Pandemic has increased inequality, and governments must take note

The pandemic has forced Australians to see the great divide between the haves and have-nots in our society. And many Australians want change.

from Sydney Morning Herald - Latest News
Read More

China looms large as South Korea uses visit to seek Australia’s help

Amid fears Asia’s fourth-largest economy is being left behind by the members of the Quad, South Korea’s President will look to lock in US support via Australia.

from Sydney Morning Herald - Latest News
Read More

‘Kingmakers’ flag no deals, tougher action on climate and ICAC in hung Parliament

Four federal crossbench MPs could hold the key to minority government after the next poll. And they’re ready to put Scott Morrison and Anthony Albanese on notice.

from Sydney Morning Herald - Latest News
Read More

The Sex and the City reboot was awful, and yes I will keep watching

And just like that, they’ve undone so much that was right about the original series. In the ’90s, Sex and the City showed single women cavorting against social expectations. Can’t we have some more of that now they are over 50? 

from Sydney Morning Herald - Latest News
Read More

26 years ago, dressed as Superman, Cole Leighton became the face of the third runway

“Everything would vibrate, the windows, bed, everything, the whole house would shake.”

from Sydney Morning Herald - Latest News
Read More

Hunt’s exit opens up the fight for Flinders

The Liberal Party has lost the advantage of incumbency in Flinders. So, what do voters want from Greg Hunt’s replacement?

from Sydney Morning Herald - Latest News
Read More

Forty years since Sydney ‘spunks’ and ‘surfie molls’ hit our screens, have we evolved?

As a teenager, the Herald asked me to review the film Puberty Blues, based on the groundbreaking and shocking novel about Sydney teenage surf culture, drug-taking and misogyny. What has changed since for young women?

from Sydney Morning Herald - Latest News
Read More

Repeat offenders six times more likely to be in serious car accident

Road safety experts say a driver’s offence history can help predict their likelihood of being in a dangerous accident, prompting calls for preventative action targeting these motorists.

from Sydney Morning Herald - Latest News
Read More

Adoption’s ‘primal wound’ goes from an ache to a throb at Christmas

As the Christmas trees go up, the anguish spikes for anyone affected by adoption. Calls seeking help rise at this time of year, say the Benevolent Society’s counsellors.

from Sydney Morning Herald - Latest News
Read More

All trees are Christmas trees, except the plastic ones that come in boxes

Around every growing tree you can find the perfect gift: oxygen, hospitality to other creatures, a strong sense of place and purpose, fresh buds.

from Sydney Morning Herald - Latest News
Read More

Keen Victorians stretch state’s COVID-testing capacity

Public health experts have called for more testing sites to open and for a greater reliance on home rapid tests to deal with demand, after lengthy queues at inner-Melbourne testing sites.

from Sydney Morning Herald - Latest News
Read More

‘Let them settle it on the track’: Final race will define legacies of Hamilton, Verstappen

The battle between Lewis Hamilton and Max Verstappen has become increasingly bitter as the 2021 Formula One season has evolved. The world championship decider could define their legacies.

from Sydney Morning Herald - Latest News
Read More

Tawdry details emerge of end of high-profile Aitkens’ break-up

Investment guru Charlie Aitken has told friends his marriage had been “in name only” for five years. Aitkens recently left his wife Ellie for her best friend, Hollie Nasser.

from Sydney Morning Herald - Latest News
Read More

‘Completely unimaginable’: How a business trip changed Stephenie’s life

She was the archetypal Sydney socialite, then a trip to Africa left Stephenie Rodriguez fighting for her life – and, eventually, losing her feet.

from Sydney Morning Herald - Latest News
Read More

A trip to Africa left her fighting for her life – and then her feet

On this week’s episode of Good Weekend Talks, we meet a Sydney socialite whose life was changed by an overseas trip.

from Sydney Morning Herald - Latest News
Read More

After COVID, the battle for the future of the pharmacy begins

Renewed interest from retailers to buy an Australian pharmacy brand has reopened the question of what the chemist of the future should look like.

