Rick Morton
The Australian
Sydney, NSW, Australia
Contact Rick
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Past articles by Rick:
NDIS bid to restrict access by rewriting rules on autism
A radical plan to alter the definition of autism will be the cornerstone of a push to restrict access to the 22 billion National Disability Insurance Scheme, which could see thousands of people with substantial support needs removed from the system entirely. → Read More
Shark bites surfer on NSW Central Coast
A surfer has suffered three puncture wounds to his shoulder after being attacked by a shark at the Lagoon at Avoca Beach on the NSW Central Coast. → Read More
Lessons from our wayward cat
Before her death, our 16-year-old cat Sparky — with whom we had shared so many memories — took up residence with an elderly, forgetful couple two doors down. It is not uncommon for animals, especially cats, to take themselves away to a quiet spot under the stairs or in a hedge to breathe their last, but it hurt that ours decided to do so a full year before she carked it. → Read More
Shaped in the furnace of poverty
Its not the sort of thing the career counsellors recommend in school because their remit is to help a child become employable through pragmatism. You could make money in opera but, statistically speaking, more people make more money from, say, boiler making. Nobody knows any of this when they are five, however, which is how I came to be singing falsetto underneath a tank stand infested with… → Read More
Online shopping yields a trove of treasure and trash
Mum returned home with a personal grocery trolley, a metal-frame day bed and a paper shredder, on account of the local online trading post she had recently discovered. This outlet, a simple social media page on which people display their wares, inhabited the Venn diagram sweet spot, blending all her special interests: The Castle, bargains and neighbourhood intrigue. → Read More
Creative Country Live: Discussing a culture of innovation
Good morning all and welcome to the Creative Country live coverage, presented by The Australian and NAB. → Read More
Victoria Minister Natalie Hutchins left abandoned in Darwin
Victoria’s Minister for Aboriginal Affairs has been abandoned in Darwin after making her way to the Northern Territory for a meeting with other ministers hosted by Chief Minister Adam Giles, who was busy campaigning 1000km away in Tennant Creek. → Read More
Woman strips at Sydney’s central station, causes traffic chaos
Police and paramedics are at Central railway station in Sydney where a woman is threatening to jump off a bridge. → Read More
‘Stop killing Muslims, war ends’
7.30: Friend of teen shooter Farhad Jabar says Curtis Cheng did not deserve to be mourned → Read More
‘Stop killing Muslims, war ends’
7.30: Friend of teen shooter Farhad Jabar says Curtis Cheng did not deserve to be mourned → Read More
Lawler secretly recorded his boss
Michael Lawler admits secretly recording conversations with boss and travelling on HSU funds → Read More
Lawler secretly recorded his boss
Michael Lawler admits secretly recording conversations with boss and travelling on HSU funds → Read More
Lawler secretly recorded his boss
Michael Lawler admits secretly recording conversations with boss and travelling on HSU funds → Read More
18 arguments against gay marriage – and why they’re bollocks.
With next week's introduction of the marriage equality bill to Federal Parliament, the arguments against gay marriage are getting some air time. Read this. → Read More
The Quiet Reporter: On Being an Introvert and a Journalist
Some days, when the phone rings, I feel aggrieved. Which is not at all ideal because I am a reporter and my job depends on it. Those are the days when I turn to a colleague and muster all the despair at my fingertips: “I am in the wrong line of work.” It’s not that I am articulating my unhappiness with journalism. Quite the contrary; I don’t know how to do anything else. It is my one true love… → Read More
Lake Illawarra emerges in colour as CSIRO sonar shows its power
THE wreck of the Lake Illawarra, whose captain caused one of the worst disasters in Tasmania’s history when he lost control of the ship and it crashed into the central span of the Tasman Bridge in 1975, springs from the sonar scan like a colour-coded ghost. → Read More
Record expansion sees Antarctic sea ice confound climate scientists
ANTARCTIC sea ice has expanded to its greatest coverage since records began in 1978, continuing to confound climate scientists and proving even more hazardous than usual for shipping in the Southern Ocean. → Read More
PUP senator Jacqui Lambie wants to ‘send sharia backers packing’
SENATOR Jacqui Lambie wants Australians who support sharia law to “pack up their bags and get out of here” or else be stripped of their vote and all welfare entitlements including Medicare. → Read More
Greens condemn Tony Abbott’s move to help tackle Islamic State
THE Greens have condemned Tony Abbott’s decision to deploy troops against Islamic State militants, warning that the move will “only elevate the risk of terrorism” at home. → Read More
Scientific research ship RV Investigator docks in Hobart for hi-tech fitout
THE most advanced research ship in Australia’s history finally arrived at its base in Hobart this morning where the $120 million RV Investigator will undergo a hi-tech equipment fitout. → Read More