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Expert daily insight into the stories that drive the nation.
No local cases; New border bubble rules have ‘businesses on their knees’
There have been no new cases, either local or in quarantine, recorded in Victoria in the past 24 hours. From today, there will be only a handful of reasons people who live on the NSW-Victorian border can cross the Murray without a permit.
Path from lockdowns hinges on testing, tracing and quarantine measures
Australia’s proposed path out of harsh restrictions depends on optimal quarantine systems, contact tracing and social distancing – and lockdowns will probably still be needed.
Opinion
Coronavirus pandemic
The price of ‘living with COVID’ must be understood before it’s paid
The federal government now insists that the goal of zero-COVID be traded-in for a much less satisfactory future of “living alongside” the disease.
Bill Bowtell
Opinion
Vaccination
Vaccine race goes around in circles
Five months after getting Pfizered in his Australian flag mask, Morrison is again leveraging the mystical “Aussie spirit” to mobilise the populace.
Julie Szego
How WA’s north could stall state’s vaccine rollout targets
Despite about 60 per cent of the North West’s population older than 16 being eligible to receive the vaccine, just 8 per cent are fully immunised – the lowest uptake rate in the country.
Opinion
Tokyo Olympics
Bol has already rewritten Australian history. His bolt is a bridge for a nation
We will be cheering, shouting, praying, and even pleading that by the grace of God everything comes together to create a moment, that Peter Bol reaches the promise of his training, talent and his dreams.
Nyadol Nyuon
Lawyer and human rights advocate
‘This could be the year’: How the Boomers can beat the US; Small earthquake rattles Tokyo
The Boomers are into the semi-finals of the men’s basketball tournament for a fifth time – and they want a medal. So too Peter Bol when he lines up in the men’s 800m final tonight.
‘Terrifying, cold, loud noises’: Homeless young people fall through net
When Luis Montero was 16 he was so desperate for somewhere to stay he slept in a tent in Yarra Bend Park.
Opinion
Property prices
House prices take a breath as affordability crunch bites
First home buyers are retreating from the property market as cashed-up investors attracted by the prospects of significant capital gains outbid them at auctions.
John Collett
Personal finance editor
Successful program getting more Indigenous kids into preschool gets $120 million
The money will be used to roll out education programs and fund Indigenous-run child care service in regional and remote communities.
The cruel blow that has left a generation of artists reeling
Sam Jinks is one of many artists forced to shift shows online or indefinitely postpone creative projects during lockdown. Some artists’ careers may never recover.
CBD
City life
Family portrait eyes the prize
Organisers of the Rick Amor drawing prize have been thrown a curly one as they prepare to exhibit finalists’ works at the McClelland Gallery.
The idiosyncrasies, horrors and inspirations of Sinead
Irish singer Sinead O’Connor tells her story of a life full of abuse, genius and struggles.
Will Australia ever move into a four-day working week?
Momentum is building around the world for implementing shorter work weeks, and Dr Kirstin Ferguson says the conversation should soon be raised locally.
Snap Shot
AFL 2021
Snap Shot: Guthrie numerology, and a football crime better left unsolved
Ahead of Cam Guthrie’s 200th AFL game, we look at the dedication of the the Guthrie brothers’ parents, Suzanne and Andrew; the stories behind the banners; and stopping real crimes - not football ones.
Local
Melbourne woman found dead in Georgia remembered as kind-hearted, adventurous
Friends and colleagues of Shanae Edwards, 31, described her as a “shining light” and an adventurous woman who “really lived life”.
Free public phone calls a lifeline for disadvantaged, say welfare groups
Charities have praised Telstra’s decision to make calls from its over 15,000 Australian payphones free of charge.
O’Brien’s hardline border stance sparks ‘feisty’ debate in Coalition meeting
The Opposition Leader was described by one MP as a “deer in headlights” during a meeting in which Coalition members sought clarity about their position on border closures.
‘One life event away’: Homeless urged to complete the census
To avoid underreporting of homelessness, welfare groups are urging homeless people to complete the census next Tuesday.
Policeman hit teen with baton months after assaulting disability pensioner
One of the three police officers who assaulted a disability pensioner outside his home also struck a teenage boy with his baton, it can now reported.
