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Australia news LIVE: Plea for gambling ad ban; Voters mark down Labor on economy; Women hold more board roles
Follow our live blog for rolling coverage of today’s national news.
- by Cassandra Morgan and Ben Cubby
‘A colossal ear-deafening bang’: Pilot killed after helicopter crashes into hotel in Cairns
A helicopter that crashed into a waterfront hotel in Cairns, killing the pilot, was on an “unauthorised” flight, according to the company that charters it.
- by William Davis
Woman grilled in court about alleged rape at The Star
A woman allegedly punched, headbutted, kicked and raped by a man inside a Sydney hotel room has denied initiating sexual activity or that it was consensual.
- by Sarah McPhee and Nick Newling
Celebrities take over star-studded Olympics closing ceremony
From artistic, dystopian ideas in Paris to a performance in Los Angeles, the Olympics closing ceremony reflected something of the current and future host countries.
- by Kerrie O'Brien
RBA warns economic backseat drivers are playing ‘a dangerous game’
The Reserve Bank has come under fire over interest rate settings, prompting RBA deputy governor Andrew Hauser to caution against economic “false prophets”.
- by Shane Wright and Millie Muroi
Updated
World markets
ASX rises as earnings season ramps up; JB Hi-Fi surges
Consumer stocks pushed the ASX up at midday on Monday after Wall Street capped off a dramatic week with gains.
- by Penry Buckley
King pair: Horne-Francis mounts new challenge for Daicos’ crown
Jason Horne-Francis’ rise to stardom, Hawthorn’s stunning in-season revival, the Giants’ upset of Brisbane in another bonkers round, and Craig McRae’s post-match comments are all on the agenda in round 22’s key takeouts.
- by Marc McGowan
Greens leader ducks CFMEU donation questions as government introduces new law
Adam Bandt indicated his party would not back federal legislation forcing the CFMEU into administration but was silent on donations his party has received from the union.
- by Olivia Ireland
Analysis
Open banking
The fight over $1.5 billion ‘game-changer’ that hasn’t lived up to the hype
When former prime minister Scott Morrison outlined his vision for an ambitious banking policy in 2018, he declared it would be a “revolution” for Australian customers.
- by Clancy Yeates
What did John Setka do next? Get a tattoo
The fallen trade unionist has used the medium of ink on skin to issue a defiant message.
- by Stephen Brook
‘DIDN’T EXIST’: Trump falsely accuses Harris of faking crowd photos using AI
Conspiracy theorists and far-right influencers have promoted a number of falsehoods targeted at the Harris campaign. Donald Trump has taken it up a level.
- by Ariana Eunjung Cha
Opinion
Paris 2024
When the Games come to Brisvegas, we’ll have a Raygun up our sleeves
Sure, Brissy doesn’t have the same je ne sais quoi as Paris, but what it lacks in iconography it makes up for in spirit, and I’m not talking about Bundaberg Rum.
- by Lizzy Hoo
The good, bad and stinky of the Paris Games
That was real, Paris. And different. How should we remember these Games now that they’re done and won?
- by Andrew Webster
Analysis
Political leadership
Labor finally turns around primary vote slide – just
There is a glimmer of hope for the government in the latest Resolve survey. But voters doing it tough want economic solutions.
- by David Crowe
Exclusive
HSC
Sydney’s top-ranked school has an HSC average subject score of 89.4. How does your school fare?
By band sixes or averages, North Sydney Boys is the state’s top school. A new analysis of HSC scores has shaken up the top five.
- by Lucy Carroll and Nigel Gladstone
Pip Edwards steps down from the brand she founded
Three months after relaunching P.E Nation at Australian Fashion Week, the influential celebrity designer is leaving to “pursue new creative challenges”.
- by Melissa Singer
From Point Piper to prison: The double life of an eastern suburbs executive
Michael Snounou once rubbed shoulders with Australia’s most affluent people from his lavish harbourside home. It came crashing down in scenes akin to TV drama Breaking Bad.
- by Clare Sibthorpe
Updated
Russia-Ukraine war
Ukrainians advance 25 kilometres into Russian territory as fire breaks out at nuclear plant
Volodymyr Zelensky has indirectly acknowledged Ukraine’s surprise incursion into Russia, saying his country must “push the war out into the aggressor’s territory.”
- by Lidia Kelly
The countries that have won most Olympic medals per head of population
Grenada is the winner although Dominica’s Thea LaFond helped her island home to lay claim to its most successful Olympic campaign.