from Sydney Morning Herald - Latest News
Read More

‘Mental load’ solution is men stepping up, not women stepping down

Men, this one’s for you: it’s time to take on some of the mental load. Here’s how.

from Sydney Morning Herald - Latest News
Read More

ASX to edge lower as Wall Street waits on inflation

US stocks have had a mixed session, with some big tech names losing ground,

from Sydney Morning Herald - Latest News
Read More

Why the Marlboro man will probably beat a lifetime tobacco ban

Australia is unlikely to follow New Zealand’s push to outlaw smoking while some parties continue to accept donations from tobacco companies.

from Sydney Morning Herald - Latest News
Read More

‘Less than accurate’: Commuter car park dispute escalates

A second Melbourne council has been threatened over future Commonwealth funding and federal MP Tim Wilson has been accused of being “less than accurate” as the commuter car park stoush drags on.

from Sydney Morning Herald - Latest News
Read More

The shameless pork-barrellers have normalised political graft

We witness the blithe abuse of billions in public funds, just as the nation confronts record deficits.

from Sydney Morning Herald - Latest News
Read More

Jailing is failing and NSW is a world-beating failure

Two former NSW attorneys-general, Labor and Liberal, write that the state’s just system is failing, with the prison population growing by 38 per cent in a decade.

from Sydney Morning Herald - Latest News
Read More

Treasurer tips ‘stellar bounceback’ for Victoria

The government now believes the economy will bounce back by 4.5 per cent, compared with a prediction of 3.25 per cent made just seven months ago.

from Sydney Morning Herald - Latest News
Read More

‘That’s life’: Joyce tests positive to COVID-19 in US

The Deputy Prime Minister says he expects he will have to isolate for about 10 days and his symptoms are in the early stages.

from Sydney Morning Herald - Latest News
Read More

‘Blundered the execution’: CEO sorry for firing 900 workers over Zoom

The chief executive of the US mortgage lender Better.com has apologised for how he dismissed hundreds of employees.

from Sydney Morning Herald - Latest News
Read More

Data suggests early Pfizer boosters effective against Omicron

The companies also said they could deliver an upgraded vaccine targeted specifically at the Omicron variant in March 2022 if one is needed.

from Sydney Morning Herald - Latest News
Read More

ASX 0.2% lower, ACCC approves Sydney Airport, Vulcan soars on VW deal

The Australian sharemarket opened flat before trading slightly higher, up 4.1 points at 7409.5. 

from Sydney Morning Herald - Latest News
Read More

Race-by-race preview and tips for Wyong on Thursday

Everything you need to know to find a winner at the race meeting at Wyong.

from Sydney Morning Herald - Latest News
Read More

De Goey case adjourned in New York, decision set for next month

Collingwood midfielder Jordan De Goey has had his case adjourned until January 4 after appearing in the New York Criminal Court via video link on Thursday morning.

from Sydney Morning Herald - Latest News
Read More

Downing Street Christmas party prompts tearful resignation, Boris Johnson beefs up COVID restrictions

The British Prime Minister came under sustained attack by the opposition and his own MPs as he attempted to distance himself from the gathering held inside his official residence last year.

from Sydney Morning Herald - Latest News
Read More

‘Invulnerable to law enforcement’: More alleged drug criminals outed by encrypted app

Crime bosses hiding in Turkey while allegedly trafficking drugs to Australia talked about “being able to get away with murder” in evidence now gathered by police.

from Sydney Morning Herald - Latest News
Read More

Victorians exposed as stretched triple-zero agency faces probes

A major review into the failings of the triple-zero system has been announced after chronic staff shortages have led to major connection delays as recently as last month.

from Sydney Morning Herald - Latest News
Read More

‘Like taking on Bambi’: The children’s doctor aiming to unseat the Treasurer

Monique Ryan, a neurologist at the Royal Children’s Hospital and political “cleanskin”, says she wants Josh Frydenberg’s federal seat of Kooyong.

