Opinion
Analysis
World elections
In India elections are a matter of faith, and criticism is akin to blasphemy
Close to a billion Indians are eligible to vote in a 44-day national election beginning today. It will be the largest democratic exercise in history.
- by Zach Hope
Latest
Opinion
Work therapy
We’ve been told we need to work from the office full-time. Why?
A blanket everyone-back-to-work policy is rarely a judicious move, especially when so many employees are content with the existing policy.
- by Jonathan Rivett
Opinion
Defamation
There was no conspiracy, so why pursue Higgins over her payout?
The court decision has made essential findings about what took place, but it is already being used to justify yet another hunt for targets.
- by David Crowe
Opinion
Productivity
The pandemic pumped up productivity. Then the bubble burst
Here’s how we’re tracking now, and why putting in more work isn’t the answer.
- by Millie Muroi
Facing alliterative rivalry between the Mighty Ms and the High Cs
Meanwhile, the flat white is quietly taking over the world.
Opinion
Marriage
Should I have married my husband? Red flag culture would say no
If I’d listened to the relationship experts on social media I wouldn’t have made the best decision of my life.
- by Hannah Vanderheide
Systemic mental health failures are on repeat
The only 100 per cent “safe” strategy is to keep people in hospital forever, but, apart from forensic psychiatry, that is unfair to the person and requires resources we do not have.
Opinion
Casinos
Star shows it has dud hand in bid to keep licence
A clear pattern is emerging from the Bell inquiry into Star Entertainment – that of a financially and culturally embattled company being managed by a chief executive desperately juggling too many problems.
- by Elizabeth Knight
Editorial
Assange saga
For pity’s sake, it’s time to bring Assange saga to an end
Julian Assange has always polarised opinion. Now, for some, his plight has evoked a sense of pity.
- The Herald's View
Analysis
Inflation
If the Reserve Bank were a football coach, it would have been sacked eons ago
The bank’s job is to hold inflation between 2 and 3 per cent. Since mid-2014, it has hit that mark on just four occasions.
- by Shane Wright
Opinion
Crime
The problem isn’t the definition of terrorism, it’s that the label determines our response
What happened at Bondi Junction isn’t any less horrific if we conclude it isn’t terrorism. The victims are no less dead, and their deaths are no less tragic. The problem of violence against women isn’t any less serious.
- by Waleed Aly
Analysis
US Votes 2024
Lust, power, politics, money: In court with Donald Trump
The case in which the ex-president is accused of falsifying business records to hide an affair ahead of an election has all the makings of a Hollywood blockbuster.
- by Farrah Tomazin
Opinion
AFL 2024
Why Beveridge has to go – and the man who should replace him
Pressure is building on Bulldogs coach Luke Beveridge, and despite public denials from both the club and coach, it is clear the relationship is strained and change is needed.
- by Kane Cornes
Opinion
IMF
US and China’s mounting debts could hurt us all
Rising government debt and deficits in the world’s two largest economies could have spillover effects on the rest of the global economy.
- by Stephen Bartholomeusz
Opinion
Cycling
Are we waiting until someone is killed before we ban the illegal fat bike?
Fat bikes are motorbikes masquerading as e-bikes. They are illegal and potential lethal weapons.
- by Pat Stringa
Opinion
Test cricket
Batters or batsman? Aggers, it’s not a hill to die on
Jonathan Agnew is one of the greats, but he’s fighting a losing battle against the term “batter” in modern cricket at a time when authorities want to get more women and girls playing the game.
- by Peter FitzSimons
Analysis
NRL 2024
Star centre is doubly destructive at fullback. So what do Roosters do about Manu?
James Tedesco isn’t moving from fullback, leaving Trent Robinson with a tactical conundrum his coaching rivals would love to have.
- by Dan Walsh
Opinion
NRL 2024
Why the Roosters are the NRL’s most perplexing team
At the start of the year, I thought they were top-four material. Right now, I wouldn’t be surprised if they stumble into the eight or miss the finals altogether.
- by Andrew Johns
Opinion
Gold
Mystery gold buyer is betting on geopolitical and financial mayhem
A powerful force is stalking the world’s gold market. It is operating in the shadows. Is somebody preparing for an escalation of the shadow Third World War?
- by Ambrose Evans-Pritchard
Opinion
Israeli-Palestinian conflict
Starvation is true horror. Sanctions against Israel are Australia’s only choice
To be morally consistent with previous actions and to uphold to amendments Wong herself pushed for, Australia must change its tune towards Israel.
- by Marc Purcell
Opinion
University
I made mistakes at university, just not enough of them
The mistakes you make during uni will shape your life, in big and small ways. So don’t overthink it – just enjoy the ride.
- by Bella Westaway
Editorial
Casinos
Star casino’s bluff poker is a short-term end game
The management of Sydney’s Star casino continues to labour under the delusion it can treat the authority charged with regulating the industry with contempt.
- The Herald's View
Church horror exposes divided communities
It is naive for anyone to think that there are no deep divisions among races and ethnicities in Australia.
Opinion
Federal budget
Albanese’s big funding problem has been diagnosed but not yet cured
The government says it will deliver $74 billion in savings from NDIS spending across a decade. But it’s not yet apparent how this will be done.
