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Trial by Water podcast
A new investigative podcast about one of Australia’s most controversial cases.
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Bruce Lehrmann and the Toowoomba rape case that puts him back in court
“Can you call urgently??? Lehrmann has been charged with rape in Qld.” As rival TV networks battled over the Brittany Higgins story, another case was building.
‘Nuisance’ rain on the way as Melbourne’s cold, foggy mornings roll on
Melburnians shivered through the coldest day in five years on Thursday, and the cold fronts are expected to keep coming next week.
Exclusive
Trial by Water
‘Fried noodles #23’: Witness’s new detail raises crucial question in Farquharson case
Dawn Waite’s evidence excited police, swayed Robert Farquharson’s ex-wife against him and was held to be crucial by the judge. But it might well have been impossible.
Philip’s customer paid for their meal. Later, he realised something was wrong with the cash
Melbourne hospitality businesses are already doing it tough, with diners spending less and costs soaring. Now they need to be on the look for this scam.
Siblings join forces to land first home at $20,000 below reserve
The brother and sister, who actually like living together, secured the two-bedroom villa in Melbourne’s north-west suburbs for $720,000.
Analysis
Religion
A TikTok priest and a surfing nun: The new wave of conservative Christians
Young Australian Catholics are embracing social media but simultaneously going back to traditions like wearing veils and cassocks and celebrating Latin Mass.
Live
AFL 2024
Bontempelli beats out three Dockers to boot goal of the year contender
The Bulldogs and Dockers are locked in a crucial clash at Marvel Stadium. Follow all the action from Saturday’s games here.
Latest live posts
LoadingExclusive
Dustin Martin
Dusty in his own words: Watch the champion Tiger’s most revealing interview
A rare video interview shows that Dustin Martin was an excellent judge of his football strengths and weaknesses, even before he launched his spectacular AFL career.
Breaking
Paris 2024
Jack breaks silence on China drugs scandal as further positive cases emerge
Shayna Jack, whose two-year drugs ban deprived her of a place at the Olympics in 2021, has responded to the news three Chinese gold medallists from Tokyo tested positive to Clenbuterol in 2016-17.
They were once farm roads. Now they run between sleek townhouses and yacht-filled marinas
Bordered by market gardens and a giant sewerage farm, the former farm town of Werribee is experiencing irresistible population growth.
Dicey Topics
Good Weekend
‘I finally make sense to myself’: Em Rusciano on her late ADHD and autism diagnoses
The stand-up comedian and broadcaster on why she loves “bed-rotting” – and her personal version of hell.
Analysis
Horse racing
McLachlan and his sidekick were going to shake-up racing. His sidekick may now have to do it alone
Gillon McLachlan’s name was nowhere to be seen when two new Racing Victoria directors were appointed on Friday. Instead, it was reported that McLachlan had signed as a senior adviser to a New York-based private equity company.
Podcast
Trial by Water
Trial By Water, Episode 3: The star witnesses – and the problem with memory evidence
Listen now to the third episode of the podcast investigation on the Robert Farquharson case – and why memory evidence can be particularly fraught in murder trials.
Attention-seeker or renters’ champion? The Greens MP driving pollies up the wall
Max Chandler-Mather is shaking up federal politics with his uncompromising take on the housing crisis.
The controversial lawsuits that could end reality TV as we know it
Chaos has always been what drives reality TV but it could also be the reason the genre, as we know it, might be over.
Pope Francis hosts Jimmy Fallon, Stephen Colbert, 100 other comedians in Vatican
“All of us were thinking, how did this happen?” said comedian Conan O’Brien. “Why are we here, and when are they going to throw us out?”
How to keep kids interested in music, without it becoming a chore
Kid won’t play a musical instrument? Missy Higgins has some advice.
WEEKEND READS
Two of Us
Ann Patchett almost binned Aussie Meg Mason’s novel. Now, they’re ‘profound friends’
Authors Meg Mason and Ann Patchett became friends in early 2021. They voice-note each other most days to talk about life, death and nut roast.
‘Do you vacuum your lampshades?’ It was an idyllic town. Now it’s cursed by coal dust
A former local returns to the small NSW town of Muswellbrook, where he finds an expanded open-cut mining sector, a hollowed-out community and dust – everywhere.
Victoria
Exclusive
Ambulance Victoria
Leaked reports detail ‘dangerous’ Ambulance Victoria call-centre crisis
WorkSafe has threatened legal action if the ambulance service does not quickly address the worker shortages that are damaging the health of staff and potentially threatening public safety.
