Opinion
Opinion
State of Origin
Sack the half. Bring in the out-of-form star. Bag the coach. Just another day for the Blues
The criticism of the Blues has been predictable. Michael Maguire needs to hold his nerve when selecting his team for Origin II.
- by Andrew Webster
Latest
Opinion
Work therapy
Did a colleague mock my story without me realising?
The comment made by your colleague implies the story you told was so implausible, it can only have taken place in a Disney-fied alternate reality.
- by Jonathan Rivett
Opinion
Interest rates
The RBA has squeezed us like a lemon, but it’s still not happy
Maybe the Reserve Bank needs to see more blood on the street before it will believe we’re getting inflation back under control. If so, we’re running a bigger risk of recession than the central bank cares to admit.
- by Ross Gittins
Opinion
Political leadership
A Labor diehard wants them to lose the next election. I can see why
Budget cuts, wars with unions and now a flirtation with privatisation have set off alarms about whether Labor can hold on to its heartland.
- by Annika Smethurst
Analysis
Naked City
The dreams and nightmares of a homicide cop
“You think you are in control, but it does knock you around,” says veteran detective Lucio Rovis.
- by John Silvester
‘New era’: Why the other winning Queensland team is in for the long haul
Queensland Reds coach Les Kiss has sent a message simply by submitting his team sheet for their quarter-final clash with the Chiefs in New Zealand.
- by Nick Wright
Letters
Letters
Migration: Weak Dutton leadership reveals his weak party
Readers discuss Peter Dutton’s use of immigration as a political weapon.
Opinion
India
When the people speak in the world’s most populous nation, we win too
For too long the India sceptics have questioned its democracy. This election should give them cause to rethink.
- by Barry O'Farrell
Opinion
Friendship
I’m a collector of petty grievances. Now I’m giving them away
The idea of wanting to “stick it” to someone has pushed me to accomplish wild feats. And yet I can see that too much of it is making me into someone I don’t want to be.
- by Roby D’Ottavi
Analysis
Political leadership
The Paris paradox: Why Albanese can’t send Shorten to France just yet
For months, the chatter about Bill Shorten being the next ambassador to France has bubbled up and then deflated like an old souffle. But it refuses to go away.
- by James Massola
Analysis
China relations
Why ‘Taiwanese-ness’ is complex and increasingly important
For three days, the Shangri-La hotel in Singapore was thronging with political leaders, defence ministers and top military brass from around the world.
- by Lisa Visentin
Opinion
Israeli-Palestinian conflict
The Greens are playing with red paint over Gaza. It could stain their hands
The Greens have resorted to outright falsehoods amid an overheated Middle East debate – and it’s dangerous.
- by David Crowe
Opinion
NRLW 2024
My sport is having a Matildas moment. I know because of the trolling
Playing State Of Origin footy is a dream come true, but social media trolls felt the need to comment on my appearance and question my athletic ability.
- by Caitlan Johnston
Opinion
Investing
Nvidia leaps into the $3 trillion club and could soon own it
The chipmaker’s market capitalisation has grown by more than four times the market value of BHP – in just six weeks.
- by Elizabeth Knight
Opinion
Workplace culture
Senior staff don’t deserve to fly business, so let’s ditch the work perk
It does not make sense why management should get to fly business class while everyday pleb employees are left to languish in economy.
- by Jim Bright
Opinion
Lithium
Resources nationalism is threatening China’s push to secure critical minerals
Partial nationalisation of a vast lithium project in Chile is the latest move by developed and developing countries to prevent China from locking up the mineral supply critical to its dominance of the world’s battery industry.
- by Stephen Bartholomeusz
Opinion
State of Origin
Hynes had his chance: The four changes NSW must make for State of Origin II
When presented with the moment to dispel a perception that he requires a pack of Strepsils when the lights are on him, Nicho Hynes instead got lost in them.