- by Chris Richardson
Opinion
Rare earths
In the rare earths Game of Thrones, Gina Rinehart grabs the crown
The federal government declared “the road to net zero runs through Australia’s resources sector”, and Rinehart will be hoping for a decent spoonful from the profit pot at the end of that road.
- by Elizabeth Knight
Opinion
Inside China
China’s Xi Jinping might have to revise his five-year plan
China’s latest economic data highlights a glut of excess capacity and a flood of cheap exports, which is generating a growing backlash from a number of its trading partners.
- by Stephen Bartholomeusz
Opinion
World markets
Debt-saturated markets may soon face a ‘Minsky’ moment
Sell in May and go away, says the old stock market adage. Maybe that should be brought forward a week or two this time around.
- by Jeremy Warner
Opinion
WordPlay
Taylor Swift’s poetic licence: why all the fuss around her new album title?
Grammar pedants have been swift to judge, but pop often plays loose with punctuation.
- by David Astle
Opinion
Ask an expert
Should we use savings to pay down mortgage or invest in shares?
Once you get to the point where your mortgage isn’t weighing you down, you can explore other investment options.
- by Noel Whittaker
Analysis
ETFs
Eager investors push Australian ETF market to near $200 billion
The Australian-listed ETF market has almost doubled in value during the past three years, partially due to a strong showing from bitcoin-linked funds.
- by John Collett
Opinion
Financial literacy
Want to retire early? Consider these things first
Chasing the allure of FIRE – financial independence, retire early – could leave you worse off in the long run.
- by Paridhi Jain
Analysis
Defamation
Lehrmann’s lies and Lisa’s angry text flag possible new skirmishes
A message Lisa Wilkinson sent to a rival TV program suggesting Bruce Lehrmann had breached legal confidentiality rules has been confirmed by Justice Michael Lee.
- by Kate McClymont and Angus Thompson
Opinion
Wellbeing
The chart that shows how happy you are, just as long as you’re old enough
The good news: Australia is one of the world’s happiest nations. The bad news: our happiness peaked years ago and young people are the gloomiest.
- by Matt Wade
Opinion
Defamation
What the Lehrmann case means for the future of defamation law in Australia
There is little doubt that lawyers do well in defamation cases. But you rarely find a plaintiff who, at the end of the trial, believes they made the right move in suing.
- by Peter Bartlett
Opinion
Innovation
Our museum is thriving because we do things differently
Museums are trusted messengers, so we need to be less hubristic about gateways to knowledge.
- by Kim McKay
Analysis
Israeli-Palestinian conflict
Australia must not lose the war within over religion, ideology and politics
While there is a huge difference between spilling blood and paint, recent episodes reflect a radical intolerance for different political, ideological and religious views.
- by Chip Le Grand
Analysis
Social media
Church stabbing, Bondi Junction highlight X’s failure to moderate
The misinformation and persistence of graphic videos can cause real harm to a huge audience.
- by Tim Biggs
More resources needed to tackle mental illness epidemic
Joel Cauchi’s father Andrew Cauchi said: “I made myself a servant to my son when I found out he had a mental illness.” If ever there was a heroic statement, this is one.
Opinion
Dating
The secret to success on dating apps is economical
There are many factors to finding the perfect match online, but a win is always found with the right numbers.
- by Siena Fagan
Editorial
Crime
Blind faith cannot justify attacks on police and paramedics
The second violent attack to rattle our city in as many days, the knifing and ensuring riot at a Western Sydney church has cast a blasphemous pall over something once thought inviolable and emphasised the need for community unity at this dangerous time.
- The Herald's View
Opinion
Supermarkets
Belting Brad: Senate turns supermarket CEO flogging into Olympic sport
The sparring between Greens senator Nick McKim and Woolies boss Brad Banducci deteriorated into an unedifying headbutting contest.
- by Elizabeth Knight
Opinion
Religion
Mob justice is not divine justice. Don’t fan the flames of tensions we escaped
The events of Monday night in Wakeley will be triggering for many people whose homelands have been marred by sectarian violence.
- by Sarah Ayoub
Analysis
Political leadership
A stabbing, a riot, a nation divided: Albanese’s toughest test
Albanese did all the right things. He said all the right things. Yet the events of Monday night exploded regardless.
- by David Crowe
Analysis
Aged care
Unlicensed aged care advice could hinder your later retirement years
Families need advice they can trust on the often complicated fee structures of aged care homes.
- by John Collett
Opinion
Trade
‘New Competition’? It’s protectionism with an industry policy veneer
Australia is about to join the protectionist wave sweeping through major economies with its “Future Made in Australia” scheme. History suggests we shouldn’t.
- by Stephen Bartholomeusz
Analysis
Defamation
The omnishambles that Bruce Lehrmann unleashed on himself
Bruce Lehrmann has gone from cause celebre to disgrace. Along the way he has managed to damage and hurt many lives and reputations.
- by Harriet Alexander
Editorial
Renewables
Why governments should subsidise household batteries to go with solar
There are now 3.8 million households with solar. It’s time to push storage solutions, so households - and the grid - get the benefits by night as well as day.
- The Herald's View
Opinion
Israeli-Palestinian conflict
Iran has given Israel licence to ‘go nuts’. But there are reasons to resist
Israel faces a dilemma of historic proportions as it decides how to respond to Iran’s weekend attack.
- by Peter Hartcher