Opinion
Opinion
State of Origin
The budding Blues playmakers who will dominate Origin’s future
The NSW playmaking spine for 2030 will have talent, skill and speed to burn – provided we let these young stars develop at their own pace.
- by Andrew Johns
Latest
Opinion
Liberal Party
The Liberals are not just going through a phase – this is a full-blown identity crisis
The party is not in good health. Sussan Ley’s main challenge is to ensure the party understands just how much trouble it is in.
- by Shaun Carney
Analysis
AFL 2025
At risk of losing the Devil they know, the AFL stands firm to keep Tassie’s footy dream alive
Like Jeremy Rockliff, the Tasmania Devils live to fight another day. Meanwhile, the AFL is refusing to budge, not even one millimetre, as uncertainty surrounds state parliament and the bid for the AFL’s long-awaited 19th team.
- by Jake Niall
Analysis
World elections
He’s survived slums, sweatshops and a stabbing. Now this leader faces Donald Trump
When the US president launched his global trade war in April, South Korea was hamstrung, frozen by political turmoil. And a key industry was in the firing line.
- by Lisa Visentin
Opinion
Drones
Ukrainian drone strikes show up Australia’s out-of-date defences
With a focus on AUKUS and averting risk, Australia risks fighting the last war rather than the next one.
- by Mick Ryan
Analysis
Australian economy
Is the RBA a glass-half-full type of place? Its next rate decision will tell us
The national economy grew by a less-than-expected 0.2 per cent in the first three months of the year. At face value, the figure would seem to strengthen the case for a rate cut.
- by Shane Wright and Millie Muroi
Opinion
Trump's White House
In this fragile union of colossal egos, it was always going to end in tears
It is not surprising Donald Trump and former “first buddy” Elon Musk would finish their relationship in a flame-throwing blaze, given both missed out on genes that carried understatement or restraint.
- by Elizabeth Knight
Analysis
Trump's White House
Musk tests his political clout now he’s no longer Trump’s ‘first buddy’
Less than 100 hours after leaving the Trump administration, Elon Musk is out to muzzle the president’s top domestic priority. This could get ugly.
- by Michael Koziol
Opinion
AFL 2025
The footy kiss that said everything about an AFL warrior
Callan Ward is loved, and this adoration from those who inhabit the game is rare. Players so tough are rarely as kind and empathetic in equal measure.
- by Bob Murphy
Opinion
Trump's America
Trump’s stupid obsession will unleash pain on America
Donald Trump’s ridiculous trade wars are part of his plan to “Make America Great Again”. But the latest OECD forecast shows the US will be hit much harder than most of the rest of the world.
- by Stephen Bartholomeusz
Opinion
Mergers & acquisitions
Hailey Bieber’s ‘glazed donut’ is a $1.5 billion gamble
The new owner of Hailey Bieber’s skincare company has a strong track record of connecting with Gen Z. But there are risks to this deal, the most significant of which is Bieber herself.
- by Andrea Felsted
Opinion
Franking credits
Will the new super tax mean my franking credits are taxed twice?
While it might seem like Labor’s new proposal could be taxing you twice, that’s not exactly how the system works.
- by Noel Whittaker
Opinion
Aged care
Aged care costs are soaring but you can still do it on a budget. Here’s how
Not everyone moving into aged care has a house they can sell, or superannuation to draw down, so here’s how to manage it on a budget.
- by Rachel Lane
Opinion
Climate crisis
In one awful decision, Albanese has revealed his do-nothing plan
If you want to govern effectively, you have to be prepared to stand up to powerful interest groups. It’s now clear Albanese isn’t prepared to do that.
- by Ross Gittins
Analysis
Political leadership
Albanese is riding high. Why did he take on a senator with so much baggage?
Dorinda Cox’s move to the government benches is a big risk for Anthony Albanese and Labor, and it could go very wrong.
- by James Massola
Analysis
Science
How bad science warped our ideas about black mould
Fear of toxic black mould infects public consciousness. Should you panic about its health impacts?
