Opinion
Analysis
NRL 2025
Why the NRL finals should start next weekend
Our predicted NRL ladder and every club’s run home paints a pretty picture for the current top eight. For everyone else though, they might as well start their Mad Mondays now.
- by Dan Walsh and Billie Eder
Latest
Opinion
Executive pay
Macquarie’s day of reckoning: Millionaires’ factory shareholders draw the line
In a humiliating first strike, management has been reminded that in achieving its objectives, executives also need to colour within the lines.
- by Elizabeth Knight
Political sketch
Trade
Pistol and Boo should have disguised themselves as (maybe mad) cows
Australia’s strict quarantine authorities famously booted out the movie star dogs. A few years later they are overturning a ban on US beef. We’re truly living in Trumpworld now.
- by Tony Wright
Opinion
Jobs
Why older workers can be ‘too qualified’ to get a new job
The higher you climb up the corporate ladder, complete with larger salaries and expectations, the fewer jobs there are.
- by Tim Duggan
Analysis
Victoria residential property
A new book aims to fix housing affordability, but there’s a better solution for Victoria
Abundance has captured the attention of economists and politicians alike, but could a simple solution be sitting right under their noses?
- by Jim Malo
Opinion
Middle East at war
Overkill in Gaza: Penny Wong was right to call out Israel
In an issue as complex as the Israel-Palestine question, it should come as no surprise that Australia and like-minded nations should hold both sides to account.
- by Rodger Shanahan
Opinion
Trade wars
Lost in translation: Trump doesn’t seem to understand the ‘massive’ deal he just made
Donald Trump says there has never been anything like the trade deal just struck with Japan. He’s probably right, but not in the way he thinks.
- by Stephen Bartholomeusz
Analysis
Trump diplomacy
Albanese and Rudd will have to sell very different messages on US beef ban’s end
Donald Trump has been peeved by restrictions on beef exports to Australia, but a change to biosecurity rules is unlikely to prove a tariff game changer.
- by Matthew Knott
Analysis
AFL 2025
Charlie Curnow was feeling unhappy. Sydney and Geelong are keeping watch
Charlie Curnow would like to play for Gold Coast. Not that he has formally told Carlton or the Gold Coast that. It might be a nice thought for Charlie, but it won’t happen.
- by Michael Gleeson
Opinion
NRL 2025
Playmakers are now a protected species. It’s making rugby league boring
In 2025, halfbacks can do as they please without worrying about being whacked. The flow-on effect is a boring, predictable game.
- by Andrew Johns
Opinion
Australian economy
Albanese’s guru talkfest won’t make you richer – he’s chosen the wrong people
Anthony Albanese’s three-day talkfest on the economy is heavy on tax and policies. But it’s missing what has made our lives better for 200 years - invention.
- by Shane Wright
Opinion
Smoking & vaping
Australia has become the global village idiot on quitting smoking
Every day, 66 Australians die from the effects of smoking – not from an addiction to nicotine, but from the toxic delivery mechanism of cigarettes.
- by Fiona Patten
Analysis
Trump diplomacy
Trump’s Aussie ‘alpha male’ is falling flat in Malaysia
Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim is staring at a Nick Adams-shaped pickle.
- by Zach Hope
Opinion
Sunday Life
Why ‘inconvenient’ friendships may be the best kind
There’s a powerful bond with mates who’ve known you since childhood.
- by Jamila Rizvi
Analysis
AFL 2025
Steven May’s suspension was justified, and won’t change footy as we know it
Steven May was unlucky in the sense he didn’t mean to concuss his opponent, Francis Evans. But don’t fall for the hysteria about this case changing the game.
- by Peter Ryan
Opinion
Antisemitism
When I visited Sydney, I was shocked by the antisemitism I encountered
Growing up Jewish in Australia, I had no personal family narrative of antisemitism. A weekend in Sydney changed that.
- by Marcus Solomon
Opinion
Pop culture
I lived my dream on US talk shows – the axing of Colbert’s Late Show is about one thing
It seemed surreal that I could go straight from the Melbourne comedy scene to a job with Jay Leno. But don’t think for a minute that the suits running the place are champions of political causes.
- by Simon Taylor
Political sketch
Political leadership
Question time returns, but you wouldn’t look here for answers
The inevitable dull roar from opposition benches signalled question time was back. Emphasis on dull. And roar? An exaggeration.
- by Tony Wright
Opinion
Trump's America
Planning a trip to the US? Don’t mention the Donald
Donald Trump is turning into the Basil Fawlty of American tourism.
- by Anthony Dennis
Opinion
Big four
Nowhere to hide for NAB boss after drinking accusations
Banking circles have been awash with personal views and informal “wine” audits by shareholders and analysts after the accusations levelled at Andrew Irvine.
- by Elizabeth Knight
Analysis
Israeli-Palestinian conflict
The Albanese government wants the Gaza war to end now. So do most Israelis
In Israel, the idea the war has gone on for too long is utterly mainstream, as is the idea Israeli PM Benjamin Netanyahu is at least partly to blame.
- by Matthew Knott
Opinion
Trump's America
Trump sparks a $6.4 billion wipeout for a US icon
Donald Trump said his tariffs would make the US car industry “great again”, but a different story is starting to emerge.
- by Stephen Bartholomeusz
Analysis
Epstein fallout
Under the gun over Epstein, Trump tries to finger Obama for ‘treason’
The latest attempt by Donald Trump to distract from the Epstein issue could be dismissed as frivolous, but it appears to be having some effect in media circles.
- by Michael Koziol
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
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
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
Original URL: https://www.watoday.com.au/opinion