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The Sydney suburbs rejecting public education
Public education in Sydney is bleeding almost 10,000 students a year to private and Catholic high schools.
Exclusive
Crime
Alleged Hells Angels chief fled Sydney for Thailand on private jet, say police
Thai authorities, in other stings, also unearthed tonnes of drugs earmarked for Australia’s shores by major criminal syndicates.
Crowds gather to catch first glimpse of Australia’s Mary, the new Queen of Denmark
Crowds began gathering early on Sunday despite Copenhagen’s fierce cold, as Denmark prepares to welcome King Frederik X and Queen Mary.
Live
Australian Open
Chris O’Connell first Aussie into second round after gritty five set thriller
Follow all the action from Melbourne Park as day one of the 2024 Australian Open gets under way, with reigning singles champions Novak Djokovic and Aryna Sabalenka in action.
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Tennis Australia received a secret $63m bailout - months before a $62m surplus
As the Australian Open emerged from pandemic disruption, the state government extended a financial lifeline well beyond the lockdowns to keep Tennis Australia afloat.
Short shrift: Opener Smith tells West Indies not to waste their energy with bumpers
Steve Smith says he is more than ready to face short-pitched bowling now that he’s an opening batsman.
Mining billionaire Andrew Forrest steps up fight with big oil and gas
Mining billionaire Andrew Forrest has escalated his war against oil and gas producers, and Woodside in particular, taking to a helicopter off the remote WA coast to lambast its $18 billion Scarborough gas export project as a “carbon dioxide bomb”.
More than 900 parliamentary questions on health and aged care left unanswered
Federal Labor has been accused of showing contempt for transparency over a shortfall in answers to questions on notice since late October.
Princess Anne, ‘chicest woman in the world’, inspires Fendi’s latest
Venturini Fendi said she was inspired by Princess Anne, whom she deemed capable of “maintaining her femininity while wearing a uniform” – the epitome of masculinity.
The curious case of a car parked in a tow-away zone for 10 years that became an icon
A blue hatchback has become somewhat of a suburban celebrity for not moving in at least a decade. Tracking down its owner reveals an unlikely tribute.
Opinion
Careers
Ignore influencers, you don’t need more resilience. You need friends. And money
Modern influencers tend to glamourise resilience, but the reality is we need our support networks.
Sarah Green Carmichael
Trump in fast lane to White House as rivals squabble
The Iowa caucuses are the first time the public has their say about party presidential candidates. A big win can build momentum that leads to the presidency.
Girls ‘detained and lashed’ by Taliban amid hijab crackdown
Girls as young as 16 have been seized from markets, private classrooms and the streets of Kabul as well as other provinces, accused of violating strict dress rules.
The hidden millions spent thwarting terror plots
The AFP says “cost is not a factor” as heavily redacted documents obtained under FOI reveal the bill to investigate, arrest and prosecute members of three terror cells.
Good Food guide to eating and drinking in Byron Bay
The most delicious and innovative crop of restaurants outside our capital cities can now be found in Byron Bay. Here’s everywhere you need to know about.
20 games to look forward to in 2024
An A-Z of the biggest new games expected to hit shelves this year, including Hades II, Star Wars Outlaws and Prince of Persia.
Recipe collection
Recipes
30+ ways with frozen puff pastry
There's no need to huff and puff in the kitchen. These recipes make the most of store-bought pastry sheets for both dinner (think pot pies and savoury tarts) and dessert.
AUSTRALIAN OPEN
The grunts that split the tennis world
Tactical weapon to distract your opponent or an involuntary physiological response to exertion? Grunting has been a bug-bear for decades – and it won’t be resolved in the next two weeks.
The green-and-gold brigade: Meet every Aussie in this year’s Open
Twenty-one local hopes, headlined by Alex de Minaur, will contest this year’s Australian Open, after three managed to scrap their way through the qualifying rounds on Friday.
Sydney
Aspen, Whistler ... Penrith? Indoor ski resort gets approval for western Sydney
However, the ambitious plans for an indoor ski resort in Penrith have raised concerns about its environmental impact.
Why is Sydney’s summer so rainy? Our idea of El Nino is challenged by the answer
Here’s why your beach days have been slashed this summer.
An urban forest in Sydney that’s not too beige, not too hectic, not too posh
This unregarded inner west suburb has a rich history and a quirky present.
‘Impossible decisions’ as families prepare for new school year
Some Sydney public schools have asked for more than $180 worth of school supplies for a year 3 student at the start of term.
