Evening edition
The day’s breaking news, entertainment ideas and a long read to enjoy.
Naked City podcast
Journey into the criminal underworld with Australia’s most formidable crime reporter - John Silvester.
Take The Age quiz
Test your knowledge of Melbourne and Victoria with Stephen Brook’s weekly quiz.
Rates, inflation and tax combination hitting economy hard
The Australian economy may have contracted through the final three months of last year as taxes, interest rates and inflation flattened consumers.
More people are in the CBD at night, but many shops remain closed
Melbourne City Council wants more shops to open late every day. One place that does is happy with the move.
Exclusive
Media & marketing
Conflict over the N-word and Gaza surrounds departure of The Monthly’s film critic
High-profile film critic Shane Danielsen has left the news and culture publication after a dispute centring on the use of the N-word in a review.
Opinion
Life in the ’burbs
This is the new ‘Toorak tractor’. But the wealthy don’t use it as a work car
If you can get past the assumptions people make when you say you live here, this really is a wonderful place to be … when you’re not at your beach house.
Henry Kalus
Lawyer and writer
‘I’m a fighter’: Liberal team united ahead of court case, Pesutto says
The Opposition Leader said he had a Liberal party room united behind him, even as one third of his MPs were expected to be called to give evidence in a defamation trial.
Once a soapie heartthrob, Andrew has steered himself into an unexpected career
Andrew Morley has traded cameras and TV sets for an unusual alternative career, joining a booming industry that was given a boost during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Ascent worth it despite jail, Melbourne CBD high-rise free climber says
The Frenchman jailed for scaling a high-rise tower said he didn’t do it for fame and didn’t think he’d be imprisoned over the incident.
Spring blossoms in shoulder season: The best places to visit in April
Flowers are blooming, and the worst of the tourist crowds have yet to build up. Here are our destination picks for spring in the northern hemisphere.
Opinion
Concussion crisis
Sport authorities must ban the victims and the perpetrators of concussion
Will Pucovski must be saved from himself. And St Kilda must stand down Jimmy Webster regardless of the tribunal’s verdict.
Greg Baum
Sports columnist
Walsh out ‘indefinitely’ for Blues with back complaint
Gut-running Carlton midfielder Sam Walsh will miss at least the opening two matches of the Blues’ season because of a nagging back injury.
Opinion
Israeli-Palestinian conflict
I wasn’t going to raise my voice again, but Israel has given me no choice
Right now, Gaza is the centre of the universe and remaining silent is no longer an option. If, indeed, it ever was.
David Leser
Senior freelance writer
Australian movement of Russian coal breaches sanctions, DFAT argues
Australian citizens and businesses that wittingly haul Russian coal to be sold to a third party are breaching the sanctions regime, the Commonwealth argues in court.
Ex-Bank of Beijing boss being investigated for alleged corruption
Yan Bingzhu, former top executive in the state-owned bank , is suspected of “seriously violating discipline and the law”.
‘I didn’t wait for this moment’: Elle Macpherson’s runway return
After more than a decade off the runway, the iconic Australian supermodel will be walking for the Melbourne Fashion Festival.
Analysis
Formula 1
Alleged intimate messages, a pop-star wife and the F1 team boss at centre of soap opera
In one race weekend alone, Red Bull team principal Christian Horner gave Netflix an entire season of material for Formula 1 show Drive to Survive.
Jenna Fryer
Victoria
Residents were promised a park. They’re now getting a busy rubbish tip instead
A community in Melbourne’s south-east that was told for years that the smelly landfill site near their homes would be turned into parkland once it closed is fighting plans for a waste station.
Exclusive
Political leadership
‘Jacinta doesn’t have the same power as Daniel’: Allan faces backlash over controversial policy move
The premier faces a caucus revolt over proposed changes to Victoria’s workers’ compensation scheme, with unions branding draft legislation offensive and pressuring MPs to ditch it.
Drug deals, robberies, smashed windows: The trouble-plagued strip of the CBD that no one can fix
Traders and residents are copping the brunt of antisocial behaviour and filth at the trouble-plagued southern end of Elizabeth Street.
