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Opinion

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I have a complicated relationship with International Women’s Day.

You can stick your cupcake: Backlash to International Women’s Day is here

International Women’s Day has become an exercise in corporate tokenism - with pink cupcakes - while leaving the gender pay gap untouched.

  • by Jacqueline Maley

Latest

Inflation dragon.

RBA almost has inflation dragon by the tail - but at what cost?

After a record 10 consecutive interest rate rises, the RBA is closer to bringing inflation to heel. But the economic damage is now climbing.

  • by Shane Wright
Service NSW sent the address of a woman’s safe house to her abuser.

I’m still haunted by the abused mum who thought she had no way out

While shelters provide crisis accommodation for victims of domestic violence, women continue to be denied sanctuary because of a lack of resources. We must do better.

  • by Tricia Hitchen
Chinese soldiers mark the 70th anniversary of the founding of the People’s Republic of China in Beijing in 2019.

It’s simple: If China attacks no amount of spending will save us

Shouldn’t we concentrate our thinking on how to avoid war? Let’s turn down the outrage and negotiate.

Atlassian co-founder Mike Cannon-Brookes wanted the company to be transparent about the job cuts.
Opinion
Jobs

The 15 minutes that had Atlassian workers sweating on their future

Less than six months ago, Atlassian was in a recruiting drive that included a promotional camper van. Now it has joined the conga line of tech firms cutting staff.

  • by Elizabeth Knight
CEO David Koczkar says that rising interest rates and cost of living concerns are not a big issue with Medibank customers.

After a disastrous hack, will customers forgive Medibank?

Medibank was savaged after a hacking incident exposed its entire customer base last year. Is the stock ready to leave the sick list?

  • by Colin Kruger
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The town of Bakhmut has been under siege for more than seven months.

The Battle of Bakhmut has come at immense cost to both sides

Should Ukraine withdraw from Bakhmut, Putin will laud this as a Russian victory. But the reality is that his battered troops have captured only rubble.

  • by Mick Ryan
Elon Musk has bemoaned the quality of Twitter’s engineering and has fired more than half of the company’s staff since taking over the social network last year.

Elon Musk’s Twitter is on the road to nowhere

Elon Musk might have saved Twitter from a bankruptcy by slashing almost three-quarters of its workforce but, without some dramatic changes, that might turn out to be temporary.

  • by Stephen Bartholomeusz
Eddie Jones is the sole member of the Australian coaching staff.
Opinion
Wallabies

Eddie Jones everywhere all at once: How Wallabies coach became a media master

There has never been a Wallabies coach more media savvy than Eddie Jones, which is why the “leak” of his team notes seems suspicious.

  • by Wayne Smith
Dyson drawing re Interest Rates, Housing, Age Opinion 10 February 2023

Buying my first home was thrilling. But my interest rate reality is setting in

Two years on from buying my first home, I’m still happy with my decision. But I wonder when reading back on this in 10 years whether I’ll feel the same.

  • by Caterina Hrysomallis
Annastacia Palaszczuk, Cathy Freeman, Gai Waterhouse and Steph Gilmore.

The Most Influential Women in Australian Sport: 20 to 11

As International Women’s Day approaches, The Sydney Morning Herald, The Age, and Wide World of Sports have teamed up to choose the top 50 most influential women in Australian sport. Here are numbers 20-11.

  • by Chloe Saltau
Elon Musk.

Chinese Tesla rivals are forcing Elon Musk to be boring

As market leader in electric vehicles, Tesla must also prove it can do cheap mass production of reliable cars to see off new threat.

  • by Andrew Orlowski
Chinese soldiers mark the 70th anniversary of the founding of the People’s Republic of China in Beijing in 2019.
Editorial
Red Alert

Are we prepared for war? The public has a right to know

The possibility of imminent war is a new thing for Australia, but we’ve been warned by an expert panel we must be ready to fight within three years.

  • The Herald's View

The one thing we could do on International Women’s Day to advance gender pay equity

Knowledge is power, and until women realise they are underpaid, there is little they can do about it.

  • by Jessica Irvine
Netanyahu

‘Changed’ Netanyahu’s power grab has Israel at breaking point

Huge sectors of Israeli society are “in rebellion” as the right-wing coalition government of Benjamin Netanyahu sparks fear of a “constitutional coup”.

  • by Peter Hartcher
In the Herald

In the Herald: March 7, 1952

Danger of severe gas rationing, Churchill says war is not imminent and Truman asks for $7,900 million.

  • by Jacqui Martinez
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Column 8 granny dinkus
Opinion
Column 8

Nicki plays Dylan

Or was it just a Minaj?