from Sydney Morning Herald - Latest News
Read More

Hospitals brace for surge in cancer cases after fall in diagnoses

Authors of a Victorian Cancer Registry report, released on Thursday, warn that the state’s medical system is in ‘uncharted territory’.

from Sydney Morning Herald - Latest News
Read More

TV shows take centre stage at the AACTAs gala

It’s less Cannes Film Festival official selection and more Love It or List It Australia: the bulk of the film award categories were relegated to an online event on Monday.

from Sydney Morning Herald - Latest News
Read More

Government knew about cracked inner west trams weeks before service suspension

Cracks were first found in the inner west light rail trams almost a month before the service was suspended, new government documents have revealed.

from Sydney Morning Herald - Latest News
Read More

Perrottet’s new-look frontbench taking shape

The NSW Premier is on the cusp of making calls to the winners and losers of his upcoming cabinet reshuffle, which he is expected to finalise before Christmas.

from Sydney Morning Herald - Latest News
Read More

‘They don’t treat you like a problem child’: Foyers a fix for youth homelessness

Facilities at three TAFE campuses help people aged 16 to 24 who want to study but can’t live at home. On Wednesday, the youth foyers program will receive a funding boost.

from Sydney Morning Herald - Latest News
Read More

Australia won’t send officials to China for Winter Olympics

A final decision will be made within days on whether to follow the US and launch a full diplomatic boycott in a rebuke of Beijing over its human rights record.

from Sydney Morning Herald - Latest News
Read More

Liberal senator attacks ABC for having ‘more lawyers than most law firms’

Sarah Henderson says the ABC’s employment of 50 staff lawyers is “obscene” and “completely disproportionate” to the broadcaster’s needs.

from Sydney Morning Herald - Latest News
Read More

‘Debt free’: A year after losing $6m, the Swans are off the AFL drip

The Sydney Swans have recovered from a troubling $6.1 million loss in 2020 and are no longer one of the AFL’s financially “assisted” clubs.

from Sydney Morning Herald - Latest News
Read More

One of suspected killers of Saudi journalist Khashoggi arrested in Paris

The arrest came just days after French President Emmanuel Macron held face-to-face talks in Saudi Arabia with de facto ruler Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman.

from Sydney Morning Herald - Latest News
Read More

Ukraine vows to fight off Russia, shows off military hardware

US President Joe Biden has pledged his “unwavering support” to Ukraine in its standoff with Moscow and will hold talks with Russian President Vladimir Putin on Wednesday AEDT.

from Sydney Morning Herald - Latest News
Read More

Australian who says he invented Bitcoin to keep $71b stash after trial

A jury found that Australian computer scientist Craig Wright did not owe half of 1.1 million Bitcoins to the family of his one-time business partner, but he was ordered to pay $US100 million in damages.

from Sydney Morning Herald - Latest News
Read More

‘We simply can’t do that’: US confirms diplomatic boycott of Beijing Winter Olympics

White House press secretary Jen Psaki says US athletes will continue to compete and will “have our full support,” but added “we will not be contributing to the fanfare of the games”.

from Sydney Morning Herald - Latest News
Read More

Doctors call for private health insurance watchdog amid gaps in coverage

Australians with private health insurance are facing “bill shock” due to different levels of coverage among insurers and hospitals, prompting calls for an independent regulator.

from Sydney Morning Herald - Latest News
Read More

Does smiling really make you look younger?

