Trial by Water podcast
A new investigative podcast about one of Australia’s most controversial cases.
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Trial by Water
‘It could be any of us’: Top scientists sound alarm over unreliable evidence
The Australian Academy of Science chief is calling for law reform after questions were raised over Robert Farquharson’s case.
Investigation
Good Weekend
‘I’ve just killed me kids’: His story never changed. But the science has
He was jailed for an unthinkable crime. Now there are questions about Robert Farquharson’s guilt.
Exclusive
Trial by Water
One crash killed three soldiers, the other three boys. Both featured this strange detail
Why would people stuck in a sinking car turn off the heater, ignition or headlights?
Exclusive
Josh Frydenberg
They say they ‘need’ Frydenberg. There’s an awkward problem with his return
The rush to restore Josh Frydenberg to parliament looks like a sure Liberal victory. But it’s a huge risk when anyone stops to think.
Rupert Murdoch, 93, ties the knot for the fifth time
The media mogul married for the fifth time at the weekend at his vineyard in California.
Exclusive
International affairs
The $50b gas deal Australia hopes will keep China quiet
Australia is offering a multi-billion-dollar lifeline to fast-track an offshore gas project the government hopes will keep Beijing at bay.
Four Points
AFL 2024
Alas in Alice as Demons blow it big-time, another rule AFL should rethink and hurrah for Hawks
Melbourne got smashed by Fremantle, who aren’t known as a free-scoring team. What’s more, it came just two weeks after an embarrassing loss to West Coast and when they had everything to play for.
Live
Gold Coast Suns
Suns scorch Bombers to climb into the top eight; Reid cops two-match ban, out of Rising Star contention
It was a tense final term but Gold Coast held their nerve and kept attacking as Essendon threw everything at them in the end.
‘Obliterated in every phase’: Goodwin laments Melbourne’s terrible loss
The Demons coach bemoaned his team’s performance in contested situations, its work-rate and its ability to deal with pressure as they succumbed to a hammering from the Dockers.
Exclusive
Private schools
Jewish school confident of move to Caulfield Hospital site
The school transports about 1000 students from Caulfield to Burwood each day and has called the hospital’s use of the Caulfield site a waste of valuable land.
Opinion
Style
Nepo babies come in many shapes, but fashion nepo babies are the worst of all
It doesn’t bother me that Kaia Gerber inherited her mum’s looks and career. But my blood boiled when she wore Crawford’s Versace dress to her birthday party.
Wendy Syfret
Freelance writer
‘They drive up and drive away’: How a St Kilda East street has become a caravan graveyard
There were 17 caravans left in a quiet side street next to St Kilda Cemetery last week, and residents say it’s much worse than just an eyesore.
Explainer
US election
Trump’s joke about being dictator for a day doesn’t have law experts laughing. This is why
They can pardon a turkey and order a nuclear strike – but could a sitting US president really sweep away all checks and balances on power and rule unchallenged?
Opinion
Domestic violence
My father’s confession stunned me. In his mind, he was both the punisher and the victim
My father never hit my mother or I, but his temper was forever lurking. Then one day, he explained the reason for it all: “I have been punishing your mother.”
Susanne Davies
Adjunct Associate Professor
Exclusive
China relations
Shorten will attend Ukraine peace summit as Zelensky makes surprise Asia visit
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky appealed to leaders at the Asia defence summit where China said it would be prepared to use force to prevent Taiwanese independence.
Forget the cold, let’s go fly a kite, say well rugged-up ‘pilots’
Missing the big kite-flying events from India, Kaushal Parikh quit his office job two years ago to run kite festivals around the country.
Opinion
Tripologist
The travel insurance clause that could wreck your holiday
What do the recent floods in West Sumatra, the current riots in New Caledonia and the 2023 earthquake in Morocco have in common?
Michael Gebicki
The Tripologist
The men in Stephanie Alexander’s life are mostly ‘husbands of friends or gay’
“I get plenty of hugs from them and I am happy with that,” says the 83-year-old author and cook.
TRIAL BY WATER
Video
Inside the uncomfortable investigation of a child killer
In the Robert Farquharson case there are six main strands of circumstantial evidence. I’ve investigated them all.
Difficult stories like these are the ones that need to be told, no matter how harrowing
As The Age publishes another major investigation, editor Patrick Elligett reflects on the barriers to reporting on difficult subjects – and the tenacity of journalists.
Victoria
Exclusive
Victorian Parliament
Inside the push to steal – and keep – Victoria’s businesses
Outside the public eye, the highest-taxing state in the nation is fending off threats from South Australia and Queensland.