Exclusive
Healthcare
‘Hands off our hospital’: Victorian towns fighting to keep health services
Victoria’s auditor-general has been asked to investigate the true financial state of the health system as the government prepares for amalgamations.
Teachers told to ignore Victoria’s phonics push as union lashes deputy premier
An outraged teachers’ union has blasted Education Minister Ben Carroll for failing to respect the profession in a fierce response to the state government’s reading mandate.
Man from family linked to the AFL charged with rapes
The man, who is charged with two counts of rape and three counts of perverting the course of justice, on Friday won a court fight to keep his identity secret.
Accused Facebook fashion scammer faces dozens of fraud charges
Alana Petridis allegedly lured at least 23 people into a sophisticated social media scam selling designer clothes. Investigators believe there are many other alleged victims across Australia
AFL 2024
The ‘Pied piper’ leading the charge at AFL’s new Tasmanian team
Tasmania Devils executive director Kath McCann was the brainchild behind the club’s $10 memberships, which have already attracted 195,000 members.
Confidence grows for Lions as grand finalists take points in Gabba shoot-out
The Lions held on to claim the four points despite a fearless comeback in the final term from St Kilda.
Politics
Australians have been short-changed billions. Now banks are being forced to change
Treasurer Jim Chalmers is unveiling changes to how banks inform their customers on everything from deposits to mortgage rates, so people can make better financial choices.
Business
The fallen tech titan, a suburban gangland lawyer and a $26.6m mystery
The corporate watchdog is investigating what happened to $75 million of an ASX-listed company’s cash. At the centre of the investigation are two men – a gangland lawyer and a charming tech executive.
World
‘Not out of the woods’: Princess of Wales gives update on cancer treatment
Catherine said she is making good progress ahead of her first public appearance since surgery revealed the presence of cancer.
Opinion
Five reasons the Greens believe the next election could be their best
James Massola
National affairs editor
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Property
The magic number that tips the rental market in tenants’ favour
Experts say it’s been years since the market has favoured renters, and it would take years of high vacancy rates to reverse the rental crisis.
How much faster rents have risen than wages
Experts say other interim measures, such as rent caps and slowing immigration, are needed to ease the pressure on renters until 1.2 million needed homes are built.
Good Food
Recipe collection
Pudding
Five warm and saucy puddings to make this weekend
Lifestyle
Men need to be better at helping men. Their lives depend on it
As a society, we have made progress in talking about men’s mental health. But not nearly enough.
Culture
How a $1 million film about a walk stared down Furiosa
Cinema revenues are collapsing, and Australia is no exception. But that doesn’t mean we’ve fallen out of love with the movies.
Traveller
Drivedrive
From Our Partners
Sport
Breaking
Paris 2024
Jack breaks silence on China drugs scandal as further positive cases emerge
Shayna Jack, whose two-year drugs ban deprived her of a place at the Olympics in 2021, has responded to the news three Chinese gold medallists from Tokyo tested positive to Clenbuterol in 2016-17.
Live
AFL 2024
AFL 2024 round 14 LIVE updates: Bontempelli’s goal of the year contender fires Dogs to lead over Freo
The Bulldogs and Dockers play a crucial clash at Marvel Stadium as AFL Saturday games begin. Dustin Martin’s 300th game follows when Richmond plays Hawthorn at the MCG. Follow all the action here.
Exclusive
Dustin Martin
Dusty in his own words: Watch the champion Tiger’s most revealing interview
A rare video interview shows that Dustin Martin was an excellent judge of his football strengths and weaknesses, even before he launched his spectacular AFL career.
Is Brodie Grundy the key to unlocking a Swans’ premiership?
He has been hailed as the shrewdest piece of business the Swans have done for years, but can ruck Brodie Grundy deliver a premiership to the Swans?
Updated
ICC Men’s World Cup
USA, Afghanistan upset heavyweights in topsy-turvy T20 World Cup
The Twenty20 World Cup in the West Indies and United States has had some great moments, but how many people have noticed?
Surging Lions victorious against Saints in shootout no one saw coming
Joe Daniher kicked five goals in an inspired display as the Brisbane Lions survived a frenetic late fightback from St Kilda for a 20-point win at the Gabba. Re-live the key moments from Brisbane.
The ‘Pied piper’ leading the charge at AFL’s new Tasmanian team
Tasmania Devils executive director Kath McCann was the brainchild behind the club’s $10 memberships, which have already attracted 195,000 members.
Have Your Say
‘We don’t need a third guy’: When Novak crashed the Roger and Rafa show
As Novak Djokovic’s career winds down, Roger Federer has offered his theory on why the “misunderstood” Serbian became such a polarising figure.