- by Rob Harris
No-action Jackson: Legend’s fifth medal comes the Ezi way as Opals claim bronze
Lauren Jackson “played” her last game for Australia on Sunday and came away with a bronze medal and a trove of memories.
- by Greg Baum
French pageantry meets American razzle-dazzle in spectacular closing ceremony
A high-octane farewell to the Olympics featured a golden alien, a pianist dangling from the sky and Tom Cruise leaping from the roof of the Stade de France.
- by Jordan Baker
Graphic content
Rohingya
‘Hundreds’ including women and children killed in drone attacks crossing river to flee war
Horrific stories are emerging of an atrocity in war-ravaged Myanmar, allegedly at the hands of a rebel army, which has denied responsibility.
- by Zach Hope and Saiful Arakani
As It Happened: Closing ceremony concludes Paris 2024 Olympics with Tom Cruise, Snoop Dogg, Dr Dre, Billie Eilish
One of the most spectacular Olympics of the modern era have drawn to a close in Paris with smiling athletes, slick French pop and Snoop Dogg – as the Games head for La La Land in 2028.
- by Claire Siracusa, Marnie Vinall, Roy Ward, Jordan Baker, Megan Levy and Chris Paine
The bandicoot bandits causing a truffle kerfuffle
The unlikely gourmands are pilfering thousands of dollars of farmed black truffles a night, but a PhD student has been working to get them to change their ways.
- by Caitlin Fitzsimmons
Exclusive
Gambling
‘Put people first’: Late MP’s husband makes emotional plea on gambling reform
Former Labor MP Peta Murphy pushed for gambling reform until her death last year. Her husband says she “wouldn’t cop” the idea that doing something about it is too hard.
- by Paul Sakkal
CBD
CBD
Kim Williams says ABC news can be ‘tabloid’
The ABC chair faced former ABC presenter Kerry O’Brien in the unlikely setting of a holiday hot spot.
- by Stephen Brook and Kishor Napier-Raman
Opinion
Interest rates
Maybe only a recession will fix macroeconomic management
The reliance on interest rates to reduce demand is hugely unfair – and it is lacking in effectiveness.
- by Ross Gittins
Women ‘allowed into the tent’ with board seats, but men take top-paying chair roles
Of the top 15 highest-paid directors, all but one is a man, says a report from the governance advisers Ownership Matters.
- by Amelia McGuire
Opinion
Political leadership
The price of a life? Don’t tell me, at all costs
We expect our leaders to make life and death decisions all the time. Just spare us the unvarnished rationale.
- by Sean Kelly
Behind this unassuming grocery store hides Sydney’s viral perfume master
Ali Jalloul has gone TikTok viral for his bespoke perfumery business, but you’ll have to walk through the aisles of milk and eggs to find it.
- by Jessica McSweeney
It was once in Samsung’s sights, now this Australian company is battling to survive
Australian smart earbuds maker Nuheara was most recently valued at about $22 million and was once a takeover target for Samsung.
- by David Swan
Exclusive
Renting
Why premier feels he has no choice but to act on rental reform
NSW Premier Chris Minns says rental reform would have been politically impossible a decade ago. Now, there is no choice.
- by Alexandra Smith
Katies and Noni B may be in trouble, but older women are still shopping
The full potential of Baby Boomer shoppers remains untapped by Australian fashion labels.
- by Damien Woolnough
Directorship cloud over failed mining group involving financier Simon Raftery
An administrator’s report on the group that ran the Wilkie Creek coal mine details the possible involvement of shadow directors in the company’s operation.
- by Anne Hyland
How to look like Russell Crowe in his prime for just $75,000
Leather breastplates, aluminium swords and rubber shields are just the beginning.
- by Tim Barlass
The most exciting two hours of dead time, and an encounter with an Olympic champion
Our team of reporters in Paris recount their favourite moments of the Games.
Exclusive
Education
‘He could’ve been stopped’: State pays $34m compensation to survivors of paedophile teacher
Vincent Henry Reynolds admitted to sexually abusing 38 children over three decades at state primary schools across north and central Victoria.
- by Caroline Schelle
Exclusive
Property development
The Sydney property developer chasing $28 million in stolen cash
Tina Zou redeveloped luxury units across Sydney. Now she is embroiled in a dispute over millions of dollars in Hong Kong linked to an espionage case involving a dead Royal Marine in London.
