Explainers

Explainers
Parliament pic says it all after Coalition splits

Why the federal Coalition split up

The Liberals and the Nationals made headlines this week with the announcement their long-term parliamentary coalition was over, but what does the split mean and why did they part ways?

Explainers
Mark Knight cartoon for Herald Sun, May 13, 2025

Pioneer wins Libs’ leadership duel

Cartoonist Mark Knight draws on the classic western plot of cowboys pulling pistols at dawn to capture the Liberal Party’s leadership vote – but is the female pioneer now on clean up duty?

Space
A new claim of alien life has put the space world into a bind. Picture: Supplied

Space find excites ET believers

Humanity is a social species and the dream of alien contact may be cause for a big interplanetary party someday … but one team of astronomers is already celebrating – so what have they found?

History
KIDS NEWS. Excavated hole with visible bricks and wood from the shipwreck. Photo: John Fhær Engedal Nissen, the National Museum of Denmark

Mutiny and the missing slaves

It was an unexpected series of events that led the crew of these two Danish slave frigates to abandon ship and steal away. But how did the 600 slaves on board vanish before the ships sank?

VIDEONews
VATICAN CITY, VATICAN - MAY 8: The newly elected Pontiff, Pope Leo XIV is seen for the first time from the Vatican balcony on May 8, 2025 in Vatican City, Vatican. White smoke was seen over the Vatican early this evening as the Conclave of Cardinals took just two days to elect Cardinal Robert Francis Prevost, who will be known as Pope Leo (Leone) XIV, as the 267th Supreme Pontiff after the death of Pope Francis on Easter Monday.  (Photo by Christopher Furlong/Getty Images)

Pope Leo the first American pontiff

Pope Leo XIV’s first words were of peace, as Bishop Robert Prevost became history’s first ever American Holy Father. Here is a translation of his speech, delivered in Italian and one part Spanish

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Explainers
Mark Knight cartoon on Adam Bandt losing his seat

Bandt’s parliamentary party over

Cartoonist Mark Knight transforms outgoing Greens leader Adam Bandt into a DJ whose dance party is abruptly unplugged as the 15 year veteran concedes defeat to Labor in the seat of Melbourne

Explainers
Australia's Prime Minister Anthony Albanese gestures between his partner Jodie Haydon and son Nathan after winning the general election at the Labor Party election night event in Sydney on May 3, 2025. Australia's left-leaning Prime Minister Anthony Albanese claimed victory in a general election on May 3, vowing to steer the nation through a rough patch of global uncertainty. (Photo by Saeed KHAN / AFP)

Albanese’s Labor scores landslide

Now Anthony Albanese and Labor have won a historic second term after a huge federal election win, here are some changes they will roll out for Aussies over the next term WATCH THE VIDEO

Explainers
Mark Knight cartoon for Herald Sun, April 28, 2025

Unholy show as leaders lock horns

Cartoonist Mark Knight’s four-letter wordplay speaks a thousand words as the humble casket of Pope Francis sat in stark contrast to two feuding presidents facing off in St Peter’s Square

Explainers
Pope Francis kisses a baby as he leaves in the popemobile car following the weekly general audience on May 10, 2023 at St. Peter's square in The Vatican. (Photo by Filippo MONTEFORTE / AFP)

Remembering Pope Francis

Now that Pope Francis has passed away at the age of 88, a centuries-old tradition of farewelling the pontiff has been set in motion. But how and when will the next pope be chosen?

Explainers
Mark Knight cartoon
Fri 4 April 2025
Trump tariffs
Liberation day

Mark Knight does ‘Liberation Day’

The iconic Statue of Liberty is America’s great symbol of freedom and opportunity but Mark Knight’s cartoon imagines the US and Lady Liberty transformed by Donald Trump’s ‘Liberation’ tariffs

Explainers
US President Donald Trump delivers remarks on reciprocal tariffs as US Secretary of Commerce Howard Lutnick holds a chart during an event in the Rose Garden entitled

What is Trump’s ‘Liberation Day’?

US President Donald Trump called it ‘Liberation Day’ and now the world’s anxious wait for tariff terms is over – but what does it mean for Australia and our own economy right here at home?

VIDEOExplainers
TOPSHOT - This photo shows a building collapsing in Mandalay on March 28, 2025, during an earthquake. A powerful earthquake killed more than 20 people across Myanmar and Thailand on March 28, toppling buildings and bridges and trapping over 80 workers in an under-construction skyscraper in Bangkok. (Photo by AFP)

Why some buildings fall in quakes

When a natural disaster like an earthquake strikes a major city like Bangkok, it’s always shocking when a big building collapses – why do some buildings fall when much taller ones are left intact?

Explainers
KIDS NEWS 2025: Mark Knight's Federal Budget lock up cartoon featuring Dr Jim Chalmers'

Little to celebrate in Budget break

With the next federal election coming hot on the heels of the Budget, cartoonist Mark Knight wonders what voters will make of the Treasurer’s tiny $5 tax break during a cost of living crisis

OPINIONMoney
Little girl holding three 20 dollar notes. Click to see more...

Why bother with cold, hard cash?

Why does Australia still print notes and mint coins when the country went cashless faster than we could say ‘Covid’? Well, the Barefoot Investor has doubled down on the value of real currency

Explainers
US President Donald Trump signs an executive order during an education event in the East Room of the White house in Washington, DC, March 20, 2025. President Donald Trump signed an order aimed at shutting down the Department of Education, a decades-long goal on the US right that objects to federal involvement in school systems run by individual states. By law, the Education Department -- created in 1979 -- cannot be shuttered without the approval of Congress, and Republicans do not have the votes to push that through. (Photo by ROBERTO SCHMIDT / AFP)

Can Trump really dump education?

US President Donald Trump has signed an executive order to dismantle America’s Department of Education despite not having the necessary approval needed from Congress to cut the agency – let’s take a look at what’s happening

EXPLAINERAnimals
NEWS: Madelaine's Eggs
Madelaine Scott is the owner-operator of Madelaine's Eggs. She featured on our front page in 2014 when she started her business. Photo story is about the challenges of organic farming and the call to reform regulations which are making things difficult for farmers with the economic downturn. 
PICTURED: Generic farm. Chickens. Layer hens. Organic free range eggs. Stock photos.
PICTURE: ZOE PHILLIPS

Why is there an egg shortage?

You may have noticed some empty supermarket shelves at the egg fridge and egg prices have spiked too – find out why there are egg shortages and how they affect Aussie households and businesses

Sport
Mark Knight cartoon for Herald Sun, March 17, 2025

Anthem found for wild Grand Prix

You know that feeling when a song gets stuck in your head? So does cartoonist and Formula One fan Mark Knight, whose Melbourne Grand Prix called up an old Crowded House favourite

Space
A total lunar eclipse is pictured as seen from underneath Sydney's Harbour Bridge. As the eclipse reaches its peak, refracted light from the sun caused the moon to appear red, otherwise known as the

Rare ‘blood moon’ lunar eclipse

Millions of Australians were treated to a rare astronomical sight on March 14, as scientists described the phenomenon as ‘the moon with a sunset’ – did you see Friday night’s spectacular sight?