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Around the clubs
Nathan Cleary out of clash with Souths as Panthers play it safe
Penrith have taken a cautious approach with their superstar halfback, who felt some tightness after returning from a hamstring injury in the previous round.
Perspective
Government
Calls for quarantine site to be used for crisis housing show how far some are from the real issue
The perception that any bed is better than none is not reflective of conversations with service providers and those working closely with vulnerable communities.
- by Courtney Kruk
Australia news LIVE: PM announces $925m investment to support people leaving violence; Qantas app data breach investigated
A plan to track domestic violence offenders will be considered by federal and state leaders at a national cabinet meeting that will also canvass stricter bail laws, and the United Nations aid chif has warned Israel’s assault on Rafah is on the ‘immediate horizon’.
- by Josefine Ganko and Jewel Topsfield
Former Manly prop Perrett set to take legal action over training incident
A week after Jackson Topine launched a $4 million lawsuit against Canterbury, another NRL club is bracing for a legal challenge due to a training incident.
- by Adrian Proszenko
Inside the growing protest tent cities of Melbourne and Monash universities
As police raided student protest encampments at American universities with rubber bullets and tear gas, in Melbourne academics brought jam and scones.
- by Sherryn Groch
25 things to do over the Labour Day long weekend in Brisbane
From shows and movies to the Comedy Festival and markets, plenty is going on for the three-day break.
- by Nick Dent
Family court chief justice calls for national database of intervention orders
One of Australia’s most senior legal officers says a database of intervention orders would help courts understand the risk women face from family violence
- by Wendy Tuohy
Updated
NRL 2024
Bennett, Cheika throw hats into Rabbitohs coaching ring
Wayne Bennett and Michael Cheika have both shown interest in coaching South Sydney, starting from the completion of this season.
- by Adrian Proszenko and Andrew Webster
Former Brisbane chef charged with 18 counts of sexual assault, stalking
Mitchell James Efeimoff, 34, worked at venues across Brisbane for more than 15 years and also held a real estate licence. His alleged victims went to police.
- by Cloe Read
Analysis
Government
Labor’s latest retreat on youth justice is a sign of a broader problem
For the second time, the government has folded under pressure on crime and an inability to sell its message. This is more than a political problem.
- by Matt Dennien
It’s one of the most notorious roads in Melbourne. Fixing it is a ‘matter of life and death’, residents say
A report has recommended an immediate review of how fast drivers are allowed to go and for measures to push drivers to stay on main roads rather than doing “suburban rat runs”.
- by Melissa Cunningham
Updated
Israeli-Palestinian conflict
Supporters of Palestine, Israel in violent clashes at UCLA as university protests spread
Unrest at UCLA comes a day after police in riot gear stormed New York’s Columbia University, which has become the centre of America’s student uprising over the war in Gaza.
- by Farrah Tomazin
Refunds up in the air as Bonza leaves passengers grounded
Administrators Hall Chadwick confirmed late on Wednesday that the airline was not currently positioned to issue refunds after it entered administration on Tuesday.
- by Amelia McGuire
Albanese’s $925m escape money pledge just ‘one piece of the puzzle’
Speaking after a snap national cabinet meeting, the prime minister said state and territory leaders would meet again to discuss plans to strengthen their justice systems.
- by Natassia Chrysanthos
Updated
World markets
ASX a sea of red as Wall Street tumbles to wrap up ugly April
The Australian sharemarket tumbled after a negative lead from Wall Street, as investor fears grew about persistent US inflation and the likelihood that interest rates will stay higher for longer.
- by Millie Muroi
Lehrmann given extension of time to lodge defamation appeal
The Ten Network wants access to documents revealing if former Liberal staffer had financial backers in fight over costs.
- by Michaela Whitbourn
Can court compensate for loss of a way of life? Climate case to wrap up
The Commonwealth has argued Torres Strait Islanders losing their unique island customs could be seen under law as a comparable loss to personal injuries.
- by Bianca Hall
Analysis
Domestic violence
Where is the urgency? Action to protect women is too slow
There is a jarring disconnect between the political talk and the policy action when Australians are told of the national crisis on violence against women.
- by David Crowe
Updated
COVID inquiry
Charges dropped: Government escapes punishment over quarantine blunders that cost 768 lives
WorkSafe Victoria had accused the state’s Department of Health of failing to provide and maintain a safe working environment for employees.
- by Alex Crowe and David Estcourt
Did woke culture really kill the sitcom?
Jerry Seinfeld claims that the “extreme left” is to blame for the death of comedy on TV – but is he right?
- by Thomas Mitchell
‘Extraordinary’: Shein Australia hits nearly $1 billion in sales and triples profits
The Chinese-owned ecommerce play has become one of the nation’s biggest fashion retailers in a few short years, on par with Myer and Cotton On.
- by Jessica Yun
Mawaan Rizwan has a degree in funny. Really.
