Deputy Premier and former Health Minister Steven Miles takes a look back at 2021 and reveals what he hopes Prime Minister Scott Morrison will do next year.

Sue Witten never really stopped being a hairdresser, her clients just went from living to deceased. Now she’s calling on more people to follow her into the funeral industry.

Putting health and wellbeing above “marching up the ranks” at work was a priority for Generation Z before the pandemic. Now, say workplace experts, “everyone is talking about the same thing”.

Police commissioner Chris Dawson has expressed his disappointment in The George and the partygoers who attended the New Year’s Eve event.

Health authorities have announced the two new local cases are in hotel quarantine.

Portraying the “neighborhood nymphomaniac,” White later said, was pivotal in reviving her acting career after years of game-show work.

Despite increasing COVID-19 cases and mask mandates in shops, Victorians flocked to retailers large and small this week to hoover up items for a post-lockdown lifestyle.

Victoria recorded nine deaths and 7442 new coronavirus cases on New Year’s Day.

NSW paramedics had their busiest night in 126 years despite smaller crowds in the CBD, whi;e police said revellers were generally well-behaved but one man was arrested for allegedly biting an officer’s face.

As of 1am on Sunday, masks must again be worn indoors in Queensland as the number of COVID-19 cases continues to soar across the state.

Parks Victoria has closed a section of the beach at Jarosite Headlands, near Bells Beach, and warned the cliff may continue to move over coming hours and days.

The number of patients in hospitals has more than doubled since this time last week, when there were 388 hospitalised on Christmas Day.

Photos of the year by The Sydney Morning Herald photographers

Peter Dutton was strongly encouraged to settle his defamation case over a tweet, and was awarded relatively low damages. Will this discourage other politicians from suing?

Actress Beverley Dunn, who died on November 27 aged 88, made many friends in the performing arts business working as she did across all media.

Melbourne is experiencing its hottest New Year’s Day since 2008 as the mercury crept past the forecast top of 37 degrees after a hot but very quiet New Year’s Eve.

In 2022, we should celebrate the scientists who created the vaccines that made the difference for our family.

The best photos from the international wire agencies as chosen by our picture editors

Melbourne will ring in the New Year with localised fireworks shows and live entertainment from four ticketed Celebration Zones in the city.

Martha Tsamis, who owns the Chasers and Inflation nightspots, saw an opportunity in the rapid test market. Now, that move is paying dividends.

Despite the heat and record COVID-19 cases, crowds descended on the city to kiss goodbye to 2021, determined to make their celebrations as close to normal as possible.

Victoria Police say the cliff face gave way about 2.15pm, dropping debris on top of six people sitting underneath.

I admired the way Australia was managing to contain the pandemic, but then everything changed.

Organisers called off the performance part way through the second act, telling the audience the show would not proceed and Ticketmaster would contact them shortly. 

As more people use at-home rapid tests, there are calls for NSW to count these in the official statistics.

Victorians who test positive to COVID-19 on a rapid test will be able to create unique codes that store their test results online to be included in official figures.

Victorian Labor MP Paul Edbrooke was driving back from a surf when an app alerted him to an incident near Philip Island on Thursday.

Whatever the Australian Way of Life really is, it invokes some powerful myths and the Prime Minister is relying on its enduring appeal as he seeks re-election.

Australia’s former deputy chief medical officer writes that this is the year the world will overcome COVID-19 as a pandemic and move to living with it as an endemic virus.

Dominic Perrottet appears determined to keep his eyes on an agenda larger than managing the pandemic - but the pandemic remains the looming wild card for 2022.

There are some famous houses designed by architects you can now rent for a holiday, ranging from boatsheds and tree houses to mansions overlooking the beach.

Government giveaways such as rebates and vouchers join toll road and fee increases from Saturday.

Autopsies after stillbirth are well below recommended levels. Only undertaken at the request of the family, the process can provide valuable information for future pregnancies.

Six tonnes of fireworks shot into the sky over the harbour at 9pm and midnight.

Sydney is preparing for its annual fireworks display, Melburnians are being told to avoid the CBD unless they have NYE tickets or a restaurant booking, and the country’s east coast has recorded more than 30,000 coronavirus cases.

Sydney has farewelled 2021 and welcomed the new year with its famous fireworks display, despite soaring Omicron cases keeping large crowds away from the usually bustling harbour.

Were the “freedom fighters” trying to free Old Parliament House of the evil ghosts of dead politicians? Maybe the celebrants should try to smoke out some corrupt live politicians from New Parliament House?

Trivia buffs: test your knowledge with today's interactive superquiz and target.

Staff would be returned to work before completing their seven days of isolation if they are deemed essential to service delivery and it is approved by a senior manager.

He was the man who led Queensland’s health response during a tumultuous time when former chief health officer Jeannette Young took up the role of Governor. Deputy CHO Peter Aitken reflects on the best and worst of 2021. 

The latest land-clearing figures for Queensland show reduced activity in sensitive areas but a major increase in the reef catchment area.

Chief Health Officer John Gerrard says Queensland’s high case numbers have come months earlier than expected, which could bring the end of the pandemic “a little bit further forward”.

For all the criticism levelled at Annastacia Palaszczuk, history will judge the success of her government’s response to the COVID-19 pandemic on one figure alone. Right now, that figure is seven.

Not far from the revellers who gathered on the Kangaroo Point cliffs to ring in the new year, workers were preparing to bring a grand old residence back to life.

The week in photos from the award-winning Sydney Morning Herald and Financial review photographers.

Omicron has thrown the country into a seemingly contradictory position: leaders seeking to open up must suddenly consider how to limit its transmission, if at all.

Meteorologist says it is difficult to predict where Cyclone Seth is heading but it has already been upgraded to category 2.

As Dominic Perrottet seeks to reassure the public, the ambulance service is facing its busiest day on record due largely to COVID-19 cases calling with concerns.

Despite the strain, Chief Health Officer John Gerrard said he expected the pressure on the health system to ease soon, due to changes made to the close contact rules.

For some who flocked to St Kilda beach on New Year’s Eve, this year’s celebrations will be as close to normal as possible. For others, they will be a little more low key.