Statements by RBA governor Philip Lowe after every bank board meeting shows how its thinking about inflation and interest rates has changed since April last year.

RBA’s message changing as rate rises keep coming

Reserve Bank governor Philip Lowe’s statements after every board meeting reveal how the central bank’s battle against inflation has altered.

  • by Shane Wright
A family sit down to a meal in the 1950s.   Photo © by Austral.

Timid, selfish, and mean-spirited: are Australians stuck in the past?

The future will continue to look more like the past if governments don’t make unpopular decisions.

Pat Cummins with Steve Smith.
Analysis
Test cricket

Smith to lead in Ahmedabad but Cummins chemistry key to defining year

Steve Smith’s proactive tactical influence on Pat Cummins may be the key to a year of defining achievements for Australia.

  • by Daniel Brettig
Collingwood pair Jordan De Goey and Jeremy Howe.

The most inscrutable team of season 2023

The Real Footy podcast is back. Michael Gleeson, Jake Niall and Caroline Wilson discuss whether the Pies will slide or rise, issues with Brisbane’s defence, the “political” Bombers, off-field happenings at AFL HQ and much more.

Reserve Bank governor Philip Lowe is under pressure for clearer signals on monetary policy.

In the danger zone: RBA’s rate rises tip more borrowers to the edge

The central bank reckons higher rates are the medicine Australians need to endure to combat systemic inflation, which it says is an economic disease.

  • by Elizabeth Knight
Nits
Opinion
Parenting

Why nitpicking is not such a lousy idea ... for me

Head lice are perennial pests for parents, but my regular bouts with the cumbersome critters have given me moments of rare calm.

  • by Antoinette Lattouf
Brandon Smith after the Roosters’ loss.
Opinion
NRL 2023

All gear, no idea: Roosters have best toys but do they know how to play with them?

There’s no need for panic just yet in Rooster Land, following their first-round loss to the Dolphins ... or is there?

  • by Andrew Webster
Does a hawkish turn by the RBA this week put more pressure on house prices? Not everyone thinks so.

One significant voice is absent from Sydney housing debate

How can Sydney’s planning system better represent the community it’s planning for? Making sure future residents are part of the conversation would be a start.

  • by Samuel Austin
China has set a very conservative economic target this year.

China just shook up its crystal ball in a very curious way

China is normally quite optimistic about its economy. Not this year.

  • by Stephen Bartholomeusz
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Chinese President Xi Jinping at the National People’s Congress on Sunday.
Analysis
Inside China

How Xi Jinping has tightened his grip on China at key meeting

In his last year in office, Li Keqiang attempted to cast himself as the counterbalance to Xi Jinping’s ideological crusade. By Sunday, it was clear he had failed.

  • by Eryk Bagshaw
Can you learn to love a morning run?
Opinion
Musings

After years of running from running, here I am: a runner

It sickens me to say this, but I made a healthy change and my life improved for the better.

  • by James Colley
The overwhelming majority of non-government schools are faith-based.

The ‘extraordinary wealth’ of private schools: Educational chasm will come back to bite our kids

The future does not look good if young people are allowed to experience such different experiences during their school years.

Joe Biden and Mark Zuckerberg’s avatar. Uncle Sam is coming to Silicon Valley.

Under Joe Biden, Uncle Sam is disrupting Silicon Valley

Economic growth this decade could be driven less by Silicon Valley values and more by the values of the Biden administration.

  • by Conor Sen
Donnell Wallam, Anna Meares, Ashleigh Gardner and Emma McKeon.

The Most Influential Women in Australian Sport: 30 to 21

As International Women’s Day approaches, The Sydney Morning Herald, The Age, and Wide World of Sports have teamed up to choose the top 50 most influential women in Australian sport. Here are numbers 30-21.

  • by Chloe Saltau
Voters cast their vote
Opinion
NSW Votes

According to my straw poll, no Boomer vote should be taken for granted

Voters, we are told, trend more conservative and right-wing as they age. My lower north shore cohort turns that assumption on its head.

  • by Megan Stoyles
Composite for AFL season preview
Analysis
AFL 2023

Open season: Why half the AFL clubs can win the flag

Probably for the first time, half of the AFL clubs can legitimately aspire to winning the premiership. Here’s a rundown on the teams that might contend and why.

  • by Jake Niall
Fortescue Metals Group founder and executive chairman Andrew Forrest.

Billionaires, trucks and newspapers: Behind the Twiggy, Stokes stoush

Billionaire Andrew Forrest believes The West Australian’s coverage of his business, Fortescue Metals Group, is biased and inflammatory. Is there any merit to it?

