Opinion
Opinion
Federal budget
This budget will make us better off now, worse off later
It seems the top priority of Anthony Albanese’s government is not to have any priorities.
- by Ross Gittins
Latest
Analysis
Federal budget
Is this the budget we needed? Our experts deliver their verdicts
Jim Chalmers’ third budget sought to strike a balance between inflation and cost of living. Here’s what our experts thought.
- by David Crowe, Shane Wright, Jacqueline Maley, Peter Hartcher and Ross Gittins
Opinion
Federal budget
The Albanese government doesn’t just like women, it needs them
Women voters are growing increasingly progressive which makes them appetising prey not just for Labor but for the Greens and the teals.
- by Jacqueline Maley
Opinion
Federal budget
Don’t be fooled: this is an election budget with plenty of pork barrelling
This budget taxes more, and spends more, than any of the others for at least a quarter-century, outside the pandemic years. And it conceals the pork better.
- by Peter Hartcher
Analysis
Federal budget
Labor’s promised subsidies for everyone. They’re not guaranteed votes in return
The political message in this budget is breathtakingly simple. The broader policy plan is fiendishly complex.
- by David Crowe
Analysis
Federal budget
The budget handout that could cruel your next pay rise
Just spending money on handouts to bring down inflation is not Jim Chalmers’ main game.
- by Shane Wright
Leadership change is the only route to peace in Gaza
One fine day, probably not in my lifetime, both the leaders of Hamas and Israel will die. Perhaps, and only perhaps, when that happens and a new, compassionate and inspired, leadership of both emerges, willing to bury their respective prejudices, pride, and power play, they may have a conversation and a truce will result.
Opinion
Domestic violence
DV bail changes make a big difference, but Minns missed one big red flag
The NSW government’s proposed laws will make it much harder for the most serious offenders to inflict harm. But there are other protections it can and must deploy.
- by Rosalind Dixon
Opinion
Crime
The criminal reason we should bring back blue light discos
How to keep the minds of bored teenagers off pinching a Nissan Skyline or accosting strangers at a train station? The answer is clear to me.
- by Simon Taylor
Opinion
Sharemarket
How a cartoon from ‘Roaring Kitty’ sparked a $6.1 billion Wall Street frenzy
The man who ignited the meme stock mania in 2021 has resurfaced after lying low for years, sending shares flying. We might need a sequel to the movie Dumb Money.
- by Stephen Bartholomeusz
Opinion
Homelessness
My neighbour took his life rather than face homelessness. Will Sydney bother to notice?
The last time anyone saw him, he was tearing the development notice off a wall by the lobby entrance and ripping it up in anger, frustration and despair.
- by Sue Williams
Opinion
AFL 2024
‘Embarrassing, terrible, absurd’: AFL criticised for letting Cameron play on after head knock
If the AFL truly wants to treat concussion seriously, it needs to tighten up the process for assessing players immediately after they cop an obvious blow to the head.
Analysis
AFL 2024
The Richmond recession: Its underlying causes, and the Tigers’ way out
To strip back the playing ranks to near ground zero would be a road to prolonged recession. Richmond people know too well what that looks like.
- by Jake Niall
Opinion
State of Origin
Why Nathan Cleary’s hamstring injury isn’t the end of the world for NSW
Michael Maguire is trying to cultivate a next-man-up ethos for the Blues. He’ll have to start straight away.
- by Andrew Webster
Opinion
Israeli-Palestinian conflict
Netanyahu and Hamas know this war is unwinnable. So how does it end?
With impossible war aims, neither side credibly can claim victory. So the conflict grinds on.
- by Peter Hartcher
Opinion
US Votes 2024
In the president v the porn star, Stormy Daniels is a legal dominatrix
The compelling part of this case is not whether Trump did something wrong with business papers, but how it shows – in a vivid way – that he’s the wrong man for the job.
- by Maureen Dowd
Government will pay for dragging its feet on social reform
Being risk-averse has created the impression the government is in a muddle and understandably voters will seek alternative representatives who present more definite ideas and policies.
Editorial
Censorship
Cumberland Council should reverse its same-sex library book ban
One councillor against the book ban says it contradicts Cumberland’s motto of “Welcome, Belong, Succeed”.
- The Herald's View
Opinion
Elon Musk
Picking fights with social media giants seems to be ending in tears
Australia’s government and regulators have plenty of allies in their attempts to rein in the behaviour of platform owners – but it’s just not that easy.
- by Elizabeth Knight
Analysis
Australian cricket
His career pre-dates YouTube and Facebook, now Anderson’s exit sets stage for a Bazball Ashes assault
They admired his skill and sometimes were taken aback by his sledging. How Jimmy Anderson was seen through Australian eyes.
- by Daniel Brettig
Opinion
Domestic violence
Electronic monitoring works, so let’s get on with it
The government has foreshadowed that it will consider bail reform in the coming days – but we know the premier is dismissive of an effective commonsense solution. Our state deserves better.
- by Mark Speakman
Opinion
Parenting
We should stop funding IVF and pay under-25s to have children
When egg freezing, with all its associated costs and uncertain outcomes, looks more attractive than just getting down to it, we are in the grip of crazy collective thinking.
- by Ramona Koval
Four Points
AFL 2024
Gold Coast don’t need more pimply kids, but the Tigers do: Why a Rioli trade could be on
The Suns are interested in talented Tiger Daniel Rioli, and a trade could be mutually beneficial for both parties.
- by Michael Gleeson
Analysis
Israeli-Palestinian conflict
Sinwar drew up the attack that started the war in Gaza. Now he’s key to ending it
Even as Israel attempts to kill the man it considers the architect of the October 7 attack, it has been forced to negotiate with him to free the remaining hostages.
