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Please Explain podcast
Expert daily insight into the stories that drive the nation.
The Booklist
A weekly newsletter for book lovers from books editor Jason Steger.
Worst year for road deaths in Victoria since 2008 as COVID habits wreak havoc
The greatest loss of life on Victoria’s roads in 15 years has prompted a government commitment to review speed limits on country roads, and calls for stronger police enforcement.
Graphic content
Israeli-Palestinian conflict
How Hamas weaponised sexual violence
A New York Times investigation shows a pattern of extreme brutality against women in the October 7 attacks in Israel.
‘Fuel to the fire’: WorkCover hikes put heat on health service budgets
Victoria’s health services face having to cut staff or services amid a budget squeeze they say has been worsened by the recent surge in workers’ compensation premiums – and the threat of more to come.
Special report
City life
The statistics and scenes that encapsulate the fight for the future of Footscray
While tattooed hipsters sip craft beers and high-rises fill the skyline, retailers say Footscray still has an underbelly of crime and antisocial behaviour.
Campaign to remove Trump from state ballots kicks into gear
Challenges are under way in several US states, based on an obscure clause of a constitutional amendment enacted after the Civil War that disqualifies officials who “engaged in insurrection or rebellion” from holding office.
This man has helped 60 people die. Now he wants the law changed
Victoria’s was the first voluntary assisted dying law in Australia. Six years later, it’s the most restrictive legislation in the world.
Special series
Behind the Headlines
We gave a celeb a ‘halo’ on this magazine cover. Then came a social media pile-on
As journalists, we dish it out and we take it. We can’t – and shouldn’t – complain. But I’d be lying if I said this story didn’t shake me.
Where to go and what to do on New Year’s Eve in Melbourne
Thousands of revellers are expected to head to the CBD to celebrate the end of 2023. Here’s where to go for fireworks, fun and frivolity.
Series
Literature
That special place: Writers on what takes them back to where they love
In this summer series, writers take us on their journeys – from Lake Eildon to London, Mongolia to Prague, and New England to Jerusalem Bay.
Deadly snake holds up play during Thiem’s match in Brisbane
Former US Open champion Dominic Thiem was taking on Australian youngster James McCabe when an eastern brown snake slithered onto the court.
Opinion
Australian cricket
Money is an unstoppable force in cricket, and the game needs to evolve or perish
Producing cricketers takes years of fertiliser and water from mums, dads, coaches, and a myriad of volunteers, so cashed-up privateers should be making a serious contribution to the bottom line.
Geoff Lawson
Cricket columnist
Analysis
For subscribers
Australia’s all-conquering skipper, and the player of her generation: The stars of our top XIs for 2023
The importance of skipper Pat Cummins and Usman Khawaja to Australia’s Test side has been reflected by the pair being the only players to retain their places in our team of the year.
‘Slice of resistance’: Thousands attend Melbourne pro-Palestinian rally
An estimated 6000 people marched through the city for the 12th consecutive Free Palestine rally, vowing to keep coming back until the violence in Gaza ends.
Exclusive
Asylum seekers
Gillian Triggs says no one is copying Australia’s refugee policies
UNHCR’s outgoing Assistant High Commissioner for Protection says the UK’s failure to send asylum seekers offshore has demonstrated to the rest of Europe that hardline methods don’t work.
Special series
City life
As headlights burned Kerryn’s eyes, she thought she was going to die. She wants drivers to slow down
Four months after surviving a major car crash on the Gold Coast, Melbourne woman Kerryn Grafton still has nightmares. Her SUV was crushed like an accordion.
★★★★★
Review
The joy and pain of Spike Milligan, the man who made modern comedy
A new documentary goes through the comedian’s personal archives with a gallery of friends, fans and those whose own careers owe much to Milligan’s influence.
Why Alan Carr and his dad are the ‘Kardashians of Northampton’
Carr’s new sitcom is based on the chat show host’s childhood, growing up with an alpha-male dad who coached the local soccer team.
Why Harry Connick Jnr thinks Australia’s New Year’s Eve is the ‘best celebration’ in the world
The jazz superstar will be performing at the Sydney Opera House before the clock strikes midnight.
Behind the headlines
Special series
I went for a walk in the footsteps of a killer – then cried at my desk
Days after the Bourke Street massacre, my editors gave me a simple, but important assignment. Among the flowers and candles, the story of a tragedy revealed itself in unexpected ways.
Special series
A war raged outside and IS militants lurked in the darkness. Then our fellow Aussies turned on us
Heavy artillery was firing when two nervous American soldiers came to the tent with bad news. It’s a war zone story I’ve always itched to tell, and still infuriates me six years on.
Victoria
Coastal communities salute the sun for their first public transport
Sandy Point and Venus Bay will trial electric minibuses to see if public transport can be brought to small Victorian towns.
Exclusive
Electricity
The renewable investment that shows government abandoned a key SEC promise
In its first investment, the State Electricity Commission has failed to meet a government election promise for majority ownership of renewable energy projects.
