Opinion
Opinion
Paris 2024
Marky Mark is the weapon Australia’s sevens team needs in Paris
A league-bound Wallaby and a French legend loom as major threats in the men’s rugby sevens tournament.
- by Michael Hooper
Latest
Opinion
Friendship
The first time I saw crying that frightened me, it came from my father
I have been practising being better in the company of others crying. It’s a human act that scares us, but I’m learning to embrace its power.
- by Jacinta Parsons
Opinion
US Votes 2024
Trump trades: Markets are betting against Europe, oil and humanity
How would one have “priced” global markets in 1912 or 1937, when the writing already was on the wall, but nothing was predetermined, and one could still hope? Worth pondering.
- by Ambrose Evans-Pritchard
Analysis
FIFA
Money and power: Why Europe’s top leagues have declared war on FIFA
The game’s governing body is the subject of legal action by players and leagues who say the international calendar is at breaking point. Here’s what you need to know.
- by Vince Rugari
Opinion
Aviation
How Flight Centre’s news on falling airfares became Qantas’ problem
As international airfares continue falling from the highs reached after COVID-19, aviation profits should settle to more normal sustainable levels.
- by Elizabeth Knight
Opinion
Australian economy
You want cheap stuff? You’ll need to accept more pain like the CrowdStrike crash
The blue screen of death was just the latest in a string of crises that have afflicted the global economy. Brace yourself for more.
- by Shane Wright
Analysis
AFL 2024
The run home: Where the contenders stand in the race for the AFL top eight
While the Swans appear to have top spot locked up, the race for the top eight is well and truly on as we head into the home stretch of the AFL season. Where will your team finish?
- by Jon Pierik
Opinion
Sharemarket
Betting on autonomy: Investors are waiting for Tesla’s future to arrive
The electric carmaker’s latest earnings have again missed expectations. It’s time for Elon Musk to keep his promise to turn the company into more than what it is today.
- by Stephen Bartholomeusz
Opinion
Holidays
The main problem with tourist trails? The tourists
Here’s how to get off the road most travelled.
- by Richard Glover
Analysis
Retirement living
Retiree, beware: New residential village model charges more the longer you live
One retirement village company has come up with a solution for residents who stay longer than the average nine years: just keep charging them.
- by Rachel Lane
Analysis
Debit cards
Westpac offers debit cards to eight-year-olds in youth banking push
Children as young as eight are being offered a physical debt card in an effort by Westpac to improve their financial literacy.
- by John Collett
Opinion
Ask an expert
Can you withdraw a loved one’s super after death to save on tax?
It’s important to clarify strategies to save on superannuation “death tax”, as there are certain methods that will not work after death.
- by Noel Whittaker
Opinion
Cost of living
Cost-of-living crisis? Why only some of us are feeling the pinch
A fascinating study into how our standards of living have changed since before COVID helps to explain why some Australians are feeling no pain.
- by Ross Gittins
Opinion
Side hustle
The financial steps that can make or break your new business
Starting a new side hustle is a serious undertaking. Here are four mistakes I see people make all the time.
- by Paridhi Jain
Opinion
Estate planning
Death and taxes are inevitable. Here’s how retirees can minimise the latter
If couples and families don’t put proper preparations in place, serious financial problems can emerge when a loved one dies.
- by Noel Whittaker
Opinion
Building Bad
Can’t get a tradie? The CFMEU’s stranglehold on major projects is choking all of us
Victoria’s major road and rail projects mean we are building fewer houses, at greater expense. The construction union’s grip is affecting costs, efficiency, quality and the availability of skilled labour.
- by Harley Dale
Analysis
Financial planning
Consumers locked out of financial advice as fees keep rising
The incoming changes to legislation are not enough on their own to get costs down, advisers have warned.
- by John Collett
Opinion
Childcare
I’m a grandmother, not a child carer. I did the job the first time around
I long ago made it very clear to my adult children that while being a grandmother is something I might enjoy, I would not be participating in exhausting hours of tending to toddlers.
