Morning Edition
Our guide to the most important stories, analysis and insights.
What in the World newsletter
Our foreign correspondents on what’s making headlines around the world.
Evening Edition
Get the day's most important breaking news delivered to your inbox.
Opinion
Coronavirus pandemic
‘Who wants to get sick?’: Why the west will mostly back Mark McGowan
Most West Australians have no first-hand experience of COVID-19, and are not particularly interested in acquainting themselves with it.
Gareth Parker
Columnist
Seven local cases of COVID-19 recorded overnight
All cases are in self-quarantine and contact tracers are working with them to determine potential exposure sites.
‘There are many places available’: Hunt urges parents to check pharmacies, state clinics for vaccination appointments
Patchy availability of vaccines for 5 to 11-year-olds, particularly at GP clinics, has fuelled concerns some students will return to school next week unvaccinated.
Environmental approvals lapse for three out of four grandfathered uranium projects in WA
The WA Labor government brought in a ban on uranium mining when it came to power in 2017 except for four existing projects. Environmental approvals have now lapsed for three as a low commodity price stifles development.
‘Desperately waiting’: The Australians who need Novavax for medical reasons
Australians waiting for the Novavax COVID-19 vaccine for medical reasons have hit back at suggestions they held off due to vaccine hesitancy.
Analysis
Australia votes
The issues hurting the Coalition’s vote in horror polling week
Politics can change quickly in the heat of a campaign and horror polls, like the Coalition has seen this week, need to be handled with care.
Malka Leifer’s father-in-law arrested over child sex assault allegations
Baruch Pinchas Leifer, an influential and highly regarded rabbi, was arrested this week over historical sexual assault allegations.
Australia finds unlikely ally in Djokovic stoush
The lesson from the Djokovic fiasco to all sports governing bodies is that, when it comes to preserving the social licence of your sport, even the biggest name athlete is only as good as their last jab.
US halts dozens of flights by Chinese airlines
Beijing and Washington have sparred over air services since the start of the pandemic.
Ricky Gervais broke his two-season rule for After Life. Was it worth it?
Making After Life, the writer, actor and director was well aware that he’d set himself a challenge with an excruciatingly high degree of difficulty.
Opinion
Australian Open
No one likes a nark, but tennis crowds are starting to cross a line at the Open
Audience participation is a wonderful and vital part of sport, though it would be nice if it came with a bit of tact and class.
Michael Koziol
Journalist
Meat Loaf: ‘It’s about the art. It’s about the passion’
The bat out of hell was not going gently. He would die up there under lights, between a roaring symphonic rock ensemble and a full house, with his boots on and fists raging.
covid in the community
WA Premier indefinitely delays reopening amid Omicron fears
WA Premier Mark McGowan has delayed the state’s reopening over fears lagging booster vaccination rates will cause the Omicron variant to run rampant in the community.
Mystery case among five new local COVID cases detected in WA
One of the new cases has not been linked to any previously known cases and has been infectious in the community.
Western Australia
‘Diabolical’: Sydney family’s shock and rage as WA border slams shut
Unable to hug her mother or her sister through two long years of family illness, grief and separation, Alison Hays had thought the darkness was finally lifting.
Benefits of boosters would start to wane after March: Chief Health Officer
The level of vaccine protection would be at its best at the end of March, according to WA’s medical advice, as the government stays quiet on when borders might open.
Perth’s massage parlour cluster: Public health priority forces police to look the other way
While never publicly mentioned, some of the parlours are listed on escort sites as venues providing sex services, with explicit reviews of services on offer.
Updated
Police
Homemade bomb blows in Perth suburban Zambrero restaurant
The popular chain eatery was full of lunchtime customers, who luckily escaped being hurt when the device exploded, scattering shrapnel and debris for 10 metres.
