Opinion
Opinion
CBD
The curious case of Anthony Albanese’s shuttered electorate office
When exactly did pro-Palestine protesters force the prime minister to close his electorate office?
- by Kishor Napier-Raman and Stephen Brook
Latest
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
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
Pets
What in our cultural playbook covers the crushing death of a pet?
He chewed, he snored, he smelled, but his devotion to us never ceased. Nor ours to him, which is why our heartache is only just beginning.
- by Brendan Foster
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
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
Analysis
AFLW
Wasting talent: Why 11 games a year is not enough for AFLW players
Many AFLW players fear the lack of games at the top level and the reluctance by some clubs to let them play in their state league is shunting their development as footballers.
- by Marnie Vinall
Opinion
China relations
He’s warned us before on the China threat. Can we afford to ignore him again?
Mike Pezzullo was disgraced as a public servant. But his qualifications as a defence strategist remain intact.
- by Peter Hartcher
Opinion
Real Footy Podcast
‘We’re going to end up with a Steven Bradbury winner’: Should the Rising Star criteria change?
This week on the Real Footy podcast, Jake Niall, Caroline Wilson and Sam McClure debate whether “fairness” should be considered when judging the Rising Star award.
- by Staff writers
Opinion
Donald Trump
Trump’s martyr schtick is working, at least with my Republican siblings
Donald Trump has been playing the victim since his bombshell conviction, and if my family straw poll is indicative, it’s an effective strategy.
- by Maureen Dowd
Opinion
Social media
Without a filter, I saw my face and cried. This is the reality for teens on social media
In high school, I covered my mirror with paper to avoid seeing my own reflection. The only time I looked at myself was with a beauty filter applied.
- by Lucia Frazzetto
Analysis
Australia votes
If not now, when? Frydenberg now bets on a distant future
The former treasurer has no realistic way to contest the next election. Could he try for Kooyong later? The truth is that nobody gets a smooth elevation to the top.
- by David Crowe
Analysis
AFL 2024
Horne-Francis is emerging, but not yet ready to come to grips with Cripps
In key takeouts this week: Carlton’s big dog hands Port’s young pup a lesson, the race for this year’s Rising Star award gets blown wide open and forget the premiership for the moment; Melbourne simply need to focus on making the finals.
- by Marc McGowan
Opinion
AFL 2024
The Dockers’ ‘Deemolition’ and why a ‘re-think’ is required for the Rising Star gong
The Dockers’ utter domination of Melbourne shapes as a sliding doors moment in both teams’ seasons.
- by Paddy Sweeney
Opinion
Josh Frydenberg
The Liberal Party created the perfect female candidate in ... Josh Frydenberg?
Could it be that a boundary redistribution was a pretext to Fryden-float this balloon of an idea of a return to politics for the former treasurer?
- by Jacqueline Maley
Opinion
Executive shake-up
Prize catch for Lovisa as retail billionaires’ poaching season hots up
Poaching John Cheston from kids stationery group Smiggle feels like a declaration of retail war.
- by Elizabeth Knight
Opinion
Oil
How the oil cartel’s grip on the world is getting weaker
The OPEC+ oil cartel’s power and influence is waning and it is being forced to make difficult choices as it grapples with a number of threats.
- by Stephen Bartholomeusz
Opinion
State of Origin
After Tedesco’s recall, the Origin opener has Blues upset written all over it
The Roosters star’s shock call-up by Michael Maguire didn’t cause much of a stink – but it reeks of an Origin miracle.
- by Andrew Webster
Opinion
AI
Civilian deaths from killer drones are this generation’s ‘Oppenheimer moment’
The geopolitical tensions and challenges faced by physicists and other scientists 70 years ago in their search for nuclear arms control is now being replicated in the 21st century.
- by Mary Wareham
Opinion
AI
The girlfriend AI experience could spur, or destroy, real relationships
AI has the potential to make the market for fake intimacy much larger. People can subscribe for a fraction of the cost of a human sex worker, and with no stigma or legal consequences.
- by Allison Schrager
Opinion
Super Rugby
Waratahs rebuild creates opportunities – and issues
Powering up the Waratahs scrum with Rebels stars could help NSW regain some lost ground. But it could also fuel one of the Tahs’ oldest problems.
- by Paul Cully
Opinion
AFLW
Bring it on! Why I can’t wait for AFLW pre-season training to start
I’m not the only one who has an exciting new challenge ahead of them this AFLW season. While pre-season training promises to be testing, I can’t wait for it to start on Monday.
- by Libby Birch
Opinion
Inflation
What’s happening in the economy is that no one’s sure what’s happening
After shocks including a global pandemic, war and supply chain disruptions, predicting the next move in our economy has become harder than we’re used to.
- by Ross Gittins
Opinion
Political leadership
As Albanese beats around the bush, Dutton’s delusions are taking root
Everyone’s avoiding the difficult issues, and that’s good news for Peter Dutton and his simplistic “policy” solutions.
- by Sean Kelly
Analysis
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.
- by David Crowe
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.
- by Wendy Syfret