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Our guide to the most important stories, analysis and insights.
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Keep up to date with the best AFL coverage in the country.
Breaking
Federal politics
Man charged over Brittany Higgins rape allegation denies any sexual activity
The lawyer for a 26-year-old man charged over an alleged rape in Parliament House says his client denies any sexual activity took place.
Updated
Police
Police boss faces industrial relations commission over cop mask mandate
In an internal newsletter sent to staff earlier this week, Mr Dawson said he would soon implement a policy that any WA Police member who had not received at least one COVID vaccination would be required to wear a mask at all times while at work.
Disgraced ‘fake medal’ MP Barry Urban finally admits to web of lies
The former Darling Range member is facing a jail term after pleading guilty to a string of fraud-related charges which came to light after he wore a fake medal to an Anzac Day service in 2017.
National cabinet agrees on vaccine targets plan, but has no appetite for mandatory jabs
Prime Minister Scott Morrison says the federal government won’t be creating special laws to tackle the subject.
‘Unexpected finding’: Wastewater testing detects traces of COVID-19 in Broome
The traces could indicate the presence of an active case nearby, an infected person transiting through the area or a historical case.
‘God is in control’: Hillsong comforts the flock after founder charged by police
The board of the megachurch has offered comfort to members and criticised media coverage of Brian Houston’s handling of his late father’s sexual abuse of children.
Analysis
Corruption
The death of accountability, one car park space at a time
The government’s approach to accountability around its car park program would arouse a saint’s wrath.
Nurses’ union says recruitment drive a no-show amid worsening WA hospitals crisis
As conditions in WA’s hospitals continue to deteriorate, a government nurse recruitment drive trumpeted as the solution to the crisis is yet to begin.
Live
Tokyo Olympics
‘It’s hard to put into words’: Special bond drives silver medallists
The Australian beach volleyball stars have been playing together since they were teenagers and that chemistry drove them through a strong field and into Friday’s gold medal match before a straight-sets loss to the USA.
Belarus officials stripped of accreditation, ejected from Olympic Games
Athletics head coach Yuri Moisevich and team official Artur Shumak were removed from the athletes’ village over the case of Krystsina Tsimanouskaya who is now in Poland.
Opinion
Opinion
At end of a Games like no other, is it time to backpedal on the medals?
There are lots of reasons not to get sucked in by the medals table, a gimmick and guilty pleasure too often turned into a boast.
Malcolm Knox
Journalist, author and columnist
Opinion
Census
It’s time we counted: census makes LGBTIQ+ people invisible
The biggest, most important data set available leaves us with an incomplete picture of who we are.
Anna Brown
‘How the hell did this happen?’ TV drama tells the bizarre true story of Dr Death
Joshua Jackson plays Christopher Duntsch in Dr Death, a critically acclaimed new series about one of American medicine’s darkest chapters.
What is it about cycling that has Australians in a spin?
While more people are taking advantage of the quieter streets and freedom of riding their bikes outside, there is a simultaneous boom happening indoors.
Editor's Picks
Opinion
Australia's Pandemic
Pandemic probe: There must be an inquiry into what went wrong
Michelle Grattan
Professorial Fellow, University of Canberra
Just in
Western Australia
‘Blokey banter’ between casino watchdog and Crown compliance team exposed
The emails show the pair teasing each other over getting permission from their partners to go on fishing trips and revealed the nicknames they had for each other from the 1960s TV show Gilligan’s Island.
Woodside ups cost estimate for Scarborough gas field
The update comes amid growing speculation that Woodside is in talks with BHP to buy some or all of the miner’s petroleum assets.
WA outback worker likely died in bushland after vanishing off side of road, coroner finds
Desmond Carr, 32, was last seen on August 2, 1979 on a road around 90 kilometres south of Broome at 3pm working on a road roller. An hour later when his colleagues came to pick him up, he was nowhere to be seen.
Updated
Coronavirus pandemic
‘Unusual’ positive COVID-19 case has WA authorities scratching heads
The man was at Perth Airport at the same time as a traveller who arrived in WA from Queensland before later testing positive. However, he had also previously caught the virus last year.
Man who escaped hotel quarantine using ‘bedsheet rope’ cops big fine
A Perth Magistrate described the escape from a fourth storey room as ‘breathtakingly arrogant’.
Politics
Opinion
Coronavirus pandemic
PM’s sermon to his worried troops from a ‘muddy track’
Scott Morrison has told his MPs they’re in a tough spot, but can still win. Anthony Albanese’s ranks, meanwhile, are not free of worry.
David Crowe
Chief political correspondent
Business
‘Half full’ Phil: RBA governor rebuffs recession fears
Governor Philip Lowe says the economy will shrink in the September quarter due to the latest lockdowns before rebounding in the final three months of the year, making a recession “quite unlikely”.
World
‘Big-hearted decision’: Joe Biden offers ‘safe haven’ to Hong Kong residents in US
China’s Foreign Ministry said Biden’s asylum offer “slandered and smeared Hong Kong’s national security law...and blatantly trampled on international law”.
Opinion
Freedom of speech or promotion of lies? Who gets to decide what’s true?
Margaret Simons
Journalist, author and academic.
Death of accountability, one car park space at a time
Shane Wright
Senior economics correspondent
Pandemic probe: There must be an inquiry into what went wrong
Michelle Grattan
Professorial Fellow, University of Canberra
Explore
Property bydomain
Is now the right time to invest in the booming luxury property market?
Investing in prestige property is a long-term play with an alluring growth rate, but listings are thin on the ground. What to do?
Five lavish homes we'd rather be living in right now
Dreaming of a bigger abode? These are some of the bigger and better homes we wish we were spending our time in (if money wasn't an object).
Life & Culture
That’s hot: Cooking With Paris is the show we need right now
America’s favourite heiress understands us - no one cares about making sourdough from scratch anymore, we just want to eat cereal and zone out.
Sport
After two days, and nine-and-three-quarters events, only one man could get Ash Moloney over the line
Cedric Dubler screamed at Ash Moloney to drive him to the line for Australia’s first decathlon medal ever and Australia’s first athletics medal of the Tokyo Games.
The superstar who stands between the Boomers and Olympic history
Slovenia superstar Luka Doncic has been a standout at the Tokyo Olympics but a wrist injury could hamper him when Slovenia square off with Australia in the bronze medal game.
Bloods brothers: How COVID has strengthened ties that bind Swans
Already tight-knit after the challenges of 2020, this year’s tumult has further strengthened the connection among Swans players, says Callum Mills.
Opinion
AFL 2021
Dealing with racism can’t be left in the too-hard basket
Taylor Walker is facing the consequences of his racial slur but care and energy needs to be directed towards those who are subject to vilification and are courageous enough to confront it.
Peter Ryan
Sports columnist
Three states in the hunt as AFL builds grand final contingency plans
AFL chief Gillon McLachlan has revealed the grand final could be shifted from the MCG as late as days out from the showpiece event should the pandemic force a late change.
Opinion
Tokyo Olympics
At end of a Games like no other, is it time to backpedal on the medals?
There are lots of reasons not to get sucked in by the medals table, a gimmick and guilty pleasure too often turned into a boast. It excludes too many successful achievements.
Malcolm Knox
Journalist, author and columnist
Karate’s fight at the Tokyo Olympics could be its last
Embraced by Tokyo but rejected by Paris 2024, 80 competitors from 35 countries are now attempting to win what could be the sport’s only gold medals.
Have Your Say
Where the All Blacks are strong, and where the Wallabies will target them
The partnership between Richie Mo’unga and David Havili is where the All Blacks’ strength lies, but also where the opportunities present themselves for Australia.