This 125-year-old bowls club will be sold for millions – after its secret buyer was revealed
Members of the Elsternwick Club, in Melbourne’s south-east, voted on the sale at the annual general meeting on Sunday.
Exclusive
Victorian budget
Hatch, match and dispatch: Labor’s bold privatisation move to tackle soaring debt
As the state’s daily interest bill tips $25m, Treasurer Tim Pallas is in talks with private firms to gauge their interest in running part of Births, Deaths and Marriages Victoria.
Chemist Warehouse family’s proposed coastal compound draws ire of locals
The billionaire co-founder of the ubiquitous pharmacy chain is facing a battle over plans to build a luxury 16-bed complex with a pool, cinema and tennis court.
Independent Kew school to sell part of primary campus to meet new tax bill
Preshil will sell land on its primary school campus ahead of a controversial change to state taxes set to cost the school hundreds of thousands of dollars.
AFL 2024
Hawthorn’s ‘rascal pack’: Inside the clash between Day and Ginnivan
Sam Mitchell has revealed Will Day’s explosive clash with teammate Jack Ginnivan during Saturday’s 27-point win over Adelaide was how the team’s “rascal pack” behave.
Analysis
Darcy, Daicos brilliance shows why father-sons must cost more
Nick Daicos is a generational footballer and Sam Darcy has the tool kit to become one. They show the inadequacies of the father-son rule, which is to be reformed.
Politics
Analysis
Political leadership
Six reasons Albanese could still go for a 2024 election –and get married soon after
Anthony Albanese has said he plans to serve a full term, but there are at least six good reasons for him to consider going to the polls early.
Business
From mortgage checks to scam-busting: How your bank is using AI
Banking giants have plans for artificial intelligence that go much further than the often clunky “chatbots” used to answer customer queries.
World
Trump lawyer: ‘I believe in the justice system’
A jury convicted Trump on all counts of falsifying business records, a felony punishable by incarceration, probation or a fine. Trump said the trial was rigged.
Opinion
Explore
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Property
Inside the Northcote renovation that was never meant to happen
It started as a few odd jobs around the house, then one thing led to another. Before long, Trent was knee-deep in a major renovation.
‘I completely overpaid’: First home buyer lands Brunswick townhouse for $980k
A first home buyer beat five others in a heated bidding war for a two-bedroom townhouse in a coveted location.
Good Food
Lifestyle
At 30, this writer put bad boys and drink behind her. Then she sold 30 million books
Novelist Marian Keyes’ life is divided into two, but she says her painful youth still haunts her.
Culture
After MasterChef and the UFC, Melissa Leong dives in the deep end
The former MasterChef Australia judge joins the front line of Australia’s hospital system as part of SBS’s new observational series.
Traveller
Drivedrive
From Our Partners
Sport
‘Obliterated in every phase’: Goodwin laments Melbourne’s terrible loss
The Demons coach bemoaned his team’s performance in contested situations, its work-rate and its ability to deal with pressure as they succumbed to a hammering from the Dockers.
Four Points
AFL 2024
Alas in Alice as Demons blow it big-time, another rule AFL should rethink and hurrah for Hawks
Melbourne got smashed by Fremantle, who aren’t known as a free-scoring team. What’s more, it came just two weeks after an embarrassing loss to West Coast and when they had everything to play for.
Analysis
AFL 2024
Darcy, Daicos brilliance shows why father-sons must cost more
Nick Daicos is a generational footballer and Sam Darcy has the tool kit to become one. They show the inadequacies of the father-son rule, which is to be reformed.
AFL Briefing
AFL 2024
Rule tweak causes ‘fundamental’ change; Tigers weigh up Dusty call, lose another knee victim
Geelong coach Chris Scott gave his view on the mid-season change to the interpretation of holding-the-ball decisions, while Richmond lose another player to a season-ending knee injury and ponder what to do about Dustin Martin’s 300th game.
How the NYPD became one of US cricket’s biggest supporters
The ICC turned to an unlikely source for participants in its Twenty20 World Cup trophy tour of New York – a police department youth program.
Matildas coach promises ‘more aggressive’ Sydney display but Foord ‘unlikely’
Australia will play one more friendly against China at a sold-out Accor Stadium, just hours before Tony Gustavsson names his 18-player Paris 2024 squad on Tuesday.
Minjee Lee surges into share of Women’s US Open lead
Minjee Lee is closing in on Australian golf history after producing the round of the week to surge into a share of the third-round lead at the mega-money Women’s US Open in Pennsylvania.
Have Your Say
‘Fearless’ Warner chasing grand slam of world titles with Australia at T20 cup
Australia are aiming to add the world Twenty20 trophy to go alongside their Test championship and one-day cup triumphs over the past 12 months.