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Primary schools at centre of large COVID clusters
Evie, pictured right, brought the virus home and one by one her family tested positive. But evidence shows vaccination is still curtailing the spread in households.
Updated
Victorian Parliament
Mother demands border lockout apology as Ombudsman finds permit system ‘unjust’
Amanda Garner was so distressed she almost moved across the Victorian border to be with her daughter while she was trapped on the NSW side during COVID-19 lockouts.
Final green light for children’s COVID vaccines due by the end of the week
The government is confident it will have the supplies to start the vaccine rollout to five to 11-year-olds in January and continue through the first school term.
‘Bloodlust’ warning as Labor MPs discuss switch to crossbench
Premier Daniel Andrews is being urged to intervene to protect some of the under-fire MPs aligned with sacked former minister Adem Somyurek.
Exclusive
Crime
Police seize $1.8 million in cash stacked on CBD hotel coffee table
Three men have been jailed after police found 250 kilograms of methamphetamine concealed in a shipment of tyres bound for Australia.
Updated
Big Bash
Fraser-McGurk screamer helps Renegades win thriller against Strikers
An early contender for catch of the season from Jake Fraser-McGurk has helped the Melbourne Renegades overcome a dramatic batting collapse to beat the Adelaide Strikers by two runs.
Exclusive
The Ashes
Steve Smith’s Ashes advice to Australia’s new captain
The former captain has advice for Pat Cummins that comes only from hard personal experience.
More than 200 kung fu films later, Jason Phu had his own movie to make
Inspiration can strike when you least expect it - and for artist Jason Phu, it came in the form of martial arts movies.
For lovers of fresh jazz, Melbourne’s festival overflowed with new sounds
Many album launches made at the Melbourne International Jazz Festival had been postponed multiple times.
50+ easy everyday recipes to help you cruise to Christmas
Not long now ’til Santa’s here. Go easy on yourself for the remainder of 2021 with these easy midweek recipe ideas.
Labor claims it will cut power bills by $378 by 2030. Experts aren’t so sure
Labor says consumers will have lower power bills under its energy policy that ramps up renewable energy, but experts say the modelling is overly optimistic.
Updated
Crime
Career criminal Peter Foster claimed he had a medical condition before fleeing police
Career criminal and fugitive Peter Foster will be extradited to Queensland after police tracked him down in Victoria.
The value of the Austins’ home jumped by $500k - when a white friend posed as the homeowner
Paul and Tenisha Austin suspected the valuer had underestimated their family home. So they made it look like a white family owned it.
Local
‘Get it off’: Teen saved friend from shark attack
Jack Shaw, 15, was bitten on his back by a shark as he tried to free a friend from its jaws during a swim at Ocean Grove on Monday night.
Possible case of Omicron in Melbourne quarantine hotel
Genomic sequencing is underway to determine whether an international traveller who landed in Melbourne last week might be infected with the Omicron strain of COVID-19.
Man found guilty of murdering ex-partner in front of children
Noeline Dalzell was fatally stabbed by her ex-partner James Fairhall as their children tried to protect her.
Exclusive
Factional politics
Crisis talks as factional battle threatens Labor MPs
Ten sitting Victorian Labor MPs could end up being pressured to leave Parliament at the next poll as part of a factional purge, prompting warnings some will quit early and trigger damaging byelections.
Ex-mayor to run as independent in Hunt’s seat of Flinders
Mount Martha resident Despi O’Connor has confirmed she will contest the election after federal Health Minister Greg Hunt announced plans to leave Parliament.
Politics
House values soar by $2 trillion since start of pandemic
The Reserve Bank has left itself room to start normalising the cost of mortgages as record-low interest rates helped drive up the value of the nation’s residential properties.
Business
Troubled exchange MyCryptoWallet bites the dust after barrage of complaints
Troubled cryptocurrency exchange MyCryptoWallet has collapsed after a barrage of complaints from users and allegations of missing funds.
World
Merkel’s successor achieves something she never did: gender parity
Angela Merkel, a conservative, long shunned the word feminist. Until her final years in power, she rarely publicly promoted the issue of advancement for women.
Opinion
Bitcoin ‘flash crash’ shatters the crypto illusion
Stephen Bartholomeusz
Senior business columnist
Response to skills shortages needs to be placed on a war footing
Megan Lilly
Head of education and training for national employer association Ai Group
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Property
Rental prices tipped to rise as vacancies hit multi-year low
Renters across Australia face fewer options in finding their next home, with vacancy rates at a multi-year low and expected to fall further.
Hungry home hunters push prices up in capital cities
Clearance rates were slightly down, but there was some keen bidding at key auctions.
Lifestyle
Is 100 the new 75? The keys to ageing well
Centenarians are the fastest growing age group in many developed countries, including Australia. How can we stretch our health span so that if we do reach 100 we’re in good shape?
Culture
Best in show: the top TV programs of 2021
There was so much great TV in 2021, our panel of critics couldn’t settle on one single winner.
Sport
Exclusive
The Ashes
Smith’s Ashes advice to Australia’s new captain
Steve Smith has advice for Pat Cummins that only comes from hard personal experience.
World No.1 Barty named WTA Player of the Year
Ash Barty takes top women’s gong, while US Open champion Emma Raducanu wins Newcomer of the Year.
Updated
Big Bash
Fraser-McGurk screamer helps Renegades win thriller against Strikers
An early contender for catch of the season from Jake Fraser-McGurk has helped the Melbourne Renegades overcome a dramatic batting collapse to beat the Adelaide Strikers by two runs.
Box seat: Pakula says day-night Ashes Test at MCG too good to pass up
Melbourne’s sporting precinct could become the centre of world sport in January after government declared the case for the fifth Ashes Test to be played at the MCG as “undeniable”.
Everything you need to know about the first Ashes Test
The battle for cricket’s most famous urn is upon us. Here is all the information you’ll need; from teams, times and tips to television details, weather reports and key match-ups.
‘Daunting prospect’: Why Warner’s 2019 nightmare has no bearing on Ashes
Captain Pat Cummins’ assessment of the dynamic opener’s fear factor in the nets highlights England’s difficulty in taming the man known as ‘The Bull’ on Australian soil.
Updated
Australian Open
Aus Open intrigue as Djokovic signs on for Sydney event
World No.1 Novak Djokovic has committed to the ATP Cup in Sydney, which requires players to submit to the same vaccination rules as the Australian Open.
Have Your Say
Anderson out of first Ashes Test, saved for the pink ball
Anderson’s withdrawal from England’s bowling attack for the first Ashes Test at the Gabba caused a hubbub, but the move looks as much tactical as medical.
