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Potential long-term harms of rare side effect drove vaccine advice
An important factor for the decision to recommend giving AstraZeneca only to those aged 60 and above was the long-term harm that would be experienced by some of the 58 other people who developed the rare clotting condition.
Why polio-survivor Geoff has no time for anti-vaxxers
Pakenham pensioner Geoff O’Brien had polio as a child. He wants the squabbling to stop and people to get their COVID-19 vaccinations.
Joyce sets up climate change policy clash after taking back leadership
Nationals leader Barnaby Joyce will demand security for regional jobs and industries in a policy clash on climate change after reclaiming the leadership.
‘I don’t walk away’: Joyce insists he’s learned while on backbench
Barnaby Joyce says he’s become a better person in the 40 months since resigning over a sexual harassment allegation, but the political environment has also changed.
Actor Samuel Johnson in hospital after being struck by car
The Gold Logie winner was awake, talking but still recovering, sister Hilde Hinton said in a post published on the Love Your Sister charity Facebook page.
Why YouTube isn’t the music industry villain any more
The world’s most popular music service has finally figured out how to generate enough cash to make many people in the industry happy.
Benjy donates hundreds of socks to residents in storm-hit Dandenong Ranges
More than 15,000 pairs of donated socks have passed through the hands of Benjy Orwin in recent years and 800 have now made their way to residents of the storm-battered Dandenong Ranges.
Opposition MP names Labor MP accused of having sex in parliamentary office
A Liberal MP used parliamentary privilege to name Dustin Halse as the Labor MP who allegedly had sex in his Spring Street office.
White Ribbon to fund violence prevention projects in move away from tokenism
Grants will be available to sporting clubs, churches and councils that come up with community-based programs to tackle men’s violence against women.
Father and son accused of hiring hitman to kill ex-wife and a Christian pastor
In June last year, police officers turned up on the doorstep of former Christian pastor Silas Issa and told him two people had been arrested after threats had allegedly been made on his life.
Analysis
Tokyo Olympics
The Tokyo Olympics is facing its first gender test
As New Zealand’s Laurel Hubbard becomes the first transgender Olympian, more work is needed to balance inclusion and integrity in women’s sport.
‘I know that I have done nothing wrong’: Stuart MacGill speaks out about alleged kidnapping
The former international cricketer has broken his silence about the kidnapping, revealing the heavy toll the incident has token on his work, family and friends.
Victoria in slow lane as NSW takes lead on electric vehicles
Victorian motorists have been offered electric vehicle subsidies worth less than one-third of those available across the border, prompting calls for more intervention to close the gap.
CORONAVIRUS CRISIS
Updated
Federal officials flag ‘far freer flows of Pfizer’ following Merlino swipe
Victoria has recorded one new local coronavirus as the Northern Territory and Tasmania ease border restrictions.
Two new Sydney cases as cluster grows, restrictions increase
NSW has recorded two new local COVID-19 cases overnight, both linked to existing cases, as Bondi cluster grows to 11.
Local
Thousands with no power but ‘hills are alive with sound of chainsaws’
More than 120 ADF troops hit the ground in the battered Dandenong Ranges on Monday, distributing generators to hundreds of people still without power.
Man standing trial for alleged sexual attacks on six women
The allegations include that he forced one woman into his car and raped her and that he handcuffed another and dragged her along a street as he drove.
Ben Roberts-Smith denies murdering Afghan prisoner, encouraging second execution
The former special forces soldier has told the Federal Court the two men killed on Easter Sunday, 2009, were enemy combatants who posed a threat. He was asked if this was a “cover story”.
New evidence before appeals court in challenge against baby shaking conviction
New scientific evidence will be put to the Court of Appeal for a man convicted of killing his girlfriend’s baby son, with lawyers arguing an innocent man suffered a miscarriage of justice in being found guilty and jailed.