- by Angus Dalton
Opinion
Billionaires
I’ve spent time with tech oligarchs – you have no idea just how weird they are
Like the rocket ships Elon Musk and Jeff Bezos are shovelling money into, the tech being prioritised by Silicon Valley’s billionaires isn’t designed to save us. It’s meant to save them.
- by Cory Alpert
Opinion
University
I thought dating my uni tutor made me special. For him, it was a pattern
At the time, it didn’t feel particularly sordid, given there were only a handful of years between us in age. But later, I began to reflect on the inequity of power.
- by Madison Griffiths
Opinion
Science
Trump’s war on innovation is a golden opportunity for Australia, if we’re smart enough to take it
Australia could become a hub for world-class research. But our leaders must act decisively, and quickly.
- by Luke Heeney and Sarah Davis
Opinion
Scams
Depositors beware: Crypto ATMs are the newest way to scam you
Cryptocurrency ATMs are popping up like mushrooms, with more than 1800 operating across the country now – and organised crime has caught on to it.
- by Elizabeth Knight
Opinion
Financial literacy
Feel hopeless with money? You might be in the ‘messy middle’
Long-lasting wealth is built not from the thrill of the chase, or the excitement of reaching new highs, but from the conviction to keep going through it all.
- by Paridhi Jain
Opinion
AFL 2025
Bolton’s brilliance fuels Freo’s finals faith
Shai Bolton was in the thick of everything as Fremantle secured their biggest and most important victory of the season to date on Saturday.
- by Paddy Sweeney
Analysis
Russia-Ukraine war
Anger over drone attack shows Ukraine hit Russia where it hurt
The brazen operation exploited a key Russian vulnerability – and showed Moscow and Washington that Kyiv can still disrupt Vladimir Putin’s war plans.
- by Francesca Ebel, Serhiy Morgunov, Alex Horton and Siobhan O'Grady
Opinion
World markets
Why America may never be great again
When J.P. Morgan chief Jamie Dimon speaks, it’s best to pay attention.
- by Stephen Bartholomeusz
Jacinda Ardern: I was days away from learning if I’d run the country. But I waited on even bigger news
In an exclusive extract from her memoir, the former NZ leader writes that she had always “grappled with the idea that I was never quite good enough”.
- by Jacinda Ardern
Opinion
Trump diplomacy
The US’s biggest export? Trump’s MAGA mindset
The United States is punishing governments that try to moderate social media. Australia is in the firing line.
- by Peter Hartcher
Opinion
University
Unis are in a ‘moment of crisis’. Now is not the time for authoritarian control
Universities were created to be communities where ideas – wrong ones, right ones, contradictory ones – can coexist and coalesce into the truth.
- by Sophie Gee
Opinion
Culture holidays
Parisians shattered my stereotype about them. How typically rude
We’ve become used to the reputation of the French as “Italians in a bad mood”. But on a recent visit, I found a whole new spirit emerging.
- by Roby D'Ottavi
Opinion
Social media
From mob wife to MAGA woman: TikTok trends are losing steam
Whatever TikTok’s fate in the US, its fashion fads have waned. What has replaced them is much more difficult for brands to navigate.
- by Andrea Felsted
Analysis
Defence
What will Albanese give Trump on defence? Not much
The prime minister has told colleagues that if they asked for money in the way the US has on defence, they’d be laughed out of the room.
- by James Massola
Opinion
Property prices
House price rises were meant to ease. So what’s happened?
The theory that the Australian home market will bump up against affordability constraints has made a mockery of price predictions.
- by Elizabeth Knight
Opinion
Gender equality
What happens to men who have caused harm to women?
Dyson Heydon was found to have sexually harassed six young female associates. So why is he being publicly rehabilitated?
- by Chanel Contos
Analysis
NRL 2025
‘Could change the way the game is played’: Where does Galvin fit at Belmore?
