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Updated
Australia Day
‘Luckiest guy in this country’: Dylan Alcott is Australian of the Year
Paralympic champion and tennis golden grand slam winner Dylan Alcott is the 2022 Australian of the Year.
From Cowboys to coppers as old stadium prepares for demolition
Townsville’s original field of dreams, which the North Queensland Cowboys called home for their first 24 years, will be demolished to make way for a police precinct.
Updated
CCC
Queensland’s corruption watchdog set for major overhaul, new boss
The state government has to find a new Crime and Corruption Commission chairman after Alan MacSporran’s resignation, while also finalising a landmark reform package.
‘No reprieve’: Exhausted paramedic opens up about burnout on the frontline
A Queensland paramedic says 10-hour shifts are blowing out to 14 – with no meal breaks – as health staff struggle to fill the void left by those in quarantine amid a surge in Omicron patients.
Queenslanders told to get Australia Day dose as vaccinations slow
While boosters are rocketing up, the first and second dose rate has levelled off, just as the peak of the most contagious COVID variant envelops the state’s most populous cities.
Another one bites the dust as Barty cruises into semis
After an early tussle, Ash Barty raced through her Australian Open quarter-final and now has the title firmly in sight.
‘The rowdier, the better’: Kyrgios, Kokkinakis light up the crowd
The atmosphere had to be seen to be believed as the Australian pair beat Michael Venus and Tim Puetz to earn a place in the semi-finals.
Opinion
Australia votes
Young voters are leaning in, but ‘politics as usual’ grosses them out
Efforts by major political parties to engage with young voters range from patronising to plain embarrassing.
Jenna Price
Columnist and academic
Opinion
Wellbeing
Australia has a problem: we’re not turning our wealth into wellbeing
Matt Wade
Senior economics writer
Opinion
Australia Day
Messages over manners: History has shown activists and revolutionaries tend to prioritise
Jacqueline Maley
Columnist and senior journalist
Trump’s COVID antibody treatment shelved after failing to stop Omicron
The antibody treatments that helped treat Trump have been restricted by the Food and Drug Administration after they proved to be useless against Omicron.
Rare powerful owls at risk from long-lasting rat poisons
New research suggests the birds are being exposed to rat poison via the poisoning of prey species such as possums.
Playboy backs bunnies after claims Hefner groomed and abused them
In a 10-part documentary series, former Playboy bunnies and playmates say they were drugged, exploited and raped.
AUSTRALIAN OPEN
Updated
Nadal’s rival slams preferential treatment as Spaniard wins brutal five-setter
After two sets, Rafael Nadal had this match won, his opponent was imploding and he was controlling the court. After four sets, he seemed to be staggering biliously to defeat.
Updated
Activists laud TA decision to reverse ban on ‘Where is Peng Shuai?’ shirts
Spectators will be permitted to wear the T-shirts but banners are still barred due to safety concerns.
Queensland
Man who supplied shotgun during fatal Brisbane filming could have been jailed for 20 years
Coronial findings into the 2017 death of stuntman Johann Ofner, 28, found armourer Warren Ritchie could have faced years in jail had he not succumbed to cancer.
Police search for missing Australian winter Olympian
Brittany George, 24, was last seen in Ascot, in Brisbane’s north, on January 21.
Developers plan to extend Olive Branch to Valley skyline
Fortitude Valley’s inexorable reach skyward might be about to get a little greener.
Updated
Coronavirus pandemic
Queensland falls silent as peak of Omicron sets in
Public transport is empty, businesses are languishing, and events have been cancelled as more COVID patients are ending up in hospitals across the state.
Woman drowns at Sunshine Coast beach
Paramedics were called to Marcus Beach just before 6am on Tuesday.
Politics
Richard Colbeck declined to front Senate hearing, went to the cricket
The Aged Care Services Minister defended his decision to go to the cricket the same day he refused to appear before a hearing on the government’s handling of the Omicron wave.
Business
Miner Gina Rinehart pools support after beneficiaries strike gold
Iron ore magnate Gina Rinehart was among the recipients of Australia Day Honours this year for her service to the mining sector and her philanthropic efforts. But her sports patronage may have been the clincher.
World
WeChat account owner set to cancel PM’s account
Huang Aiping said he didn’t know it was Scott Morrison’s account when he bought it from another Chinese user in October last year.
Opinion
How Putin and Xi are putting Western might to the test
Peter Hartcher
Political and international editor
Scowling at Scott Morrison, Grace Tame squanders her moment
Parnell Palme McGuinness
Columnist and communications adviser
The economic case for a guaranteed Australia Day long weekend
Jessica Irvine
Senior economics writer
Explore
Property
When WA’s hard border comes down, will property prices go up?
Perth’s house prices could see another small boom once borders reopen and people start to return to the property market.
Novak Djokovic is heading home. Question is, which home to choose?
After his sensational deportation from Australia, Novak Djokovic has a string of prestige homes around the world to choose from.
Lifestyle
Opinion
Britney Spears
Britney versus Jamie Lynn: the toxic saga of the Spears sisters
What seemed like liberation for Britney Spears has descended into turmoil once more. Why has her sister apparently turned against her?
Eleanor Margolis
Culture
On BookTok, TikTok’s community of bibliophiles, crying is commonplace
Eloise Hampson’s anguish has been viewed more than a million times.
Sport
Lions unveil next crop of stars as they overcome Blues
Reigning premiers Brisbane showed their depth is more than capable of filling the void at AFLW level after overcoming Carlton on Tuesday night without some of their most experienced players.
I can handle the pressure, says Bulldogs saviour Burton
In his first interview in Bulldogs colours, Matt Burton has revealed he asked Ivan Cleary for a release from Penrith on two occasions.
O’Keefe weighs in to Smith snubbing, ponders retirement ahead of BBL finals match
Steve O’Keefe says Wednesday’s Big Bash match against the Adelaide Strikers at the SCG could be his final outing as a professional cricketer.
Roberts no guarantee to start for Waratahs as Hooper set to miss Super opener
Waratahs coach Darren Coleman says it “remains to be seen” whether former Wales international Jamie Roberts will start in round one.
Brisbane Lion becomes AFL’s second anti-vax player to lose list spot
Brisbane have put a line through Cam Ellis-Yolmen, who opted out of his first jab on Friday, and plan to fill his spot with another player.
Explainer
The Science of Sport
Sweet spot: How can a racquet make or break a player?
How do the stars set up their racquets to enhance their game? And how has the evolution of racquets changed tennis itself?
Head full of steam: Forgotten man back for Australia’s white-ball team
Cricket Australia has made four changes to the Twenty20 squad that won the T20 World Cup in October – and the Ashes player of the series, Travis Head, is among them.
Have Your Say
Have we seen the last of Lewis Hamilton in an F1 car?
Guessing game continues as Briton weighs up options after controversially losing world title.
