Naked City Newsletter
For subscribers: John Silvester lifts the lid on Australia’s criminal underworld.
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Exclusive
Victorian budget
Victoria set up an offset account to save money. Then it went into the red
An account meant to help drive down Victoria’s borrowing costs was instead put into overdraft, forcing the government to find hundreds of millions of dollars to repay it by the end of this financial year – and possibly billions in the next.
Where Australian universities rank among the world’s best – and why it’s under threat
One Victorian uni has been named among the top 20, but experts warn a limit on international students could hinder our progress.
Exclusive
BNPL
Tougher rules on Gen Z’s favourite credit coming soon
Buy now, pay later providers including Afterpay, Zip and Klarna will be brought under the Credit Act in changes that have been a long time coming.
After an eight-year fight, this tower in Camberwell gets the green light
The development’s approval could pave the way for more high-rise buildings in the area.
Nursing a grudge: Union heavyweight’s past comes back to haunt
The ACTU is holding its triennial big bash this week. After an open revolt by the rank and file at the Australian Nursing and Midwifery Union, tension is not far from the surface.
Country Road faces staff exodus over new probe, boss stays put
Staff members have expressed anger that chief executive Raju Vuppalapati will stay in the role after an external investigation into the handling of complaints.
Analysis
French Open
‘Being a defender wasn’t going to cut it’: The stats behind the Demon’s world-class weaponry
Alex de Minaur’s transformation from admired also-ran into world-beating top-10 star has captured the attention of a sporting nation. This is how he has done it.
Adam Hills is so popular, he turns down offers from the royal family
He’s conquered the stand-up scene, written kids’ books, made docos, co-owns a few restaurants and hosts two wildly successful TV shows. What did you get up to this week?
Opinion
Sociology
As a visiting Frenchwoman, Australian men are not at all what I expected
Living in Melbourne and working in hospitality, one cultural difference with France was immediately apparent: men’s behaviour towards women.
Elyne Le Faou
He pleaded with his son to give boxing a break. Three months later the teenager was dead
George Diamond had weeks of concussion symptoms after a head knock at his boxing gym, but despite the concerns of family he returned to the ring.
AFL Briefing
AFL 2024
Key Bomber out of blockbuster against Carlton; Two-game ban stands for Eagles young gun
Essendon have lost an important cog in their defence and another star has suffered a setback in his return from injury.
Grudges seriously harm our health. Here are four ways to let them go
If you sense it’s time to let go of a grudge, this is how to go about it.
Exclusive
Skills shortage
Bridge too far: Yoga teachers say there’s already a surplus in the sector
Jobs and Skills Australia has defended placing yoga instructors on its draft core skills migration list when several building trades don’t make the cut.
Surprise as Biden blocks asylum seekers at US-Mexico border
With five months until the election, Biden has issued an executive order to stem the flow of people illegally crossing into the US.
Opinion
Discrimination
These chilling voicemails prove Islamophobia’s thriving, despite one senator’s callous dismissal
Reports of Islamophobia have increased by 1300 per cent. Yet according to Senator Sarah Henderson, there’s nothing to it.
Susan Carland
Sociologist
‘Just felt like it’: Farage struck by milkshake at UK election campaign launch
Two people were arrested after the divisive populist figure had a drink thrown over him while launching his candidacy in Clacton.
TRIAL BY WATER
Watch Farquharson’s police interview, for the first time outside of a courtroom
Following the crash that killed his three boys, this is what Robert Farquharson told police. Before this investigation, it had never been seen outside the courtrooms where he was convicted.
Video
Inside the uncomfortable investigation of a child killer
In the Robert Farquharson case there are six main strands of circumstantial evidence. I’ve investigated them all.
Victoria
Lynn admits using missing camper’s cash to avoid raising police suspicion
In a recorded interview, Greg Lynn said that after hiding Russell Hill and Carol Clay’s bodies, he bought petrol with $40 stolen from Hill’s wallet.
Surgeon Al Muderis was presented as ‘some sort of Dr Frankenstein’, his lawyer says
Sue Chrysanthou, SC, told a Federal Court defamation hearing that angry former patients were not “accurate historians” of their experience.