A new study has found that smiling actually makes people look older – unless they are over 60, in which case the wrinkles have set in and it makes little difference.

from Sydney Morning Herald - Latest News
Read More

British police contacted over report of cocaine use in Parliament

Drug detection wipes found traces of cocaine only accessible by parliamentary lawmakers, including a washroom near PM Boris Johnson’s parliamentary office.

from Sydney Morning Herald - Latest News
Read More

Trump’s media deal under scrutiny by market regulators

Regulators are looking into the deal that would bring Donald Trump’s new social media company to the stock market, one that has attracted both legions of fans of the former president and people looking to make a quick profit.

from Sydney Morning Herald - Latest News
Read More

Response to skills shortages needs to be placed on a war footing

All sides of politics need to be on the same page when it comes to tackling Australia’s severe skills shortage.

from Sydney Morning Herald - Latest News
Read More

ASX set to rise as Wall Street surges

The Australian sharemarket is set for a positive start to the session as Wall Street rebounds to start the week.

from Sydney Morning Herald - Latest News
Read More

Morrow hits virus interruptus in Checkout defamation dispute

An uninvited guest has put a temporary halt to ex-Chaser Julian Morrow’s legal battle in the NSW Supreme Court.

from Sydney Morning Herald - Latest News
Read More

Cracks found in brand new Sydney Harbour ferry

A number of cracks have been discovered in the hull of one Sydney’s new Manly ferries, with an independent report identifying several welding defects on the vessel.

from Sydney Morning Herald - Latest News
Read More

Why is Shane Warne so harsh in his criticism of Australian players?

The leg-spinning great didn’t handle criticism well as a player but he doesn’t mind handing it out as a commentator.

from Sydney Morning Herald - Latest News
Read More

Teachers’ federation is an obstructionist protection racket, says Mitchell

The NSW Education Minister Sarah Mitchell has accused the teachers’ union of being “hell-bent” on hanging students out to dry for political purposes.

from Sydney Morning Herald - Latest News
Read More

With truth on trial, the Attorney-General’s High Court bid for secrecy is dangerous

The government’s attempts at secrecy are reaching unprecedented and absurd heights in this whistleblower case.

from Sydney Morning Herald - Latest News
Read More

Former mayor running as independent in Flinders

Mount Martha resident Despi O’Connor has confirmed she will contest the election after federal Health Minister Greg Hunt announced plans to leave Parliament.

from Sydney Morning Herald - Latest News
Read More

US can’t win two wars at once: Joe Biden’s worst nightmare

It is a chilling prospect for a US that is unable to fight wars on two major fronts: China and Russia conducting separate invasions of Taiwan and Ukraine, but co-ordinating their timing.

from Sydney Morning Herald - Latest News
Read More

Factional warfare threatens Labor MPs

Ten sitting Victorian Labor MPs could end up being pressured to leave Parliament at the next election as part of a factional purge, prompting crisis talks and warnings that some will quit early and trigger damaging byelections.

from Sydney Morning Herald - Latest News
Read More

Oh, stop it! It’s not a carbon tax and never was

Unlike other countries, Australia under the Coalition has a “safeguard mechanism” to control emissions – and a Labor government would rev it up. But what is it?

from Sydney Morning Herald - Latest News
Read More

Broke and overwhelmed: Life gets harder for young Australians

Latest HILDA survey shows life was getting tougher in many ways for Australia’s young people – then the pandemic hit.

from Sydney Morning Herald - Latest News
Read More

New WHO treaty must resolve vaccine patent stand-off: Halton

Former health department secretary Jane Halton says a stoush over patent waivers sought by developing nations is holding up efforts to vaccinate the world.

from Sydney Morning Herald - Latest News
Read More

Shock sevens swap: Gold medal coach in talks to take over women’s team

After a dismal Olympics campaign for Australia’s sevens teams, a shock coaching swap is on the cards.

from Sydney Morning Herald - Latest News
Read More

Is the new ‘COVID normal’ a fresh variant every few months?

The world must be on guard for particularly large waves on the horizon and respond quickly — even if it’s just hitting the “pause” button.

from Sydney Morning Herald - Latest News
Read More

I took my daughter to India for Schoolies to give her something I never had

As a teen, Sean Doyle struggled to navigate the larger world. So when his daughter Anna finished school, he chose something significant to mark that key moment in her life.

from Sydney Morning Herald - Latest News
Read More

Do house prices really double every 10 years?

