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How eyes watching WA’s remote north could help find Cleo
As the search for missing four-year-old girl Cleo Smith enters its fifth day, investigators are methodically painting a picture of who was in the area the weekend the young girl was feared to be snatched from her family’s tent while camping north of Carnarvon.
Retired at 32: Planning home truths from one of WA’s youngest-ever councillors
Donna Shaw was elected to the council in 2009 at age 19, making her one of the youngest elected members to ever enter local government in WA. On Saturday, she handed in her name badge after 12 years in the role.
Immigration detainee fell through gaps before death at WA detention centre, inquest hears
Sarwan Al Jhelie’s family, who lives in New South Wales, have pushed for a coronial inquiry into the missteps over his care while held in WA immigration detention in 2018.
Australia passes 70 per cent double-dose vax milestone
Federal Health Minister Greg Hunt has declared that Australia has hit its 70 per cent double vaccination milestone for eligible adults over the age of 16. In total, over 33 million jabs have been administered.
Migration rethink: Hike on cards for post-pandemic recovery
The federal government is considering a rethink of the nation’s migration program to drive economic growth after the pandemic.
Exclusive
Melbourne reopens
Victoria trials home quarantine for vaccinated overseas travellers
Melburnians flying home from London next week will be allowed to bypass hotel quarantine and self-isolate for a week instead in a trial using location-tracking technology.
Green bidding war: BHP outbids ‘Twiggy’ Forrest in Canadian nickel miner battle
Mining giant BHP has raised its offer to buy Canadian nickel miner Noront, trumping Andrew Forrest, as the race for electric battery raw materials intensifies.
Secret Berejiklian-Maguire relationship was ‘quite shocking’, ex-staffer says
“I literally spat my water out,” the ex-political staffer said, upon learning last year about the secret five-year relationship.
Breaking
Crime
Father and son dead in gangland shooting in Sydney’s west
Two men have died after a shooting in Guildford on Wednesday morning seemingly linked to violent tensions between rival gangs.
Opinion
Scott Morrison
Morrison is a man of the people but with no firm policy convictions
Turnbull had his Snowy Hydro 2.0 and Gillard her NDIS while this Prime Minister has an election win and a range of props.
Shaun Carney
Regular columnist
Breaking
Police
Michael Slater arrested after alleged domestic violence incident
The former Australian Test cricketer arrest comes weeks after he was reportedly sacked by Channel Seven as a member of its cricket commentary team.
Can my boss force me to work from the office?
When a boss refuses to let their staff work from home during the pandemic, despite being able to do their duties remotely, there are risks, warns Dr Kirstin Ferguson.
Metal legend thought he’d die at 27. Now 61, he’s battling tooth decay
Ministry frontman Al Jourgensen says he’s still surprised by his own longevity, given everything he’s been through.
Western Australia
Updated
Courts
Geraldton police officer on trial for murder says he feared for his life
The WA Police officer who shot an Aboriginal woman armed with a knife and scissors says he thought she was going to stab him or another officer.
AstraZeneca’s days are done in WA, Dawson says
Vaccine commander Chris Dawson has told a budget estimates inquiry AstraZeneca was barely being administered in Western Australia.
McGowan won’t relax WA borders this year
A Christmas reunion for families with relatives over east has been all but ruled out by WA Premier Mark McGowan, who will only consider reopening when the state hits a vaccination rate of 80 per cent.
‘Someone has to know’: Mum of missing Cleo Smith pleads for information
Carnarvon mum Ellie Smith has opened up on her family’s horrific nightmare waiting for news about her missing four-year-old daughter.
Exclusive
University of Western Australia
UWA leak reveals targets on academics, directions to leverage positions
In a move reminiscent of the Panama Papers drop, about 409 pages of confidential documents produced by UWA’s executive have been publicly disseminated.
Politics
Treasurer flags new migrant program for pandemic recovery
The federal government is considering a rethink of the nation’s migration program to drive economic growth after the pandemic.
Business
Green bidding war: BHP outbids ‘Twiggy’ Forrest in Canadian nickel miner battle
Mining giant BHP has raised its offer to buy Canadian nickel miner Noront, trumping Andrew Forrest, as the race for electric battery raw materials intensifies.
World
‘You’re only as old as you feel’: 95-year-old Queen declines Oldie award
Organisers of the annual tongue-in-cheek awards had approached the monarch to see if she would consider accepting the honour herself.
Opinion
Is media coverage of COVID-19 too negative?
Liam Mannix
National Science Reporter
Dave Chappelle’s comedy controversy is a stoush about power
Julie Szego
Author and freelance journalist
Problems abound, but we could yet emerge as winners
Ross Gittins
Economics Editor
Explore
Property bydomain
Rents in some mining towns surge more than 45 per cent in a year
The buoyant resources sector has even forced up rents in non-mining towns that are flourishing as a result of surging prices.
Horse stables, BMX tracks and tennis courts: What you get for $31m
They're the type of homes that mere mortals can only dream of owning. Check out the properties owned by a lucky few.
Lifestyle
Of course Kourtney Kardashian is on trend with her engagement ring
Oval-cut diamonds, more carats and shorter engagements are on the rise.
Culture
Accio theatre: Harry Potter sets Melbourne reopening date
There’s a light at the end of the tunnel for those who love big shows.
Sport
Shafali’s the man: Teen disguised herself as a boy to start her cricket career
Shafali Verma was 14 when she made the decision to cut her hair and pretend to be a boy. At 17, she’s playing Big Bash and has already starred in a World Cup.
No Australian Open for unvaccinated tennis players, with more than a third not jabbed yet
Nine-time Australian Open champion Novak Djokovic must be double vaccinated if he wants a shot at a 10th title in 2022.
Teammates fume as Ben Simmons is suspended for season-opener
The Philadelphia 76ers suspended the 25-year-old Australian All-Star for conduct detrimental to the team and threw him out of training.
Updated
Concussion crisis
Coroner rejects call for ‘sins of the past’ to be examined in Tuck inquest
Shane Tuck’s widow has threatened to withdraw her participation in a proposed coronial inquest into the circumstances surrounding her husband’s death.
WBBL pair fined for misbehaviour as CA signals stricter stance
Cricket Australia insist there is no crackdown on player misbehaviour, but at the very least there appears to be a more stringent application of the code of conduct.
Cooper warns of rising Japanese power after 2019 World Cup heroics
It’s been two years since Japan beat Scotland and Ireland at their home World Cup, and the star playmaker has warned the Brave Blossoms have only improved in that time.
Updated
Australian Open
‘I will not reveal my status’: doubts grow over Djokovic’s Australian Open plans
The likelihood of nine-time Australian Open champion Novak Djokovic missing January’s tournament has increased after the world No.1 again refused to reveal his vaccination status.
Have Your Say
TV reality: The uneasy relationship between the NRL and Nine as broadcast deal looms
There’s still a long way to go before a deal is struck for free-to-air rights.
Andrew Webster
Chief Sports Writer