- by Avril Moore
Opinion
CFMEU
How the government’s CFMEU response plays into the Coalition’s hands
The government’s light-touch response to the allegations swirling around the CFMEU risks emboldening Labor’s critics.
- by Elizabeth Knight
Opinion
Workplace
I’m a cafe worker. There’s one question customers ask that shows a lack of respect
Most people have little idea of the stigma directed at hospitality workers. There is an assumption that wait staff above a certain age lack the skills or gumption to “get a proper job”.
- by Liam Heitmann-Ryce-LeMercier
Analysis
Shares
Eight stocks that analysts have tipped for a turnaround
BHP and Lendlease are among analysts’ tips of good-quality Australian-listed companies whose share prices could do better.
- by John Collett
Opinion
Inside China
Xi just doubled down on his big China bet
China’s struggling economy was the driving force behind an unexpected cut in interest rates, but Xi Jinping is doubling down on his long-term dream.
- by Stephen Bartholomeusz
Opinion
NRL 2024
Why a 20-team NRL competition solves rugby league’s biggest problems
PNG and the Perth Bears are a lock – but the identity of the third new franchise is anyone’s guess.
- by Andrew Webster
Opinion
Network outage
The cinema was ‘cash-free’ but the eftpos machines were down. Was I in a movie?
The CrowdStrike outage reminded me and the rest of the developed world of how reliant we are on a few big companies to keep the show on the road.
- by Millie Muroi
Opinion
US Votes 2024
Biden’s exit changes the game. But here’s why Trump’s still on track to win
Kamala Harris is no less unpopular than Joe Biden. On some measures, she’s even less likely to win against Donald Trump.
- by Peter Hartcher
Opinion
Inflation
Could a Harris economy prove more progressive than ‘Bidenomics’?
As US Vice President Kamala Harris prepares to potentially replace President Joe Biden atop the Democratic ticket, she now faces the challenge of articulating her own vision for steering the US economy.
- by Alan Rappeport
Opinion
US election
Suddenly, Trump, not Biden, is the buffoonish old guy in the race
The Republicans’ entire campaign has been focused on Joe Biden in general and his age in particular. Now we have a real battle on our hands.
- by Bill Wyman
Opinion
Cyber protection
Massive outage shows the vulnerability of the global tech ecosystem
The CrowdStrike episode is chilling because it highlights how a single, flawed update from a trusted source can cause large parts of the global system to fail.
- by Stephen Bartholomeusz
Analysis
NRL 2024
Cleary’s clutch miracle shouldn’t have happened. But he’s just that good
After a 10-week injury lay-off, Nathan Cleary and his Panthers teammates needed just three simple plays to set up the NRL’s best match-winner for the most unlikely play.
- by Dan Walsh and Billie Eder
Opinion
US Votes 2024
Biden couldn’t withstand the friendly fire. But will his self-sacrifice save the Democrats?
Historians will regard Biden as among the more consequential US presidents. If the Democrats win in November, he’ll occupy an even more exalted perch.
- by Nick Bryant
Analysis
AFL 2024
Why the Pies can’t get de going and a Hawks wizard finds his magic touch: Key takeouts from round 19
Without his superpowers, Jordan De Goey is struggling, and so are the Magpies. But for Nick Watson and the Hawks the opposite is true. Meanwhile, a key Crow’s talent has been unlocked and the Cats have lost their edge at home.
- by Andrew Stafford
Analysis
Protests
Police kill more than 100 students in protests over job handouts
The protests erupted out of Bangladeshi students’ anger at a quota system for government jobs that benefited certain groups.
- by Anupreeta Das
Opinion
Construction
Construction industry a honeypot that capital and labour fight over
Don’t fall for the “rogue union” bogeyman theory. There’s much more going on than there seems.
- by Ross Gittins
Opinion
US Votes 2024
For heaven’s sake, Joe, let it go
It makes me sad that Biden doesn’t see what’s inescapable: If he doesn’t walk away gracefully right now, he will probably ruin his legacy.
