Opinion
Analysis
PCs & laptops
Predictably, the Windows 11 interface is both better and worse
Windows’ first big overhaul in many years is full of refinements, but it also pushes you towards multitasking modes and Microsoft services you might not like.
- by Tim Biggs
Latest
Opinion
City life
Why deciphering ‘dog’ is much easier than baby talk
While I’m forced to navigate the complex territory of dog/human communication, my new nine-month-old human friend just cruises along, observes Clancy Glover.
- by Richard Glover
Opinion
Climate policy
The ‘net’ in net zero emissions offers a huge temptation to cheat
We won’t get to zero emissions without the ‘net’, but that’s hard and presents us with a great temptation to turn the whole exercise into a rort.
- by Ross Gittins
Opinion
Coronavirus pandemic
Beware the promise of easy answers when it comes to COVID
For epidemiologists advising politicians and debating control measures in the public arena: excess haste, over-simplification and exaggeration will lead us into dangerous waters.
- by Ewan Cameron
Opinion
Harassment
Trolling, abuse, death threats: a COVID scientist’s lot
This week, amid the heat of COVID, my colleagues and I discovered how common it is for us to be harassed and vilified for doing our jobs.
- by Lisa Jackson Pulver
Opinion
Climate policy
Sink or swim: why Barnaby Joyce has to accept net zero
Deputy PM Barnaby Joyce has to keep his Nationals party room happy. But he also has to keep the Coalition in government. Otherwise he’s just a rebel with a lost cause.
- by David Crowe
Opinion
Renewables
Blue or green, our future with hydrogen is bright
The former chief scientist argues we need to cut emissions as quickly as possible - and hydrogen from both sources will deliver the result.
- by Alan Finkel
Opinion
Renewables
Australian business talks big on climate, but who’s walking the talk?
New research attempts to sort the PR spin and “greenwashing” from the businesses that are taking concerted action to drive down emissions.
- by Andrew Charlton
Analysis
Tax reform
From brandy to housing ... tax reform beholden to vested interests
One person’s tax loophole is another’s tax reform. The battle for any substantial change will never be easy in the face of so many vested interests.
- by Shane Wright
Letters
Letters
Shame on politicians who ignore the climate science
Our democracy is broken. A clear majority of Australians want urgent action on climate change, and it appears most of our parliamentarians also support that. Yet Parliament cannot agree on the net-zero-by-2050 target to which much of the world has committed,
Opinion
Work therapy
My colleague avoids work at all costs
Laziness is not the only reason someone might neglect their work.
- by Jonathan Rivett
In the Herald: October 15, 1996
Dinosaur footprints stolen, police may get extra powers, and Paralympic logo launched
- by Lyn Maccallum
Opinion
MyCareer Education
‘It was always clear to me that teaching was what I wanted to do’
Having just secured her first full-time teaching role at a primary school, Amy Robertson offers advice to young Victorians who are thinking about a career in teaching.
- by Amy Robertson
Opinion
Australian cricket
Why the WBBL is better than the BBL
Comparisons really should be made between the WBBL and the BBL: they reveal how the women’s tournament is superior
- by Daniel Brettig
Opinion
Development outrage
Building defects in strata units: unstoppable force meets immovable object
Accountability to owners is sorely missing from the system.
- by Stephen Goddard
Opinion
Climate policy
Jobs, trade to benefit if Australia acts on wealth of clean energy resources
Without collective action we will miss out on a stampede of investment into new technologies.
- by Michele O'Neil and Jennifer Westacott
Opinion
Streaming
The Home Alone reboot has me rooting for the robbers
Why can’t they just leave Home Alone, alone?
- by Thomas Mitchell
Editorial
Paris Agreement
Morrison must not outsource climate policy to the Nationals
The Prime Minister has a duty to take back control of the climate change debate and set out a long-term course.
- The Herald's View
Analysis
Coronavirus pandemic
Pandemic border wars reveal the state of our nationhood
Australians risk jail by crossing a border within their own nation. But this strange federation has seen it all before.
- by Tony Wright
Opinion
Vaccination
Banks play vaccination State of Origin while insurers sit on sidelines
Just how insurance companies will price their premiums to account for the COVID-unvaccinated is a thorny issue, a bit like the decisions being made by companies about whether their staff should be jabbed or not.
- by Elizabeth Knight
Analysis
Mark McGowan
Yuppies, bikies and a billionaire: McGowan takes down trifecta of ‘enemies of the state’ in one day
It was a day that neatly packaged up the winning formula for WA Premier Mark McGowan even after his March election that involves picking an adversary and going for the jugular.
- by Hamish Hastie
Opinion
NRL 2021
Why every Panthers player should read the tributes to Norm Provan
The anger over Penrith players disrespecting the premiership trophy spoke of the lasting admiration for the former St George captain-coach and rugby league Immortal, who has died after a long battle with dementia.
- by Andrew Webster
Analysis
Please Explain podcast
‘Swiss army knife of energy’: the pros and cons of green hydrogen
Today on Please Explain, business reporter Nick Toscano joins Nathanael Cooper to talk through the complexities of green hydrogen.
- by Nathanael Cooper
Opinion
The Everest
Rain dampens Everest extravaganza but scene remains set for great race
The sight of Peter V’landys hanging 10 on a surfboard would have been worth the price of admission. Unfortunately the weather gods had other ideas.
- by Max Presnell
Opinion
Energy prices
Energy crisis puzzle: why fossil fuel prices are surging
The prices of oil, gas and coal have skyrocketed through this year to levels not seen for years. The reasons why are complex.
