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Opinion

This is a sample of The Echidna newsletter sent out each weekday morning until the end of the election.

Don't you hate it when former PMs call at dinner?

Labor shadow treasurer Jim Chalmers (left) and Treasurer Josh Frydenberg during the Treasurers Debate at the National Press Club. Picture: James Croucher

The ritual savings-measuring competition that is election-eve policy costings has taken a few different forms over the years. In the end, it's mostly political theatre - and Labor, at least, seems to know it.

Elections used to be about costings. Here's what's changed

Opposition Leader Anthony Albanese speaks to a member of advocacy group The Parenthood in Sydney last Wednesday. Picture: AAP

If it were up to me, there would be bipartisan consensus on childcare policies. Sadly, that isn't the reality.

There's a huge difference between the major parties on childcare

A Buffalo police officer talks to children at the scene of a mass shooting at a Buffalo, New York supermarket on Sunday. Picture: AP

I had hoped the fact the Christchurch massacre was perpetrated by an Australian would give some of our leaders pause. I was wrong.

We need a government that won't hesitate to fight far-right extremism

Matt Lawrence

There is a near perfect storm in hospitals building for a major catastrophe. Photo: File

Welcome to Blacktown Hospital Emergency on Friday, May 13.

Emergency departments in need of critical care

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This is a sample of The Echidna newsletter sent out each weekday morning till the end of the election.

Good luck changing the tone of politics

Crispin Hull

The emergence of credible independent candidates such as Allegra Spender, Zali Steggall and Kylea Tink in blue electorates has given Labor voters something to think about. Picture: AAP

Australia's preferential voting system means we are rarely required to think too shrewdly when it comes to filling out our ballot paper. But sometimes it can make sense for the self-interested voter to act counterintuitively.

Should you vote strategically this election?

A 4 per cent unemployment rate sounds great at a press conference. If only that number were in any way accurate. Picture: AAP

It's incredibly easy to be discounted from that 4 per cent figure - but governments aren't complaining.

Fuzzy unemployment figures mask real jobless situation

Russian President Vladimir Putin delivers a speech on the 77th anniversary of Victory Day in Red Square in Moscow on May 9. Picture: Getty Images

There was no declaration of war, call to service, or even nuclear threats. Putin is looking for a way out.

Putin's Victory Day speech shows how Ukraine can defeat Russia

The Prime Minister Scott Morrison could face a challenge even if the Coalition wins the May 21 election. Picture: James Croucher

Against this uncertain background there may well be senior Liberals willing to pursue the Gorton-era option.

Party like it's 1969: A Coalition win is no guarantee for Morrison as PM

Comment

Multimedia

VOTING RIGHT: A donkey vote (left) will still be counted whereas an informal vote (left) will be discarded.

What is a donkey vote? Does it differ from an informal vote? How do your preferences work?

Don't be a donkey: How to make sure your vote is counted correctly

Flu, illness, sick, tissues, tissue box.jpg

Cold and flu-like symptoms are the highest they've been since COVID restrictions began in 2020.

Flu the roof: respiratory illness rise 'near vertical'

Labor leader Anthony Albanese. Picture: Sitthixay Ditthavong

The polls show the race is tightening with only three days until the federal election.

Live updates: Polls show race tightening, Albanese to address National Press Club

Hospitalisation numbers are down on yesterday.

NSW records more than 12,000 COVID cases, 14 deaths

Queenie describes her show 'Blue: The Songs of Joni Mitchell' as a love letter from one melancholy mother to another. Image credit: Kurt Sneddon. 

Star of the stage and screen, Queenie van de Zandt, celebrates the 50th anniversary of 'Blue', one of Joni Mitchell's most praised albums.

Queenie van de Zandt performs love letter to Joni Mitchell | Photos, Video

Social media has helped countless conspiracies flourish. Picture: Shutterstock

Social media adds a new layer to fighting misinformation.

Don't believe all you read this election

Pre-poll voting centre. Photo: Adam McLean

Female voters have been found to be three times more likely than male voters to be undecided.

Key group of wavering voters could decide the election: ANU poll

Prime Minister Scott Morrison and Country Liberal Party's candidate for Solomon Tina MacFarlane. Picture: AAP

The two men vying for the prime ministership have weighed in on housing and health.

Leaders pivot election pitch to housing and health

Anthony Albanese attempted to dodge questions in Perth regarding the Labor's costings.

War of words erupts as Albanese dodges questions over policy costings

Treasurer Josh Frydenberg and Finance Minister Simon Birmingham have unveiled the Coalition's election costings in Melbourne on Tuesday. Picture: Sitthixay Ditthavong

The Coalition's election costings show $2.7 billion will be cut from the public sector over the next four years if it's re-elected.

'I expect results': Coalition to cut $2.7bn in spending to public sector

There are 1442 COVID-19 patients in hospital, with 59 in ICU.

NSW records 16 COVID-19 deaths

Throwback to Scott Morrison on the first day of the campaign. Picture: James Croucher

Stay tuned in here for all the developments as Australians turn out to decide who will lead the Parliament and the nation for the next three years.

As it happened: press chase Anthony Albanese after failing to get answers

Voting will be socially distanced this election, but we'll still be using the traditional paper ballots. Picture: Sitthixay Ditthavong

The pandemic election is upon us. How will COVID-19 impact the way we vote?

