Naked City Newsletter
For subscribers: John Silvester lifts the lid on Australia’s criminal underworld.
The Missing Campers podcast
The Missing Campers Trial podcast follows the case of Russell Hill and Carol Clay, and convicted murderer Gregory Lynn.
Interactive: Search for uni courses
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Live
Assange saga
Assange to speak live from Canberra; ‘We did it’: Lawyer’s relief at WikiLeaks founder’s release
Julian Assange will make his first public remarks in Canberra tonight, after walking free from a US court earlier on Wednesday. Follow our live coverage.
Latest live posts
Loading‘Nothing to be ashamed of’: Lawyers defiant as Assange heads to Australia
The WikiLeaks founder’s conviction has put journalists around the world at risk of imprisonment for doing their jobs, Julian Assange’s lawyers have warned.
Exclusive
For subscribers
The three words from Joe Biden that led to freedom for Julian Assange
After numerous plot twists, the high-stakes hide-and-seek game is coming to a dramatic conclusion, with both Julian Assange and the US getting what they need.
‘I hope he has a lovely time in jail’: Russell Hill’s widow stoic after Gregory Lynn split verdict
Robyn Hill feels a sense of injustice at the verdict over her husband’s death, but has vowed to look the killer in the eye when he is sentenced for murdering Carol Clay.
Breaking
Political lobbying
Three meetings, one minister, a $27m contract … and a $135m blowout
Tech giant Salesforce met with then-cabinet minister Stuart Robert three times before securing a lucrative contract, sparking strong criticism from a parliamentary inquiry.
Country pop has taken over the charts – good god, why?
Genuine musical superstars – exceptional voices, charismatic presences, excellent lyricists – have been dulled and flattened, their voices muted and their lyrics uninspired.
New two-in-one, $230 million hotel ready to open at Melbourne Airport
The first new hotel at Melbourne Airport in 20 years will add 464 three- and four-star rooms to the location, with no shuttle required.
Is this hefty porchetta roll as good as Jamie Oliver reckons? Plus five others to try
The Italian rolled roast is a thing of salty, porky joy. These Melbourne spots are nailing it and slapping it on rolls you need to know about.
An eight-day trip to space has gone wrong. Two astronauts are stuck indefinitely
Boeing and NASA warned that because this was a test flight to and from the International Space Station, everything might not go perfectly. It hasn’t gone perfectly.
Exclusive
Healthcare
Hiring freeze, stationery cuts: Hospital chief’s warning over ‘challenging’ budget
Western Health has imposed a hiring freeze, cut back elective surgery and told staff to look for other savings as it grapples with state government budget cuts.
Exclusive
Israeli-Palestinian conflict
Albanese suspends Labor MP from caucus for crossing floor on Palestine vote
The Greens are planning another motion that will test Labor’s unity over the war in Gaza.
Exclusive
Media & marketing
Why Telstra’s new ads are a slap in the face for one group of Aussies
A series of new ads for Telstra features Australian voices and remote Australian locations. But it was made in Eastern Europe – and local creatives are angry.
Exclusive
Water
Who owns a river? Bitter feud over High Country farmer’s green power plan
A cattle station owner’s plan to build a hydroelectric power station on his property raises broader questions about land and water use, and the responsibility of authorities to take cultural values into account in granting permits for projects.
‘You can’t tackle someone like that’: Concussion expert takes aim at Dangerfield call
A leading concussion expert has hit out at the AFL tribunal’s decision to overturn Patrick Dangerfield’s one-match suspension, but the coach trying to stop the Cats captain this week agreed with the call.
Opinion
Social media
Here’s what my teens say about a social media ban: Bruh, let them try
Teenagers by nature strive to find a way to engage in whatever their parents try to ban. They’re not pet dogs. They will get over fences.
Sonia Orchard
Author
Opinion
Ask an expert
I have $1.9m in my pension account. Can I add in more to save on tax?
While adding to your super once it hits the cap isn’t possible, your savings can still grow through the power of compound interest.
Noel Whittaker
Money columnist
Opinion
Government debt
Macron’s snap election could trigger the next debt crisis
This weekend’s elections have the potential to blow out France’s debt and threaten the stability of the eurozone and its single currency.
Stephen Bartholomeusz
Senior business columnist
The Lynn Verdicts
Updated
Lynn took a sip of water and stared straight ahead. The verdict was delivered
A Supreme Court jury has found former pilot Gregory Lynn guilty of murdering Carol Clay at a remote campsite in 2020. He was found not guilty of the murder of Russell Hill.