- by Maureen Dowd
Opinion
Network outage
How close are we to chaos? Just one blue screen of death
Crippling tech meltdowns like CrowdStrike are getting more common and more severe. Will you be ready for the next one? Are you keeping spare cash?
- by David Swan
Opinion
Wallabies
It was only Georgia, but Wallabies produced their best passage of play for two years
Wallabies fans predictably zoomed in on the negatives after Saturday’s wobbly Test win. But their impressive opening quarter will give the Springboks plenty to think about.
- by Paul Cully
Analysis
NRL 2024
Victorious Blues dress for success in final shot at Maroons
There was a genuine swagger in the way the NSW team celebrated their series win in Brisbane, especially their eye-catching choice of attire.
- by Danny Weidler
Analysis
AFL 2024
The quick fixes Carlton must make as they march toward finals
Carlton have taken major strides towards their first flag since 1995, but there are two key issues Michael Voss must address. One crucial question - are they better with two frontline ruckmen or not?
- by Jon Pierik
Analysis
Work/life balance
CEO burnout: The ‘dirty little secret’ among business top brass
Burnout is a multibillion-dollar-a-year problem, with money primarily being haemorrhaged via days lost to stress, fatigue and poor mental health.
- by Charlotte Lytton
Opinion
Budgeting
Who wants to be a millionaire? You should read this first
Personal wealth in Australia is predicted to boom in the coming years, with the number of people joining the millionaire club set to skyrocket.
- by Victoria Devine
Opinion
Ask an expert
Should I boost my super or pay off my mortgage?
Owning a roof over our heads and being debt-free in retirement is a common goal. But doing so can come at the expense of extra earnings.
- by Paul Benson
Opinion
US Votes 2024
J.D. Vance is a jump to the left and a step to the right
Vance has transcended his disadvantage and shown what the idea of America is meant to be. That makes him an important symbol of what the future can hold.
- by Parnell Palme McGuinness
Opinion
Political leadership
Working-class voters are swinging right. But can Dutton win the battle for the battlers?
Polling indicates that Australia’s working class – as in America and Europe – is turning more conservative. What will it mean for the next election?
- by Margot Saville
Opinion
Future technology
I never felt emotional about my email address, until they tried to take it from me
This shake-up by the telcos goes beyond practical inconvenience. It’s an emotional wrench – a loss of identity.
- by Vivienne Pearson
Opinion
Hip pocket
From Grange to loose change: How to turn your hobby into a money spinner
If you enjoy collecting items such as wine, coins or stamps, you could be sitting on a nice little nest egg.
- by Dominic Powell
Opinion
Five Minutes with Fitz
‘I don’t just want to be an Olympian, I want to be a successful one’
Australia’s fastest woman tells Peter FitzSimons how she has made her dreams a reality so far - and how there’s still plenty more to achieve.
- by Peter FitzSimons
Analysis
AFL 2024
How Jack Ginnivan is having his cake and eating it too
Jack Ginnivan departed Collingwood with a premiership medal around his neck, leaving behind a club whose finals hopes are in disarray and that is now going through the bleakest period of Craig McRae’s celebrated tenure.
- by Andrew Wu
Analysis
Wallabies
The McReight stuff: How the Wallabies rated against Georgia
Fraser McReight was a standout for the Wallabies in their tense win over Georgia. How did the rest of the team rate?
- by Iain Payten
Analysis
Paris 2024
Why gene doping is the next great Olympic threat
No one has ever been busted gene doping, considered the next frontier in cheating in sport. But that doesn’t mean it won’t be happening at the Paris Olympics.
- by Adrian Proszenko
Opinion
US Votes 2024
While Trump is being canonised by his party, Biden is being flagellated by his
The insurrection against the decrepit president would be perfectly sensible if the Democrats had a compelling candidate to replace him.
- by Peter Hartcher