  • by Zoe Samios
Governor of the Reserve Bank Phillip Lowe.

Why the RBA inquiry should propose something much better

The inquiry into the Reserve Bank – due to report this month – should answer one key question.

  • by Ross Gittins
Ardie Savea.
Tight Five
Super Rugby

Why the Waratahs will keep a close eye on Savea’s fate after throat-slit gesture

The Hurricanes captain could be ruled out for up to four weeks after crossing the line in round two. The Waratahs face the New Zealand outfit in round four.

  • by Paul Cully
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Veronica Nelson died in custody at the Dame Phyllis Frost Centre in January 2020.

Cover-ups and justice failures in Veronica Nelson’s death

The cover-ups began immediately following Veronica Nelson’s death and continued for years after, even while the coronial inquest into her passing was under way.

  • by Ali Besiroglu and Crystal McKinnon
Treasurer Jim Chalmers and Prime Minister Anthony Albanese announced the changes on Tuesday.

Australia seems incapable of change, but one thing gives me hope

Australia has created a small-target strategy for itself: one in which any serious reform is undermined, political debate is infantilised and the trivial is catastrophised.

  • by Sean Kelly
Key seats in the NSW state election.
Analysis
NSW Votes

The seats that will decide the outcome of this election

There are some seats on wafer-thin margins, must-win or must-keep electorates for both sides, and some that should be blue ribbon but could be lost to independents.

  • by Alexandra Smith, Lucy Cormack and Tom Rabe
Indonesian presidential candidate Anies Baswedan is in Australia for high-profile meetings.

The haunted man tipped to lead Indonesia will need verification

The former governor of Jakarta wants to be rid of the ghosts of his 2017 when he played the religious card.

  • by Peter Hartcher
In the Herald

In the Herald: March 6, 1983

Labor Party victory, Vegemite rations and Sir John goes punk.

  • by Stephanie Bull
Column 8 granny dinkus
Opinion
Column 8

A modern version of paint by numbers

Friend or food?

Senator Pat Dodson, the Albanese’s government envoy on reconciliation, has called for immediate action to prevent Indigenous deaths in custody.

Act now on enduring disgrace of Indigenous deaths in custody

Indigenous Australians have continued to die in custody at an appallingly disproportionate rate.

  • The Herald's View
The Dolphins celebrate a try in their win over the Roosters on Sunday.
Analysis
NRL 2023

‘They said we wouldn’t win a game’: Bennett does it again as Dolphins stun Roosters

Some believed Bennett’s appointment as the inaugural coach of the Dolphins was a PR stunt aimed at increasing interest in the NRL’s newest team. How wrong they were.

  • by Michael Chammas
There have been calls for Adelaide Writers’ Week  director Louise Adler to be removed.

Why freedom of speech is no longer a progressive cause

Freedom of speech used to be an article of faith for progressives, but no longer. Anything that offends those on the left is now glibly labelled ‘hate speech’.

  • by George Brandis
Tom Mitchell in action for the Pies.
Analysis
AFL 2023

Key takeouts from the AFL’s practice matches

There was plenty to learn from the AFL’s sole round of pre-season matches, from the missing ingredient in the Magpies’ midfield to the young gun starring for the Eagles. Here’s what you need to know.

  • by Damien Ractliffe, Marnie Vinall, Marc McGowan, Roy Ward and Ronny Lerner
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Republican presidential candidate Nikki Haley.

The serene hypocrisy of Nikki Haley

Republican presidential hopeful Nikki Haley wants to capture the base that yearns for Trumpism – and to occupy the moral high ground of the post-Trump era.

  • by Pamela Paul
Jessica Fox, Megan Davis, Madison de Rozario and Ash Brazill

The Most Influential Women in Australian Sport: 40 to 31

As International Women’s Day approaches, The Sydney Morning Herald, The Age, and Wide World of Sports have teamed up to choose the top 50 most influential women in Australian sport. Here are numbers 40-31.

  • by Chloe Saltau
Arthur Beetson.
Opinion
NRL 2023

Roosters lay beloved Beetson’s ashes to rest under sacred turf

On a cold and rainy night last year and with the blessing of Arthur Beetson’s family, the club buried some of the iconic forward’s ashes close to the middle of Allianz Stadium.

  • by Danny Weidler
Far from being a loss for men, an equal society is a gain for everyone.

We are among the best-educated in the world. Why are workplaces failing us?

Australia has fallen from 13th to 70th for women’s workplace participation and achievement. Surely such a criminal waste of talent ought to be cause for radical action.

  • by Jane Caro