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Obeids to keep tainted $30 million despite jail terms
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Eddie Obeid

Obeids to keep tainted $30 million despite jail terms

The Obeid family will keep $30 million in proceeds of crime despite Eddie Obeid and his son Moses being sentenced to jail terms for their role in a crooked coal deal.

Eddie Obeid bailed over COVID fears minutes after being sentenced to jail

Eddie Obeid bailed over COVID fears minutes after being sentenced to jail

Corrupt ex-ministers Obeid and Macdonald, and Obeid’s son, were found guilty of conspiring over a coal exploration licence which led to a $30 million windfall.

Editorial
Corruption

The trial shows the need for vigilance against corruption

Some politicians have still not got the message about the need for transparency and the risk of abuse of public trust.

Midnight cheers erupt across Melbourne as lockdown finally lifts

Midnight cheers erupt across Melbourne as lockdown finally lifts

Footage taken from balconies around the city captured the moment lockdown lifted and residents cheered and screamed in celebration.

Police probe interstate trail of COVID-positive man

Police probe interstate trail of COVID-positive man

The man is believed to have travelled through interstate COVID-19 hotspots over three weeks as cases peaked before crossing back into the Gold Coast.

Singapore’s recovery stalled by 100k stubborn seniors who won’t get jabs

Despite having some of the toughest anti-vax laws in Asia - and rising COVID deaths - the city-state cannot persuade elderly holdouts who fear side effects.

Police officer who fatally shot Justine Damond gets less than 5 years in jail

Composite of Justine Damond and Mohamed Noor (Photos both AP)

Mohamed Noor, who shot Justine Damond after she called 911 to report a possible rape, was sentenced to the maximum allowed for manslaughter after his murder conviction was overturned.

Nationals list their demands on Morrison to clear way for net zero

Prime Minister Scott Morrison will be asked to commit more funds to regional Australia in a new list of demands from Nationals MPs.

Exclusive
Drugs

‘Just as easy as before COVID’: Cocaine’s popularity spikes

A rising number of young Australians are using cocaine.

Repeated lockdowns and pandemic restrictions failed to dampen drug use this year, with a rising number of young Australians using cocaine.

Only 15 of 447 schools to receive air cons

Only 15 of 447 schools to receive air cons

The units not only cool and heat rooms but also alert teachers when more fresh air is needed - a key factor in reducing COVID risk.

$5.5m grant a ‘priority project’ for Berejiklian, ICAC told

A NSW bureaucrat has told a corruption inquiry that then-premier Gladys Berejiklian appeared to have a personal interest in securing a controversial grant.

F1 boss ready for fight to keep race as Sydney hovers

Sebastian Vettel won the 2018 F1 GP.

Melbourne F1 supremo Andrew Westacott has vowed to vigorously fight off any Sydney push to steal the Grand Prix when the contract expires in 2025.

Opinion
ABC

Fran Kelly, a dear friend to all who’ve listened

Helming the Breakfast program for Radio National, she is the soundtrack of my household in the morning, the voice in my pocket as I wake my girls for school or, in recent times, home school.

Patricia Karvelas

Ruby Rose says bullying and unsafe conditions led to Batwoman exit

Ruby Rose as Batwoman, with Melissa Benoist as Supergirl.

“Stop asking if I will return to that awful show. I wouldn’t return for any amount of money nor if a gun were to my head,” the Aussie star said.

WA Police call on nation to help in search for missing Cleo

WA Police call on nation to help in search for missing Cleo

Lead investigator Superintendent Rod Wilde on Thursday confirmed the investigation was now stretching nationwide.

Court refuses to grant injunction to stop Four Corners episode from going to air

Dr Daniel Lanzer, a dermatologist and cosmetic surgeon, attempted to halt the episode over claims it disclosed confidential information.

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GLASGOW CLIMATE SUMMIT

Trade Minister Dan Tehan has warned of new taxes and finance drying up if Australia doesn’t commit to net zero.
Exclusive

‘Protectionist forces’: Dan Tehan warns Australian farmers face carbon border taxes

Australian farmers and miners face carbon border taxes if the nation doesn’t commit to net zero emissions, with Trade Minister Dan Tehan warning protectionism will hit home.

Once again, Australia is the holdout among developed nations when it comes to commitments on emissions.
Opinion

Australia dead last in the most important race humanity has ever faced

No other developed nation has performed as badly in terms of past emissions or commitments to cut them.

