The Booklist
A weekly newsletter for book lovers from books editor Jason Steger.
Explainers
Expert background and analysis on key issues and news events.
The Traveller Quiz
Are you an expert traveller? Test your knowledge with our weekly travel quiz.
‘It’s not straightforward’: Is this WA’s hardest ATAR exam question?
The final exams are known to be challenging, with some questions set to really test how well students understand a concept or topic. But some questions are harder than others.
RATs continue to plague WA’s finances
From the beginning of the pandemic to June 30, 2022 the state purchased 110.7 million RATs – or about 41 tests for every West Australian – for a total of $580 million.
Exclusive
Australian economy
Tough months ahead for households, but reprieve coming in 2024
One of Australia’s top economists says the first half of next year will remain tough.
‘Pretty food’, fire and… offal? The dining trends poised to take WA by storm in 2024
Read on for the predictions for 2024 from WA’s tastemakers, the executive chefs behind some of our most influential restaurant groups.
Opinion
Religious freedom
We’re facing a debate as divisive as the Voice. Can we keep this one civil?
Next year, the Albanese government will have to make good on its election promise to legislate a religious discrimination framework, an issue that pits LGBTQ rights against those of people of faith.
Lisa Visentin
Federal Political Reporter
WA’s two top year 12 students revealed
A future doctor and software engineer were announced as the top two students in Western Australia at the presentation of the Beazley Medal for ATAR and VET courses for 2023 on Wednesday.
Updated
Bushfires
Fire truck rolls as Toodyay residents urged to evacuate
An evacuation centre has been set up in Toodyay and an emergency warning issued as more than 150 firefighters battle an out-of-control blaze threatening rural properties east of Perth.
Watchdog findings fail to dent big banks’ deposit power
The competition watchdog’s inquiry findings will bring some benefits for consumers, but Australia’s banking giants are likely to keep their pricing power.
Renewables cheaper than nuclear, coal now and into the future: CSIRO
The nation’s top science agency concludes that fossil fuels and emerging nuclear technology cannot produce electricity as cheaply as wind and solar farms.
Facebook pleads not guilty in Forrest’s clickbait battle
The mining magnate has accused Meta of being criminally reckless in allowing bogus advertisements for a cryptocurrency investment scheme using his image to appear on its site.
Volcanic eruption larger than expected after weeks of earthquakes
After weeks of anticipation, a volcanic eruption in Iceland’s most populated area sent lava spewing into the night sky and pushed authorities into action.
Christmas comes early: Why a rare India Test tour has Australia’s spinners licking their lips
Alyssa Healy’s team are the first Australian team to tour over Christmas since 1969, and the chance to play red-ball cricket on a spinning Mumbai pitch has Australia’s bowlers feeling festive.
Exclusive
For subscribers
‘Us versus them’: The states winning the battle for the baggy green
Twenty years ago, David Hookes made a famous quip about NSW and brown paper bags. But do the Blues still dominate national selection? We’ve crunched the numbers to find out.
‘There’s a lot of variables’: Unpredictable Sydney to Hobart looms after uncertain forecast
From super maxis to two-man crews, each boat has its difficulties heading into this year’s race.
Sky-high viewing: The films and TV we watched the most on planes in 2023
The Barbie movie can add another feather to its pink cap after claiming the title of this year’s most-watched inflight film.
An Australian fossil rewrites the history of earth’s biggest creatures
The pale-white slab was locked away for a century. New analysis has redefined the history of the ocean and all the creatures that depend on it – including humans.
How to end an argument (even when you really don’t want to)
In a perfect world, nobody would fight at Christmas. But just in case, experts have some advice.
Western Australia
Lancelin residents told to flee to the coast as drone hampers firefighting efforts
Residents have been told homes are now under threat, with the out of control blaze heading north-west towards the town site.
WA taxpayers slugged extra $4 million to discard expired RATs
Taxpayers in Western Australia are being slugged an extra $4 million to get rid of expired rapid antigen tests.
Reynolds’ lawyers ready freezing orders as Higgins, Sharaz move to France
WA Liberal senator Linda Reynolds’ lawyers are set to pursue freezing orders in the defamation suit against her former staffer Brittany Higgins amid reports she and partner David Sharaz had moved to France.