The old saying goes that property prices double every decade, but new figures show the locations where price growth has been even stronger – and where it hasn’t kept pace.

from Sydney Morning Herald - Latest News
Read More

Pfizer jabs for children an important next step in vaccine rollout

A major development in our emergence from the pandemic has been the announcement that the Pfizer vaccine has been provisionally approved for use in children aged five to 11 years.

from Sydney Morning Herald - Latest News
Read More

ICAC not a consideration as Liberals say Berejiklian shifts thinking on federal tilt

Senior Liberals say the pending findings of a corruption into inquiry Gladys Berejiklian have no bearing on whether the former premier decides to run federally in Warringah.

from Sydney Morning Herald - Latest News
Read More

Top three designs for new Harbour Bridge cycle ramp unveiled

The public will have until late January to weigh in on their preferred option for the ramp at Milsons Point.

from Sydney Morning Herald - Latest News
Read More

Milgroms get political tipping motza into Climate 200

The Milgrom family have decided to donate $500,000 to the Climate 200 war chest, run by Simon Holmes a Court. Trent Zimmerman and Tim Wilson, are you sweating yet?

from Sydney Morning Herald - Latest News
Read More

Cameron Mackintosh backs new Sydney theatre

The nanny from Cherry Tree Lee is returning to the Sydney stage after an 11-year hiatus.

from Sydney Morning Herald - Latest News
Read More

Panicking financial markets could stuff up another global recovery

With prices rising surprisingly rapidly this year in the US and Britain – we’re witnessing a battle between financial markets, who fear inflation, and central banks.

from Sydney Morning Herald - Latest News
Read More

Bushfire-affected community asks for water storage, gets dance lessons

Resilience NSW officers determined in February the dance classes were “meritorious” but could not be funded under the bushfire recovery grants program. They funded them anyway.

from Sydney Morning Herald - Latest News
Read More

It’s the final quarter and it’s Albanese’s time to kick

The Labor leader is yet to establish his identity in the minds of many Australians, but yesterday he was clear: it’s game on.

from Sydney Morning Herald - Latest News
Read More

Consider these three facts about the teachers’ strike

The teachers’ claims are of relevance to all of us.

from Sydney Morning Herald - Latest News
Read More

Major bank boss’ pay could be linked to climate targets

Amid government promises to slash carbon emissions, investors are turning up the heat on banks over how they are handling climate risks.

from Sydney Morning Herald - Latest News
Read More

Parents split over support for upcoming teacher strike

Some parents and associations say it’s time for teachers to receive better pay and conditions for their efforts, but others do not want any further disruption to students.

from Sydney Morning Herald - Latest News
Read More

Junkee sale comes down to final weeks

There are still bidders in the mix to buy Junkee, but they are not willing to pay top dollar.

from Sydney Morning Herald - Latest News
Read More

The Aussie crypto fund manager who is pulling in 28,000 per cent returns

Along with the massive returns and the lure of bleeding-edge technology, one of the things Richard Galvin likes most about the crypto space is its inefficiency.

from Sydney Morning Herald - Latest News
Read More

Buy now, pay dearly later: how consumers are indebted with late fees

It’s the shiny new toy of credit, but the buy now, pay later industry profits when customers fail to pay on time.

from Sydney Morning Herald - Latest News
Read More

Unrest on Melbourne’s fringe as councillor seeks legal advice over making apology

Hume council has spent over $50,000 on internal investigations, most centred around one man whom a fellow councillor has lodged a bullying complaint against.

from Sydney Morning Herald - Latest News
Read More

Omicron not fuelling surge in hospitalisations: Fauci

Initial data from South Africa, the epicentre of the outbreak of the Omicron variant, does not show a resulting surge of hospitalisations, America’s top COVID adviser said.

from Sydney Morning Herald - Latest News
Read More