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Good Weekend Talks
In-depth conversations with the people fascinating Australians right now.
Life in the ’Burbs
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Investigation
Defence
Guns for hire: How former US admirals influence the Australian Defence Force
An inconspicuous building in Virginia is the conduit for confidential advice provided to the Australian military by former American officers.
Exclusive
Healthcare
Uproar at plan for hospital to close its doors to women with high-risk pregnancies
A controversial proposal to redirect women with riskier pregnancies has attracted criticism from midwives, the nursing union and the state opposition.
Premier warns protesters over bridge march as city streets shutdown looms
Anyone who intends to disrupt emergency services during a city protest today will be dealt with swiftly by police, Premier Jacinta Allan says.
The exclusive schools where high-earning parents send their children
Victoria’s top-earning parents are sending their kids to some of the most exclusive and expensive schools in the state, data shows. See the list and search for your school.
Beyond the platform: Billion-dollar blind spot in Suburban Rail Loop’s design
Critics say Suburban Rail Loop draft plans do not include the necessary infrastructure so people can get to and from new underground stations on foot, bicycles or e-scooters.
August to bring more rain and snow, but for farmers it’s ‘storm Lotto’
Heavy rain stretching along the east coast’s a harbinger of a wetter-than-average August and start to spring.
‘I am done with being hard on myself’: Sporty Spice Melanie Chisholm at 51
Ahead of a rumoured 30-year reunion, the former Spice Girl reveals what’s in the group’s WhatsApp chat, and the special place Australia has in her heart.
Exclusive
City life
Beauty, bubbles and croissants: Mecca offers a taste of new megastore
The beauty retailer teams up with croissant queen Kate Reid to open a cafe in its giant Bourke Street outlet.
All the things we love about Singapore (plus five we don’t)
Singapore turns 60 years young next week so it’s time to sing the praises of one of Australia’s favourite holiday destinations.
Analysis
AFL 2025
Why the Voss call is easier for Carlton than the Goodwin call for Melbourne
Despite the shared problems and superficially similar situations, there’s a clear difference in the nature of the coaching calls that the Blues and Demons confront.
Analysis
Collingwood Magpies
Collingwood have the wobbles. They have three weeks to shake them off
Flag favourites for much of the year, the Magpies are stumbling at a time when their rivals are starting their charge.
Analysis
Trump's White House
Rollercoaster week raises questions about true state of the US economy
After stellar GDP growth, we were told it was ‘the Trump economy’ in effect. But when a shockingly weak jobs report arrived, suddenly the numbers were “rigged”.
Opinion
Israeli-Palestinian conflict
In 30 years at The Age, I never wrote on Israel-Palestine. Now, I must
I begin this article with a trigger warning: it is certain to offend almost everyone who is wedded to one side or the other.
Barney Zwartz
Contributor
Inside unhappy Germany’s unsettling lurch to the right
Fed up with the dominant political parties, many German voters are backing new leaders who have been labelled extreme.
Australians are working more hours, and it might be hurting our living standards
Australian workers are choosing to upgrade their lifestyles – buy fancier coffee and take more expensive holidays – rather than shortening their workdays.
Exclusive
Title Deeds
How much it costs to become neighbours with Lachlan Murdoch
Prestige property hunters have a chance to rub shoulders with the media mogul as a nearby estate hits the market.
Opinion
Superannuation
Trump’s crypto mania poses a risk for our super
Investing and being hungry for risk is one thing. But when the money being invested is retirement funds, it’s a different ball game.
Victoria Devine
Money columnist
shorts
WEEKEND READS
Graphic content
‘Consent angels’, ‘female energy’: How swinging has changed
Magazine
Have a Good Weekend wherever you are with our digital edition
How the nation’s swinging scene has changed | The unlikely anti-nuclear campaigners | Anh and Suzanne Do | The perils of Australia’s “shockingly simple” economy
Investigation
The former PM, ministers and military brass cashing in on Australia’s defence bonanza
With billions of dollars in AUKUS spending looming, the rush to join defence contractors and advisory firms has never been greater.
Victoria
‘Out of touch’: Former premier backs popular milk bar over plans for evening dining
James and Cat Laskie’s popular Barton Milk Bar has attracted a host of famous faces since it opened in this affluent area six years ago.
Locals aghast after heritage-listed bridge restoration axed
Councils say they are too expensive to be restored. But residents insist it is worth fighting and paying for these heritage structures.
