Opinion
Opinion
Superannuation
My super fund has collapsed. Can I get the pension in the meantime?
When you’re left without access to your super due to a fund failure, you can apply for a special exemption to get the age pension.
- by Noel Whittaker
Latest
Opinion
Investing
Want your portfolio to grow this year? Just follow this rule
Looking ahead to the second half of the year, the game plan for investors involves a whole lot of AI, along with some other solid bets.
- by Billy Leung
Opinion
Aged care
Getting aged care advice? Ask these five questions first
When it comes to aged care, the decisions you make can have significant financial and emotional consequences.
- by Rachel Lane
Opinion
Antisemitism
Defining antisemitism is no threat to free speech. Without a definition, we are adrift
The IHRA working definition of antisemitism is a lighthouse, not a bludgeon. Antisemitism envoy Jillian Segal has called for punitive action when patterned institutional antisemitism is not dealt with.
- by Adam Slonim
Opinion
HECS
Cutting HECS debt is the least Albanese could do for young Australians. He should do more
Our tax and benefits system favours the old over the young. Then there’s our ridiculous housing market. No wonder young people feel dudded.
- by Ross Gittins
Political sketch
Political leadership
Political enemies join parliament’s first-day love-in. Day two will be a different story
For just one day, love and homage to democracy were the central rituals as the 48th parliament opened.
- by Tony Wright
Opinion
Healthcare
Informal sperm donation is on the rise in Australia. So are the risks
Because of the informal nature of these arrangements, there is little oversight and even less data. But no woman should have to go through this kind of trauma in the pursuit of parenthood.
- by Neera Bhatia
Opinion
Australia votes
An interest in politics is great, but only adults should be allowed to vote
Compulsory voting means that casting a ballot is a responsibility. Sixteen-year-olds aren’t ready for that.
- by Brad Emery
Opinion
Australia votes
Whitlam gave 18-year-olds the vote. Now it’s time to lower it again
The UK has just announced it will lower the voting age to 16. What would happen if we followed suit?
- by Vivienne Skinner
Opinion
Billionaires
How James Packer plans to avoid passing the succession poison chalice to his kids
The fifth generation of Packers – James’ three children – will ultimately inherit riches rather than power.
- by Elizabeth Knight
Opinion
Active investing
I’m in my 30s. Should I invest my savings or save for a property?
Buying property is so normalised that it can sometimes seem like a less risky option than investing in the sharemarket.
- by Paridhi Jain
Opinion
Trump's America
The world is more scared of Trump than America is
The Trump circus is in full swing, but Wall Street is surprisingly brushing it off.
- by Stephen Bartholomeusz
Opinion
Workplace culture
Kiss Cam whammy made us chuckle, but it has triggered my bonk ban fixation
Workplace romances are almost always a bad idea. I’ve observed my share of HR (human relations) disasters.
- by Jenna Price
Analysis
AFL 2025
Who will make finals in the race for the top eight – and how can your team play spoiler?
The race for the top eight continues apace, with all spots still up for grabs. Who will make it, and who will miss out? And which games can those out of contention use to play September spoilers?
- by Jon Pierik
Opinion
Trump's White House
Trump, Murdoch, Epstein and MAGA: Bannon predicts firestorm, but it’s not clear who will get burnt
Donald Trump’s original White House strategist Steve Bannon still insists the “deep state” runs the world. And while he has many questions, he has few answers.
- by Peter Hartcher
Opinion
NRL 2025
He’s the Mr Fix-It who can hold Tigers together. He can’t follow Galvin and Da Silva out the door
Adam Doueihi was the hero at Leichhardt Oval on Sunday, but the versatile star is off contract – and at least one rival club sees him as an ideal lock forward.
- by Christian Nicolussi
Opinion
Literature
Young men have stopped reading books – and these are the reasons why
New data shows just 10 per cent of young men read books these days. And an industry that likes to play it safe isn’t helping matters.
