Articles by Crikey Intern

UNESCO has held off putting the Great Barrier Reef on its endangered list — for now. Crikey intern Sasha Petrova finds out why the reef’s in trouble and what the next steps are.

The new Penfolds Grange wine has been given a “perfect” rating by a prominent critic. But as you won’t get much change out of $800 for it, Crikey intern Sasha Petrova wonders: how do you put a price on taste?

Some of our true-blue sporting heroes seem to be taking up residency in countries with favourable tax arrangements. But how easy is it to do? Crikey intern Kylar Loussikian finds it may not work for him.

It’s now a three-speed economy, with Tasmania and South Australia falling behind mining states. Crikey intern Kylar Loussikian asks whether special economic zones would help mitigate the effects of the boom.

Julia Gillard faced a crowd of undecided voters in Melbourne last night — and the public’s apparent hostility to her government was nowhere to be seen. Crikey intern Kylar Loussikian was there.

A 30-year gold rout has spooked markets. But economists aren’t that concerned. Crikey intern Kylar Loussikian speaks to some pointy heads about how low it could go, and whether we should be worrying.

French President François Hollande has asked his ministers to reveal their personal wealth. Crikey intern Kylar Loussikian asks: is it just a sop to public opinion, or useful in cracking down on dodgy dealings?

The One Big Switch campaign claims to offer discounts of hundreds of dollars on private health insurance in a win for “people power” and consumers. But does it deliver? Crikey intern Ben Westcott investigates.

Two years ago, Labor held a comprehensive review to fix the party’s problems. Things have gone from bad to worse for Labor, while a Crikey report card finds most of the report’s recommendations have not been implemented. Crikey intern Ben Westcott looks at what happened to the report.

There’s an almighty row brewing over how superannuation is taxed. What on earth are they talking about? Crikey intern Ben Westcott walks us through how super taxes work and what could change.

How is Labor going to pay for its big-ticket promises on education and disability care? Crikey intern Ben Westcott asks leading economists whether Wayne Swan should tinker with super, Medicare, taxes or the GST to balance his books.

Is a councillor on Sydney’s Ashfield Council drunk in chambers? A rival wants to breathalyse him — but she’s been dismissed as a “muckraker”. Crikey intern Carrington Clarke tries to get to the bottom of it.

Pauline Hanson says she’ll run at this year’s federal election. Does she stand a chance — and can she make a buck out of taxpayer-funded public electoral funding? Crikey intern Carrington Clarke investigates.

Horses bred for the racing industry are ending up as dog food or sold for human consumption, whether they are too old to race or never made the grade, writes Crikey intern Michelle Slater.

There are few issues that bring together the activist Left and the rural Right. But coal seam gas has Nimbin hippies protesting next to knitting nanas, writes Crikey intern Michelle Slater.

Pope Benedict XVI has sensationally quit as the head of the Catholic church. Crikey intern Callum Denness runs the ruler over the man, the papacy and the religion which is the largest in Australia.

Miners say they can now safely extract coal seam gas from cropping land in Queensland and NSW. But farmers fear disrupting precious aquifers will ruin food production, writes Crikey intern Sandi Keane.

Gun ownership in Australia has bounced back and is now at pre-Port Arthur levels. But it’s worth looking at the types of guns owned, and who owns them. Crikey intern Jemimah Clegg reports.

Australia’s trade deficit is getting bigger by the month, partly due to the ever-strong dollar. Crikey intern Jemimah Clegg asks the economists whether we should be worried.