Opinion
Opinion
Crown royal commission
I let Crown keep its casino license. Let me explain why
Crown breached its legal, social and moral obligations, resulting in illegal activities, tax avoidance, money laundering, criminal associations and significant harm to vulnerable community members. But it deserves to keep its licence.
- by Fran Thorn
Latest
Analysis
Israeli-Palestinian conflict
UN vote shows Biden has finally had enough of Netanyahu
Even fierce Israel defender Donald Trump is fed up with the conflict: “You have to finish up your war ... you’re losing a lot of support.”
- by Matthew Knott
Analysis
Budgeting
Snowball or avalanche? How to pay back those stubborn debts
Changing your habits if you’re a regular borrower can be hard, but there are methods you can use to help slash your debt.
- by Nina Hendy
Analysis
Ethical investing
More want to invest ethically, but one thing’s holding them back
Many investors say they lack confidence in being able to select truly ethical investments, amid a crackdown on greenwashing.
- by John Collett
Opinion
Russia-Ukraine war
‘Banditry and theft’: The delicate plan to unlock a $350 billion Russian safe
After intense debate, the West has taken a big step towards a move that will upset Vladimir Putin and the Kremlin.
- by Stephen Bartholomeusz
Opinion
Property prices
Smiling but lying – if real estate agents won’t tell the truth, I will
The only thing that’s real about the real estate industry is the apparent dishonesty.
- by Jenna Price
Opinion
Inside China
China’s economy is in a terrible funk – just how Xi Jinping likes it
Xi is preparing China for war, and for that, he wants to make sure all parts of the economy are geared to respond to centralised control.
- by Peter Hartcher
Letters
Letters
Kate conspiracies shine light on chit-chat dangers
Readers react to the many mea culpas that have followed Princess Catherine’s cancer announcement.
Opinion
Vale
Ian Heads, the ‘gentleman journalist’ of rugby league, dies aged 81
Described by ARLC chair Peter V’landys as ‘quite simply a doyen of rugby league journalism’, the former Sun-Herald columnist and author had been battling a long illness.
- by Andrew Webster
Opinion
Live music
The father of karaoke has died. Can his invention please die with him?
Shigeichi Negishi’s creation apparently started as a joke. It should have stayed that way.
- by Gary Nunn
Opinion
Life in the ’burbs
Like the legendary soapie filmed there, my suburb is going through a revival
After leaving Nunawading in the 1980s, the quest for a refrigerator recently drew me back to my childhood suburb. Somehow, the neighbourhood survived without us.
- by Daphne Briggs
Opinion
Political leadership
Is a reshuffle still an opportunity to shred sensitive documents? No, minister
A key Federal Court ruling is going to make it harder for public servants and their political masters to hide behind nonsensical rules which keep documents secret.
- by Anne Twomey
Opinion
Casinos
Casino regulator turns predator with The Star on its menu
The once sleepy NSW casino regulator has transformed itself into a compliance head kicker, with its target, the financially battered Star, once again thrown into chaos.
- by Elizabeth Knight
The five Magpies who need to lift: McRae seeks energy and hunger
As Collingwood coach Craig McRae looks for a spark for his winless team, his former coach Leigh Matthews says the reigning premiers are lacking energy, and the stats show five of their key midfielders are not performing at last year’s standards.
- by Jon Pierik
Opinion
CCP influence
Yes, there are Chinese police in Fiji. But that’s none of our business
Australia has no right to dictate to Fiji who its police force works with, particularly when we already work with Chinese police on transnational crime.
- by Graeme Smith
Opinion
NRL 2024
Is it too early in the season to be bagging the Bunker? Even when it’s right?
The Bunker made the right call in pulling up Manly centre Tolutau Koula’s try against Parramatta on Sunday.
- by Andrew Webster
Opinion
Wall Street
Donald Trump has $4.6 billion worth of shares that he can’t sell
Trump’s media merger finally got the green light, seemingly solving his financial woes. But it’s not as simple as that.
- by Stephen Bartholomeusz
Analysis
AFL 2024
Sydney’s AFL teams are both 3-0. Now they’re disappearing for a month
The prospect of an all-Sydney grand final or, at the very least, a first non-Victorian premiership winner in six years, is becoming increasingly real.
- by Vince Rugari
Opinion
Islamic State
Thought Islamic State had been destroyed? Think again
Islamic State blazed its way back into world attention over the weekend after claiming responsibility for the horrific attack on a concert hall in Moscow.
- by Rodger Shanahan
Analysis
AFL 2024
Saints’ win highlights bizarre call, Mitchell’s misstep: Key takeouts from round two
The AFL’s second round is in the books and, as usual, there is plenty to talk about after a weekend of upsets, controversy and magnificent solo performances.
- by Marc McGowan
Analysis
Royal family
Harry’s hopes of reconciliation with William and Kate ‘likely to be thwarted’
Sources close to the Waleses suggest that, with everything else the family is coping with, the “Harry problem” is the very last thing on their minds.
- by Victoria Ward
Analysis
Super Rugby
Kiwi sides are unusually weak. The Waratahs are blowing their chance
Perhaps the Waratahs haven’t had the results their Super Rugby performances deserved. But with New Zealand teams in a post-World Cup transition, Darren Coleman’s men are missing a great opportunity.
- by Paul Cully
Opinion
Housing crisis
Unstoppable electoral waves are approaching, but who will be washed away?
The politics of inequality are shifting rapidly, and the major parties are desperate not to get caught on the wrong side of the debate.
- by Sean Kelly
Opinion
HECS
HELP: Why the HECS debt system needs a rethink
The HELP system has assisted millions of Australians with their university degrees, but the income-contingent loan needs an overhaul.