- by Michael Chammas
Opinion
Aviation
An early review of Qantas’ new looooooong-haul flights. BYO gas mask
Of course, none of this should be interpreted as a defence of stopovers, which are one of the few good arguments for staying the course for 22 hours.
- by Michelle Cazzulino
Analysis
State of Origin
How NSW saved the game, just 25 minutes too late
The Blues’ biggest headache is once again the focus thanks to the earliest send-off in Origin history and their reaction to it.
- by Dan Walsh
Opinion
AFL 2024
Flag favourites, disasters and the side that’s just plain boring: Kane Cornes’ mid-season verdict on every club
At the halfway point of season 2024, here’s a look at the AFL ladder and the masterstroke moves made to date, the teams in the fight for the flag, and the clubs who should just move on to planning for next season.
- by Kane Cornes
Opinion
State of Origin
Ashley Klein made the right call in sending off Joseph Suaalii
The rules of the game are clear, but fans have every right to be confused about where the Origin boundaries exist.
- by Andrew Webster
Opinion
Political leadership
The mood on immigration is tinder dry and Dutton has lit a match
Politicians in strife, desperate to save their backsides, have often reached for dog whistles. But these days it’s a loudhailer.
- by Niki Savva
Opinion
Executive pay
It’s time Elon Musk faced a blunt truth about Tesla
Elon Musk is one of the great entrepreneurs of the century, but even he isn’t worth the biggest pay packet in history.
- by Matthew Lynn
Opinion
State of Origin
Blues were brave but ballistic shoulder shot made a victory mission impossible
NSW went into the first Origin match of the year as unbackable underdogs. It didn’t take long for their odds to blow out even further.
- by Malcolm Knox
Opinion
State of Origin
Blues rarely win when it’s 13 on 13 ... take one away and stop the fight
This year’s Origin opener was effectively over before 10 minutes had been played. I’ve got a horrible feeling the same can be said of the series.
- by Peter FitzSimons
Analysis
State of Origin
State of Origin player ratings: How the Blues and Maroons fared in game one
Queensland romped home in State of Origin I in Sydney on Wednesday night – but which stars shone the brightest on the big stage?
- by Nick Wright and Paul Zalunardo
Some projects are not transports of delight
Readers weigh up the pros and cons of privatisation and public services.
Analysis
AFL 2024
‘We were busy celebrating’: Moore reflects on May’s jibe ahead of mouth-watering King’s Birthday clash
When it comes to Melbourne and Collingwood’s recent rivalry, the Demons have been all talk, and the Magpies all action.
- by Andrew Wu
Analysis
Household debt
Australians have been dipping into their piggy banks just to make ends meet
Growth at 0.1 per cent is abysmal. GDP per capita has fallen by 1.6 per cent since mid-2022. You don’t see that sort of fall outside a deep recession.
- by Shane Wright
Opinion
Healthcare
Yes, an ‘ADHD tax’ is a real thing. I know because I pay it every day
We work and strive to live normal lives. But our financial, workplace, education and legal systems are all designed for neurotypical people. And that comes at a price.
- by Caroline Zielinski
Opinion
Cyber protection
Medibank on the hook for trillions but there’s more at stake than money
The $21.5 trillion in fines that the health insurer faces is an uncomfortable reminder to corporate Australia that it’s not just the cyber criminals that are now on the hook.
- by Elizabeth Knight
Opinion
Israeli-Palestinian conflict
Sharing images on social media isn’t activism. My generation is fooling itself
There’s a running joke that older generations fall victim to online scams and misinformation, but the joke’s on us now. We need to do more than just scroll.
- by Gitaanjali Nair
Opinion
Currencies
The US dollar is making a comeback at China’s expense
The demise of the US dollar has been predicted so often it has been taken as an established truth. It may or may not be true in the long term – but for now, the greenback is back in favour.
- by Stephen Bartholomeusz
Opinion
ABC
So Laura Tingle has been outed as ‘partisan’? What nonsense
The ABC does not have the luxury of defiantly ignoring accusations of bias, but this News Corp initiated pile-on is absurd.