CORONAVIRUS PANDEMIC
Exclusive
‘Delta has moved the needle’: Jab mandates more useful than cash
Andy Slavitt, who served as Joe Biden’s senior pandemic adviser, warns that governments must now vaccinate far more people to stave off the Delta variant.
Most vulnerable, least protected - city’s west lags in jabs race
Fewer than 35 per cent of those aged 15 and over living in Melbourne’s west and north west have had at least a single dose of COVID vaccine, new data released by the Federal Government has revealed.
Politics
Exclusive
Coronavirus pandemic
QR-code vaccine passport plan splits Coalition
Australians will use a QR-code vaccine certificate for international travel under a multimillion-dollar plan to reopen the borders, but the Coalition can’t agree on using it for domestic travel.
Business
‘Grave concerns’: Westpac accuses alleged fraudster of lying about assets
Colourful football personality Bill Papas has finally submitted a list of his assets to the court after repeatedly missing deadlines.
World
Updated
US politics
Biden calls on NY Governor Cuomo to resign over sexual harassment
The nearly five-month investigation found that Cuomo’s administration was a “hostile work environment ... rife with fear”.
Opinion
From cows to schooling: Incentives to get a jab
Shane Wright
Senior economics correspondent
Explore
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Property bydomain
![Houses are earning more than surgeons, psychiatrists and CEOs](http://web.archive.org./web/20210803230825im_/https://res.akamaized.net/domain/image/upload/t_web/c_crop,h_575,w_897,x_127,y_193/c_fill,w_640,h_360/v1619052427/iStock-1126375861_ssfbrx.jpg)
Houses are earning more than surgeons, psychiatrists and CEOs
Home owners are out-earning some of Australia's top professionals, with price growth seeing house values climb by more than $1000 per day in some cities.
![The new obstacle for first-home buyer hopefuls](http://web.archive.org./web/20210803230825im_/https://res.akamaized.net/domain/image/upload/t_web/c_fill,w_1024/c_fill,w_640,h_360/v1627975086/210803_fitzroy_izbdfe.jpg)
The new obstacle for first-home buyer hopefuls
First-time buyers have had a window of opportunity to purchase property over the past year – but new figures show that's under threat.
Life & Culture
From Norman Swan’s health guide to grim fiction: what to read this week
T.C.Boyle elicits both fascination and distress from the reader in his novel about life with a chimpanzee.
Sport
Australia destroy Argentina and basketball medal curse is ripe for the breaking
The Boomers demolished Argentina to move into the semi-finals of the Olympic tournament. If they want a gold medal, they first have to get past Team USA.
Viney banned for two games for elbow into neck of Sun
Melbourne midfielder Jack Viney has been handed a two-match ban for serious misconduct after being found guilty of driving his elbow into the neck and throat of Gold Coast’s Sam Collins.
Australia thrashed by Bangladesh in match not broadcast on TV
Australia had never previously failed to chase a T20I target this paltry, nor been beaten by Bangladesh in four previous meetings.
Updated
Tokyo Olympics
Men’s sevens team accused of bad behaviour on flight home
The AOC says there were athletes from a number of sports on flight but the Rugby Australia and Football Australia have advised that they were taking full responsibility for their players.
Exclusive
Hawthorn
Kennett ‘won’t lose any sleep’ on potential overthrow bid
Amid the fallout of Alastair Clarkson’s imminent departure, a group of powerful Hawthorn supporters have engaged a QC to review the club’s constitution in a potential challenge to president Jeff Kennett
Updated
Tokyo Olympics
Bol to go all out in 800m, McSweyn ‘will have to lift’
Peter Bol will take a no guts, no glory approach to his gold medal moment in the 800m Olympic final on Wednesday night, according to his coach.
Stingers left high and dry as coach given marching orders
Australia lost by just one point to the Russian Olympic Committee, ending their dreams of winning a medal in Tokyo.
Have Your Say
‘So out of my control’: Simone Biles leaves Tokyo with bronze but no answers
Simone Biles says she felt physically ill watching other gymnasts do the one thing that her body simply wouldn’t do.