Infants miss out on check-ups as maternal child health services are cut
Parents are purchasing scales to weigh their own babies as councils in Melbourne’s growth corridors restrict access to maternal child health nurses due to a shortage of workers.
After 17 days with no power, Richard was ready to snap. Now, locals live in fear of blackouts
Climate change is threatening to inflict more wild weather – like the damaging storms that hit the state last month – with the potential to hit electricity infrastructure, raising urgent questions.
Politics
Former McKinsey consultant to succeed Scott Morrison in Cook
Simon Kennedy, who was backed by Tony Abbott, beat local mayor Carmelo Pesce by 158 to 90 votes in the final round of voting.
Business
Mining star Fortescue turns biggest loser, thanks to China slump
The iron ore giant’s months-long stock rally appears to be over as investors turn sour on the company’s earnings growth and high exposure to slumping metal prices.
World
Experts say Gaza is close to famine. What does that mean?
As Palestinians struggle to find food, humanitarians and UN officials are warning that famine is imminent in the enclave. What is it exactly?
Opinion
Russia’s economy faces death by a thousand cuts
Roger Bootle
We always knew Jesse Baird would be famous, just not like this
Hugh Riminton
Journalist and author
Morrison might not have held a hose, but Dutton doesn’t hold a policy
Peter Hartcher
Political and international editor
Explore
Got a news tip?
Share information with our journalists securely and confidentially. Learn more
Property
Young family spends $7.5m on century-old Canterbury home in hot auction
Six parties competed for the keys to the six-bedroom home with a swimming pool, attracted by the lack of a heritage overlay and wide frontage.
The Melbourne suburbs where house prices soared over five years
Some suburbs have recorded nearly 40 per cent growth since the end of 2018, and they’re not the usual suspects.
Good Food
Recipe collection
Meal prep
20 healthy weekday lunches to make this month
Lifestyle
Angie McMahon: ‘I was scared to acknowledge that level of queerness for a long time’
“It was hard to bring it out of myself with all of my Catholic upbringing, but it’s been liberating, and my family has been supportive,” says the musician.
Culture
The best new shows to stream in March
Our guide to the best of what’s on the streamers and free-to-air this month.
Traveller
Drivedrive
From Our Partners
Sport
Opinion
Concussion crisis
Sport authorities must ban the victims and the perpetrators of concussion
Will Pucovski must be saved from himself. And St Kilda must stand down Jimmy Webster regardless of the tribunal’s verdict.
Greg Baum
Sports columnist
Updated
AFL 2024
Clarkson apologises for expletive-laden spray as Webster sent to tribunal for Simpkin hit
Alastair Clarkson has been embroiled in a verbal spray, as St Kilda coach Ross Lyon says there is no defence for Saints defender Jimmy Webster’s heavy bump on North Melbourne captain Jy Simpkin in a practice match on Sunday.
Walsh out ‘indefinitely’ for Blues with back complaint; Demon Oliver to play against Sydney
Melbourne midfield star Clayton Oliver will play the opening round against Sydney after a difficult post-season with the club happy with how he’s progressing physically and emotionally.
Sally Fitzgibbons just won an Olympics qualifier. So why hasn’t she qualified?
The Australian veteran has won a record fourth World Surfing Games title. But a convoluted qualifying process means surfers from Germany, Israel and China will take on Teahupo’o instead.
Green quarantine: Why all-rounder will be put on ice until India arrive
Australia’s selectors are set to hold Cameron Green back from a pair of white-ball series at the outset of next summer to give him a Sheffield Shield pathway to the Border-Gavaskar showdown with India.
Former trainer handed ban for ‘dacking’ racing official
The man has been hit with one of the longest bans in modern Australian horse racing for exposing a compliance officer by “dacking” him from behind.
‘Hungrier than ever’: Our experts preview the season
Brownlow and Rising Star predictions, ins and outs for each club, tips for who will rise and slide on the ladder and more – here’s everything you need to know ahead of the 2024 AFL season.
Have Your Say
Player ratings: How Australia’s cricketers performed in first Test
Who starred and who struggled in Australia’s comfortable first Test victory over New Zealand.