- by Stephen Bartholomeusz
Opinion
Social media
The moral panic engulfing Instagram
We live in troubling times. But we can’t begin to solve our real problems if we keep getting wrapped up in exaggerated ones.
- by Farhad Manjoo
Analysis
Paris Agreement
Net-zero emissions and Woodside’s Scarborough LNG a mismatch: IEA
Woodside’s $16.4 billion Scarborough LNG may be too expensive for its aim to “prosper in a low-carbon world”, according to International Energy Agency’s analysis.
- by Peter Milne
Editorial
Defence
Dutton’s LGBTQI culture war undermines army morale
The Defence Minister’s ban on rainbow morning teas has reopened old wounds.
- The Herald's View
Opinion
Liberal Party
Speaker who restored respect to the House will leave a gaping hole
When Tony Smith leaves the Speaker’s chair there will be a huge responsibility on future prime ministers to find someone to match him.
- by Niki Savva
Opinion
Aviation
Qantas scrambles to retrain pilots as it plots path out of pandemic
Having come through the aviation industry’s most damaging black swan moment, Qantas is now facing a staffing hangover.
- by Elizabeth Knight
Opinion
Renewables
NSW hydrogen joins unstoppable energy revolution, yet tariffs pose big threat while we lump coal
Despite big advances on green energy, global carbon tariffs will punish Australia if it persists with fossil fuels. Modelling shows NSW would lose about 20,000 jobs and $5 billion in gross state product, and Queensland more than 50,000 jobs and $10 billion.
- by Nicki Hutley
Opinion
Australian cricket
In all earnestness, Langer is a law unto himself and the end is nigh
We know Justin Langer’s a nice bloke. But after agreeing to rein in his intensity and earnestness to his senior players, he seems to have gone in the other direction.
- by Peter FitzSimons
Opinion
High Court of Australia
Academic freedom recognised but sacked scientist fails in bid to be reinstated
The case brought by Peter Ridd was lost on the High Court finding he disrespected colleagues and violated university rules in a dispute over climate change
- by Adrienne Stone
Opinion
Political leadership
Perrottet hears the future coming and jumps on board
The new Premier seizes opportunities and takes the attendant risks, but he cannot easily be pigeon-holed.
- by Alexandra Smith
Opinion
Euthanasia
As a doctor and husband of a woman who chose the timing of her death, I offer some facts on assisted dying
My wife did not have the option of “assisted” dying. She had to make that choice alone. The debate over the law to come before the NSW Parliament should not be confounded by political hyperbole.
- by Gavin Pattullo
Analysis
Tax reform
It’s time to have another conversation about tax reform - or the goose is cooked
Taxes are the price of a civilised society and our tax system is struggling to properly raise the revenue. But there is a way forward.
- by Shane Wright
Letters
Letters
Dying with dignity should be a basic human right
As someone who is facing his own mortality – I have bone cancer – I do not wish to spend my last days “doped to the eyeballs” or being kept alive by a machine.
In the Herald: October 14, 1863
School bazaar, a mighty kangaroo, and Tambaroora District news
- by Lyn Maccallum
Opinion
Real Footy Podcast
The significance of pick 19
On the latest episode of the Real Footy podcast, Michael Gleeson, Jake Niall and Peter Ryan wrap trade period.
Analysis
Trading and drafting
Essendon highlight the Seinfeld trade period, and could have the last laugh
The 2021 trade period was more notable for what didn’t happen: This was the Seinfeld trade period, in that it was truly “a show about nothing”. Essendon was one club that held their draft and salary cap cards for another day.
- by Jake Niall
Editorial
Tax reform
Reform of Australia’s tax system neglected for too long
Whichever party wins the next election needs to use the momentum of victory to make the case for change.
- The Age's View
Analysis
Trading and drafting
Some of the pain, none of the gain: The Hawthorn fire sale that wasn’t
Hawthorn’s trade period was like the empty nesters who put the big old house up for sale, hoping to downsize to something smaller and new, only to watch it get passed in at auction.
- by Michael Gleeson
Analysis
Australian cricket
Chairman’s demise must signal start of renewal for Cricket Australia
The sudden resignation of Cricket Australia chairman Earl Eddings should be the starting point for change.
- by Malcolm Conn and Daniel Brettig
Opinion
Aged care
Sexual violence is a serious offence no matter the victim’s age
The regulator should explicitly require all criminal incidents involving aged care residents to be reported to police immediately.
- by Daisy Smith, Meghan Wright, Amelia Grossi and Joseph Ibrahim
Opinion
Vaccination
Anti-vaxxers hide privilege behind language of oppression
It is difficult to have empathy for those who claim they are now an oppressed class because of their decision to not be vaccinated.
- by Nyadol Nyuon
Analysis
Please Explain podcast
Was JobKeeper money wasted?
Today on Please Explain, economics correspondent Shane Wright joins Jess Irvine to discuss a new analysis of the JobKeeper wage subsidy program.
- by Jessica Irvine
Opinion
China
China’s new corruption investigation could exacerbate property crisis
China has launched an investigation of its key financial institutions and their regulators in the midst of the financial crisis enveloping its property sector.
- by Stephen Bartholomeusz
Opinion
Vaccination
A difficult dismount from his COVID-zero ideal looms for McGowan
McGowan has in mind a soft landing which would see the virus begin to circulate in WA, but without overwhelming rates of hospitalisation or death as the vaccines do their protective work.
- by Gareth Parker