- by Rachel Clun
Analysis
Phones
Gemini iPhone a win-win for cautious Apple and aggressive Google
As with Google Search, a partnership over the AI chatbot could work for both companies, but what would it be like for consumers?
- by Tim Biggs
Letters
Letters
Many voices on power sources, present and future
Nuclear, gas, hydrogen, or burning wood for heating: readers discuss these power sources in a warming world.
Opinion
Holidays
Planning a theme park holiday for your family? Get ready for the Hunger Games
They’re supposed to be the happiest places on earth. But expensive VIP passes and hours-long wait times are taking the shine off theme parks.
- by Shona Hendley
Opinion
AFL 2024
At least someone from Collingwood hit a target: Nowhere to hide for Magpies’ senior players
Ross Lyon has basically said the entire competition has worked Collingwood out. Yes, he dressed it up in coach-speak, but the plain English translation was simple: “We all know what they do and how to beat them now”.
- by Michael Gleeson
Opinion
Political leadership
As Liberals navigate a ‘sea of red’, the Greens are making waves of their own
The Tasmanian state election was bad news for the Liberal Party, but the potency of the Greens as a political force is growing, and it spells bad news for Labor in key battlegrounds.
- by George Brandis
Opinion
Royal family
I jumped on the ‘Katespiracy’ bandwagon. Now I’m flooded with shame
The prospect of a missing princess was a blessed diversion. But now we know the truth, I feel ashamed. What was I thinking?
- by Kerri Sackville
Analysis
Royal family
The secret burden of holding the family together when your wife has cancer
Prince William has spent his whole life preparing for his future role, but not this one: a husband and father desperately trying to hold his family together while his wife undergoes treatment for cancer.
- by Guy Kelly
Analysis
AFL 2024
Why free agency won’t rescue the Tigers or Pies (or nearly any AFL team)
A packed MCG and the buzz of being on Broadway or the more private surrounds offered by the Getaway clubs? Players have options, but free agency is not the panacea for clubs. Here’s why.
- by Jake Niall
Opinion
Ask an expert
Will I lose money if I switch super funds?
Switching from a poor performing fund into a better one shouldn’t cost you much, but it’s important to think carefully about why.
- by Paul Benson
Opinion
Billionaires
Australia has more billionaires than ever. That’s nothing to celebrate
Marking a new high of ultra-wealthy individuals is one record we shouldn’t be cheering about.
- by Victoria Devine
Opinion
Immigration
You’re not a racist if you oppose unchecked immigration, you’re a realist
If we want to continue as a great migrant nation, we need an integration plan. Europe is waking up to this challenge.
- by Parnell Palme McGuinness
Opinion
Donald Trump
The worst thing about Trump’s take-down of Rudd? Dutton’s cynical reaction
Opposition Leader Peter Dutton could have sided with Australia’s national interest over Trump, but he chose a different path.
- by Jacqueline Maley
Opinion
Hip pocket
Should you DIY super? There are risks and rewards
Self-managed super funds allow you to pick exactly how your superannuation is invested – but they’re also a lot of work.
- by Dominic Powell
Opinion
Sunday Life
My partner wants to celebrate his birthday by doing nothing and I’m appalled
How can he not want a party? Is it possible that he just hates fun?
- by Kerri Sackville
Opinion
Home accessories
How Marvin the robo-vac became a (weird) member of the family
When I decided to lighten my domestic load by buying a little, and fiendishly expensive, robot helper, I had no idea how much stress it would cause.
- by Michael Bachelard
Letters
Letters
Victoria’s ‘Presidential’ politics problem
Readers discuss the “iron fist” centralised culture of the Victorian Premier’s office established under former premier Dan Andrews, and its ongoing effects.
Opinion
Social media
My lifelong hobby has been hijacked by a hot, cool crowd
The internet has decided reading is sexy, but no one actually looks good doing it.
- by Thomas Mitchell
Analysis
NRL 2024
Why Demetriou may have only three games to save his job
A short run of home matches will have a big bearing on the future of the South Sydney coach.
- by Christian Nicolussi
Opinion
NRL 2024
Rabbitohs rage about Mitchell coverage
South Sydney chief executive Blake Solly is fuming at suggestions the NRL gives Latrell Mitchell preferential treatment because he is Indigenous.
- by Danny Weidler
Analysis
Royal family
As we sat feverishly speculating, there was a horrible truth confronting Catherine, Princess of Wales
It’s hard to pinpoint the moment when we came to expect the private health concern of a public figure was fair game for clicks or laughs.
- by Rob Harris
Opinion
World Rugby
Seventeen dead minutes: Why World Rugby had to act after Cup final
The 2011 Rugby World Cup final was by no means a classic. But comparing it to last year’s showpiece event proves that rule changes have turned rugby into a waiting game.
- by Paul Cully
Analysis
Royal family
The voice of a naturally private princess cracked as she shared her diagnosis with the world
Having steeled herself for a video message, Catherine delivered in one take a message that will go down in history as one of the most moving royal broadcasts imaginable.
- by Hannah Furness
Analysis
AFL 2024
Where have all the CEOs gone? Footy’s problem with finding new leaders
As the competition has expanded to include a national women’s league and soon 19 teams, veteran club bosses have lamented the dearth of emerging off-field leaders across the competition.
- by Caroline Wilson
Opinion
Comedy
Help me, I think I’m a water waster
Are there water-saving techniques I could employ to make up for my many failings around the elixir of life?
- by Richard Glover
Opinion
Workplace
Why career goals should be made to be abandoned
Effective career plans or goals, are ones that can be regularly revised, ditched, or paused as circumstances dictate.
- by Jim Bright
Opinion
Consumer spending
How much can you safely spend in retirement? We crunched the numbers
Retirement spending is a bit of a maze to wind yourself through, but having confidence is key to living a life with lower financial anxiety.
- by Bec Wilson