How COVID-19 will impact the way you vote

ACT Chief Minister Andrew Barr (left) said departing NSW deputy premier John Barilaro wouldn't make a good sewage detective. Pictures: Sitthixay Ditthavong, Elesa Kurtz

The Chief Minister was speaking on Monday after John Barilaro announced he would quit NSW politics.

Barr 'unlikely' to be laying flowers for John Barilaro

HUNG UP: If neither party obtains a majority of the 151 seats in the House of Representatives, it results in a hung parliament.

Punters are predicting a hung parliament to result at this week's federal election. So what is it and what happens next?

What is a hung parliament and is Australia likely to have one?

BOMBED: A stray left to sniff around Borod Tower in Ukraine. Photo: supplied

As bombs and missiles rain down, artist and filmmaker George Gittoes is feeling increasingly unnerved about his safety in Ukraine.

'War is on our doorstep': Filmmaker fears for safety in Ukraine

Defence Minister Peter Dutton described a Chinese warship's sailing off the coast of Western Australia as "an aggressive act". Picture: Keegan Carroll

"All this rhetoric by Mr Dutton is just politics. His language around war ... all this sort of stuff that's gone on for the last year is highly dangerous," the WA Premier said.

Dutton is 'biggest threat to national security', WA Premier says

GORMLESS: Does the way a politician responds to a 'gotcha' question matter to voters?

GST on birthday cakes, the price of petrol, and recall of random statistics: Does the way a politician responds to a 'gotcha' question matter to voters?

History of the 'gotcha' question: How elections are won or lost on a gaffe

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Cardinal George Pell is due to be sentenced after being found guilty of child sexual abuse.

Chief Judge Peter Kidd has handed down his sentence after Cardinal George Pell was convicted for attacks on two choirboys in the 1990s.

George Pell sentenced to six years

STRONG: Beautiful toddler Penelope Dean is the sunshine of her mother Emily's life. The brave little girl has been treated for a rare tumour.

Most people know McHappy Day is all about a good cause. The Dean family had first-hand experience of how the charity supports children fighting serious illness.

How McHappy Day helps brave tots like Penelope

An Australian M777 lightweight howitzer bound for Ukraine is loaded onto a cargo jet in Queensland.

More sanctions for Russian personalities

Angus Brayshaw's form is one reason premiers Melbourne remain unbeaten after nine rounds.

Demons to face AFL selection squeeze

2017 PGA Championship winner Justin Thomas has slammed the price of beers at Southern Hills.

Sky-high PGA beer raises eyebrows in Tulsa

UP IN ARMS: Fourth-generation Merino woolgrower and beef farmer Alistair Lade, Highlands, says there is limited information about the controversial wind farm project.

A confidential plan to build a wind farm in Victoria has been revealed as farmers criticise the proponents of the project due to a lack of information.

Plans for Victoria's biggest wind farm revealed in leaked documents

David Chou was arraigned on charges of murder, attempted murder and use of a destructive device.

US church shooter had gun licence

Australia 's Astra Sharma has reached the last eight of the Morocco Open.

Tomljanovic, Sharma into Morocco quarters

Russia's defence ministry says 265 fighters surrendered at the Azovstal steelworks.

Ukraine and Russia: what you need to know

Eritrea's Biniam Girmay celebrates on the podium after winning the 10th stage of the Giro D'Italia.

Flying cork could put Girmay out of Giro

Patients in ambulances are being turned away from Queensland's public hospitals, the LNP says.

LNP claims Qld hospital bypass returns

Currently, a loss of diesel imports would mean a big loss of food supply. Photo: Shutterstock

As things stand, food security still also requires fuel security

Ukrainian presidential adviser Mykhailo Podolyak confirmed that talks were "on hold" with Russia.

Russia, Ukraine peace talks stall

The Full Court has dismissed Viagogo's appeal of a 2019 decision ordering it to pay a penalty.

Viagogo loses appeal over $7m penalty

The Sydney shooting was "another organised crime intimidation style", Det Supt Darren Bennett says.

Shootings continue as Sydney home targeted

Tokyo Olympian Nathan Katz will make his Commonwealth Games judo debut for Australia in Birmingham

Katz brothers in Comm Games judo team

A Sydney study looked at the effect of COVID-19 on chronic obstructive pulmonary disease patients.

Viral load worse for lung disease patients

Tiger Woods is gunning for major title number 16 at this week's PGA Championship in Oklahoma.

Woods confident of a PGA Championship win

Get our Editor's Weekly Wrap featuring the best local news and stories, as well as our Breaking News Alerts.

Your guide to what's on this week around the South Coast

South Coast Gig Guide, May 17-23

The front entrance of Albert Moore Gardens aged care facility. Photo: Agedcare101

Albert Moore Gardens aged cared facility in Merimbula suspends 15 resident beds

Angie Hart, Heath Cullen, Michael Simic, Dr Kirsten Krauth, Michael Mooney, Inga Liljestrom.

Almost a Mirror by Dr Kirsten Krauth premiere performance at The Tathra Hotel with musicians from VIC and NSW

Almost a Mirror an '80s mixtape brought to life

The Social Justice Advocates of the Sapphire Coast (SJA) have found locations for their transportable housing units in Pambula and Bega. The above image is only a product shot, not the location of their of the Bega Valley sites. Photo: Same Day Granny Flats