Exclusive
City life
These sculptures have stood by the Yarra for two decades. Soon, they will be put to pasture
When they were installed in the 1990s, Crown casino operators were so concerned about getting an Asian audience to its venue that feng shui experts were called in to help place them.
Exclusive
Courts
Court short: New justice hub to sit empty after government cuts funding
New $272 million law courts in Melbourne’s south-west won’t open as planned after building finishes because the state budget didn’t allocate funding for staff or running costs.
The school was promised a new oval, but got a rubble-strewn wasteland
Upwey Primary School students have been denied access to their oval for 2½ years, but rail authority VicTrack has not given a date for when the playing surface will be rectified.
Politics
Mokbel’s man spared deportation yet again in detainee blame game
The government first chose not to cancel Kevin Farrugia’s visa in 2005, when the Maltese-born criminal was initially convicted for his work for the notorious drug baron.
Business
Kyle and Jackie O struggle in Melbourne, ABC hits new low
The Kyle and Jackie O show has struggled to grab an audience in Melbourne, their first ratings survey in Victoria has revealed.
World
Updated
World elections
Modi’s alliance races to majority but falls short of landslide
A third Modi term with a slim majority for the BJP could introduce some uncertainty after his decade-long authoritative rule. Counting continues.
Opinion
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Property
The suburbs where properties are at highest risk of fire, flood
More than 32,000 Australian homes face a high risk of bushfire, while 141,000 homes are at risk of flooding. The risks will push insurance costs up and home values down.
Landlords are on notice to improve their properties. It could mean a rise in rents
The government says most of the costs associated with the proposed rental standards will be offset by savings from more energy-efficient homes.
Good Food
Lifestyle
The verdict on Rupert Murdoch’s wedding sneakers: ‘I do’ or ‘I don’t’?
The bride wore high heels and the groom wore sneakers. We asked experts whether billionaire businessman Rupert Murdoch was on fashion’s fast track or running off-course.
Culture
Miranda Otto on the Ladies in Black – and the lost art of customer service
The Australian actor plays one of the new characters in the ABC TV series, which is the third spin-off from Madeleine St John’s 1993 novel, The Women in Black.
Traveller
Drivedrive
From Our Partners
Sport
Analysis
French Open
‘Being a defender wasn’t going to cut it’: The numbers behind the Demon’s world-class weaponry
Alex de Minaur’s transformation from admired also-ran into world-beating top-10 star has captured the attention of a sporting nation. This is how he has done it.
AFL Briefing
AFL 2024
Redman out of Essendon’s blockbuster against Blues; Martin’s 300th game delayed
The Tigers have decided if Dustin Martin will play on Thursday night, while star Essendon midfielder Darcy Parish has suffered a setback in his return from a calf injury.
Sport Integrity Australia intervenes in ice skating scandal
Sport Integrity Australia has appointed its own integrity officer to the peak body for ice skating to oversee a spate of complaints plaguing the sport.
‘He’s a legend, right?’: The French teen superfan driving de Minaur at Roland-Garros
A 14-year-old Parisian named Paul has become Alex de Minaur’s lucky charm at the French Open and will be there for the Demon’s practice session and his quarter-final against Alexander Zverev.
Scott’s 23-year streak in major strife as fellow Aussie sinks star
Adam Scott hasn’t missed a major tournament since 2001 but ice-cold nerves from a compatriot in a US Open qualifying event may have ended the run.
A 50-disposal gun, an almost flawless prospect and Cripps 2.0: Draft hopefuls to watch
We spoke to AFL club recruiters to find out which of this year’s prospects are at the top of their boards at the midway point of the season as the national under-18 championships take centre stage.
De Minaur upsets Medvedev, matches Hewitt feat in making quarter-finals
The lion-hearted tennis star has enjoyed another seminal moment in Paris as he goes where no male Australian player has in two decades.
Have Your Say
One legend to another: Surprise appearance by tennis great to honour Matildas’ Lydia Williams
The Matildas defeated China 2-0 in their second friendly in Australia before the Paris Olympics. But it was all about goalkeeper Lydia Williams and a special presentation from Evonne Goolagong Cawley.
