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Trial by Water podcast
A new investigative podcast about one of Australia’s most controversial cases.
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Exclusive
China relations
‘I’ve agonised over this’: Suspected foreign interference victims break silence
Federal police told some of Australia’s most prominent critics of the Chinese Communist Party they were suspected targets of a foreign interference operation.
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.
Princess of Wales makes first appearance since cancer diagnosis
Catherine, who is still undergoing chemotherapy, travelled by car for the King’s Birthday Parade, and was seen sitting with Prince William and their children.
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.
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.
Robert Irwin asks Hanson to please explain ‘defamatory’ cartoon
Lawyers representing Irwin sent a cease and desist letter to producers of a One Nation cartoon, alleging it was defamatory and deceptively used Irwin’s image.
Young couple pays $200,000 above reserve for spacious Yarraville home
It took a vendor bid to start the auction before three bidders pushed the price well above the reserve.
Opinion
Ageing
Michael Mosley’s death reminded me of what an ER doctor once told me
The modern truism that 80 is the new 60, and 60 is the new 40, ignores the fact that not everyone’s body is going to get the memo.
Deborah Snow
Senior writer
Nine goals from 10 touches for Amartey as Swans belt Crows
Joel Amartey has kicked a career-high nine goals to lead Sydney to a 42-point come-from-behind victory over the Crows at Adelaide Oval. Amartey had just 10 touches and none in the first quarter.
Dusty’s 300th
Dustin Martin
Almost a time warp to Tiger glory days as 92,311 converge for Dusty
For a few hours on Saturday afternoon, it appeared the city of Melbourne had entered a time warp and landed back in 2019. Richmond people had returned to the football en masse to honour Dustin Martin.
Touching moment from rivals caps golden career as Cate Campbell’s Paris dream dashed
The four-time Olympian could not overcome a crack field in the 50m freestyle at the Australian trials, but it led to an “incredibly special” moment immediately after the race.
‘Close to out of control’: Boeing 737 plunged within 120 metres of ocean near Hawaii
The previously unreported mishap adds to a spate of safety incidents that have caught the public’s attention as airlines have ramped up flying since the pandemic.
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.
Music, merriment and maybe a streaker on show in Melbourne’s favourite footy fundraiser
Melbourne’s musicians and the city’s community radio hosts will battle it out again in the Reclink Community Cup on Sunday.
Recipe collection
Pudding
Five warm and saucy puddings to make this weekend
Sink your spoon into these warm self-saucing puddings, perfect for a wintry weekend.
WEEKEND READS
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.
Dutton has revved up the climate war – and scientists and business are in despair
The return of the climate war has entrenched old fault lines.
Victoria
Former Andrews adviser ousted from lobby firm, denies bullying claims
John-Paul Blandthorn – the brother of Allan government minister Lizzie Blandthorn – said he was seeking legal advice after being sacked from Labor-linked firm Hawker Britton.
They were once farm roads. Now they run between sleek townhouses and yacht-filled marinas
Bordered by market gardens and a giant sewage treatment farm, the former farm town of Werribee is experiencing irresistible population growth.
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.
AFL 2024
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?
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.
Politics
Exclusive
Renewables
The truth about Australia’s race to roll out renewables
New figures heighten the dispute over energy policy after Opposition Leader Peter Dutton revealed this week he would not set a target to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 2030.
Business
David Jones downsizes: Why department stores keep slashing floor space
Australia’s department store chains have been reducing floor space since 2017 – but experts believe they’re not done yet as consumer habits evolve.
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
Why is it so hard to find unbiased beauty advice online?
Cosmetic chemist Dr Michelle Wong is using science to tackle beauty misinformation on social media, one claim at a time.
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
Touching moment from rivals caps golden career as Cate Campbell’s Paris dream dashed
The four-time Olympian could not overcome a crack field in the 50m freestyle at the Australian trials, but it led to an “incredibly special” moment immediately after the race.
Amartey party: Nine goals from 10 touches as Swans belt Adelaide
Joel Amartey has kicked a career-high nine goals to lead Sydney to a 42-point come-from-behind victory over the Crows at Adelaide Oval. Amartey had just 10 touches and none until the second quarter.
Analysis
European Championships
And the winner is … Robotinho predicts the Euro 2024 champions
After a mixed return at last year’s Women’s World Cup, our resident AI football expert is back to find the winner of the European Championships, which kicked off on Saturday.
Robotinho, Mark Stehle and Emma Kemp
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?
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.
‘I had an incredible journey’: Cody Simpson’s Olympic dream is over
Cody Simpson says he can hold his head high after falling short of his quest to become an Olympian.
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.
Have Your Say
Dusty’s journey from Castlemaine kid to silent superstar
Here are 10 key moments that have helped shape Dustin Martin the man, and Martin the footballer, ahead of his 300th game.