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Clash over security report led to sudden resignation from royal commission
Former ASIO boss Dennis Richardson said his resignation from the Bondi royal commission was “an embarrassment all around” but denied any suggestion the move hurt the credibility of the inquiry.
Melbourne was once Australia’s second-most expensive city. Then three things changed
The cultural scene, liveliness and diversity are world-leading - and home buyers might even be able to afford to live there.
Analysis
Interest rates
What do war, interest rate rises and oil at $200 a barrel mean? A recession
Economists are predicting two more rate rises in the next eight weeks. But with oil prices climbing, it could also mean an Australian recession.
Iran’s new supreme leader to keep blocking Strait of Hormuz, ‘avenge’ dead; Israel strikes central Beirut
Read the live blog for our continuing coverage of the conflict in the Middle East.
Latest live posts
LoadingAirport planners brace for weeks of travel chaos even after the war
The protracted time frame for resumption of normal air travel suggests there won’t be a quick relief for the aviation industry or travellers from the war.
Australia, Indonesia deepen security ties with joint training base
The move highlights the Indonesian president’s eagerness to cement regional relationships amid the rise of China and an unpredictable US under Trump.
Analysis
AFL 2026
Crisis averted, or just postponed? Blues take back control of their narrative – for now
The reaction had Carlton lost to Richmond, after last week’s drubbing by Sydney, requires no imagination. But there was a more interesting storyline than another Blues fadeout.
Exclusive
For subscribers
Not just Tasmania: Look out Collingwood, Victorian rivals are circling Daicos
Nick Daicos appears unwilling, for now, to sign the kind of long-term extension that could make him a Magpie for life.
Exclusive
AFL
AFL drug policy detail revealed: Players with serious issues to face extra step
AFL players under treatment for serious illicit drug issues will need to be passed fit to train and play by a new expert panel, under the heavily revised illicit drug code that is being finalised.
Grace Tame’s bookings cancelled for 2026 amid ‘national smear campaign’
After telling a conference how child sexual abuse thrives on silence, the former Australian of the Year revealed her public speaking engagements for the year had been cancelled.
Exclusive
University
Less work, more pay: Melbourne Uni staff list new industrial claims
Staff at one of Australia’s most prestigious universities are fighting for a four-day week and a 20 per cent pay rise.
Opinion
Family
The kid who bought me lollies claims she’s about to be a grandma. I’ll get over it
This is confronting. It’s like the first time you realise you can no longer swing across monkey bars. Does this mean I’m old?
Melissa Coburn
Contributor
‘Worst thing I’ve ever seen’: CSIRO slashes climate modelling jobs
Australia’s science agency is cutting more than 100 jobs in its Environment Research Unit, which critics say will crush our capacity to predict climate change.
‘I’m crying’: How social media helps Tim and Felicity renovate their 105-room chateau
A cottage in Melbourne or a unit in Sydney goes for the $1.2 million it cost for a 250-year-old French chateau that was crumbling like a Breton biscuit.
Joe’s had five kids with three women, now he doesn’t know how to ask a girl out
Life on the road with the Black Sorrows means musician Joe Camilleri “missed a lot of birthdays”.
Data centres in space? That’s less crazy than you think
Elon Musk and other tech leaders explore building data centres in space to overcome terrestrial constraints, with launch costs and satellite efficiency key factors.
shorts
War in the Middle East
After Iran, Russians say US can’t be trusted in Ukraine talks
The decision to assassinate Iran’s supreme leader while Iran was in active negotiations has reinforced the view among Moscow hardliners that diplomacy is fragile and maybe even pointless.
US responsible for strike on Iranian school, preliminary inquiry says
The February 28 strike on the school, which killed at least 175 people, was the result of a targeting mistake by the US military, a preliminary investigation has found.
Victoria
‘Let’s see how you get out of this one’: Cate Sayers ‘suspected’ of posting lewd photo
Former Carlton boss Luke Sayers says he suspected his estranged wife Cate Sayers posted a photo of his penis on X last year.
Updated
Crime
Abandoned newborn baby found in suburban yard
Bloodied towels were seen at the scene after an infant and a woman were rushed to hospital from a suburban street in Melbourne’s north-west.
Exclusive
Victoria Police
Violent youths on the run after cutting off ankle monitoring devices
Two of Victoria’s most high-risk youth offenders are on the run after allegedly removing their state-issued ankle monitoring devices.
Exclusive
Victorian election
‘It should be for everyone’: Labor accused of partisan tactics at multicultural events
Documents reveal that shortly after the premier’s office became involved, the ticket allocation for Labor MPs was tripled and staff asked for the final say on the entertainment line-up and guest list.
