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30,000 super accounts were created by bots. The ATO’s hands are tied
The retiring head of the tax office, Chris Jordan, says the organisation needs more powers as criminals attempt to fleece taxpayers and steal their identities.
Ex-premiers ‘dividing the party by helping Pesutto’
Former Victorian treasurer Kim Wells says the three former Liberal premiers who donated to John Pesutto’s legal fund are “taking a side”.
‘Frightening’: Council looks to axe in-home aged care services
Under the move, services such as shopping assistance would be outsourced to a private provider.
Updated
AFL 2024
Police ‘assessing information’ over Smith’s alleged trafficking
Victoria Police is aware of drug trafficking allegations levelled at Joel Smith by Sport Integrity Australia.
Updated
Drugs in sport
Everything you need to know about the drug allegations against Joel Smith
Melbourne’s Joel Smith, already provisionally suspended after failing a drug test last year, has now been accused of trafficking cocaine by Sport Integrity Australia.
YouTube parenting blogger jailed for up to 30 years for child abuse
The American mother-of-six issued a tearful apology to her children, who were not at the hearing, for physically and emotionally abusing them.
US-based ballerina detained in Russia over $US50 to Ukrainian charity
Ksenia Karelina, 33, has been charged with treason after returning to Russia to visit family.
‘New MO?’ Indonesians want Australia to share information on people smugglers
Successful people smuggling runs to Australia’s north-west coast have raised concerns about more advanced boats and techniques.
‘I wouldn’t want to live this again’: Tourists lost for a week after Google Maps mishap
Two German tourists are lucky to be alive after a week-long ordeal lost in remote Queensland wilderness.
Apple says don’t put your wet iPhone in a bag of rice. Do this instead
Apple has taken a stand on the decades-old remedy that covering a wet phone with rice will save it from water damage. It has offered a much simpler solution.
Extreme fire danger for Melbourne, Victoria’s west as more ‘volatile’ weather forecast
Communities ravaged by bushfire last week have been urged to prepare for another day of extreme fire danger and potential storms.
‘Quite frankly, it’s a bit of clickbait’: PM on early election rumours
Anthony Albanese said he believed three-year terms were too short, and that the federal government should follow states in establishing four-year terms.
Opinion
Executive shake-up
Executive hunting season: Qantas, Woolworths and Virgin snared
It seems we have entered the corporate twilight zone when a chief executive says they are “focused on helping our customers spend less each time they shop with us”.
Elizabeth Knight
Business columnist
Can’t sleep on planes? Next time, try using one of these
Few things are more tedious than sitting bolt upright in an airline seat feeling overwhelmingly tired, yet just not being able to sleep.
Snowtown accomplice set for release from prison
Mark Haydon will be released from prison 25 years after the bodies of eight victims were found in acid-filled barrels north of Adelaide.
Editor's Picks
Just in
Victoria
‘Unacceptable’: Minister slams Ausnet over hardship payments
Energy Minister Lily D’Ambrosio has lashed electricity distributor Ausnet over the delay in processing payments to customers affected by lengthy power outages.
Pro-Palestinian protesters target premier’s office with fake corpses
Deputy Premier Ben Carroll, whose office was also targeted, says the claim the Victorian government is linked to Israeli weapons manufacturing is “unfounded and malicious criticism”.
Exclusive
Crime
A rare glimpse into the brutal violence that can plague the prison system
More than 2000 “shivs”, knuckle dusters and bludgeons have been found inside Victoria’s prison network – made with everything from chicken bones to combs.
Cries of ‘shame’ as city council votes against Gaza ceasefire motion
At a fiery meeting on Tuesday night, the City of Melbourne council rejected a motion calling for a ceasefire in Gaza as hundreds of people rallied outside.
Taking control: Scott Morrison’s nemesis goes back to school
Former Liberal MP Julia Banks is making a new start – in some familiar sounding territory.
Politics
Why the navy is buying a ghost fleet of drone boats for ‘three D’ jobs: Dirty, dull or dangerous
The plan for Australia to buy “optionally uncrewed” boats for its navy came as a surprise to many. The purchase has left experts with many questions.
Business
Woolworths boss’ retirement wasn’t expedited, says chair
Woolworths boss Brad Banducci is stepping down after eight years at the helm of Australia’s biggest supermarket chain.
World
US-based ballerina detained in Russia over $US50 to Ukrainian charity
Ksenia Karelina, 33, has been charged with treason after returning to Russia to visit family.
Opinion
The clock is ticking as China spirals
Stephen Bartholomeusz
Senior business columnist
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Property
‘Very broken housing system’: More high-income earners stuck in rent trap
Higher income households that might have been able to buy a home a few decades ago are left renting as property prices soar.
His neighbour demolished her house and tried to sell the land for $40m
But he found an easier way, keeping his stylish home intact and doubling his money in the process.
Good Food
Lifestyle
Fashion designer Lee Mathews on her style rules: ‘Nothing skin-tight’
“I wear shirts with pants or skirts and shirt-dresses. Sometimes I’ll wear a big sleeve or something unexpected for fun.”
Culture
‘I had teachers telling me to go back to where I came from’: Bringing the Hate Race to the stage
Zahra Newman wowed audiences as Billie Holiday, now she’s taking on the stage adaptation of Maxine Beneba Clarke’s best-selling memoir. After that, she’ll play Dracula.
Traveller
Drivedrive
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Sport
Updated
AFL 2024
Police ‘assessing information’ over Smith’s alleged trafficking
Victoria Police is aware of drug trafficking allegations levelled at Joel Smith by Sport Integrity Australia and is “assessing information” provided by the integrity body.
Analysis
AFL off-field behaviour
Who did Joel Smith text? The major risk factor for the Demons
Melbourne is flying blind without any knowledge of what Joel Smith did or did not say to his teammates in his text messages, and no control of an external investigation.
Updated
AFL 2024
Everything you need to know about the drug allegations against Joel Smith
Melbourne’s Joel Smith, already provisionally suspended after failing a drug test last year, has now been accused of trafficking cocaine by Sport Integrity Australia.
Live
Twenty20
First T20 LIVE: Crucial wicket slows Black Caps blistering start
The Kiwi capital plays host to the first match of a trans-Tasman swing consisting of three T20s and two Tests. Join us for all the live action.
Match simulation
AFL 2024
North-ball and Nick Larkey prove too much for undermanned Magpies
Goal-kicking ace Nick Larkey was in hot form for the Kangaroos, who will be encouraged by their win over the reigning premier, even if it was a match simulation contest and the Magpies were under-strength.
Match simulation
AFL 2024
Ballooning injury list: Star Blues in doubt for start of season
Carlton’s injury woes extend beyond Sam Walsh, in a worrying development for the club a fortnight from the start of the season.
Exclusive
Australian rugby
Rugby Victoria now facing questions over missing financial documents
Rugby Victoria has filed one annual report to the consumer regulator since taking control of the Melbourne Rebels in 2017. The governing body’s president could not explain the apparent administrative failure.
Have Your Say
Overpaid and uncompetitive? Pippen takes aim at players after NBA All-Stars score-fest
The NBA All-Star game is supposed to showcase basketball’s brightest talents, but Chicago Bulls great Scottie Pippen says high scoring does not equal entertaining and the lack of competitive spirit is bad for the sport.