Rizwan cast members of his own family in his sitcom Juice, a joyous celebration of a neurotic Pakistani-British man navigating love, family and work stresses.
- by Ben Pobjie
Mamma mia, here we go again … Australia is back in the Eurovision fold
Australian contenders Electric Fields have hit the stage in Sweden with a two-pronged mission: Eurovision victory, with a side serve of world peace.
- by Michael Idato
The Beach Boys tell their own story of triumph and tragedy
It’s not all good vibrations, as our reviewers reveal in this week’s pick of fiction and non-fiction releases.
- by Cameron Woodhead and Steven Carroll
The good TV shows you missed in the deluge of streaming
There’s always a buzzy new show demanding your attention, while scores of series previously on your radar are washed away. Here are the shows you may have missed.
- by Debi Enker
‘Sell out The Zoo and you’re on your way’: Powderfinger mourns venue loss
Powderfinger’s John Collins knew the five-piece was on the way to something big when the band played to a packed house at The Zoo – a rite of passage for up-and-coming Brisbane bands for more than three decades.
- by Cameron Atfield
More than 170 countries want to reduce plastic globally. A handful are stalling
Australia is attempting to help a global push to end plastic pollution before it outweighs the biomass of the world’s fish by the year 2050. But other countries have different ambitions.
- by Mike Foley
Opinion
Home loans
Mortgage wars enter next phase as property remains a rich playground
The big banks are rethinking how much risk they can take when it comes to lending, as some say that excessive regulation is only helping wealthy borrowers while others miss out.
- by Elizabeth Knight
Former Wallabies coach Cheika expresses interest in South Sydney job
Rabbitohs chief executive Blake Solly also said on Wednesday that the club will speak to the Wayne Bennett about a possible return.
- by Michael Chammas, Adam Pengilly and Billie Eder
The Scoop
AFL 2024
‘It’s absolute garbage’: The footy flop that was ‘borderline embarrassing’
One round-seven performance left rival players bewildered by how poor it was, with some big names under fire.
- by Sam McClure
Day one of Ben Hornby’s salvage operation at Souths
Ben Hornby arrived at Heffron Park at 7.14am on Wednesday as South Sydney’s interim head coach. His first task? Getting ready for Penrith on Thursday.
- by Billie Eder
Developer sells stunning land for $100m. The buyer will never build a thing
Not far from where the Andes Mountains meet the Pacific Ocean, a vast swath of pristine wilderness is changing hands under the most unusual circumstances.
- by David Gelles
MasterChef overhauled its judging line-up. Has it worked?
The behemoth cooking show has a new group of judges, and they’re reminders of the program’s core values.
- by Ben Pobjie
Exclusive
Crime
Detainee’s ankle monitor removed on government experts’ advice before alleged assault
A former immigration detainee accused of a violent assault during a home invasion had his ankle monitor removed following advice from a board of experts.
- by Angus Thompson, Heather McNeill, Jamie Freestone and Hamish Hastie
Hanson told second senator to go back to where they came from, court told
Mehreen Faruqi’s racial discrimination case against Pauline Hanson heard that the One Nation leader had also told a white male politician to “pack your bags”.
- by Michaela Whitbourn
Updated
Information security
Qantas says issue that exposed customer data to others has been resolved
The software issue gave customers access to the personal information and accounts of other people.
- by Tim Biggs
Analysis
NRL 2024
Demetriou the latest coach to succumb to the Bennett curse
Ivan Henjak, Steve Price, Rick Stone and Anthony Seibold have all had the unenviable task of succeeding Wayne Bennett. As sacked Souths coach Jason Demetriou has discovered, it usually doesn’t end well.
- by Tom Decent
Opinion
Mergers & acquisitions
BHP’s $60b bid forces Anglo American to confront its own shortcomings
Whether successful or not, the Australian mining giant’s offer puts pressure on Anglo’s board and management to consider significant changes to its business.
- by Stephen Bartholomeusz
Updated
ICC Men’s World Cup
No room for ‘really exciting’ Fraser-McGurk in T20 World Cup squad
Despite glowing praise from chairman of selectors George Bailey, exciting white-ball tyro Jake Fraser-McGurk missed Australia’s Twenty20 World Cup squad.
- by Malcolm Conn
Only the lonely can make the distance in David Nicholls’ new romcom
This novel, by the author of One Day, is a celebration of the rare connection that can lift people out of seemingly intractable loneliness.
- by Daniel Herborn
Teacher work bans ‘unlawful’ and ‘profoundly disruptive’: Education Department
The union representing thousands of Queensland state schools was warned the Education Department would take proposed work bans to the Industrial Relations Commission if they went ahead.
- by Felicity Caldwell
Opinion
Weather
Sydney can’t stand the rain, but here are five ways to keep the city moving
The harbour city’s transport systems often grind to a halt in the wet, but decision makers can adapt to changing conditions, as can we.
- by Emily Moylan
We have entered the golden age of Mid TV
TV was great for so long that we were frogs in boiling water, but in reverse. It became lukewarm so gradually that you might not even have noticed.
