Evening edition
The day’s breaking news, entertainment ideas and a long read to enjoy.
Naked City podcast
Journey into the criminal underworld with Australia’s most formidable crime reporter - John Silvester.
Take The Age quiz
Test your knowledge of Melbourne and Victoria with Stephen Brook’s weekly quiz.
School bonus divides as rich reap benefits, poorer private areas miss out
Public school students in wealthy suburbs will get $400 each to help with learning costs while some of their private peers are overlooked.
Analysis
Analysis
Victoria the ‘basket case’ state: This debt isn’t like a household mortgage
Most home owners understand that if you are serious about getting your mortgage under control, you can’t keep borrowing more money to pay for other things.
Hospitals ditched over Metro Tunnel electromagnetic interference
Interference from the new Metro Tunnel station at Arden has forced the Victorian government to ditch a $5 billion plan to build new hospital campuses there.
We asked Victorians what they thought of the budget. This is what they told us
It’s a tight budget with a few standouts for families, but Victorians still have plenty to say.
More than 100 projects delayed as blowouts hit bottom line
Delays will affect signature projects in education, health and housing as the government shields the budget from rising costs.
Australian man had Beethoven’s hair tested – and may have solved mystery of his deafness
An Australian businessman with a passion for Beethoven wanted to honour the composer’s request in 1802 that doctors one day try to figure out why he had been so ill.
Melburnians were encouraged to send an email about the city’s trees. They poured their hearts out
“Dear 1040090. Is it okay if I call you George?” A project mapping people’s emotional connections with trees draws on Melbourne’s beloved and viral “treemail”.
Opinion
Money & relationships
To have and to hold: When an engagement goes belly up, who gets to keep the ring?
As a psychologist, when I was weighing the question of who should keep the $100,000 bling after the bitter break-up of a Victorian couple, I considered the advice of two experts: a family lawyer and film star Elizabeth Taylor.
Peter Quarry
Psychologist
Driver in Lamborghini crash also accused of killing spectator at burnout event
A Ballarat mechanic has been refused bail after crashing into a house six months after he was involved in a fatal crash at a car festival in regional Victoria.
Age investigative journalist defends stories on renowned orthopaedic surgeon
Charlotte Grieve told the Federal Court that her articles about surgeon Munjed Al Muderis were fair and based on patients’ experiences.
Opinion
AFL 2024
We might not want what America has in its sports stars, but our players do
We need to create, and then support, an environment that encourages players to be themselves. It will make individuals and the game healthier.
Mathew Stokes
AFL columnist
Gracie Otto began a film about her dad’s one-man show. A diagnosis changed the story
Gracie Otto has made a documentary about her beloved father, who no longer recognises himself in one of Australia’s biggest films.
Analysis
Quantum Computing
Confused by the quantum computing race? It’s just like the Oscars
The government just bet $1 billion on one kind of quantum. But there are many other contenders in the race for the golden gong.
‘Stop provocations’: China fires back at Australia over Yellow Sea flare incident
The encounter has strained efforts to stabilise relations with Beijing and comes as Australian officials prepare to host a visit by Chinese Premier Li Qiang.
Victorian budget 2024
Analysis
The budget is brimming with hairy-chested spin. But the reality is far more nuanced
Treasurer Tim Pallas says the budget aims to tackle two really big problems: high inflation and workforce shortages. But if you take the coming financial year as a benchmark, the reality is far more nuanced.
Analysis
The boastful Daniel Andrews tweet that is no longer fit for purpose
Soft tacos or crunchy tacos? We have to choose because Victoria can’t have both - despite promises from now-departed premier Daniel Andrews.
Victoria
Updated
Mushroom case
Alleged killer mushroom cook Erin Patterson pleads not guilty
Accused triple murderer Erin Patterson will have her case fast-tracked to the Supreme Court where her barrister says she will plead not guilty to all charges.
Updated
Private schools
Private school boys expelled over list ranking female classmates
The principal of Yarra Valley Grammar said the school was characterised by respectful relationships “most of the time”.
Exclusive
Tragedy
‘The part that is so raw ... is that I am just devastated’: Soul Barn owner has no answers on ‘toxic mushroom’ death
Michelle Mullins says the death of a woman from suspected mushroom poisoning at her Clunes wellness centre has left her devastated. And she says she’s been subjected to an “overwhelming” level of harassment.
