News
Nice to meet you, now back off! How to socially distance without seeming rude
SPECIAL FEATURE: As we strive to get used to the strange new feeling of social distancing because of coronavirus, remember manners and respect are what make society work. This used to mean shaking hands, but now it means demonstrating our concern for each other’s health by not shaking hands.
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Coronavirus fact check: Is Australia the next Italy? Does drinking hot water kill the virus? Should you really not use ibuprofen?
SPECIAL FEATURE: Four experts answer readers' questions and bust some myths about coronavirus and Covid-19.
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Coronavirus: Australians overseas urged to get home now
Government issues stark warning to any Australians overseas who wish to get back home because of COVID-19 - do it "as soon as possible".
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COVID-19: What you should and shouldn’t do if you’re in coronavirus self-isolation. Can I take the dog for a walk? Can I put the kids to bed?
SPECIAL FEATURE: It’s not always clear what self-isolation means in practice, and how it’s different to social distancing.
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Government forced to “scale up” fiscal response to deal with impact of “scaled up” health response
OPINION & ANALYSIS: Surely Australia has not experienced such a sense of crisis since World War 2. As the coronavirus cases escalate rapidly, there is an increasing feeling things are starting to run out of control.
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Reserve Bank and government prepare fresh emergency measures as markets tumble
As the coronavirus pandemic crisis continues to unfold, the Australian share market crashed 9.7% on Monday in its worst one-day sell-off since 1987.
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The coronavirus pandemic is forcing us to ask some very hard questions. But are we ready for the answers?
SPECIAL FEATURE: How do we ration and distribute limited healthcare resources in the face of the coronavirus crisis? How many of our personal freedoms are we willing to forgo to contain the pandemic?
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Morrison government funds ‘pop up’ testing clinics and tele-consultations in $2.4 billion COVID-19 health package
Scott Morrison said Australia is “as well prepared as any country in the world” to deal with the virus, and the health package “is about preventing and treating coronavirus in the coming weeks.”
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Morrison tells big business to show ‘patriotism’ as COVID-19 threatens to hit harder than GFC
In the face of the coronavirus crisis, Prime minister says: “We need your perseverance, planning and enterprise. We need your common sense, calm and commitment. And we need your patriotism."
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Can Scott Morrison match Kevin Rudd in keeping Australia out of recession in a global crisis?
OPINION & ANALYSIS: In some ways this crisis is more complex to deal with than the GFC. Aspects of the public panic are irrational and so very hard to calm.
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Australia’s #toiletpapercrisis: the best of Twitter’s reactions
Bog roll shelves around the nation have been stripped bare as Aussies prepare for the worst...
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Why are people stockpiling toilet paper? We asked four experts
SPECIAL FEATURE: "When people hear about the coronavirus, they are afraid of losing control. And toilet paper feels like a way to maintain control over hygiene and cleanliness."
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The closure of AAP is yet another blow to public interest journalism in Australia
OPINION & ANALYSIS: The loss of AAP should be mourned not just by news men and women across the country, but by every single person who cares about democracy.
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The first economic modelling of coronavirus scenarios is grim for Australia, the world
SPECIAL FEATURE: In the four scenarios where the epidemic goes global, Australia’s GDP which in the 12 months to December grew just 1.7%, would suffer a hit in the first year of between 2% and 7.9%.
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First locally-transmitted COVID-19 cases in Australia, as Attorney-General warns drastic legal powers could be used
Attorney-General Christian Porter said it was important for Australians to understand the use of certain powers may become necessary in the months ahead.
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Australian government triggers emergency plan for COVID-19 pandemic, and considers economic assistance
“There are some challenging months ahead and the government will continue to work closely based on the best possible medical advice to keep Australians safe,” says prime minister.
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ASIO chief Mike Burgess says there are more spies in Australia ‘than at the height of the cold war’
"And perhaps most disturbingly, hostile intelligence services have directly threatened and intimidated Australians in this country," says ASIO boss.
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Julian Assange’s extradition case is finally heading to court – here’s what to expect
If Julian Assange does win the extradition fight and ends up deported to Australia, his lawyers have expressed concern the US could make a new extradition request.
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Bushfire ‘thank you’ advert engulfs New York’s Times Square (VIDEO)
WATCH: The Rural Fire Service thanks the world for all its support over the bushfire crisis in the biggest way possible.
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Vale Holden: how America’s General Motors sold us the Australian dream
SPECIAL FEATURE: After ceasing Australian manufacturing, the Holden brand was disconnected from our national myths. The car of the last century is no more.
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Morrison can only look on as Nationals ‘wicked problem’ damages his government
OPINION & ANALYSIS: There was resentment among Nationals at Morrison being seen to push Bridget McKenzie under the bus over the sports grants, not least because they felt his office had more involvement than it admitted.
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High-tech shortages loom as coronavirus shutdowns hit manufacturers
Many Chinese factories have stayed closed since the Lunar New Year holiday in late January, halting the production of products and parts destined for countries around the world, including Australia.
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Chief Scientist: we need to transform our world into a sustainable ‘electric planet’
SPECIAL FEATURE: "This is a reminder that if governments, industry, communities and individuals share a vision, a positive transition can be achieved. The stunning technology advances I have witnessed in the past ten years make me optimistic." - Alan Finkel.
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Britain’s Kew Gardens emergency Aussie seed collecting following bushfires
The Royal Botanic Gardens in Kew is stepping up efforts to store precious Australian seeds to safeguard flora from future catastrophes.
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Government’s religious discrimination bill enshrines the right to harm others in the name of faith
OPINION & ANALYSIS: The bill turns discrimination protection on its head. It doesn’t merely protect a person from being discriminated against because of their religious beliefs, it allows a person to actively discriminate on the basis of their religious beliefs.
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Is the coronavirus a pandemic, and does that matter? 4 questions answered
SPECIAL FEATURE: he new coronavirus has now affected more than 20,000 people. Some public health officials have said the outbreak is likely to soon be a pandemic. Just what is a pandemic anyway?
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To Scott Morrison’s relief, Michael McCormack holds his job as Nationals’ leader
But Barnaby Joyce is unlikely to give up his ambition, and having a restive Matt Canavan on the backbench will be unhelpful for McCormack.
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Adam Bandt elected unopposed as new Greens leader
The new Greens leader's challenge will be to manage from the lower house what is essentially a Senate party.
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Richard Di Natale quits Greens leadership, as Barnaby Joyce seeks a tilt at Michael McCormack
The shock resignation comes as former deputy prime minister Barnaby Joyce announced he would challenge Nationals leader Michael McCormack if there was a move for a leadership spill at Tuesday’s party meeting.
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Scott Morrison’s ‘resilience’ speech overshadowed as McKenzie crisis deepens
Sport Australia wrote to McKenzie’s office before the election expressing concern it was being compromised by political interference.
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The Wuhan coronavirus is now in Australia – here’s what you need to know
SPECIAL FEATURE: From a market in China to the world - an animal infection has probably learnt to jump to humans and then spread within our species.
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