Opinion
Opinion
State of Origin
The best. Anywhere. I’ll tell a man it was
Intensity is a word oft overused. But when reminiscing on the Origin decider, it almost doesn’t do the match justice.
- by Peter FitzSimons
Latest
Opinion
State of Origin
It’s coming Homer: Brutal and beautiful, this was an Origin odyssey of epic proportions
The decider showcased the qualities that make Origin different from the rest of rugby league.
- by Malcolm Knox
Analysis
State of Origin
State of Origin player ratings: How the Blues and Maroons fared in the decider
NSW were too good at Suncorp Stadium on Wednesday night. Which of the 34 players who stepped onto the field shone brightest?
- by Paul Zalunardo and Phil Mitchell
Opinion
AFL 2024
Were these AFL bans correct, or the suspensions that broke footy?
Debate is raging over the three-match bans upheld by the AFL tribunal for Toby Bedford and Charlie Cameron’s tackles. Is the reaction hysterical hand wringing, or is the game under threat?
- by Jon Pierik and Peter Ryan
Opinion
Protests
Tenacious D thrive on black humour. So why gag themselves now?
Jack Black and his musical partner, Kyle Gass, called off their Australian tour after an “improvised” joke about the assassination attempt on Donald Trump. Too soon?
- by Bill Wyman
Analysis
Building Bad
This is not the time to flinch on union corruption
Will Labor look after households or protect its friends in the union movement? One way to tell will be whether it forces tainted officials out the door.
- by David Crowe
Opinion
Andrew Forrest
Billionaire Andrew Forrest’s green crusade cops a reality check
Fortescue is about to turn 21, and with age seemingly comes wisdom, as the company puts it enormously expensive green hydrogen plans on the backburner.
- by Elizabeth Knight
Opinion
Marriage
Steven said no to the strip club on a buck’s night. Then his mates shunned him
Should the buck’s stop here? Yes, and so should the hen night. They belonged to another century.
- by Jenna Price
Analysis
US Votes 2024
Republican Party’s transformation is complete. It is united behind Trump
If there was ever any doubt that this is Donald J. Trump’s party, it has ended. Friends and former enemies alike have realigned behind the MAGA platform.
- by Farrah Tomazin
Opinion
China
Trump’s shadow looms larger over China
The increased likelihood that Donald Trump will regain the US presidency is a threat to Xi Jinping’s factory-led strategy for restructuring China’s economy.
- by Stephen Bartholomeusz
Opinion
US Votes 2024
What would a second Trump term be like? Check out Project 2025
A blueprint has been drafted for how Trump’s administration would function if he wins back the White House. It’s every bit as menacing as critics report.
- by Paul Krugman
Opinion
Sex & relationships
Has #MeToo dampened the appetite for office romance? Not for the French
Have office relationships and affairs become less frequent in recent years? According to the data, you’re probably surrounded by them.
- by Peter Quarry
Opinion
State of Origin
As a NSW fan, Kalyn Ponga terrifies me – but he can be a double-edged sword
Billy Slater has taken a gamble with the Knights superstar. But Michael Maguire must try to expose him if the Origin shield is to return south.
- by Andrew Johns
Opinion
State of Origin
Ricky Stuart and Andrew Johns’ Blues-print for winning Origin deciders in Brisbane
Stuart did it as a player in 1994 and coach in 2005, in which Johns was at his very best.
- by Andrew Webster
Analysis
Renting
Rental payments ‘wiping out’ incomes as costs keep rising
Renters are spending more of their income on rent, but there are signs the worst of the rent increases may be over.
- by John Collett
Analysis
Cost of living
Shoppers lose faith in supermarkets for being too profit-driven
The high regard consumers once had for big supermarkets has been tarnished by concerns over soaring grocery prices.
- by John Collett
Opinion
Investing
Scared to invest? You might be thinking about it all wrong
When it comes to money, people often struggle to discern the difference between actual and perceived risk. It could be holding you back.
- by Paridhi Jain
Opinion
Ask an expert
Can I open a super account for my young grandson?
Helping kids with their super can mean you’ll run into some hurdles.
- by Noel Whittaker
Analysis
Income tax
Why you should wait before filing your tax return
Care needs to be taken with work-related deductions and any income earned on the side when completing tax returns this year.
- by John Collett
Opinion
Australian economy
Take heart! Australia is still better and fairer than most
It’s been tempting to think that the goal of every generation being better off than their parents has been lost. It’s not true. Not yet anyway.
- by Ross Gittins
Opinion
Renewables
Cutting the green claptrap: Climate activists were right about BP all along
The oil giant has switched almost overnight from the green darling of the European “majors” to arch-villain by betting the farm on oil and gas and retreating from renewables and clean-tech investment.
- by Ambrose Evans-Pritchard
Opinion
ABC
Familiar as hell? Shaun Micallef’s new chat show not what the ABC needs
Promoting his return to the ABC, Shaun Micallef quips that he stepped aside two years ago to make way for young talent, but there “wasn’t any”.
- by Thomas Mitchell
Opinion
Breast cancer
I was diagnosed with breast cancer. I’m glad it wasn’t long COVID
I’ve always enjoyed being social and have often had too many drinks. Did I regret it? No. When you have cancer, it’s a bit too late to worry.
- by Margaret Gordon
Analysis
US Votes 2024
Survivor given hero’s welcome at celebration of all things Trump
Donald Trump’s first public appearance after an attempt on his life could hardly come at a better time and place: before an adoring crowd at the Republican National Convention.
- by Farrah Tomazin
Analysis
US Votes 2024
Trump anoints his heir in a bid to extend his influence for decades to come
By adopting J.D. Vance, Donald Trump has entrenched his worldview and his loyalists at the top of the Republican Party.