Updated
Bushfires
Fire truck rolls as Toodyay residents urged to evacuate
An evacuation centre has been set up in Toodyay and an emergency warning issued as more than 150 firefighters battle an out-of-control blaze threatening rural properties east of Perth.
The DNA clue allegedly linking former Sword Boy to decade-old Perth home invasion
Edmond “Monty” Margjini, who was involved with Perth’s Sword Boys gang in the 2000s, has been accused of a violent home invasion where a woman was threatened with a machete.
Politics
![“We think it is important that navigation and freedom of movement be allowed [in the Red Sea],” said Anthony Albanese.](http://web.archive.org./web/20231220193053im_/https://static.ffx.io/images/$zoom_0.222%2C$multiply_0.6874%2C$ratio_1.7777777777777777%2C$width_1059%2C$x_659%2C$y_102/t_crop_custom/q_62%2Cf_auto/1ed50171f5859af9ed0f2eed1039be29d58d71c6)
Ticket to ride: PM’s flight bills revealed
The first six months of taxpayer-funded travel under the Albanese government were released after criticism about VIP flights taken by Deputy Prime Minister Richard Marles.
Business
Kathmandu, Rip Curl sales tank amid higher temperatures and lower budgets
KMD Brands’ share price has nosedived after revealing Kathmandu and Rip Curl’s sales have declined.
World
Hamas leader visits Cairo as talks over Gaza ceasefire gather pace
Hamas’ top leader has travelled to Cairo for talks on the war in Gaza, part of a flurry of diplomacy aimed at securing another ceasefire and swap of hostages for Palestinian prisoners.
Opinion
The global economy already had a big problem. It just got much worse
Stephen Bartholomeusz
Senior business columnist
Perth family’s story shows how childcare investment can save the NDIS
Jay Weatherill
Director of development, Minderoo Foundation.
Why the ABC canned The Drum (and Ita saved Q+A)
Jenna Price
Columnist and academic
Explore
Property
Record migrant intake to keep rents high for years to come
Half a million migrants called Australia home in the past 12 months in the biggest one-year jump in the nation’s history.
Exclusive
Big Perth
What’s stopping infill in WA? The hurdles developers face
Perth’s love of suburbia has stood in the way of infill, but changes may be on the horizon.
Good Food
Lifestyle
Not sure what to wear? Imagine having 5000 things to choose from
The fashion collectors in Mark O’Flaherty’s new book don’t mind looking a little obsessive.
Culture
From Beef to Silo, the best new streaming shows we saw this year
This year’s crop of new productions were happy to flip genres and defy expectations.
Traveller
Drivedrive
From Our Partners
Sport
Cummins’ perfect day: Beach, home-cooked meal, a whisky … and a $3.67m deal
For all of Pat Cummins’ achievements, including an eye-catching new IPL deal worth $3.67 million, it’s the rare days at home that he cherishes the most.
$13,184 per delivery: The crazy numbers behind Starc and Cummins’ record IPL deals
Mitchell Starc has stunned the cricket world after being awarded a new Indian Premier League contract worth a record $4.43 million.
The Windies greats about to be passed by Cummins, Starc and Hazlewood
The impending achievements underline how blessed Australia have been to have three fast bowlers tipped to become future hall of famers playing in the same generation.
Why Muslim boxer had to fight harder than most for Olympics spot
Tina Rahimi has made huge sacrifices to both box and adhere to her faith, but it’s paid off with a place on the Australian team heading to Paris 2024.
Meet the first sailor to compete in 50 consecutive Sydney to Hobarts
After 49 Sydney to Hobart yacht races, Lindsay May has seen it all. On Boxing Day, he’ll become the first person to notch the half-century of Sydney to Hobart appearances.
Updated
Australian cricket
Why CA dropped Mitchell Johnson from speaking gigs at Perth Test
There was more fallout during the Perth Test over Mitchell Johnson’s spicy column attacking his former teammate David Warner.
Exclusive
Australian cricket
Revealed: The Test venues that are set to bring in the most – and least – money
Projected figures, shared exclusively with this masthead, are a blow to Perth and a boon for Melbourne and Sydney.
Have Your Say
‘I wanted to hit him’: Ambrose revisits his devastating best … and that Steve Waugh clash
It was Test cricket at its most primal. Curtly’s Ambrose’s fury over some apparent swearing led him to confront Steve Waugh in Trinidad. He had to be pulled away by Richie Richardson.
