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.
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.
Judge refuses to send 17-year-old boy to ‘horrendous’ Perth prison
A 17-year-old Perth boy was released from custody for Christmas despite a serious crime spree, the judge calling the unit he would go to a “barbaric dungeon”.
WA’s top baby names for 2023 revealed
Oliver and Isla have remained the most popular names for the fourth year in a row.
Topless massages to private flights: CEO mishaps around the world in 2023
While some chief executives seemed to relish the spotlight, Elon Musk chief among them, others were inadvertently thrust into social media’s harsh glare.
Special series
City life
Kerryn survived a head-on collision. She wants you to slow down this holidays
Four months after surviving a major car crash, Kerryn Grafton still has nightmares. Her SUV was crushed like an accordion.
Exclusive
Crime
‘My wife has no idea’: Byron celebrant’s secret life as a paedophile
The marriage celebrant groomed a mother to get to her 11-year-old girl, but he was unaware his messages were sent to detectives.
Campaign to remove Trump from 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.
Opinion
World politics
The world seems to be spinning in reverse. Have we reached the end of progress?
It’s been another regressive year for the planet. Pessimism abounds – yet there are occasional shards of light.
Nick Bryant
Journalist and author
The healthy habits these experts are taking into 2024
Each year we ask three high-profile Australians to share a habit they want to cultivate in the coming year and how they plan to do it.
A home that costs two cars: Could retro masterpieces help solve our housing crisis?
Nino Sydney was called ‘the hero of Australian suburbia’ because he designed homes for everyone – and his work could inspire better ways of living today.
Graphic content
Israeli-Palestinian conflict
How Hamas weaponised sexual violence
A New York Times investigation shows a pattern of rape, mutilation and extreme brutality against women in the October 7 attacks in Israel. Warning: Extremely graphic descriptions.
Opinion
Australian cricket
Money is an unstoppable force in cricket, the game needs to evolve or perish
Producing cricketers takes years of fertiliser and water from mums, dads, coaches, ground staff, councils and a myriad of volunteers, so cashed-up privateers should be making a serious contribution to the bottom line.
Geoff Lawson
Cricket columnist
Opinion
The Fitz Files
Matildas, V’landys, Eddie and Barassi: The best and worst of the year in sport
From the Penrith three-peat to the rise of the Matildas and the LIV-PGA Tour greed battle, there’s been plenty to write about in 2023.
Peter FitzSimons
Columnist and author
Tsitsipas adopts eye of the tiger in hunt for Australian Open revenge
Last time Stefanos Tsitsipas was in Australia, he was runner-up to Novak Djokovic at the Australian Open. This time, he wants a grand slam title.
Recipe collection
Party season
Five easy but impressive RecipeTin canapes to make this weekend
These recipes have been carefully chosen to look trickier to make than they actually are. Pair them with my properly spicy marg.
★★★★★
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.
Western Australia
WA’s population grew faster than any other state in 2023
Population growth has rebounded since the COVID-19 pandemic closed the country’s borders for most of 2020 and 2021.
The biggest WA crime stories of 2023
A horrific year of domestic violence and a spate of shootings made headlines in Perth over 2023.
WA school leavers are off to university. So, what do they want to study?
New data has revealed what degrees were the most popular in WA, with some receiving over a thousand applications.
The most expensive WA homes sold in 2023
From the leafy green streets of Perth’s western suburbs to the crystal clear waters of Eagle Bay in the state’s South West, here are the most expensive homes sold in 2023.
Family of volunteer firefighter who died battling Esperance blaze speak out
“We are immensely proud of Harry and all that he achieved and at 20 we thought it was just the beginning.”
Politics
Unionist turned war reporter’s fiction aims to rally support
How can one keep Australians interested in the war in Ukraine? Trained economist and one time Labor candidate Misha Zelinsky has written a novel.
Business
The late-night email to Tim Cook that set the Apple Watch saga in motion
The dispute culminated this month in Apple having to pull its latest watches from the company’s US stores, hobbling a business that generates roughly $US17 billion in annual sales.
World
Graphic content
Israeli-Palestinian conflict
How Hamas weaponised sexual violence
A New York Times investigation shows a pattern of rape, mutilation and extreme brutality against women in the October 7 attacks in Israel. Warning: Extremely graphic descriptions.
Opinion
Cometh the hour, Cummins the man
Greg Baum
Sports columnist
Why Australia is less ready to face a more dangerous world in 2024
Mick Ryan
Military leader and strategist
I’m no longer a COVID virgin, but I’m trying to stay positive
Jo Stubbings
Writer and reviewer
Explore
Property
From sprawling mansions to riverside penthouses: The most expensive WA homes sold in 2023
From the leafy green streets of Perth’s western suburbs to the crystal clear waters of Eagle Bay in the state’s South West, here are the most expensive homes sold in 2023.
The luxurious holiday home rentals that cost up to $150,000 a night
Rich summer visitors to Sydney are paying up to stay in the lap of absolute luxury, but there is better value around.
Good Food
Recipe collection
Best of
21 delicious dishes to take when they say ‘bring a plate’
Lifestyle
Opinion
New Year
I’m no longer a COVID virgin, but I’m trying to stay positive
After four years of dodging the bloody thing, I’ve succumbed. And it’s given me a great excuse to ditch the party hat.
Jo Stubbings
Writer and reviewer
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
From Our Partners
Sport
United Cup 2023 as it happened: Australia down 2-0 after de Minaur and Tomljanovic lose opening matches
World No.12 Alex de Minaur and his off-court partner Katie Boulter are on opposing teams in Perth tonight for the opening tie of Group C.
Analysis
Boxing Day Test
Australia win a scrap – and the world’s best can still improve
The Australians triumphed in a scrap on the fourth evening at the MCG, and have room for improvement next year.
Analysis
Boxing Day Test
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.
Updated
Boxing Day Test
Perfect 10: Proud Cummins joins exclusive 250 club with match-winning haul
Captain Pat Cummins led the way to victory for Australia in a thrilling 79-run win against a spirited Pakistan side in the second Test at the MCG.
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.
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.
Falling off a treadmill, cryotherapy: How AFL stars are getting an edge this off-season
Running so hard and fast that you fall off a treadmill might not sound like the ideal way for someone to spend their holidays. But that’s the lot of Melbourne star Christian Petracca, who is one of a number of players taking special steps to try to get an edge over their opponents for the 2024 season.
Have Your Say
Matildas, V’landys, Eddie and Barassi: The best and worst of the year in sport
From the Penrith three-peat to the rise of the Matildas and the LIV-PGA Tour greed battle, there’s been plenty to write about in 2023.
Peter FitzSimons
Columnist and author