- by James Poniewozik
Tattooist of Auschwitz arrives on screen and doesn’t shy from the book’s controversy
Heather Morris’ book was an enormous success, but was mired in a controversy about accuracy. The series based on it doesn’t shy way from that.
- by Karl Quinn
‘Monsters in wall’ in girl’s bedroom turn out to be 65,000 hidden bees
At one point, the three-year-old’s parents sent her to bed with a bottle of water they said was “monster spray”, the BBC reported.
- by Benedict Smith
‘Aussie’ John Symond lists Point Piper trophy home. Yours for just $200 million-plus
The last time the Aussie Home Loans founder listed the waterfront mega-mansion, he knocked back an offer of $110 million because he didn’t want to part with it.
- by Lucy Macken
Inside Hollywood’s billion-dollar real estate agencies – and the stars that make them
Mauricio Umansky’s agency made $19 billion in 2022. He’s just one of the exclusive group who have earned fame on TV and millions selling homes to the likes of Beyoncé and Daniel Craig.
- by Debra Kamin
Police do not believe woman’s death in Nundah unit block is suspicious
A crime scene was declared on Tuesday night as officers sought to determine the cause of death.
- by Cloe Read
Two men charged with cutting down famous 150-year-old Sycamore Gap tree in England
The nighttime felling caused widespread outrage as police tried to find the culprits behind what they called a deliberate act of vandalism.
- by Brian Melley
Updated
Cryptocurrencies
‘I failed’: Crypto king with a $62b fortune sent to jail
Binance founder Changpeng Zhao will become the world’s richest prisoner after being sentenced for allowing money laundering.
- by Gene Johnson
Opinion
Investing
Buy low, sell high? What Hollywood gets wrong about investing
Just like you don’t need to be an F1 racer to drive to work, you don’t need to be a day trader to invest successfully.
- by Paridhi Jain
Analysis
NRL 2024
Why Gutherson’s absence will hurt Eels more than that of Moses
When captain Clint Gutherson doesn’t play, Parramatta win only one in three games. That statistic spells trouble for his team – and his coach.
- by Adrian Proszenko
Analysis
Aged care
How to ensure you don’t end up in aged care limbo
A retirement village with an aged care home on the same property can seem like a great long-term plan, but the financial barriers can be significant.
- by Rachel Lane
If you love roast pork, this is the best place in the world
Its aroma fills an entire neighbourhood. People come from far away, battling notorious traffic, for a whiff. Or a bite. Or a whole pig.
- by Brian Johnston
Analysis
Hiring & firing
‘People kept disappearing’: Should you take a redundancy?
Redundancies are on the rise post-COVID, and while it can be a refreshing change for some, it can also prove challenging.
- by Emily Chantiri
Smiling King Charles III visits cancer centre on his return to public duties
A healthy-looking King Charles, who was diagnosed with cancer in February, told patients at a treatment centre for the disease in London that he was “all right”.
- by Michael Holden
Opinion
Healthcare
It’s not perfect, but here’s why our health system is one of the best
Australians pay among the lowest taxes of all developed nations and what’s more, when it comes to healthcare, we’re getting excellent value for money.
- by Ross Gittins
Exclusive
Domestic violence
Police warn bail laws hamper efforts to prevent family violence
Frontline police have complained they now have fewer options when alleged domestic violence offenders breach bail conditions.
- by Rachel Eddie
Pet Shop Boys on Taylor, Beyonce and making their own ‘queer album’
More than four decades on, Neil Tennant and Chris Lowe are still making pop’s most transcendent music.
- by Robert Moran
The top 12 books you should read in May
This month brings lyrics from Kazuo Ishiguro, a Miles Franklin winner’s latest novel, the return of Miranda July, a surprise sequel from Colm Toibin and spacey stories from Ceridwen Dovey.
- by Jason Steger
★★★★
Hotel reviews
Sydney hotels don’t get much more central than this
The 369-room Swissotel Sydney recently celebrated its 20th birthday, following a refurbishment with a focus on its grand lobby space.
- by Craig Platt
Trump fined, threatened with jail time over contempt of court in hush money trial
The former US president was found to have broken a gag order nine times by making public statements on social media and on his campaign website.
- by Farrah Tomazin
Winds of change: New era for offshore energy industry set to blow in
The Albanese government has identified the first fleet of aspiring wind farm developers and issued six permits to build turbines off the Victorian coast.
- by Mike Foley and Nick Toscano
‘Path forward remains uncertain’: Spending slumps before RBA’s pre-budget rates call
Retail spending growth over the year to the end of March was just 0.8 per cent – the weakest growth on record outside the pandemic and the introduction of the GST in 2000.
- by Rachel Clun
China investors in the cold as Chalmers makes security a test for budget largesse
Anthony Albanese’s Future Made in Australia will be the centrepiece of the May budget. The treasurer will reveal the five key tests for how it will work.
- by Shane Wright