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Crime
Father serving 33 years for murdering sons prepares new fight for release
Robert Farquharson was convicted of murdering his three sons, Jai, 10, Tyler, 7, and Bailey, 2, by driving them into a dam near Winchelsea on Father’s Day in 2005.
- by Michael Bachelard and Alex Crowe
NAB boss sees economy holding up as earnings tumble 13 per cent
Chief executive Andrew Irvine says most households are proving pretty resilient in the cost-of-living crunch as the bank reports a $3.5 billion half-year profit and announces a $1.5 billion share buyback.
- by Millie Muroi
Australia news LIVE: PM pledges financial support for DV victims, online safety measures; Violence flares among protesters at US college campuses
The federal government will invest $925.2 million to permanently establish the leaving violence program, alongside a range of online safety measures including banning doxxing and deepfake pornography, and tensions have erupted at US college campuses as violence breaks out at UCLA, and police put an end to protest at Columbia University.
- by Josefine Ganko
Pro-Israel supporters attack pro-Palestinian encampment at University of California
Eyewitness videos showed people wielding sticks or poles to hammer on wooden boards being used as makeshift barricades to protect the pro-Palestinian protesters before police were called to the campus.
- by Nichola Groom and Maria Tsvetkova
NSW pubs patrons at risk of identity theft after third-party data leak
Police are investigating after personal information, including drivers’ licences of pub patrons across NSW, were compromised in a data breach.
- by Jessica McSweeney and David Swan
Updated
World markets
ASX set to slide after Wall Street’s Fed rally dissolves
US stocks finished mixed after the head of the Federal Reserve said the cuts to interest rates that Wall Street craves so much are still likely, even if they’re delayed because of stubbornly high inflation.
- by Stan Choe
Updated
Federal Reserve
Red flag: Fed chief signals interest rates to stay higher for longer
Fed Chair Jerome Powell said it was likely to take longer than previously expected for Fed officials to gain the “greater confidence” needed for them to kick off interest rate cuts.
- by Howard Schneider
Opinion
Concussion crisis
The expert opinion is in: NRL must take on the kick-off concussion issue
One of the world’s foremost sports concussion experts has identified long kick-offs as a source of brain damage – and has called for change.
- by Peter FitzSimons
Florida’s ‘extreme’ abortion ban takes effect, doctors fear for women
Health care workers are prevented from performing an abortion on a nonviable pregnancy that they know may become deadly - until it actually becomes deadly.
- by David Fischer and Stephany Matat
‘A welcome backflip’: Porn passport trial to keep kids off adult websites
Children will be blocked from watching explicit content online under a $6.5 million federal trial as governments attempt to counter the rising rate of violence against women.
- by Paul Sakkal
★★½
Review
Boy Kills World’s bloody slapstick is gruesome but falls short of genuine wit
When it comes to someone getting their limbs sliced off or their head smashed in, Bill Skarsgard’s action thriller can’t be accused of stopping halfway.
- by Jake Wilson
★★★★
Review
Tired of the cult of the celebrity chef? This Juliette Binoche movie will fix that
Juliette Binoche provides the perfect antidote to the cult of the celebrity chef in this modest film that finds fascination in life’s quieter moments.
- by Sandra Hall
★★★★
Review
Ready to chuck it all in and go adventuring? Maybe watch this first
There’s a fine line between adventure and misadventure, as this remarkable odyssey demonstrates.
- by Sandra Hall
Exclusive
Pop culture
Absolutely not: Joanna Lumley on why Ab Fab could never be made today
In the countdown to her Australian tour, the grande dame of English comedy explains why the outrageous Patsy Stone is a creature of the past.
- by Kerrie O'Brien
Exclusive
City life
‘Cash grab’: Elite Sydney institution accused of dudding new members
It can take up to 13 years to become a member of the Sydney Cricket Ground – and it now comes with a sting in the tail.
- by Michael Koziol
Exclusive
State Parliament
Perrottet joins cross-party call for royal commission into violence against women
The former Liberal premier says criminal elements and societal issues such as young boys accessing violent video games and pornography needed examination.
- by Max Maddison, Michael McGowan and Alexandra Smith
Nudity and death stares: 10 things we’ll never understand about Germany
Germany has a lot going for it as a travel destination, but some of its cultural habits will make travellers scratch their heads in bemusement.
- by Brian Johnston
Exclusive
Child safety
‘Like a dog in a cage’: Desperate lives of kids in emergency care revealed
Children as young as 12 reported allegations of sexual assault, drug use and abandonment in motel rooms without close supervision.
- by Michael McGowan
Editorial
Domestic violence
Tackling domestic violence is welcome but women have heard it before
While steps taken by the national cabinet on violence against women are welcome, much more needs to be done.