Updated
Horse racing
Racing Victoria unveils $16 million boost to prizemoney after COVID gambling spree
A $16 million prizemoney boost means every group 1 race in Victoria will be worth at least $750,000, and will benefit races impacted by Sydney’s encroachment on the calendar.
AFL 2021
Analysis
Melbourne man mountain Gawn rising to new heights in Demons’ boom season
Max Gawn has taken 38 contested marks for the season - the most of any player in the competition and three more than noted aerial stars Aaron Naughton and Harry McKay.
Tigers premiership pair poised to return for clash with Saints
Richmond are likely to regain triple-premiership pair David Astbury and Dion Prestia for Friday night’s MCG clash against St Kilda as the Tigers seek to keep alive their flagging top-four chances.
Politics
WA Nationals leader ‘disappointed’ with federal party’s leadership change
Mia Davies says leadership changes are destabilising and showed the federal party was was focused on internal matters instead of the people of regional Australia.
Business
CBA wraps up divestments with ‘soft’ $1b insurance sale
Commonwealth Bank has sealed its last major deal to divest non-core businesses, but the price tag was softer than some expected.
World
French far-right dealt setback in regional elections
President Emmanuel Macron’s rival Marine Le Pen had hoped to use the regional elections as a springboard for next year’s national ballot.
Opinion
Iron fist losing its grip: Is China’s new crackdown destined to fail?
Stephen Bartholomeusz
Senior business columnist
Morrison needs to summon courage to act on Biloela family
Kevin Rudd
Former Australian prime minister
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Property bydomain
'Ultimate luxury getaway' hits the market for a cool $20m
Interstate well-heeled lead a surge of buyer demand for Queensland's trophy homes as Mandalay House is returned to the market.
How long does it take Melburnians to crack into the market for a first home?
Despite booming house prices, it is not taking first-home buyers longer to enter the market than last year. The bad news? It still takes six years and one month.
Life & Culture
How do you cope when you get the disease that killed your mother?
Melbourne musician Nai Palm was only 11 when her mother died. At 29, she got the same diagnosis. “It gave me an understanding of how strong she was.”
Sport
$15 million at stake in fight for control of Collingwood board
To secure $15m in government funding, the Magpies will have to satisfy a recent Victorian government guideline that mandates that the organisation receiving the funding has a minimum of 40 per cent women on their board.
Analysis
Tokyo Olympics
Tokyo Olympics face their first gender test
As New Zealand’s Laurel Hubbard becomes the first transgender Olympian, more work is needed to balance inclusion and integrity in women’s sport.
Star Magpie cleared to soar: Grundy back for Harvey’s first game as coach
Collingwood star Brodie Grundy has been cleared to return as caretaker coach Robert Harvey takes the reins this week, albeit without two of the team’s biggest stars.
Updated
Tokyo Olympics
War of words breaks out over Simmons’ play-off exit, but Boomers campaign awaits
Ben Simmons has faced criticism from his highest-profile NBA teammate and an all-time great of the sport for his performances in the play-offs. But the star guard will be welcomed into the Australian Boomers’ fold this week.
Analysis
AFL 2021
Melbourne man mountain Gawn rising to new heights in Demons’ boom season
Max Gawn has taken 38 contested marks for the season - the most of any player in the competition and three more than noted aerial stars Aaron Naughton and Harry McKay.
Updated
AFL 2021
Cripps guarantees he will re-sign but wants ‘everyone to get some feedback’ from club review
Carlton co-captain Patrick Cripps has opened up about his future and defended coach David Teague, but wants a wide-ranging review to provide honest feedback.
Tigers premiership pair poised to return for clash with Saints
Richmond are likely to regain triple-premiership pair David Astbury and Dion Prestia for Friday night’s MCG clash against St Kilda as the Tigers seek to keep alive their flagging top-four chances.
Have Your Say
‘The numbers are damning’ at Carlton
This week on the Real Footy podcast, Michael Gleeson, Caroline Wilson and Jake Niall discuss the issues at Ikon Park.