Tim Flannery
Tim Flannery

Chief councillor of the Climate Council

Sydney

A man fell to his death at a Sydney rock climbing gym

Sydney rock climbing gym says autobelay failure caused death

The Sydney Indoor Climbing Gym has confirmed that the failure of a special climbing device, called an autobelay, caused a man to fall to his death.

NSW’s top judge to step down after more than a decade in job

Supreme Court Chief Justice Tom Bathurst in his office.

Chief Justice Tom Bathurst will retire from the job in March after almost 11 years as NSW’s top judge.

MPs from across the political divide call for better sex education

Chloe Korbel, 17, and Lucinda Hoffman, 26, string a line of 6000 ribbons outside NSW Parliament: one representing each young person who submitted a sexual assault testimony to Chanel Contos’ petition

Greens MP Jenny Leong sponsored the petition with support of government MP Felicity Wilson and Labor’s Marjorie O’Neill.

‘False comfort’: Buy-backs call sparks government spat with insurers over Warragamba

Partly submerged homes in western Sydney during the March floods.

The head of Australia’s peak body of insurers has said the public money spent raising the dam wall would be better spent buying back land in western Sydney that never should’ve been developed in the first place.

NSW parents to get $250 vouchers as a homeschooling thank you

NSW Premier Dominic Perrottet addressing the media earlier this morning.

Parents of school-aged children will be given a $250 thank you gift from the NSW government.

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Politics

Business

Qantas expects to be flying at pre-COVID levels domestically by January.

Qantas targets pre-COVID domestic flying by January

Alan Joyce says Qantas will return to pre-COVID levels of domestic flying by January, with the reopening of state borders expected to spark a rapid recovery in travel.

World

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Opinion

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Property bydomain

'Crazy, stupid money' rushes in to Bellevue Hill, prices up 40 per cent

'Crazy, stupid money' rushes in to Bellevue Hill, prices up 40 per cent

A run of high-end house auctions this week saw guides smashed by millions of dollars, with one house fetching double in what its owners paid just two years ago.

The $60,000 safety net for our housing affordability crisis

The $60,000 safety net for our housing affordability crisis

With property prices soaring and rents hardly cheap, there's another option that could work for younger people or seniors depending on their situation.

Lifestyle

Culture

Sport

Wayne Bennett has outlined the kind of players he wants to comprise the Dolphins’ inaugural NRL squad.
Updated
Dolphins

Bennett pledges not to plunder Souths as Dolphins name debate rages

The Dolphins coach said Rabbitohs fans had nothing to fear, while the mayor of Moreton Bay felt the community had been “betrayed” by the lack of a location in the club’s NRL name.

Sebastian Vettel won the 2018 F1 GP.

Melbourne F1 boss ready for fight to keep race as Sydney hovers

Melbourne F1 supremo Andrew Westacott has vowed to vigorously fight off any Sydney push to steal the Grand Prix when the contract expires in 2025.

Ben Simmons will miss Philadelphia’s season opener on Thursday AEDT.
Opinion
NBA

Kobe Bryant’s 2019 advice for Ben Simmons rings true today

The Black Mamba saw things on a basketball court before they happened. He could see into Ben Simmons’ future, too.

Andrew Webster
Andrew Webster

Chief Sports Writer

Andrew Abdo.

NRL won’t follow AFL in mandating vaccination for players, staff: Abdo

Andrew Abdo maintained the league had no plans to enforce mandatory vaccination, but admitted state public health orders or the requirements of airlines may end up forcing the issue.

Nathan Lyon had a torrid time at the hands of Ben Stokes in the 2019 Ashes

‘I’m expecting him to come’: Lyon backs Stokes for late Ashes call-up

Nathan Lyon believes England’s talisman Ben Stokes will be a surprise call-up for the Ashes, after photos emerged of the injured all-rounder back in the nets.

Tom Wright.
Updated
Wallabies

Wright anointed Koroibete successor as Rennie reveals surprise debutant

Cross-code winger Tom Wright has beaten Jordan Petaia to the spot left vacant by Marika Koroibete as the Wallabies prepare to face Japan on Saturday.

David Warner.

Warner’s lean run leaves selectors with test of faith

Marcus Stoinis and Matthew Wade are options at the top of the order if selectors opt to move on David Warner, but it would be a major deviation from a strategy selection chairman Trevor Hohns said was well advanced as far back as June.

Racing

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