- by Alan Sunderland
Analysis
World elections
Modi, who casts himself as ‘sent by God’, loses his aura of invincibility
The once-dominant opposition has made electoral gains on the government over issues like unemployment, social justice and Modi’s ties to India’s billionaires.
- by Mujib Mashal and Alex Travelli
Analysis
French Open
‘Being a defender wasn’t going to cut it’: The numbers behind the Demon’s world-class weaponry
Alex de Minaur’s transformation from admired also-ran into world-beating top-10 star has captured the attention of a sporting nation. This is how he has done it.
- by Marc McGowan
Opinion
Ask an expert
We’re done with travel, should we shift our super into pension mode?
Shifting your super from accumulation mode to pension mode can have tax benefits, but you’ll be forced to withdraw some each year.
- by Noel Whittaker
Opinion
Financial planners
How to make sure you’re getting good financial advice
There’s a lot of mistrust of financial professionals, and it’s not totally unfounded, but there are ways to make sure you’re getting good advice.
- by Paridhi Jain
Analysis
Super Fit
Adding to your super early can help you buy a first home. Here’s how
Even a small extra contribution from your income to your super now can make you thousands of dollars richer in retirement. So why don’t more people do it?
- by Caterina Hrysomallis
Opinion
State of Origin
The Maroons are faster and flashier. But they have a weakness and Blues can exploit it
Game-day conditions at Accor Stadium promise to be perfect for NSW in the Origin opener. This is the gameplan that can lead them to victory.
- by Andrew Johns
Opinion
Federal budget
Australia’s caught in a spin cycle. Thank goodness you’ve got me to slow it down
Politicians like to deploy spin doctors, and economists, to give you a version of the truth. It’s my job to make sure you’re not led astray, but it’s getting harder.
- by Ross Gittins
Opinion
State of Origin
‘He’s like Christopher Columbus’: The dorky passion of NSW captain Jake Trbojevic
The Manly lock’s love of rugby league and life is exactly what the Blues need heading into Origin I.
- by Andrew Webster
Letters
Letters
They gain from the demise of cash and yet we pay
Readers react to the push to keep cash alive, the “drift” towards the teals, and the good bloke defence.
Analysis
Space
The race to stop people destroying evidence of alien life
Looting and scientific vandalism on Earth has scientists worried we could destroy evidence of extraterrestrial life before we even find it.
- by Angus Dalton
Opinion
Sociology
As a visiting Frenchwoman, I find Australian men to be not at all what I expected
Living in Melbourne and working in hospitality, one cultural difference with France was immediately apparent: men’s behaviour towards women.
- by Elyne Le Faou
Analysis
NRL 2024
‘Don’t stop moving’: How Maroons can overcome 224kg Blues advantage
Queensland is taking on a NSW forward pack that, in some ways, has their measure. What do the stats say about the contest up front?
- by Nick Wright
Opinion
Discrimination
These chilling voicemails prove Islamophobia is thriving – despite one senator’s callous dismissal
Reports of Islamophobia have increased by 1300 per cent. Yet according to Senator Sarah Henderson, there’s nothing to it.
- by Susan Carland
Opinion
Aviation
Another approach? The Qatar decision scar has barely healed. Now it’s about to be reopened
This time Qatar has a lot more support for gaining extra flights to Australia. A conga line of competition economists and tourism operators will be watching closely.
- by Elizabeth Knight
Opinion
Tax cuts
As tax cuts loom, donating to charity shouldn’t just be for the rich
It’s not just millionaires looking to charitable giving ahead of 30 June. Here’s how you can make the most of it.
- by Noel Whittaker
Opinion
Trade wars
It’s D-Day for Europe’s trade relationship with China
The European Union is on the verge of announcing whether it will significantly raise tariffs on imported Chinese electric cars - and China is threatening to retaliate.
- by Stephen Bartholomeusz