Council orders former Goldfingers strip club site to be turned into a park
The derelict site of the former Kilkenny Inn and Goldfingers strip club will be turned into a temporary park by the City of Melbourne because construction on a promised multimillion-dollar development won’t begin next month.
Updated
Courts
Judge must undergo counselling after complaint from state’s top prosecutor
The Judicial Commission of Victoria has ruled some of judge Geoff Chettle’s conduct during a sex crimes trial lacked sensitivity.
AFL
‘Playing for their future’: Heat on Beveridge, Bulldogs ahead of Tigers clash
Western Bulldogs great Doug Hawkins is “a Bevo man” and has backed the coach to turn the Bulldogs’ season around. But he fears what could happen if his old club is beaten by Richmond on Saturday.
Analysis
The former tradie behind Demons’ success
Everyone knows a tradie who thinks they know everything about footy. There just aren’t many like former air conditioner technician Jason Taylor.
Politics
Completion bonuses on the cards in university overhaul
Education Minister Jason Clare’s vision for getting more disadvantaged students into universities will be outlined in next week’s budget.
Business
Updated
Interest rates
RBA inflation outlook ups pressure on Chalmers ahead of budget
The Reserve Bank revealed it expects price pressures to grow through the rest of the year, which may require another lift in official interest rates.
World
Inside the White House scramble to broker a deal in Gaza
Over the course of a few hours, the news from the Middle East came into the White House Situation Room fast and furious. Officials rushed to work out the truth.
Opinion
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Property
The type of home that got 50 per cent more expensive within four years
Rental prices for units have skyrocketed since COVID-19 lockdown, and house rents have jumped too. Is any relief in sight?
How the conventional wisdom of the property ladder broke down
Previous generations would start with a modest unit and then upsize to a house, but today’s buyers face a different outlook.
Good Food
Lifestyle
Groundbreaking? No, but these celebrities won the Met Gala red carpet
The Met Gala isn’t really a place for setting trends, but these celebrities were best in show.
Culture
Mona heads to Supreme Court in fight to keep Ladies Lounge for women
The art gallery was ordered to close a women-only exhibit last month after a NSW man launched an anti-discrimination case.
Traveller
Drivedrive
From Our Partners
Sport
Opinion
AFL 2024
We might not want what America has in its sports stars, but our players do
We need to create, and then support, an environment that encourages players to be themselves. It will make individuals and the game healthier.
Mathew Stokes
AFL columnist
‘Playing for their future’: Heat on Beveridge, Bulldogs ahead of Tigers clash
Western Bulldogs great Doug Hawkins is “a Bevo man” and has backed the coach to turn the Bulldogs’ season around. But he fears what could happen if his old club is beaten by Richmond on Saturday.
‘I’m not in great touch’: Hawkins’ form in focus ahead of games record
The champion Cat will match his triple-premiership teammate Joel Selwood’s games record on Friday night against Port Adelaide when he plays his 355th game for the club.
Cousins won’t be part of the hall of fame class of ’24
Former West Coast champion and skipper Ben Cousins will not be inducted into the Australian Football Hall of Fame in 2024 and is not considered likely to be added to the honour roll any time soon.
Five years ago Tiana tried boxing for the first time. Now she’s off to the Olympics
Tiana Echegaray went to a boxercise class in 2019 to keep fit and it has led her to competing at her first Olympics at the age of 30.
Batting phenom Fraser-McGurk opens up on World Cup snub
Australian short-form batting sensation Jake Fraser-McGurk said he didn’t feel he had earned a place in the T20 World Cup squad despite his recent pyrotechnics in the Indian Premier League.
AFL Briefing
AFL 2024
Mihocek played on with hamstring injury; AFL greats question the tackle trend
The thought never crossed Brody Mihocek’s mind to leave the ground, despite his hamstring injury. Meanwhile, Leigh Matthews and Nathan Buckley are convinced AFL umpires have changed their interpretation of holding-the-ball decisions.
Have Your Say
Not a top-four team: How rival recruiters really rate the Bulldogs’ list
It’s hard to get a handle on Bevo’s Bulldogs. List managers polled by The Age point to top-end talent, but a wobbly defence and a one-paced midfield.