Updated
Crime
Man charged with murder after 81-year-old woman allegedly stabbed to death
A man has been charged with murder after an 81-year-old woman was allegedly stabbed to death at Coleraine in Victoria’s rural south-west.
Analysis
ALP
On Labor’s pitch for working from home, Allan finds her cause
The Victorian government’s work-from-home pledge is light on detail, but the politics are devilishly clever.
Monash University academic charged after child abuse material allegedly shown in lecture
Monash University confirmed a 74-year-old man was suspended immediately and “removed from all teaching duties” following the alleged incident.
AFL 2025
Opinion
The fractured football club behind Melbourne’s eight seconds of madness
Three star players could leave and the future of many off-field leaders is unclear. Inside the leadership vacuum at the Demons.
Caroline Wilson
Football columnist for The Age
Famous names and exciting prospects: We name the top 25 prospects for this year’s AFL draft
Some familiar surnames are expected to be called out at the top of this year’s AFL national draft.
Politics
The social media ban is set to begin in December. But whether it works is up for question
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese’s social media ban faces major hurdles, including the spectre of lawsuits, privacy concerns and whether the change will actually work.
Business
Analysis
World markets
The $8.6 trillion bank tweak that risks sparking the next financial crisis
The Trump administration is poised to make the biggest financial shake-up since the 2008 recession, and it could lead to a lot of trouble.
Szu Ping Chan
World
Epstein accomplice quietly moved to ‘luxury prison’
The family of Virginia Giuffre – the American-Australian woman who was among Jeffrey Epstein’s most well-known accusers – said the justice system was “failing victims”.
Opinion
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Property
Inner-north California bungalow sells post auction for $1.5m
A three-bedroom house in Melbourne’s inner-north, guided at $1.5 million, received one bid of $1.48 million during Saturday’s auction.
Where you should have bought a house in Melbourne 13 years ago
Bayside home sellers made a median profit of $608,000, the highest gain across all Melbourne local government areas, as buyers chase space, schools and lifestyle.
Good Food
Lifestyle
The move that has killed off Friday night drinks
For countless generations, workers celebrated the end of the week by heading to the local watering hole.
Culture
She’s delighted audiences for decades. Now Szubanski joins an elite list
Magda Szubanski, who has been diagnosed with mantle cell lymphoma, will be honoured on Sunday night.
Opinion
WordPlay
The colour that is tearing families apart
David Astle
Crossword compiler and ABC Radio Melbourne presenter
Opinion
The Verdict
It’s about time someone said it: paparazzi are artists and heroes
Robert Moran
Spectrum Deputy Editor, The Sydney Morning Herald
Traveller
Drivedrive
From Our Partners
Sport
Analysis
AFL 2025
Why the Voss call is easier for Carlton than the Goodwin call for Melbourne
Despite the shared problems and superficially similar situations, there’s a clear difference in the nature of the coaching calls that the Blues and Demons confront.
Analysis
AFL 2025
Collingwood have the wobbles. They have three weeks to shake them off
Flag favourites for much of the year, the Magpies are stumbling at a time when their rivals are starting their charge.
‘No one thought we could do it’: How a trip to the pub helped the Vixens win a grand final for the ages
Melbourne’s season was on the brink when coach Simone McKinnis suggested her team should “go to the pub” for a bonding session. Her final game in charge was a premiership win.
May-Day: Nightmare scenario for Hawks as they lose a star for the season
The Hawks are uncertain whether Will Day will need surgery on his foot, but they’ve defended how they managed his recovery from his earlier injury.
AFL Briefing
AFL 2025
Blues’ Magpie rivalry ignites over McRae’s Silvagni ‘date’; relieved Goodwin thankful for extra security
Michael Voss took aim at the approach of his premiership teammate. Meanwhile, Simon Goodwin addressed the need for extra protection after last week’s ugly social media threat.
Analysis
Swimming
‘What you’re doing is not normal’: Why Mollie O can take swimming to uncharted waters
After picking up her 11th world championship gold, Mollie O’Callaghan says she wants to swim at the 2032 Olympics. By then, Cam McEvoy believes she could have tripled her tally.
Wallabies avoid a Lions series whitewash with brilliant win in Sydney
It was wet, it was wild and, most importantly, it was a win. The Wallabies scored one of their bravest victories in recent memory.
Have Your Say
The fractured football club behind Melbourne’s eight seconds of madness
Three star players could leave and the future of many off-field leaders is unclear. Inside the leadership vacuum at the Demons.
Caroline Wilson
Football columnist for The Age