Updated
Development
Asbestos found outside Rozelle Parklands
It’s the first time the mulch containing asbestos has been detected outside the parklands.
WEEKEND READS
Emotional traditional owners see 150-year-old artefact for the first time
A rarely seen smoked bark etching dating back to the 1800s has been briefly displayed as part of a bid to secure Commonwealth heritage protection for Victoria’s largest inland saltwater lake.
Andrew Forrest is flying the flag for wind farms, but they face stiff headwinds
More than other renewables, wind projects and the transmission lines needed to carry their power impose themselves on the landscape.
Politics
Aggressive measures during COVID ‘saved thousands of lives’
The Burnet Institute says global COVID-19 deaths data underscores Australia’s success in saving lives in the first two years of the pandemic.
Business
Global inflation was about to be tamed. Red Sea attacks change the calculation
Attacks by Houthi rebels in the Red Sea have rattled a major shipping route through the Suez Canal, which has led to soaring shipping costs and a jump in oil prices.
Opinion
Ask an expert
My ageing parents are in a terrible financial state. How do I help them?
Paul Benson
Money contributor
Opinion
Retirement living
Doing these things in 2024 can help you retire comfortably
Bec Wilson
Money contributor
World
Analysis
Taiwan
Lai’s victory in Taiwan is an embarrassment for Beijing
The challenge for Taiwan and for its supporters around the world, including Australia, will be maintaining the status quo.
Opinion
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Property
How home owners turned their pool dreams into reality – on a budget
A backyard with a pool is highly sought after despite the cost of living crunch, so some renovators are finding a way to stay afloat.
Felicia’s rental is a good deal, but she’s about to be priced out of her suburb
Rents in almost every Sydney suburb are higher than a year ago, but could there be a glimmer of hope for tenants?
Good Food
Recipe collection
Recipes
30+ ways with frozen puff pastry
Lifestyle
Opinion
Budgeting
Broken resolutions? Here are five money goals you can actually stick to this year
This year, we’re going to do it – we’ll set some money goals that are not only achievable but will also enable you to have your best year yet.
Victoria Devine
Money columnist
Opinion
Retirement living
Doing these things in 2024 can help you retire comfortably
Bec Wilson
Money contributor
Culture
Succession’s ‘ludicrously capacious bag’ bought for a ludicrously capacious price
The bag that prompted a famous quip in the HBO drama has sold at auction for a staggering $28,000.
Traveller
Drivedrive
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Sport
Smith the opener dares quicks to bounce him with new ball
Steve Smith says the world’s quickest bowlers will have to risk wasting their new ball if they want to pummel him with short-pitched bowling now that he’s an opening batsman.
Analysis
Asian Cup
Arnie must find new answers to old questions after Australia’s ‘substandard’ Asian Cup opener
What Graham Arnold would give to have even one of Aaron Mooy, Tom Rogic, Massimo Luongo or Ajdin Hrustic with him in Qatar. Instead, he has to find other solutions to the Socceroos’ creativity shortage.
How a Lleyton Hewitt lookalike won over the Australian Open crowd
Dane Sweeny is the epitome of the little Aussie battler, and he bears a striking resemblance to Lleyton Hewitt. In his grand slam debut, he showed comparable grit to the Aussie great.
Sinner makes his wicked return to Melbourne Park
Majors are cruel. Like Botic van de Zandschulp’s serve to Australian Open fancy Jannik Sinner in the first set, his campaign was over before it began. The Italian, who Australian hope Alex de Minaur is yet to beat in six attempts, was in ominous touch.
‘On road to recovery’: Smiling Sam Kerr’s positive message from hospital bed
The Matildas star is still in hospital after surgery but is ready for the long comeback from a devastating injury.
Chainsaws, lion’s roars and bagpipe wails: The grunts that split the tennis world
Tactical weapon to distract your opponent or an involuntary physiological response to exertion? Grunting has been a bug-bear for decades – and it won’t be resolved in the next two weeks.
‘Disconnected’ from tennis: Agassi’s advice for ‘authentic’ Kyrgios
Tennis great Andre Agassi is buoyed by Nick Kyrgios’ authenticity, impressed that the injured Australian speaks openly about his personal battles.
Have Your Say
Aussie fans used to idolise West Indies greats. Now we need to Google their players
The shortest path to public notice for the Windies’ young players will be to put up strong resistance against an Australia team very much at the height of its powers.
Geoff Lawson
Cricket columnist