- by Brandon Jack
Opinion
Life in the ’burbs
My suburb is the unglamorous sibling of a seaside gem. But we’re still better
I can’t imagine growing up in a fabulous house by the postcard-pretty beach. Instead, there was something freeing in our quiet spaciousness.
- by Gareth Morgan
Opinion
Workplace
Coldplay ‘kiss cam’ lifts the lid on an astronomically common issue
Romance in the office happens all the time, but it’s what you do about it that matters.
- by Tim Duggan
Analysis
Trump's White House
Trump has survived many scandals, but the Epstein story poses a new test
The MAGA base has rallied as it sees him under attack. The White House is trying to change the subject.
- by Natalie Allison
Analysis
NRL 2025
The good, the bad and other Galvin play Canterbury should treasure
Lachlan Galvin’s match-winner in his first outing as an NRL No.7 stole the show. But the signs were just as promising an hour earlier.
- by Dan Walsh
Opinion
Wildlife
Noosa reptile sighting might be a croc, but I’ve been up close with the real thing
Residents of Noosa are in a lather over reports of a visiting reptile. They need to get a grip.
- by Margot Saville
Opinion
Epstein fallout
Murdoch has picked a side – but not the one we expected
The media magnate’s gamble appears way more considered and one that shows he can read the room better than Elon Musk.
- by Elizabeth Knight
Opinion
AFL 2025
How the Dockers dodged Collingwood’s tackling tactic to bring home four points
In the dying minutes of Sunday’s nail-biter, Collingwood implemented a new strategy to swing the game their way. But the Dockers changed tack too.
- by Paddy Sweeney
Opinion
Inside China
The home-grown threat to China that has rattled Xi Jinping
Donald Trump’s trade war is not the only thing on Xi Jinping’s mind.
- by Stephen Bartholomeusz
Could AI change rugby league? The revolution has already begun
Canterbury’s climb up the ladder has come at a time when the NRL club has become one of the first to embrace artificial intelligence. Is it a coincidence?
- by Adrian Proszenko
Analysis
World Boxing
When it comes to selling the Tszyu dream, it’s ‘No más’
After finishing a world title fight on his stool, asking punters to part with $70 to watch Tim Tszyu embark on another comeback is an almost impossible sell.
- by Adrian Proszenko
Opinion
AFL 2025
The ladder lies. These are the true indicators of finals form
Nine teams are still in the hunt, but how they’re building – or scrambling – towards September tells a different story. These are the trump cards, red flags and fixture implications of a crucial final six weeks.
- by Libby Birch
Opinion
World markets
Warren Buffett has set alarm bells ringing on Wall Street
The legendary investor is not convinced the good times are going to last.
- by Melissa Lawford
Opinion
NRL 2025
Rebel rugby raid on stars as real as a PNG corruption scandal
Rebel rugby competition R360 needs to sign 200 players by September, and NRL stars are in its sights at the same time rugby league needs even more players as it expands from 17 to 19 teams
- by Neil Breen
Opinion
Property market
House prices and divorces are linked, but not in the way you think
The divorce rate is the lowest since the introduction of the Family Law Act, and house prices have risen steeply in five years. What’s the connection?
- by Stephen Whelan and Luke Hartigan
Opinion
Political leadership
PM must begin to address his legacy – what will he leave us?
If Albanese wants to leave something permanent behind, he will soon have to tell us what will stay and what must change.
- by Sean Kelly
Opinion
Federal budget
How Chalmers can square the budget circle despite stagnant productivity
Repairing the budget and improving productivity aren’t easy, but there are measures the treasurer can look at that offer less political risk.
- by Ross Gittins
Analysis
Resolve Political Monitor
The Liberal Party faces electoral mountain, but there is one bright spot for Sussan Ley
The return of the new parliament will highlight the disaster that was the May 3 election for the Coalition. But it will also focus voters’ minds on Labor.
