As news outlets tend to do at this time of year, Crikey has spent a lot of this week reflecting on the past 12 months.

It was state versus state in Bernard Keane’s sporting analysis of a great year for political corruption in our Sleaze of Origin tournament. On a similar note, Georgia Wilkins looked at all those political questions we didn’t get answers to this year.

But we still kept an eye on what those in power were up to this week, including The Australian’s scaremongering about Chinese communist sleeper cells. And to accompany it all, Charlie Lewis’ regular playlist Yesterday’s Papers has a bittersweet theme this week to mark the end of a pretty awful year, and take us into a (hopefully) brighter one.

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KISHOR NAPIER-RAMAN 3 minute read

The Australian's latest CCP bombshell paints a scary picture. But experts say it's nothing more than a dangerous beat-up.

GEORGIA WILKINS 4 minute read

Once again with feeling: who, what, when, where and why. Simple questions, elusive answers.

JANINE PERRETT 2 minute read

The British actor and talk show host is just the latest performer to run afoul of questions over casting.

MADONNA KING 3 minute read

Want your scientists to find a cure for cancer — or a deadly pandemic? It's not the research standing in the way, it's the funding model.

MICHAEL BRADLEY 4 minute read

The justice system is failing victims of sexual assault. But what can be done about it?

GEORGIA WILKINS 3 minute read

At long last, the Victorian regulator is investigating Crown Casino. But after so long asleep at the wheel, is it up to the job?

DAVID HARDAKER 3 minute read

The end of year speech we wish Prime Minister Scott Morrison would make.

MICHAEL BRADLEY 4 minute read

It's an out-there idea, but it's not impossible. And just think of the schadenfreude.

JANINE PERRETT 3 minute read

MYEFO is obviously not keeping the treasurer busy enough — he's taken time out to sanction a controversial inquiry led by a climate-denying backbencher.

CHARLIE LEWIS 3 minute read

This Yesterday's Papers playlist is a soundtrack for the end of a bittersweet year (emphasis on the bitter).

STEPHEN BARTOS 3 minute read

The over-time the shockingly mistimed idea would simply ensure Australia's market share in China would be slashed.

AMBER SCHULTZ 3 minute read

Mathias Cormann's bid for OECD chief has hit a snag as voices are raised against him.