- The Herald's View
Sports minister raised World Cup final in phone call to rugby boss
Rugby officials have been warned the Victorian government expects an elite rugby union team to play in the state, with the future of the Melbourne Rebels to be decided on Friday as ministers weigh up a bid to stage the 2027 Rugby World Cup final.
- by Carla Jaeger, Kieran Rooney and Sarah Danckert
Opinion
Domestic violence
Lou’s Place saves women every day – without a cent from Macquarie Street
Successive NSW governments have underfunded services for domestic violence victims. It now falls to Chris Minns to step up.
- by Alexandra Smith
Calling all Janiacs: Austen’s love of music has inspired a modern concert
Melburnians brought out their boas for Harry Styles then sequins for Taylor Swift. For a Jane Austen musical tribute, the dress code is: favourite character.
- by Giselle Au-Nhien Nguyen
Opinion
Political leadership
The narratives cloaking ‘weak’ Albanese and ‘nasty’ Dutton are setting like cement
Sensible women and men have had more than enough. They also have plenty of alternatives come the next election if they still feel that the current crop of national leaders is failing them.
- by Niki Savva
‘Part of who we are’: Why Sydney Uni vice chancellor allows protest camp to stay
Vice chancellor Mark Scott says a few pro-Palestinian student activists were under investigation for inappropriate behaviour but their protest campsite will remain on campus.
- by Daniella White
Exclusive
Local council
Course for councillors in spotting conspiracies in the misinformation age
Councillors and candidates can get training on dealing with conspiracy groups who bombard them with theories about 5G towers and 15-minute cities in the lead-up to October’s local government elections.
- by Rachael Dexter
How much it costs to buy a home in the suburbs where buyers pay cash
In the rarefied air of some of the most well-heeled neighbourhoods, it’s routine for buyers to spend millions without a mortgage.
- by Elizabeth Redman
Opinion
Political leadership
Young voters aren’t disengaged by choice, we’re missing in parliament
There are more than three million Australians in their 20s, yet no one in the House of Representatives is under 30. The party that can fix this stands to win a large tract of voters.
- by Daniel Cash
Exclusive
Federal budget
$50b clawed back from waste and rorts not enough to solve ‘truly wicked problem’
Finance Minister Katy Gallagher’s spending audit has found $50 billion in savings and redirected spending over the last two budgets. Economists say more needs to be done.
- by Rachel Clun
Westfield removes floral tributes as Bondi retailers hope for business as usual
Tenants at Westfield Bondi Junction are preparing for the next phase of recovery, as messages of condolence left after the shocking attack two weeks ago are collected for victims’ families.
- by Carolyn Cummins
Updated
COVID inquiry
‘No one held accountable’: Anguish for families as hotel quarantine case collapses
No one will be held criminally responsible for a COVID-19 outbreak from hotel quarantine that led to the death of 768 people and one of the world’s longest lockdowns, after a case against the Victorian Department of Health collapsed.
- by Alex Crowe, David Estcourt and Aisha Dow
Updated
Around the clubs
Nathan Cleary out of clash with Souths as Panthers play it safe
Penrith have taken a cautious approach with their superstar halfback, who felt some tightness after returning from a hamstring injury in the previous round.
Australia news as it happened: PM announces $925m investment to support people leaving violence; Qantas app data breach investigated
A plan to track domestic violence offenders will be considered by federal and state leaders at a national cabinet meeting that will also canvass stricter bail laws, and the United Nations aid chif has warned Israel’s assault on Rafah is on the ‘immediate horizon’.
- by Josefine Ganko and Jewel Topsfield
Former Manly prop Perrett set to take legal action over training incident
A week after Jackson Topine launched a $4 million lawsuit against Canterbury, another NRL club is bracing for a legal challenge due to a training incident.
- by Adrian Proszenko
Inside the growing protest tent cities of Melbourne and Monash universities
As police raided student protest encampments at American universities with rubber bullets and tear gas, in Melbourne academics brought jam and scones.
- by Sherryn Groch
Family court chief justice calls for national database of intervention orders
One of Australia’s most senior legal officers says a database of intervention orders would help courts understand the risk women face from family violence.
- by Wendy Tuohy
Updated
NRL 2024
Bennett, Cheika throw hats into Rabbitohs coaching ring
Wayne Bennett and Michael Cheika have both shown interest in coaching South Sydney, starting from the completion of this season.
- by Adrian Proszenko and Andrew Webster
A DV survivor’s lament: Are women any safer now than 30 years ago?
I can only hope that things have changed, but I fear they have become worse.