Exclusive
Road safety
Victorian mobile speed cameras to be out of action for two full days
The Community and Public Sector Union has expanded its strike action against Serco, which runs the state’s mobile safety cameras, to include stoppages on New Year’s Eve and New Year’s Day.
Special series
City life
Solo mum Sarah waited four years to have a baby. Now she’s raising triplets
As Sarah Wiseman struggled with IVF, she spent her days as a neo-natal nurse caring for other people’s babies. In 2023, she finally got to bring home her own.
Home Affairs flags probe of St Vincent’s cybersecurity after Christmas hack
Patients of St Vincent’s are no closer to understanding whether their sensitive health records are among the stolen information.
See & Do
Murder, mayhem, villainy! 10 best crime reads of 2023
This year was a bumper year for crime fiction, especially books written by Australians.
★★
Could Next Goal Wins be Taika Waititi’s first own goal?
This feel-good sports film shows the Kiwi director may finally have bitten off more than he can chew in Hollywood.
Politics
The political challenges and players who shaped 2023
From the Voice to parliament referendum, stabilising relations with China, war in Gaza, the High Court’s curveball on indefinite detention, and a cost of living crisis, it has been a bumper political year.
Business
How US fast food giants are supersizing investment in China
Bullishness for China as other industries try to de-risk and detangle from Beijing may be a profit-increasing strategy for the fast food industry.
World
Michael Cohen sent fake AI-‘hallucinated’ legal cases to his attorney for use in court
Donald Trump’s ex-lawyer, who was disbarred five years ago, said he found the citations by doing research through Google Bard.
Opinion
Why Australia is less ready to face a more dangerous world in 2024
Mick Ryan
Military leader and strategist
The one thing missing from Dutton’s plan to win back power
Paul Sakkal
Federal politics reporter
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Property
The coastal spots near Melbourne where property is picking up
Holiday home buyers and sea-changers who were priced out during the boom a couple of years ago are taking another look.
The Melbourne suburbs where house prices fell the most this year
From blue chip locales to deep in the mortgage belt, a wide range of suburbs recorded house price declines over the past 12 months.
Good Food
Recipe collection
Recipes
70+ canapes guaranteed to get the party started
Lifestyle
‘What kind of parent does this?’: How (and why) to stop yelling at your kids
Even the most gentle, positive or responsive of parents aren’t immune to yelling at their kids. But it can often make everyone feel worse.
Opinion
New Year
I’m no longer a COVID virgin, but I’m trying to stay positive
Jo Stubbings
Writer and reviewer
![Mackenzie Arnold: “After losing those two games [at the end of the FIFA World Cup], I’ve never seen so much support from a country for its team.”](http://web.archive.org./web/20231230145550im_/https://static.ffx.io/images/$zoom_0.1262314242778427%2C$multiply_0.7063%2C$ratio_1.5%2C$width_756%2C$x_0%2C$y_0/t_crop_custom/q_62%2Cf_auto/5e3aa151aa689aab0e92275046b70cb0e3f131e9)
Culture
Why The Tourist’s Danielle Macdonald believes in trusting your gut
She left Australia at 18 fearing she’d never be cast here. Now, Danielle Macdonald is back with a new season of The Tourist and a project with Nicole Kidman.
Traveller
Drivedrive
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Sport
Analysis
Australian cricket
Australia’s all-conquering skipper, and the player of her generation: The stars of our top XIs for 2023
The importance of skipper Pat Cummins and Usman Khawaja to Australia’s Test side has been reflected by the pair being the only players to retain their places in our team of the year.
Green credentials: Why all-rounder is being seriously considered for open position
There’s a strong push for Cameron Green to open the batting for Australia once David Warner retires after the Sydney Test against Pakistan.
Deadly snake holds up play during Thiem’s match in Brisbane
Former US Open champion Dominic Thiem was taking on Australian youngster James McCabe when an eastern brown snake slithered onto the court.
Is a country with the population of Sydney the world’s top sporting nation?
With champions such as Erling Haaland, Casper Ruud and Ada Hegerberg, Norway is a small but mighty country when it comes to sport.
Pakistan anger over ‘inconsistent’ calls and technology ‘curse’
In a fiery postscript to Australia’s series-sealing 79-run victory at the MCG, Pakistan coach Mohammad Hafeez said the tourists had been the better side and would have won if not for several line-ball calls that had fallen in Australia’s favour.
St Kilda poach talent scout who shaped Bulldogs flag team
Saints have poached Sydney and former Western Bulldogs recruiting manager Simon Dalrymple, the man who helped build the Western Bulldogs’ 2016 premiership list.
Let’s get quizzical: 50 questions on the year in sport
Test your mental muscle or put your mates in the hot seat. It’s time to find out who is the font of knowledge on all things sport in 2023 by taking our 50-question super-quiz.
Have Your Say
Cometh the hour, Cummins the man
Two modernising captains have set the tone for this series, but when the crunch came, it was a good cricketer succumbing to an all-time great.