- by Eryk Bagshaw, Lisa Visentin and Daniel Ceng
Why Sydney Harbour Bridge almost got another rail line over it
A range of secret options were seriously considered for Sydney’s $21.6 billion metro rail line in the early days of the project.
- by Matt O'Sullivan
Analysis
Paris 2024
The embarrassment of Tokyo triggered a post-mortem. The rebirth was glorious
The last Olympics ended in snapped-handlebars and ignominy. And if the Paris response was emphatic – it could peak in LA.
- by Emma Kemp
Lasted 1km: Coach defends marathon call as breakdown sparks backlash
Sinead Diver lasted a kilometre. The veteran Australian marathon runner, who finished 10th in Tokyo three years ago, had been battling injury but thought she was right to run and was cleared by doctors to compete.
- by Michael Gleeson
There’s a Bear in there: Will NRL’s foundation club truly live on in Perth bid?
In rugby league, nostalgia is a powerful and lucrative commodity. So as the iconic North Sydney Bears align with the NRL’s latest expansion outfit, what do the true believers make of it?
- by Dan Walsh
Out: Breaking. In? The sports that should be added and ditched for LA 2028
Cricket, lacrosse and baseball/softball will return to the program in LA28, while squash and flag football make their Olympic debuts. But if our reporters had their way, these are the sports that would be added and ditched for LA28 and, beyond, for Brisbane 2032.
McClymont’s courage is a wonder to behold
Journalists like the stylish and courageous Kate McClymont face off evil, violent creeps and chase them down their rabbit holes, despite the unavoidable fear. Fearlessness isn’t a real thing, but courage is.
Opinion
Olympics
Did Snoop Dogg just save an Olympic sport from itself? Sort of
Equestrian events have been engulfed in a major welfare controversy during the Olympics, but an unlikely advocate for the sport could help it turn a corner.
- by Zoya Patel
Blues sweat on Curnow as injury crisis worsens in Hawk hammering
Carlton face an uphill battle to qualify for September after they lost their position in the eight as four players, including star forward Charlie Curnow, suffered injuries in a heavy loss to Hawthorn, leaving coach Michael Voss with plenty to ponder.
- by Marc McGowan
Knights rookie’s day out in win over Tigers; Dolphins outlast Warriors in thriller
Newcastle and the Dolphins did their finals hopes no harm with home wins on Sunday.
- by Jasper Bruce
War of the lilly pillies: Mosman neighbours don’t hedge bets in tree row
Two north shore families called in silks to argue the finer points of law concerning an offending hedge - and whether the law should be applied in the present or past tense.
- by Carrie Fellner
Exclusive
Political leadership
Voters mark down Labor on economic management after RBA rates call
The electorate isn’t convinced by Labor’s handling of the nation’s finances, the latest Resolve Political Monitor shows, although the government’s primary vote rose.
- by David Crowe
Wallabies keeping door open for grieving Tupou to play Boks in Perth
The Wallabies are counting the cost of a bruising defeat to the world champion Springboks. But several stars may be in line for a return for the second showdown in Perth.
- by Iain Payten
From bad to worse: Inside Trump’s worst three weeks of the 2024 campaign
Questioning his opponent’s racial identity. Still hoping to “stop the steal”. Constant crowd comparisons. The former president’s people see a candidate knocked off his bearings.
- by Maggie Haberman and Jonathan Swan
Graphic content
MeToo movement
Shiori was an intern journalist when allegedly raped. She then turned the camera on the system
Shiori Itō was an intern journalist when she claimed she was raped by one of Japan’s famous TV broadcasters. Then she turned the camera on herself and the system.
- by Lisa Visentin
Inside Melbourne engineer’s plans to bring car production back
Richard Mazeika doesn’t plan to produce SUVs or sedans. Instead, he’s hoping to capitalise on an untapped market for electric race cars.
- by Madeleine Heffernan
Premier walks back support for raising age of criminal responsibility to 14
Jacinta Allan was asked three times whether she remained committed to lifting the minimum age to 14 by 2027, but refused to be drawn.
- by Annika Smethurst
A financial tale of two potential vice presidents
Tim Walz and JD Vance both come from modest backgrounds, but one running mate is rich and the other far from it.
- by Sharon LaFraniere
Forget the special effects, this band doesn’t need them to send a crowd wild
Australian indie-rock group Last Dinosaurs round off their latest tour with a rapturous gig at The Croxton.
- by Vyshnavee Wijekumar, Andrew Fuhrmann, Cameron Woodhead, Bridget Davies and Barney Zwartz