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Rhiannon Down is a political reporter in The Australian’s Canberra bureau. She began her career at the paper in the Sydney bureau, where she covered mostly courts and crime, after joining the newspaper as a cadet.

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coronavirus pandemicScience

Researchers in the Doherty Centre for Infection and Immunity, examining superbugs and antibiotic resistant threats to save hospital and other patients. Professor Ben Howden with researcher Sharon Lewin. Picture: Alex Coppel.

Aussie breakthrough in virus treatment

Australian researchers have discovered a way to stop the coronavirus from replicating in infected human cells using advancements in gene editing, in a major step towards a new treatment for Covid-19.

Rhiannon Down

LIVE: Coronavirus crisisNation

CANBERRA, AUSTRALIA - NewsWire Photos JULY 7, 2021: Treasurer Josh Frydenberg MP holds a press conference at Parliament House. Picture: NCA NewsWire / Martin Ollman

Frydenberg slams ‘whingeing’ Andrews

Josh Frydenberg has hit back at Daniel Andrews, accusing him of politicising the NSW lockdown.

Jess Malcolm and Rachel Baxendale

COVID-19Politics

Bubbleheads Sydney entertainer Genevieve Freeman is disappointed the Government are not including performers that earn under $75K in the latest COVI-19 payments. Jane Dempster/The Australian.

Small businesses ‘left out in the cold’

Performer Genevieve Freeman has not seen a cent of support from the NSW government during Sydney’s latest lockdown.

Ellie Dudley and Rhiannon Down

Coronavirus pandemicNation

Sydney Salesman Matthew Harris was laid off six months ago, due to the economic impacts of COVID-19, the 45 year old was forced to unleash rusty skills as a plasterer (last time in the trade was 15 years ago) and has been selling his services on social media since to make ends meet. He's one of thousands of Australians who have gone through a career change during the pandemic, registering new businesses to stay afloat. Matt should have tools etc with him and suggests taking the pic at a site round the corner from his house. Picture Chris Pavlich for The Australian

Viral boom in new business registrations

Covid disruption has seen a boom in new business registrations, as thousands of stood down and underemployed Australians embrace their inner entrepreneur and open their own operation.

Rhiannon Down

coercive controlNation

A-G to release national strategy for ‘insidious’ coercive control

The nation is one step closer to criminalising coercive control after A-G Michaelia Cash released the terms of reference for developing a national strategy addressing the “insidious” abuse.

Rhiannon Down

Coronavirus CrisisNation

Tale of two suburbs, one city: Scenes in Manly, top left, and Bankstown, bottom left, on Thursday, as NSW Premier Gladys Berejikilan begged people to stay home unless absolutely necessary. Pictures:

Covid crackdown condemned as ‘heavy-handed’

NSW Police’s targeting of selected Sydney areas, as cases spike, has come under fire from an infectious disease expert.

Adeshola Ore, Jess Malcolm and Rhiannon Down

VACCINE ROLLOUTNation

MEXICO CITY, MEXICO - JULY 07: A nurse injects a dose of the COVID-19 AstraZeneca vaccine as part of the vaccination plan against Covid-19 at Campo Marte on July 07, 2021 in Mexico City, Mexico. The Mexican government admitted on July 06, through the Undersecretary of Prevention and Health Promotion Hugo Lopez Gatell, that the cases of Covid-19 in Mexico have increased by 22 percent. However, the Undersecretary stated that the number of hospitalizations and deaths are not as fast as they were during the beginning of the pandemic in part, because of the fact that many people have been vaccinated. (Photo by Hector Vivas/Getty Images)

Woman’s death linked to AstraZeneca

A woman has died from a rare bleeding disorder linked to the AstraZeneca vaccine, according to the Therapeutic Goods Administration.

Rhiannon Down

Politics

SYDNEY, AUSTRALIA - NewsWire Photos JUNE 29, 2021 - NSW Treasurer Dominic Perrottet provides a COVID update on Tuesday from the NSW Ministry of Health in St Leonards.Picture: NCA NewsWire / Christian Gilles

More help or we’re doomed: business

Business groups have demanded greater levels of assistance, including tax waivers, grants and rental relief, in the wake of the Greater Sydney lockdown extension.

Rhiannon Down

Sydney lockdownPolitics

7/7/21: Giovanni Pipitone and Rosy Scatigna on a Manly ferry. John Feder/The Australian

Two’s not a crowd on harbour ghost fleet

The fog stopped Sydney ferries for several hours last week, but barely anyone noticed. The lockdown has rendered the harbour’s most iconic sight a ghost fleet.

Ellie Dudley and Rhiannon Down

Coronavirus crisisNation

SYDNEY, AUSTRALIA - JULY 07: Premier Gladys Berejiklian speaks during a COVID-19 update and press conference on July 07, 2021 in Sydney, Australia. Lockdown restrictions have been extended by another week across Greater Sydney, the Blue Mountains, the Central Coast and Wollongong as NSW health authorities work to contain a growing COVID-19 cluster. Restrictions will remain in place until midnight on Friday 16 July. All residents in areas subject to stay-at-home orders are only permitted to leave their homes for essential reasons, including purchasing essential goods, accessing or providing care/healthcare, work, education and exercise. Students in greater Sydney will not return to face-to-face classes when holidays end next Tuesday and will begin the new term with online classes. Regional schools will reopen for face-to-face learning as planned on 13 July for term three. (Photo by Lisa Maree Williams/Getty Images)

Premier faces backlash over extended lockdown

Anger is growing over Gladys Berejiklian’s decision to extend the Sydney lockdown, with even her key allies challenging her call publicly.

Jess Malcolm and Rhiannon Down

Original URL: https://www.theaustralian.com.au/author/rhiannon-down/page/132