Arts

EXPLAINERNews

Stark contrast in climb or crime

Stark contrast in climb or crime

Bianca Adler’s record-breaking Everest climb exposes the nation’s dangerous divide between young achievers and the crisis of youth crime, captured in cartoonist Mark Knight’s panel contrast

Fancy running away to the circus?

Fancy running away to the circus?

Chasing a life beneath the big top was an unusual career choice for these Australians but they’re back touring with Cirque du Soleil’s extravaganza. Here’s how they help bring the magic to life

UPDATEDJust for Fun

Willy Wonka, eat your heart out

Willy Wonka, eat your heart out

Roald Dahl’s ‘pure imagination’ finds a spiritual home in Australia as Cadbury’s massive $150 million project to build the ultimate chocolate experience is unanimously approved by council

How Australia blew it with Bluey

How Australia blew it with Bluey

Homegrown Aussie hit Bluey has become a global sensation in recent years, but all the ‘dollarbucks’ generated from the show go overseas. So how did licensing end up botching the Bluey billions?

Trump gets royally cosy with King

Trump gets royally cosy with King

Charles III’s charm offensive in the States to repair fractured UK-US relations has played to President Trump’s well-known royal fascination and inspired Mark Knight’s ‘Two Kings’ cartoon

Security net turned ejector seat

Security net turned ejector seat

Cartoonist Mark Knight suggests Australians living with disability fear being among the 160,000 who may be cut off from NDIS as the scheme’s costs spiral toward an unsustainable $70 billion pa

Term time is better with books

Term time is better with books

Longer days may be over but HarperCollins Book Club autumn reading guide has got you covered for the chilly months ahead – here’s what’s hot as the temperature drops

Bewitching salary for Harry Potter

Bewitching salary for Harry Potter

Child actors aged 11 and 12 have scored paycheques that dwarf most adult salaries in the upcoming Harry Potter television series – and that’s just season one. Find out how much they will earn

Musketeer’s likely burial site found

Musketeer’s likely burial site found

A centuries-old secret has been found buried below the collapsed floor of a European church that could confirm a legendary figure’s final resting place

EXPLAINERSociety and Culture

Take next exit for ‘Education State’

Take next exit for ‘Education State’

Victoria’s education landscape saw red T-shirts flood the streets, with an estimated 35,000 teachers marching on Melbourne while cartoonist Mark Knight imagines many may chase bigger changes

Bluey’s ABC home goes on strike

Bluey’s ABC home goes on strike

Best known as the home of Bluey, national broadcaster the ABC became the news after strike action by thousands of staff, joining Australia’s long list of walkouts – let’s take a look at the timeline

EXPLAINERArts

How war fuels federal budget fires

How war fuels federal budget fires

Political explosions flowing from Middle East conflict force Australia’s Treasurer into a metaphorical ‘budget bunker’ as fuel costs detonate economic pressure points in Mark Knight’s toon

Brit artist Banksy finally unmasked

Brit artist Banksy finally unmasked

The globally famous graffiti artist Banksy has been identified after allegedly taking one of Britain’s most common names to try to remain hidden from the art world after making millions by stealth

Society and Culture

Nationals’ leadership rodeo ride

Nationals’ leadership rodeo ride

The National Party has chosen Matt Canavan but cartoonist Mark Knight imagines the new leader as next to saddle up against One Nation’s bucking bronco and its threat to Coalition support

First Nations News

Great Book Swap takes fresh flight

Great Book Swap takes fresh flight

With the help of a preening pair of red-tailed black cockatoos, Australia’s Children’s Laureate has launched the 2026 Great Book Swap at Taronga Zoo – here’s how your school can get swapping

Trump tees off to topple Tehran

Trump tees off to topple Tehran

The US and Israel-led war in the Middle East gets a golf course treatment as cartoonist Mark Knight transforms Trump’s military strikes on Iran into a memorable Mar-a-Lago resort metaphor

Society and Culture

Gaza’s kids paint a brighter future

Gaza’s kids paint a brighter future

More than 11,000 children across Gaza have used the power of art to envisage a future of peace and safety, creating both beacons of hope for the future and blueprints to build better times ahead