelling Sydney's bull run of trophy home sales this year, it isn't interest rates - it's a 28-year-old and his property developer mother.
Life & Culture
Lady Gaga tells of ‘psychotic break’ after rape at 19 left her pregnant
The Star is Born singer said she suffered a “psychotic break” after being raped by a producer at age 19 as she was trying to get a foothold in the music industry.
Opinion
WordPlay
Stumped on how to spell Woolloomooloo? Start with sheep toilet
David Astle
Crossword compiler, The Sydney Morning Herald and The Age
Sport
Investigation
NRL 2021
Is rugby league dying? The never-before-seen numbers that have the NRL worried
The NRL agreed to open its books without the spin. Here are the numbers for every district and region in NSW, showing 12,000 less males playing tackle rugby league than there were six years ago.
Tour threat revealed: How sandpaper Test might never have been played
The actions of Cameron Bancroft came after a feisty Test series with South Africa, involving insults, physical confrontations and a threat by Australia to abandon the tour.
Catalans Dragons consider legal action that could halt Folau’s comeback plans
The Super League club believes Israel Folau is still contracted to them in a fresh impediment to his ambition of playing for the Southport Tigers.
‘I am loving life’: Sydney FC star’s rise from the bench to record books
The only thing Andrew Redmayne deflects quicker than shots is praise. He set a new club record for clean sheets but won’t be happy unless his team wins.
At the age of 50, Mickelson on track to become golf’s oldest major winner
At a time when most professionals have moved into semi-retirement on the senior tour, Phil Mickelson is closing in on a piece of history.
‘You can see the mentality’: The French rugby star who helped shape Suaalii
Frederic Michalak played 77 Tests for France as a flamboyant five-eighth. Since relocating to Australia, he’s helped mould the Roosters’ army of talented teens.
Sharks 13 Dragons 12
Match report
‘Mass confusion’: Griffin bemoans high-tackle edict as Sharks win golden-point thriller
Another three players fell foul of the NRL’s mid-season high-tackle crackdown as the southern Sydney derby was decided in extra time.
Have Your Say
Cape Town revisited a shining example of stating the bleeding obvious
Truly, you shouldn’t need to have Michael Clarke’s expertise and experience to see what’s most likely happened here.