- by Shane Wright
Opinion
Donald Trump
Trump protesters have a dream for a better America
Democrats are staging anti-Trump protests across the US. But the MAGA reaction to the Epstein case may end up inflicting more damage.
- by Bruce Wolpe
Opinion
US politics
Trump promised to bring down the deep state. To MAGA loyalists, he’s joined it
The president has trafficked in conspiracy theories for years. Now that dark whirlpool has sucked him down, and he can no longer control the Epstein madness.
- by Maureen Dowd
The view from England
British & Irish Lions
Un-Australian, tepid and toothless. Wallabies slammed over first Test performance
It wasn’t just a gulf in class between the Lions and the Wallabies - it was a chasm. And a whitewash is on the cards.
- by Oliver Brown
Opinion
NRL 2025
The special Ponga father-son bond at the heart of an unusual league family
Kalyn Ponga and his family are very wary of outsiders, but today we can provide an insight into how they operate in a way that few others do.
- by Danny Weidler
Opinion
Religion
The courage of those suffering can be devastating
This meal is the simplest part of my week because the needs are so present and so clear. There is simply this: a room filled with people who are hungry and who, for a moment, are home.
- by Alexandra Sangster
Opinion
Money psychology
Why do we keep expecting rate cuts, even when the RBA tells us not to?
Holding out hope for something that we’ve been told is unlikely to happen is, psychologically speaking, only human. But it’s unfair to get grumpy with the RBA about it.
- by Victoria Devine
Opinion
Ask an expert
I’m retiring soon. Should I keep my defined benefit scheme?
As a general rule of thumb, anyone with a defined benefit super fund would normally hang onto it for dear life. But sometimes the returns can be underwhelming.
- by Paul Benson
Opinion
Childcare
Women are planning a revolution. It will benefit everyone
Families are stretched to breaking point, but there are solutions.
- by Parnell Palme McGuinness
Opinion
Mushroom trial
As a barrister, there was one question I desperately wanted to ask Erin Patterson
Erin Patterson had 400 books in her home, and not one was devoted to mushrooms. But I desperately want to ask her about a different book.
- by Rachel Doyle
Opinion
Hip pocket
How to teach your kids about money, without making it boring
Young people are falling behind when it comes to financial literacy. These simple tools will help you to improve your kids’ money smarts.
- by Dominic Powell
Analysis
British Open
Magic on 13: This golfer has hit 10 career aces. This one was his best
The first hole-in-one of the British Open has landed — a moment of magic that sent the Royal Portrush crowd into raptures and added a spark to a cool, overcast day.
- by Sam McClure
Opinion
British & Irish Lions
The agony, the ecstasy and the comeback that nearly was
All up, how great were our blokes under that Lions’ onslaught? Instead of shutting up shop, the Wallabies kept throwing everything they had — and then some.
- by Peter FitzSimons
Opinion
Housing crisis
Want to ruin your weekend and make a bunch of enemies? Attend an open home
Cramming into an unfamiliar house with a collection of strangers on a Saturday morning is a great way to become the worst version of yourself.
- by Thomas Mitchell
Opinion
Five Minutes with Fitz
Dying For Sex has earned this talented Australian an Emmy nod
Shannon Murphy’s high school teacher urged her to pursue drama as a career. It was sound advice.
- by Peter FitzSimons
Opinion
Cinema
Superman’s real-life kryptonite: The incredible shrinking cinema business
My wife and I went to the movies, only to be bombarded by ad after ad for 20 minutes – ad nauseam. No wonder this industry is in trouble.
- by Bill Wyman
Opinion
London
‘A sardine can in the Sahara’: In London, the heat is on
After reporting on federal politics from Canberra for 20 years, our new Europe correspondent finds a city sweltering through the effects of climate change.
- by David Crowe
Original URL: https://www.theage.com.au/topic/opinion-1ql