Signing Lachlan Galvin could make or break the Bulldogs most promising title tilt in more than a decade, depending on where he lands on Cameron Ciraldo’s team sheet.
- by Dan Walsh
Opinion
Trade wars
Why did Trump double his steel tariffs? Because he could
With his trade wars on everyone halted by a court, the US president has to show he still can impose tariffs. He also wanted to justify his backflip on a $US15 billion steel deal.
- by Stephen Bartholomeusz
Opinion
Wallabies
The harsh truth about Australian rugby
Despite having more players to pick from this season, the Australian Super Rugby franchises performed worse than a year ago.
- by Paul Cully
Analysis
AFL 2025
Why the supposedly ‘old and tired’ Magpies are flag favourites: Key takeouts from round 12
Collingwood were supposedly old and tired, but are now premiership favourite for a reason. A heavy loss to the Magpies has Hawks’ supporters wondering whether Sam Mitchell can take his team from good to great.
- by Jon Pierik
Opinion
World markets
Trump hates it, but ‘TACO’ is the secret to his resilience
The US president may not like Wall Street’s ‘Trump Always Chickens Out’ trade but the spirit of it is what makes him viable.
- by Ross Douthat
Opinion
Australia votes
Size of Labor victory frees up backbenchers to speak out
Despite Labor’s success, it now faces a barrage of loud voices demanding action.
- by Sean Kelly
Opinion
NRL 2025
League’s player transfer system is broken. Here’s how to fix it
The Lachlan Galvin contract debacle is just the latest example of why the current rules must be changed.
- by Neil Breen
Opinion
Federal budget
Let’s stop kidding ourselves. Taxes will have to go up
No one wants to pay more tax. And the richest of us protest most and fight hardest when asked to cough up a little more.
- by Ross Gittins
Opinion
Mental health
Adulthood is chock-full of disappointment. Our kids need to face the truth
In my decades of working with young people, I have witnessed a growing reluctance to allow them to experience and learn from disappointment.
- by Michael Carr-Gregg
Opinion
US politics
Elon Musk moved fast in Washington, but broke only his reputation
At the end of their highly publicised bromance, all Elon Musk and Donald Trump have to show for it was a black eye and a gold key.
- by Maureen Dowd
Opinion
Donald Trump
King Charles and Pope Leo defend US Constitution from Trump
That the greatest defenders of American values are the incumbent British monarch and the Vicar of Christ is a great irony.
- by George Brandis
Opinion
Religion
The kingdom of kindness
The fear of abandonment never leaves us, but simple kindness keeps it at bay.
- by Julie Perrin
Opinion
Financial literacy
It’s hard to admit, but we can all learn something from Elon Musk
If someone had to financially fail so the rest of us could learn from their mistakes, it might as well be the richest person in the world.
- by Victoria Devine
Opinion
Ask an expert
I’m retired and sick of strata fees. Should I sell up and rent instead?
The costs that come with owning an apartment such as special levies and strata fees can quickly build up.
- by Paul Benson
Opinion
AFL 2025
Origin of the AFL’s great challenge: What AFLW can learn from the NRL
The Matildas have raised the bar. The NRLW has jumped ahead via Origin. The AFL can’t create a larger footprint for women without thinking bigger.
- by Jake Niall
Opinion
Australia votes
How to beat the teals? The city Liberals now have a template
Tim Wilson’s winning campaign in Goldstein contains two important lessons for future campaigners.
- by Parnell Palme McGuinness
Opinion
Hip pocket
The simple banking switch that could save you time and money
Are you still with your original bank? You’re not always rewarded for loyalty.
- by Dominic Powell
Opinion
Child protection
My job is to tell the UN about young lives in Australia. I wish the story was a better one
As Australia’s Youth Representative to the UN, I’ve spoken with thousands of young people across the country. I wanted to find hope, I found too much heartbreak.
- by Satara Uthayakumaran
Original URL: https://www.watoday.com.au/opinion