- by Peter Hartcher
Opinion
US Votes 2024
Guns, ammo and jails: How speculators made a quick profit on the ‘Trump trade’
Picking investment winners under a Donald Trump regime has become the market’s latest sport.
- by Elizabeth Knight
Opinion
Paris 2024
LVMH has already won gold at the Paris Olympics
The luxury brand has spent €150 million ($241 million) to be one of the premium sponsors of the Olympic and Paralympic Games.
- by Andrea Felsted
Analysis
Political leadership
Voters are showing Labor no gratitude – and a howl of pain instead
Labor needs more time to win back voters. No wonder Anthony Albanese dismisses the idea of an early election.
- by David Crowe
Analysis
AFL 2024
On a losing streak with a tough run home, will the Magpies fall short of September?
Collingwood need to win at least four of their remaining six games to make the eight. And when you consider the quality of teams they face, the Magpies are in trouble. Deep trouble.
- by Jon Pierik
Opinion
Elon Musk
‘Dark patterns’: European Commission is ticked off by Elon Musk’s X, again
The European Commission sees evidence of “motivated malicious actors” using X’s blue ticks to deceive users. Musk fires back, claiming that the EC offered his company “an illegal secret deal”.
- by Stephen Bartholomeusz
Analysis
Collectables
Why pieces from this Australian designer could soon be worth thousands
Akira Isogawa is a name in fashion that needs little introduction, and keen collectors have started to chase after his iconic pieces.
- by Stephen Crafti
Opinion
Building Bad
I witnessed the rot set in at the CFMEU. Here’s how it happened
When John Setka and his band took control, muscle became everything – no matter where the muscle came from.
- by John Sutton
Analysis
Spending
Young people say they don’t need a bank. Here’s what they do instead
Generation Alpha kids are circumventing the need to ever step inside a local bank branch, opting instead for a fully digital experience.
- by Nina Hendy
Opinion
State of Origin
Fun and mind games: Origin Madge is a better coach than NRL Madge
He’s manipulated the press, got under Queensland’s skin, rattled Billy Slater and upset Gorden Tallis. He’s made for this arena.
- by Andrew Webster
Analysis
State of Origin
Why Aerosmith and Origin have more in common than you might think
The Blues and Maroons will be living on the edge when they battle for interstate supremacy at Suncorp Stadium on Wednesday night.
- by Roy Masters
Opinion
Non-alcoholic drinks
Sober thoughts: Non-alcoholic drinks trend is shaping Perth venues
At the halfway mark of Dry July, our food writer reflects on the growing interest in sobriety and its effect on restaurants, dining out and food culture generally.
- by Max Veenhuyzen
Opinion
US politics
Assassination in the USA: Why does America take aim at its leaders?
Access to guns does not fully explain the intensity of American political violence. There must be something more.
- by Peter Hartcher
Analysis
China relations
Australia refuses to match allies sanctioning China over support for Russian war
The UK, US and the EU are among those sanctioning Chinese companies accused of helping Russia wreak havoc in Ukraine. The Albanese government is an outlier.
- by Lisa Visentin
Analysis
US Votes 2024
Biden planned to ramp up his attacks on Trump. Now those plans are in disarray
The US president faces a delicate balancing act in his campaign for re-election as America reels from the attempted assassination.
- by Farrah Tomazin
Analysis
Building Bad
It’s a union, not a bikie gang: CFMEU needs a serious overhaul, not more of the same
The union’s national body wants policymakers and the public to think it’s taken a strong step. It hasn’t.
- by Ben Schneiders
Opinion
Building Bad
See ya, Setka! Why union chief’s departure is good news for women
It took a long time for the CFMEU to be rid of John Setka. Now it finally is.
- by Jenna Price
Opinion
Bank fees
Old habits are hard to kick for banks. They’re behaving badly – again
Six years after the royal commission, there are signs of a re-emergence of poor behaviour. At the very least this looks like conduct slippage.
- by Elizabeth Knight
Analysis
Wimbledon
Out-served, outgunned, outplayed: Is this the end of the Djokovic era?
Doubting Djokovic is a dangerous game, but even he is starting to do it.
- by Marc McGowan
Opinion
US Votes 2024
Trump’s radical policy agenda looms larger after the shooting
A second Trump presidency could lead to a new breakout of inflation in the US, even as the Federal Reserve board’s independence would be under threat.
- by Stephen Bartholomeusz
Opinion
US Votes 2024
Why attack on Trump is no watershed moment for America
Unable to confront its murderous past, America continues to suffer from historical amnesia when it comes to political violence.
- by Nick Bryant
Opinion
European Championships
At the final whistle, England looked as if they had their hearts ripped out
England’s 58 years of misery goes on as the ultimate prize of a major soccer title slips away again.
- by Oliver Brown
Opinion
Pregnancy
‘This is your fault’: The doctor’s words that left me with PTSD
It’s only now – 24 years later – that I am able to discuss it, and I still cry. Birth trauma is still vastly overlooked, but its impacts can last a lifetime.
- by Beth Knights
Analysis
AFL 2024
Time running out for Magpies, Greene is good for football: Key takeouts from round 18
Collingwood’s chances of making finals now appear worse than slim, Sam Mitchell’s coaching ability has been on display this season and the Bulldogs’ roller-coaster continued with an impressive win over Carlton.
- by Peter Ryan
Opinion
Wage growth
OECD’s message to our inflation warriors: calm down, she’ll be right
International public servants in Paris have reminded us that Australia’s real wages are too low. So why is the RBA so worried about continued high inflation?
- by Ross Gittins
Opinion
US Votes 2024
Trump fomented political violence. Now, an already fraught election just got worse
Political violence in the US is rare, but has a dark heart beating just out of sight. The attempted assassination of Donald Trump has seen it burst to the surface again.
- by Bill Wyman