‘Relieved and devastated’: Hill and Clay families’ joint statement
The families of Russell Hill and Carol Clay released a statement on Tuesday after the verdict in Gregory Lynn’s murder trial. The Age has published it in full.
Victoria
Port Phillip Prison to close as new Lara centre opens
The new Western Plains facility won’t start receiving prisoners until mid-2025, two-and-a-half years after major works were completed.
Teachers slam their own union over ‘outrageous’ phonics stance
The powerful Australian Education Union faces internal dissent over its opposition to Victoria’s mandate for public schools to introduce structured phonics.
Updated
Tragedy
Broadmeadows deaths cause ‘could be anything’ as police probe overdose link
Later on Tuesday, another life was lost nearby in the same suburb. Police have already arrested a man over that separate incident.
Pill testing to become permanent in Victoria
A mobile site will be launched from December and visit up to 10 festivals across two summers, and a fixed site in a club district in Melbourne will open in the middle of next year.
Six thousand litres of diesel floods Melbourne high-rise tower
Diesel fuel dripped through ceilings at the 15 William Street building in the CBD on Tuesday.
Politics
Analysis
Assange saga
The campaign to free Assange is over. The public argument about him is not
The dramatic final moment in the campaign to free the WikiLeaks founder will divide opinion just as much as every other phase in his remarkable life.
Business
Major record labels sue AI music generators
Major record companies, including the Sony, Universal and Warner conglomerates, sued two digital music generation companies on Monday, accusing them of using copyrighted sounds and songs to train the artificial intelligence that powers their businesses.
World
Ruling forces ultra-Orthodox into Israeli military after decades exempt
The long-standing exemptions had begun to grate on Israel’s Jewish majority, especially after the deaths of hundreds of soldiers in Gaza.
Opinion
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Property
‘Comfortable’ Canterbury house faces wrecking ball after $4.62m auction sale
Most of the potential buyers had plans to knock down and rebuild the four-bedroom home, which came with an indoor pool and sauna. It was one of 900 auctions scheduled on Saturday.
The most liveable Melbourne suburbs that buyers can no longer afford
Once considered affordable, these areas are now even further out of reach for home buyers.
Good Food
Lifestyle
A plant-based diet is good for your health. But there’s one exception
New research shows that not all plant-based diets are the same.
Culture
Did Foo Fighters frontman Dave Grohl really sledge Taylor Swift?
The pop megastar appeared to hit back at a not-so-subtle dig Dave Grohl made at the weekend.
Traveller
Drivedrive
From Our Partners
Sport
Australia’s 20 most memorable Olympic moments
Freeman or Thorpe? Rugby sevens gold or water polo glory? We take a walk down memory lane and select 20 unforgettable Australian Olympic moments.
Opinion
ICC Men’s World Cup
Who should follow Warner out of the losing T20 World Cup team?
Australia had just one player under 30 in the team that lost to India and missed the Twenty20 World Cup finals. What changes need to be made?
Malcolm Conn
Chief Cricket Writer
‘You can’t tackle someone like that’: Concussion expert takes aim at Dangerfield call
A leading concussion expert has hit out at the AFL tribunal’s decision to overturn Patrick Dangerfield’s one-match suspension, but the coach trying to stop the Cats captain this week agreed with the call.
Next stop for the Socceroos on road to 2026? It could be North Korea
Australia’s path to the World Cup will become clearer on Thursday - and there’s a one-in-three chance their next away trip will be to Pyongyang.
Opinion
State of Origin
Stephen Crichton will be the best player on the MCG in Origin II. Tell me I’m wrong
The Panthers have rarely got their recruitment and retention decisions wrong, but losing the best player in the game is surely one they lament.
Andrew Webster
Chief Sports Writer
Breaking
NRL 2024
Tigers grant Utoikamanu permission to test options as Raiders, Storm circle
Wests Tigers have given star prop Stefano Utoikamanu permission to officially negotiate with rival clubs in order to bring his contract saga to a head.
NBA draft
NBA
Here’s Johnny! How a kid from Clifton Hill rose to the NBA draft
He comes from a family of sporting high achievers and is poised to become an instant millionaire this week.
Have Your Say
Is Stringer a million-dollar player? Why enigmatic Bomber’s happy to delay contract talks
Matchwinning Bombers forward Jake Stringer is continuing to wait for a contract extension as he displays some of the best form of his enigmatic career.