Allan move would save home buyers thousands of dollars
Sellers, not prospective buyers, would have to foot the bill for these house-hunt costs under a state government plan.
WEEKEND READS
![Guy and Jules Sebastian at their Sydney home. She says, “Watching Guy go through this [legal battle] was the hardest thing.”](https://static.ffx.io/images/$zoom_0.32629860092743057%2C$multiply_1.2116%2C$ratio_1.5%2C$width_756%2C$x_471%2C$y_489/t_crop_custom/q_62%2Cf_auto/4bee32ec3e0a7bd8d6ac1f9383f8b0986c334c4a)
‘She’s played a big role in shaping who I am’: How a 15-year age gap impacts a sibling relationship
Art teacher Adelle Frittitta was 15 when her sister, Claudia, now an illustrator, was born. Today, the pair are collaborators and best friends.
Dicey Topics
Matt was 12 when he came home to find his mother collapsed in the shower. She died just weeks later
The comedian, actor, musician and author on life priorities, facing tragedy at a young age – and an unexpected political passion project.
Politics
Analysis
Antisemitism royal commission
The Bondi royal commission already looked rushed. Now it’s ‘embarrassment all round’
Dennis Richardson could have carried on for a few more weeks and done his best. If he felt overpaid, he could have taken a pay cut. But there’s plenty of blame to go around after his shock resignation.
Business
Opinion
AI
Tsunami of disruption: Why this Aussie tech giant is swinging the axe
The world’s most feared and revered technology, artificial intelligence, has become Atlassian’s nemesis and its enabler.
Elizabeth Knight
Business columnist
Opinion
Jobs
This Gen Z-inspired concept could help us fall in love with work again
Tim Duggan
Work columnist
World
New tariffs coming: Trump fires fresh trade salvo at 15 countries, EU
The move is a precursor to a new wave of tariffs to compensate for those struck down by the Supreme Court last month.
Opinion
Trump is facing a humiliating crisis he created himself
Ambrose Evans-Pritchard
For all Trump’s sabre-rattling, not even his biggest critics expected this move
Cory Alpert
Former White House staffer
Explore
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Property
Where it’s cheaper to buy a home than rent – or almost the same price
Potential home buyers may be better off buying their own home than renting. But they need to know where to look.
Will she get her money back? Nadia Bartel lists Melbourne home for $3m to $3.2m
Melbourne fashion designer Nadia Bartel is selling her four-bedroom, red-brick Edwardian residence that she bought in 2020.
Good Food
Lifestyle
The autumn styling tricks from Paris Fashion Week to try now
The boots, top, jacket and cool-weather accessory the style set will be wearing this season.
Culture
This post-apocalyptic thriller seemed extreme. Then Elon Musk hit the White House
Dan Fogelman began work on Paradise 10 years ago. The show’s stars explain why his ideas don’t seem so crazy today.
Traveller
Drivedrive
From Our Partners
Sport
Steak with Scott, Japanese with Mitchell: Inside Merrett’s bid to defect to Hawthorn
Zach Merrett and his manager drew up a shortlist of three clubs. Hawthorn were keen. Here’s how his bid to join Essendon’s most hated rival escalated, and why it collapsed.
Analysis
AFL 2026
Crisis averted, or just postponed? Blues take back control of their narrative – for now
The reaction had Carlton lost to Richmond, after last week’s drubbing by Sydney, requires no imagination. But there was a more interesting storyline than another Blues fadeout.
After a doping ban in 2013, North Korea vanished from women’s soccer. Until now
North Korea are the “dark horse” of women’s football, according to Tom Sermanni, who was the last Australian coach to go up against the team.
Exclusive
AFL 2026
Not just Tasmania: Look out Collingwood, Victorian rivals are circling Daicos
Nick Daicos appears unwilling, for now, to sign the kind of long-term extension that could make him a Magpie for life.
Exclusive
AFL 2026
AFL drug policy detail revealed: Players with serious issues to face extra step
AFL players under treatment for serious illicit drug issues will need to be passed fit to train and play by a new expert panel, under the heavily revised illicit drug code that is being finalised.
‘I tried to remember what you taught me’: Williams’ tribute to Blues great after match-winning goal
After a week of intense scrutiny, Michael Voss’ men hold on right when they needed to most. Follow all the post-match reaction
Updated
AFL 2026
AFL round one teams and expert tips: Bombers name three debutants for ‘Merrett match’ v Hawks
All the teams as they’re announced for round one of the AFL season – plus the experts give their tips for the first full round of footy for 2026.
Have Your Say
After 22 years, the AFL’s absurd pretence is over. It’s about time
There will be a cohort of law-and-order types who might view the scrapping of strikes among the changes to the illicit drug policy as the mollycoddling of footballers. But it is overdue and a necessary correction.