Updated
AFL 2022
West Coast star’s future up in air after refusing to meet vaccination deadline
Star West Coast forward Jack Darling has been banned from club facilities and his future is up in the air as the Brisbane Lions also placed Cam Ellis-Yolmen on the inactive list after the pair did not meet a vaccination deadline for AFL players in Queensland and Western Australia.
Politics
Analysis
Australia votes
The issues hurting the Coalition’s vote in horror polling week
Politics can change quickly in the heat of a campaign and horror polls, like the Coalition has seen this week, need to be handled with care.
Opinion
Political leadership
Leadership is a sober business, it takes more than a bloke with a beer
Malcolm Knox
Journalist, author and columnist
Business
Crypto meltdown: More than $1 trillion wiped out
For Bitcoin, there’s only been one constant recently: decline after decline after decline. And the superlatives have piled up really quickly.
World
US halts dozens of flights by Chinese airlines
Beijing and Washington have sparred over air services since the start of the pandemic.
Opinion
Leadership is a sober business, it takes more than a bloke with a beer
Malcolm Knox
Journalist, author and columnist
Australia must jump on board the e-bus express
Karl Kruszelnicki and Bridie Schmidt
The summer I ... became a fish
John Silvester
Crime reporter
Explore
Property
Mamma mia! Got a spare $740 million for this Italian masterpiece?
The price of an Italian villa with a Caravaggio masterpiece on the ceiling will be slashed by almost $150 million after it failed to sell at auction.
How much it costs to buy a home in Australia’s top holiday spots
A new ranking of top holiday destinations as voted by travellers features a string of Australian cities. Here’s how much it costs to turn your vacation into a staycation.
Lifestyle
Explainer
Healthcare
CBD oil is having a moment. What’s it for and what’s behind all the hype?
If you believe the hype, CBD oil can fix just about anything. It stimulates the same response as social contact, chocolate and exercise. But what does the science say and is it even legal?
Culture
Analysis
Pop culture
Has our appetite for TV reboots been exhausted?
A string of cancellations and lukewarm relaunches has thrown a wrench into the accepted industry wisdom about trading in nostalgia.
Sport
‘She’s ready to say something big’: Barty primed to end Australian Open drought, says Laver
Tennis great Rod Laver believes that victory for Ashleigh Barty at this year’s Australian Open - a drought-breaking day for the country - would drive the world No.1 “to another level”.
Barty serves up another masterclass
Ash Barty has powered past Italy’s Camila Giorgi on Rod Laver Arena to move into the second week of the Australian Open for the fourth straight year.
Matildas 18 Indonesia 0
Matildas
High five: Unstoppable Kerr breaks record as Matildas run riot
Sam Kerr netted five goals to surge past Tim Cahill’s mark for most international goals as the Matildas produced a record win in Asia.
Analysis
The Ashes
The unusual suspects: How Australia’s support cast secured Ashes glory
If you told England last year that Australia would lose their captain and Josh Hazlewood, Steve Smith and Dave Warner would average mid-30s and the hosts would field three debutants, the Poms would have felt in with a show. They weren’t.
Anisimova stuns Osaka with come-from-behind triumph
Young American Amanda Anisimova has caused a boilover at the Australian Open, removing defending champion Naomi Osaka in a classic three-setter on Friday night.
Djokovic coach says the Serbian star has future in the sport, lashes media
The man who has coached the world No. 1 for all bar one season over the past 15 years has expressed his frustration at the “unjust” decision to deport Djokovic from Australia, accusing media of “manipulating the information”.
No skin-fold tests, the word ‘physique’ to go: swimming report released
Skin-fold tests would go, the term “physique” would be banned and quotas for women coaches would be implemented, in recommendations made by an independent report into Swimming Australia’s treatment of girls and women released on Friday.
Have Your Say
England were woeful, but Pakistan tour will tell us a lot more about Australia
England’s Ashes capitulation was the meekest performance from the oldest enemy in my recollection. So, just how good is Australia’s Test team then?
Geoff Lawson
Cricket columnist