It’s one of the most notorious roads in Melbourne. Fixing it is a ‘matter of life and death’, residents say
A report has recommended an immediate review of how fast drivers are allowed to go and for measures to push drivers to stay on main roads rather than doing “suburban rat runs”.
- by Melissa Cunningham
Updated
Israeli-Palestinian conflict
Supporters of Palestine, Israel in violent clashes at UCLA as university protests spread
Unrest at UCLA comes a day after police in riot gear stormed New York’s Columbia University, which has become the centre of America’s student uprising over the war in Gaza.
- by Farrah Tomazin
Refunds up in the air as Bonza leaves passengers grounded
Administrators Hall Chadwick confirmed late on Wednesday that the airline was not currently positioned to issue refunds after it entered administration on Tuesday.
- by Amelia McGuire
Albanese’s $925m escape money pledge just ‘one piece of the puzzle’
Speaking after a snap national cabinet meeting, the prime minister said state and territory leaders would meet again to discuss plans to strengthen their justice systems.
- by Natassia Chrysanthos
Updated
World markets
ASX a sea of red as Wall Street tumbles to wrap up ugly April
The Australian sharemarket tumbled after a negative lead from Wall Street, as investor fears grew about persistent US inflation and the likelihood that interest rates will stay higher for longer.
- by Millie Muroi
Sydney teen terror accused wanted to attack ‘a bunch of Jews’, court told
Police say they found hand-drawn Islamic State flags when they raided the 15-year-old’s bedroom after the alleged terror stabbing of a bishop in a Wakeley church.
- by Sarah McPhee
Lehrmann given extension of time to lodge defamation appeal
The Ten Network wants access to documents revealing if former Liberal staffer had financial backers in fight over costs.
- by Michaela Whitbourn
Can court compensate for loss of a way of life? Climate case to wrap up
The Commonwealth has argued Torres Strait Islanders losing their unique island customs could be seen under law as a comparable loss to personal injuries.
- by Bianca Hall
Analysis
Domestic violence
Where is the urgency? Action to protect women is too slow
There is a jarring disconnect between the political talk and the policy action when Australians are told of the national crisis on violence against women.
- by David Crowe
Did woke culture really kill the sitcom?
Jerry Seinfeld claims that the “extreme left” is to blame for the death of comedy on TV – but is he right?
- by Thomas Mitchell
‘Extraordinary’: Shein Australia hits nearly $1 billion in sales and triples profits
The Chinese-owned ecommerce play has become one of the nation’s biggest fashion retailers in a few short years, on par with Myer and Cotton On.
- by Jessica Yun
Mawaan Rizwan has a degree in funny. Really.
Rizwan cast members of his own family in his sitcom Juice, a joyous celebration of a neurotic Pakistani-British man navigating love, family and work stresses.
- by Ben Pobjie
Mamma mia, here we go again … Australia is back in the Eurovision fold
Australian contenders Electric Fields have hit the stage in Sweden with a two-pronged mission: Eurovision victory, with a side serve of world peace.
- by Michael Idato
The Beach Boys tell their own story of triumph and tragedy
It’s not all good vibrations, as our reviewers reveal in this week’s pick of fiction and non-fiction releases.
- by Cameron Woodhead and Steven Carroll
The good TV shows you missed in the deluge of streaming
There’s always a buzzy new show demanding your attention, while scores of series previously on your radar are washed away. Here are the shows you may have missed.
- by Debi Enker
More than 170 countries want to reduce plastic globally. A handful are stalling
Australia is attempting to help a global push to end plastic pollution before it outweighs the biomass of the world’s fish by the year 2050. But other countries have different ambitions.
- by Mike Foley
Opinion
NRL 2024
Bennett is the good cop Souths need – but can’t be trusted with their future
Wayne Bennett is a proven winner, but the long-term future of the Rabbitohs can’t be left in his hands.
- by Andrew Webster
Opinion
Home loans
Mortgage wars enter next phase as property remains a rich playground
The big banks are rethinking how much risk they can take when it comes to lending, as some say that excessive regulation is only helping wealthy borrowers while others miss out.
- by Elizabeth Knight
Former Wallabies coach Cheika expresses interest in South Sydney job
Rabbitohs chief executive Blake Solly also said on Wednesday that the club will speak to the Wayne Bennett about a possible return.
- by Michael Chammas, Adam Pengilly and Billie Eder
Day one of Ben Hornby’s salvage operation at Souths
Ben Hornby arrived at Heffron Park at 7.14am on Wednesday as South Sydney’s interim head coach. His first task? Getting ready for Penrith on Thursday.
