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Defamation
The moment Brittany Higgins began to break
Bruce Lehrmann’s defamation suit against Network Ten and journalist Lisa Wilkinson for airing claims by Brittany Higgins that he raped her in Parliament House has essentially become a sexual assault trial held to a civil standard of proof.
Graphic content
Parliament House
Higgins fires back after intense questioning over state of undress
Former federal Liberal political staffer Brittany Higgins has branded as “insulting” a suggestion by Bruce Lehrmann’s barrister that she fabricated an allegation of rape.
Analysis
Electricity
The SEC reemerged to lower energy bills, but its first project might not make it a reality
The details of the State Electricity Commission’s first funded battery project this week have sparked new questions about the purpose of the commission and whether it can be a solution to rising energy bills.
Thousands flock to resident-run Christmas street party. A council could shut it down
Thousands of people flock to a Stardust Way in Melbourne’s north for an annual resident-run Christmas extravaganza with Santa, lights and food trucks.
Mallacoota cut off after landslide, Victoria’s east on flood alert
A severe weather warning has been issued for Victoria’s east after 24 hours of heavy rain and strong winds.
Exclusive
Israeli-Palestinian conflict
Video emerges of another STC cast staging statement of support for Gaza
‘We refuse to look away’: Cast members of The Visitors made their statement of support for the Palestinian cause at their curtain calls.
The best Christmas gifts to give in 2023
Our picks of the best Christmas gifts this season for every type of person.
Shane MacGowan, Irish music legend, dies aged 65
Shane MacGowan, the London-Irish punk who transformed Irish traditional music with The Pogues has died aged 65.
The travel lesson we should learn from Denmark
The cosy Danish concept of hygge might make your travels more mindful and less expensive.
The 16-year-old schoolgirl who almost missed her tee time then stunned the Open
Rachel Lee skipped classes to play in the Australian Open this week. And having started her journey in “golf daycare”, she finished the day as the talk of the town.
Updated
Super Netball
Sleeping in cars: The disastrous state of Australia’s most popular female sport
Diamonds defender Jo Weston broke down in tears as players went public with explosive claims against Netball Australia.
Two of Us
Good Weekend
She’s deaf. He couldn’t sign. That didn’t stop them falling in love
Administrator James and model Christine embarked on a long-distance relationship after meeting on social media.
Piers Morgan identifies senior royals named in Dutch version of controversial book
The British broadcaster decided to “end this nonsense” and name the people allegedly outed in a translated version of Endgame. The author himself has blamed it on translation.
Updated
Israeli-Palestinian conflict
Last-minute extension to ceasefire stops fighting for another day
Israel and Hamas agreed on Thursday to extend their truce by at least one more day, minutes before the six-day ceasefire was due to expire.
Opinion
Immigration
If Dutton values democracy, he should lay off the Constitution
Scratch the surface and you’ll find the opposition suggesting voters should punish the government for complying with the High Court’s ruling on immigration detention.
Rosalind Dixon
Professor of law
States to push for voluntary assisted dying exemption
The Federal Court today ruled that voluntary assisted dying is considered suicide under the Commonwealth criminal code.
AFLW GRAND FINAL
AFLW briefing
Players see Garner’s greatness, but umpires don’t; Grand final stays at sold-out Ikon Park
The AFLW’s players and coaches have again recognised Jasmine Garner as the league’s best player, but the umpires don’t hold her in the same regard.
‘She’s above there looking down’: Lion’s vow to mum as star races the clock
A Lions star is in a race to be fit for the club’s grand final clash, as a teammate paid tribute to her mother who never got to see her grace the AFLW stage.
Victoria
Updated
Israeli-Palestinian conflict
‘Beyond contempt’: PM blasts protest at Melbourne hotel
Anthony Albanese condemned a protest that took place at the Melbourne hotel where family members of some of the Israelis who were killed or taken hostage by Hamas were staying while on a visit to Australia.
Updated
Drug reform
Joint agreement: Allan and Pesutto’s cannabis confession
Premier Jacinta Allan has acknowledged she tried cannabis “a long, long time ago”, while Treasurer Tim Pallas and Opposition Leader John Pesutto said they had also tried it.
Athletics Australia says Andrews’ unapologetic manner made Games decision worse
Daniel Andrews’ unapologetic “easy decision” to scrap the 2026 Commonwealth Games made the pain of the devastating decision even worse, AA said.