- by Patrick Kingsley, Julian Barnes and Adam Rasgon
Opinion
Trade wars
The US is tightening the screws on China
Joe Biden is throwing the kitchen sink at a key part of China’s economy.
- by Stephen Bartholomeusz
Opinion
Housing crisis
Unable to crack the housing market, I went looking for cocaine
No, I’m not contemplating becoming a drug dealer, but I will need something close to a lottery win to get me out of the rental rat race.
- by Millie Muroi
Analysis
NRL 2024
The Tigers are hurtling to the bottom again. This play sums up why Benji Marshall has a huge problem
The best teams constantly talk about attention to detail. One moment in Tamworth on Saturday sums up how far the Tigers are still off the pace after six straight losses.
- by Adam Pengilly
Analysis
AFL 2024
A reminder that footy is just a game, and why Dees need Petracca to be their Dusty: Key takeouts from round nine
The outpouring of grief for Cam McCarthy underpinned round nine and showed us that footballers are as fragile as the rest of us, while Christian Petracca gave us a glimpse of what might be the answer to Melbourne’s forward woes.
- by Andrew Stafford
Opinion
Family
Bookkeeper or insect killer? Everyone has a role to play in a family
There’s no pleasure in life greater than being asked to open a jar of olives by a loved one.
- by Richard Glover
Opinion
Super Rugby
Engine gloom: Unprecedented injury carnage at Tahs demands answers
The Waratahs started the season with 10 front rowers in their squad. Five months on, they are all injured.
- by Iain Payten
Opinion
JobSeeker
Labor’s persistent refusal to fix the JobSeeker payment is shameful
Australia has the lowest benefits for the short-term unemployed among 34 countries in the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development.
- by Ross Gittins
Opinion
Federal budget
Both Albanese and Dutton believe they’re on the right track. But one of them must be wrong
The difficulty in politics is that at some point – and you never know when – the risk calculus flips. Tomorrow’s budget might tell us if we’re there yet.
- by Sean Kelly
Analysis
Telecommunications
Optus desperately needs a reset. Here’s what comes next
Australia’s second-largest telco is priming for a much-needed reboot after suffering the nation’s worst data breaches and telecommunications outages.
- by David Swan
There is plenty of life in the old cash yet, thank you
Bec Wilson asserts the banks believe cash will disappear in seven years (“Cash is dead. Why are we still pretending it isn’t?“, May 11). She should have written that the banks want cash to disappear in seven years. This is so they can charge retailers more in transaction fees who can then pass it on to consumers.
Opinion
Housing crisis
Housing system is broke and broken, but government alone can’t solve this crisis
No silver bullet is going to fix our housing woes, but there is now a window of opportunity through which real and significant change can occur.
- by Scott Langford
Editorial
LGBTIQ hate crimes
We commend Minns for committing to an apology to LGBTQ community
Herald senior reporter Andrew Hornery has spent several weeks talking to some who found themselves on the wrong side of the law against homosexuality in NSW.
- The Herald's View
Opinion
Domestic violence
Too often, alcohol and family violence go together. Now, we need to separate them
The kids who hide in closets and bathrooms – hearing furniture being thrown and adults screaming – know that when drinking is involved, it’s like pouring petrol on a bonfire.
- by Kym Valentine
Analysis
State of Origin
NSW have a halfback problem. Here are six contenders to replace Cleary
Nathan Cleary will miss the entire State of Origin series and two other main contenders to replace him are injured. Has the halves curse struck the Blues again?
- by Adam Pengilly
Opinion
High school
Expelling problem students sounds impressive. But all it does is pass the buck
In kicking the can of responsibility for the Yarra Valley Grammar students who ranked their female classmates to another school, parents are missing the point.
- by Adam Voigt
Analysis
Aviation
The undoing of Bonza: Can Bazza, Sheila and Bruce be rescued?
Bonza has farewelled the first of its five seized aircraft as it sets off for less financially stricken pastures. Now, the company’s administrators turn to facing its 60,000 creditors and $100 million in unpaid debts.
- by Amelia McGuire
Analysis
NRL 2024
De Belin family’s fury after perjury charge
The Dragons star’s parents and sister have lashed out at the police who investigated his case.
- by Danny Weidler
Analysis
Gadgets
With a series of firsts, Apple’s new iPad launch points to changes ahead
At Apple’s new heritage-listed headquarters in London, the company gave hints about the future in its reveal of new iPads and accessories.
- by Tim Biggs
Opinion
University
Labor’s paid placements are a slap in the face, not a saving grace
The plan to pay students $319 a week for placements is a start, but just because something is better than nothing doesn’t inherently make it good.
- by Victoria Devine
Opinion
Ask an expert
What should my daughter do with her $20,000 inheritance?
Coming into money early on in life can be a wonderful opportunity to learn about investing and financial markets.
- by Paul Benson
Opinion
Gender equality
The overhaul that Australian workplace culture urgently needs
Pregnancy discrimination is not only still occurring, its incidence appears to be increasing.
- by The Herald's View
Opinion
Harassment
What happens if a sexbot is your first intimate encounter? Nothing good
Artificial intelligence, particularly its intersection with pornography, could have a huge impact on gender relations offline.
- by Jacqueline Maley
Opinion
Home loans
Downsizing the Australian dream: What to consider when buying an apartment
Apartments offer a more achievable alternative for those looking for a way into the property market, but there are a few factors to consider before signing on the dotted line.
- by Dominic Powell