- by Billie Eder
‘Can’t have another Molly’: NSW says ‘all options’ are on the table on domestic violence
The NSW government has left the door open to a royal commission ahead of a crucial meeting of cabinet on violence against women and children.
- by Michael McGowan
Developer sells stunning land for $100m. The buyer will never build a thing
Not far from where the Andes Mountains meet the Pacific Ocean, a vast swath of pristine wilderness is changing hands under the most unusual circumstances.
- by David Gelles
Graphic content
Crime
‘Beast Boy’: NSW Police charge one of state’s worst alleged bestiality offenders
Hidden away in a rural NSW property, police allege the man became one of the most prolific creators of bestiality content before he was arrested.
- by Jessica McSweeney and Sally Rawsthorne
MasterChef overhauled its judging line-up. Has it worked?
The behemoth cooking show has a new group of judges, and they’re reminders of the program’s core values.
- by Ben Pobjie
Paul Kent charged with affray over late-night brawl
The Fox Sports co-host and Daily Telegraph journalist clashed with another man outside a restaurant in Sydney’s inner west. Both have now been charged by police.
- by Chris Barrett
Exclusive
Crime
Detainee’s ankle monitor removed on government experts’ advice before alleged assault
A former immigration detainee accused of a violent assault during a home invasion had his ankle monitor removed following advice from a board of experts.
- by Angus Thompson, Heather McNeill, Jamie Freestone and Hamish Hastie
Hanson told second senator to go back to where they came from, court told
Mehreen Faruqi’s racial discrimination case against Pauline Hanson heard that the One Nation leader had also told a white male politician to “pack your bags”.
- by Michaela Whitbourn
Updated
Information security
Qantas says issue that exposed customer data to others has been resolved
The software issue gave customers access to the personal information and accounts of other people.
- by Tim Biggs
Analysis
NRL 2024
Demetriou the latest coach to succumb to the Bennett curse
Ivan Henjak, Steve Price, Rick Stone and Anthony Seibold have all had the unenviable task of succeeding Wayne Bennett. As sacked Souths coach Jason Demetriou has discovered, it usually doesn’t end well.
- by Tom Decent
Opinion
Mergers & acquisitions
BHP’s $60b bid forces Anglo American to confront its own shortcomings
Whether successful or not, the Australian mining giant’s offer puts pressure on Anglo’s board and management to consider significant changes to its business.
- by Stephen Bartholomeusz
Updated
ICC Men’s World Cup
No room for ‘really exciting’ Fraser-McGurk in T20 World Cup squad
Despite glowing praise from chairman of selectors George Bailey, exciting white-ball tyro Jake Fraser-McGurk missed Australia’s Twenty20 World Cup squad.
- by Malcolm Conn
Only the lonely can make the distance in David Nicholls’ new romcom
This novel, by the author of One Day, is a celebration of the rare connection that can lift people out of seemingly intractable loneliness.
- by Daniel Herborn
Opinion
Weather
Sydney can’t stand the rain, but here are five ways to keep the city moving
The harbour city’s transport systems often grind to a halt in the wet, but decision makers can adapt to changing conditions, as can we.
- by Emily Moylan
New name revealed for Sydney’s metro line beneath harbour and CBD
The opening date for the driverless train line is at least eight weeks away, and will depend on a range of factors including final software upgrades.
- by Matt O'Sullivan
We have entered the golden age of Mid TV
TV was great for so long that we were frogs in boiling water, but in reverse. It became lukewarm so gradually that you might not even have noticed.
- by James Poniewozik
Mystery over 19-year-old North Bondi woman’s death as police charge two men
The body of teenager Yolonda Mumbulla was found in a unit on Tuesday.
- by Sally Rawsthorne
Tattooist of Auschwitz arrives on screen and doesn’t shy from the book’s controversy
Heather Morris’ book was an enormous success, but was mired in a controversy about accuracy. The series based on it doesn’t shy way from that.
- by Karl Quinn
‘Monsters in wall’ in girl’s bedroom turn out to be 65,000 hidden bees
At one point, the three-year-old’s parents sent her to bed with a bottle of water they said was “monster spray”, the BBC reported.
- by Benedict Smith
‘Aussie’ John Symond lists Point Piper trophy home. Yours for just $200 million-plus
The last time the Aussie Home Loans founder listed the waterfront mega-mansion, he knocked back an offer of $110 million because he didn’t want to part with it.
- by Lucy Macken
Inside Hollywood’s billion-dollar real estate agencies – and the stars that make them
Mauricio Umansky’s agency made $19 billion in 2022. He’s just one of the exclusive group who have earned fame on TV and millions selling homes to the likes of Beyoncé and Daniel Craig.
- by Debra Kamin