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BRISBANE IN LOCKDOWN
Qld hospitals under pressure as COVID outbreak ‘destroying’ workforce
Rosters are being urgently reviewed and elective surgery postponed as the current COVID-19 cluster forces hundreds of health workers into home quarantine.
Updated
Queensland Health
‘The hardest we have ever locked down’: Queenslanders shut in until 4pm Sunday as cases rise
The Ekka has been cancelled for a second year in a row, and the state’s lockdown has been extended.
15 arrests during lockdown protests across Brisbane
“Compared to last year, the amount of people who have died is minuscule,” said one of the demonstrators.
Rocky road ahead: Queensland exposure sites stretch beyond south-east hotspot
Health authorities have identified exposure sites outside the largely locked-down south-east corner, after a person infected with COVID-19 travelled to Rockhampton.
Man charged after AFP Commissioner impersonated in alleged plot to overthrow government
A member of a group that allegedly made plans to overthrow the federal government has been charged after fake federal police badges were found dumped in a Queensland creek.
Live
Tokyo Olympics
How Opals and Matildas can win tonight
The Matildas, Kookaburras and Boomers are all aiming for medals while the Opals have one last chance to put themselves into contention today.
Latest live posts
LoadingIndia 1 Hockeyroos 0
Tokyo Olympics
Hockeyroos heartbroken but proud to have risen above turmoil
The Australians were visibly devastated after their loss, some of the players collapsing in despair. Not just a poor day but a hard year had reached its end.
‘Miss, Peter can run’: The chance school carnival event that uncovered an Olympian
Teacher Helen Leahy recalled struggling to find students to run in the 400-metre school carnival race when a child said to her, “Miss, Peter can run”.
Dutch favourite falls, comes from last to keep dream of historic treble alive
In dramatic scenes at the track, champion Dutchwoman Sifan Hassan got back up after a fall, Jamaican star Shericka Jackson’s cruisy heat run cost her a place in the 200m semis, while Australian Riley Day got through.
Updated
Courts
Perth man who paid $15,000 to marry his wife sentenced to life in jail for her murder
Ruqia Haidari, 21, was remembered by her friends as a bright and kind-hearted girl who “just wanted to live life”.
Zoom pays out $116m to settle ‘Zoombombing’ lawsuit
The lawsuit claimed that internet trolls had exploited the video conference service to hack meetings and show offensive messages or images.
How devoted fans mobilised to form a Britney Spears ‘army’
The growing support for Spears speaks to the power of fan devotion, unleashed in the modern age through social media.
Opinion
Mergers & acquisitions
Afterpay sale is a smart move as the buy now, pay later field braces for an onslaught
The timing of Afterpay founders Anthony Eisen and Nick Molnar might have been marginally off but with an onslaught looming, their decision to sell their juggernaut makes a lot of sense.
Stephen Bartholomeusz
Senior business columnist
What’s happening to your body when you’re ‘piss fit’?
Becoming “piss fit” is something some Australians consider a badge of honour. But increasing our tolerance of alcohol comes at a cost.
Queensland
Updated
The Ekka
The carnival is over: Ekka cancelled for second year by coronavirus threat
This is only the fourth time in the show’s 144-year history that it has not gone ahead.
Federal government to run review of new Brisbane runway aircraft noise
Airservices Australia will run a review of noise complaints and flight timetabling after Brisbane’s new parallel runway was opened 12 months ago.
How the Brisbane Olympics can help shake the Melbourne-Sydney duopoly
The fastest-growing region in Australia is also growing up, and the starter’s pistol has already fired for Brisbane 2032.
Updated
Coronavirus pandemic
Police arrest four, issue 28 fines as Qld lockdown protest threat lingers
Police believe a Brisbane anti-lockdown protest could be planned for Monday, but senior officers warn “now is not the time”.
No visitors, Ekka plans on hold as part of ‘strictest lockdown’ yet
Parts of Queensland began a three-day lockdown on Saturday as the state recorded seven new cases of COVID-19.
CORONAVIRUS PANDEMIC
Zero cases: The countries that avoided COVID-19 completely
How does a country dodge COVID-19? The list of countries that have been untouched by COVID-19 so far is small.
Opinion
Britain is now living with COVID and Australia must too
The UK’s aggressive vaccination strategy against COVID-19 has allowed society to reopen. Australian leaders should take note and stop pretending that elimination is still possible.
Matthew Lesh
Politics
Exclusive
Political leadership
‘Failure to lead’: Albanese plans new approach for national cabinet
Labor’s leader vows to overhaul national cabinet to offer a more “cohesive” approach to the pandemic if he wins power.
Business
Not newsy enough: Facebook spurns small publishers
The founders of three independently owned culture and lifestyle websites were told by Facebook they would not receive money for their content. They’re worried.
World
Jacinda Ardern apologises for New Zealand’s ‘dawn raids’ on Pacific people
New Zealand’s Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern told a tearful crowd that the government was offering a formal and unreserved apology.
Opinion
Why government reforms often do more harm than good
Ross Gittins
Economics Editor
Albanese proving an elusive target for Coalition’s election playbook
Sean Kelly
Columnist and former adviser to Labor prime ministers Kevin Rudd and Julia Gillard.
Explore
Property bydomain
'There was a gasp': Sunshine Beach auction smashes record
At more than $9 million it was the highest price paid at auction in Australia on the weekend, as well as being a non-beachfront record.
Australian property prices continue to break records despite lockdowns
Restrictions have forced buyers into stiff competition over the scarce number of homes on the market, pushing prices even higher in some cities.
Life & Culture
Forget everything you know about the manicure
Rainbow stripes, ombre hearts and SpongeBob SquarePants? Welcome to the world of nail art in 2021, where individuality reigns supreme.
Sport
India 1 Hockeyroos 0
Tokyo Olympics
Hockeyroos heartbroken but proud to have risen above turmoil
The Australians were visibly devastated after their loss, some of the players collapsing in despair. Not just a poor day but a hard year had reached its end.
Opinion
Wallabies
Three Wallabies coaches backed Michael Hooper as captain. We should too.
The Wallabies skipper doesn’t get the accolades he deserves. Least of all from me.
Wayne Smith
Updated
Australian cricket
Bangladesh T20Is may not be broadcast
Australia’s Twenty20 international series against Bangladesh is in danger of not being broadcast.
V’landys wants loyalty to be factor as Brisbane-Melbourne shootout looms
A decision on where the first NRL final outside of Sydney will be played is expected within three weeks.
Updated
Tokyo Olympics
Boomers to face Argentina in quarters, Spain or USA await in semis
Boomers coach Brian Goorjian knows the nation is watching and he is backing his Olympic veterans to drive his side to its first medal.
Updated
Formula 1
Hamilton jumps to second behind Ocon as Vettel stripped of podium spot
The Vettel decision in Hungary has given Hamilton an eight-point lead over Max Verstappen.
Opinion
Tokyo Olympics
Swimming must not squander public’s emotional investment in its new stars
Swimming has the chance to ride a wave of goodwill through to the next Olympics in Paris. It has to make sure the stories are heard outside of the big meets.
Phil Lutton
Sports reporter
Have Your Say
Bruce McAvaney is a national treasure. May he drop this talk of retirement
The start of the athletics program means The Festival of Bruce has begun. He says this could be his last Olympics. Let’s hope not.