Welcome to the best of Crikey for the week.

It’s been a big few days for those iconic sails by the harbour. Australia’s best loved building found itself at the centre of a meltdown all culminating in a race to be run today. Crikey had a first-hand account of the “light-based protest”, but also dug deeper looking at how the racing and gambling industries are pulling the strings and whether there’s any such thing as bad publicity? 

Elsewhere we’ve explained the upcoming Geoffrey Rush trial, Malaysia’s mammoth 1MDB sovereign wealth fund scandal and taken a look at Taylor Swift’s newfound political interest. Most important of all, the IPCC report this week made us ask the question: can Australia kick its coal habit?

GUY RUNDLE 3 minute read

Governments assume giving public spaces like the Opera House and Federation Square to commercial interests will not harm them. It will.

MICHAEL BRADLEY 3 minute read

If either party ever thought they had this under control, they don’t anymore. This show will go on and on.

SOPHIE RAYNOR 4 minute read

The oil-dependent country’s acquisition of ConocoPhillips’ 30% Greater Sunrise stake is seen as the final step in securing sovereignty. But is it worth the risk?

BERNARD KEANE 3 minute read

Fossil fuel companies wield systemic power to make sure the political system works in their interests, not the community's.

HELEN RAZER 3 minute read

You can enjoy the looks, quips and works of a celebrity very much while remaining entirely unmoved by their political advice.

4 minute read

We examine Malaysia's multibillion dollar 1MDB sovereign wealth fund scandal, which may well be remembered as the textbook case of financial fraud in the modern age.

KISHOR NAPIER-RAMAN 2 minute read

Debate around the proposed Ramsay Centre for Western Civilisation seems endless. We look at its intended curriculum.

IRFAN YUSUF 3 minute read

Matthew Lesh's heavily researched theory on socio-economic divides would give Andrew Bolt a heart attack.

BRAVE SMASH 3 minute read

Brave Smash, prize winning horse, weighs in on the biggest debate of the week.

HELEN RAZER 4 minute read

With the advice on the needs, benefits and restrictions of sex being constantly yelled at us, it's a wonder how anybody retains any sort of libido in the West at all.

GUY RUNDLE 4 minute read

The new hope of the Liberal Party, as they see it, is a corner of the society that forever believes Jesus wants to lower taxes and stop the boats.

MARGOT SAVILLE 3 minute read

Racing NSW and the rest of the gambling lobby have long called the shots in NSW because they give the government so much money.

BERNARD KEANE 3 minute read

While Saudi Arabia compiles a growing list of atrocities, Australia stays silent. So, are Australians safe from the regime?

FREG J STOKES 4 minute read

How did a far-right candidate Bolsonaro remains a firm favourite for victory in the second round of voting in the Brazilian presidential elections?

CRIKEY 5 minute read

Alison Whittaker, Madeleine Crofts, Liz Duck-Chong and David Donaldson share their experiences on the reality of schools and LGBTIQ students.

BERNARD KEANE 4 minute read

The major bank lobby group now wants to fix the Future of Financial Advice framework. But they were the ones who got us in this mess.