Exclusive
Victorian Parliament
Premier wants advice about auditor-general after complaints dossier
The Victorian Auditor-General was reappointed despite a dossier of complaints about him going to state MPs. Now the premier wants advice on the matter.
AFL star Marlion Pickett’s alleged co-offender admits role in crime spree
Kurtley Thorne, who was charged with stealing, burglary and property damage alongside the Richmond AFL star, pleaded guilty on Wednesday.
See & Do
A musical score is full of secrets – the conductor’s task is to hear them
From a composer hiding his initials in a symphony, to a message hiding in plain sight, conductor Jaime Martin teases out all the details music has to offer.
Wrenching Canadian comedy keeps a step ahead of our expectations
Emotionally genuine and witty, Sort Of enters the third and final season examining the vicissitudes of family.
Politics
Dutton demands apology for O’Neil’s claims he voted to protect paedophiles
The home affairs minister was obliged to withdraw her comments as the federal government scrambled to secure the Coalition’s vote on preventative detention.
Business
Airfare pressure: Watchdog to consider rise in air traffic control fees
Airservices Australia – the government-owned body that oversees air navigation in Australia – wants to increase its fees for the first time since 2015, which could push up airfares.
World
‘Historic’ decision allows same-sex couple to legally marry in Nepal
The country became the first in South Asia to legalise same-sex marriage, and only the second in the whole of Asia, after Taiwan.
Opinion
The AI wars are heating up. This is why we should be worried
Stephen Bartholomeusz
Senior business columnist
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Property
This housing market risk was decades in the making. It just ignited
Australia’s property market rebounded sharply this year, taking many by surprise, but will it be more expensive to buy in a year’s time?
Suburb by suburb: This is how much Melburnians spend on house deposits
The median home deposit paid has jumped by more than a third over three years, and is sky-high in some sought-after suburbs - as much as $386,000 in Albert Park and $356,000 in Toorak.
Good Food
Lifestyle
Opinion
Sunday Life
There are challenges to being divorced in midlife. Sleeping alone wasn’t one of them
Finally, I could sleep soundly all night, unbothered by heavy breathing, or the quake-like movements of a bedmate rolling over.
Kerri Sackville
Columnist and author
Culture
A musical score is full of secrets – the conductor’s task is to hear them
From a composer hiding his initials in a symphony, to a message hiding in plain sight, conductor Jaime Martin teases out all the details music has to offer.
Traveller
Drivedrive
From Our Partners
Sport
Athletics Australia says Andrews’ unapologetic manner made Games decision worse
Daniel Andrews’ unapologetic “easy decision” to scrap the 2026 Commonwealth Games made the pain of the devastating decision even worse, AA said.
AFLW grand final: Expert tips and predictions
Our experts give their tips and predictions for the big game on Sunday, as the rampaging Roos host the Lions. Plus, check out the teams for the big game.
Updated
Australian cricket
‘I haven’t given up’: Why Maxwell, Inglis have moved up in the Test queue
Glenn Maxwell remains very much in selectors’ Test plans, while wicketkeeper Josh Inglis’ stocks have surged.
Updated
Super Netball
Players forced to sleep in cars as netball’s pay crisis deepens
Australia’s netballers say they have been forced to sleep in their cars and move back home with their families amid the ongoing dispute with Netball Australia that has left them without pay.
Tennis revolution is no simple plan: Why the sport must unite
Respected tennis veteran John Millman believes the sport’s biggest stars could benefit financially from an F1-style revamp, but he fears the gap may widen between the haves and have-nots.
Opinion
Draft
The AFL draft has become farcical and needs major surgery
The mechanism for distributing players is unnecessarily complicated and failing to fulfil its basic mission. It is neither fair nor a system that genuinely equalises as it once did.
Jake Niall
Chief football writer, The Age
The veteran, the gun forward and the MVP: The players who can crack open the AFLW grand final
If the preliminary finals were anything to go by, Sunday’s grand final between North Melbourne and the Brisbane Lions will be epic.
Have Your Say
The veteran, the gun forward and the MVP: The players who can crack open the AFLW grand final
If the preliminary finals were anything to go by, Sunday’s grand final between North Melbourne and the Brisbane Lions will be epic.
