Voters — and the press gallery — have been asked to “shift the focus” from COVID case numbers to hospitalisations so we can quickly move along to “living with COVID”. This shift falls into step with the government’s election narrative that they’ve been busy spruiking this week: the Coalition means freedom and hope, while Labor is the party of lockdowns. And there are rumours that the election could be sooner than we think. Bernard Keane, Kishor Napier-Raman and Charlie Lewis have more.

Elsewhere, the Coalition has been busy following through on promises… to their fossil fuel donors. Keane looks at just how much Angus Taylor’s “CoalKeeper” tax is going to cost Australian households, while Georgia Wilkins reports on plans to hire consultants to find “alternative uses” for coal.

Finally, this week saw David Hardaker publish his multi-part investigation into child sex abuser Frank Houston and his son, senior Hillsong Pastor Brian Houston. It’s uncomfortable reading, but, we believe, important. You can read the first part below, and find the rest of the series here.

DAVID HARDAKER 4 minute read

The criminal charge of concealment laid against Hillsong Pastor Brian Houston relates to events more than two decades ago. But time has not dulled the pain caused by his father, Frank.

BERNARD KEANE 3 minute read

The NSW and federal governments should know by now that that voter trust can only be earned when there's real accountability.

BERNARD KEANE 4 minute read

Scott Morrison and Gladys Berejiklian wants us to believe the relatively benign scenario painted by the Doherty Institute is what awaits us on reopening. But there are other, far worse scenarios.

KISHOR NAPIER-RAMAN 3 minute read

The ALP isn't necessarily opposed to national reopening, but nothing will stop the PM taking the issue and beating Labor's head in with it anyway.

CAM WILSON 3 minute read

Clive Palmer and Craig Kelly may seem like they have a lot of money and not much sense, but their anti-vaxxer quackery will put Australian lives at risk.

AMBER SCHULTZ 4 minute read

Disability Services Australia is headed into voluntary administration, leaving questions about how much the disability support sector can take in the pandemic.

GEORGIA WILKINS 2 minute read

It pocketed $11 million in contracts bestowed on it by the Morrison government during the pandemic. COVID's been good for some.

CHRISTOPHER WARREN 3 minute read

A long-time kingpin in Melbourne print media, the Herald Sun has taken quite the tumble, falling to fourth place among News Corp's Australian mastheads.

CAM WILSON 2 minute read

A gag by the Australian Federal Police about turning a beloved hot air balloon into an eye in the sky didn't take flight.

CAM WILSON 3 minute read

Protesters have been fined for organising a convoy to demand more help for vulnerable people. They believe the fines are unconstitutional.