Here in Crikeyland we don’t follow the old maxim to never work with animals or children. Over the course of the election campaign to date we’ve really enjoyed publishing the work of 14-year-old news anchor Leonardo Puglisi, who has scored interviews with both Scott Morrison and Anthony Albanese and this week wrote about his experience dealing with trolls.

At the other end of the experience spectrum, former Liberal Party treasurer Michael Yabsley penned an open letter to the “Voices of” independent candidates urging them not to follow the big political parties on political donations. Between them, Puglisi and Yabsley serve to remind us that, for all its faults, our democracy is alive and kicking.

Speaking of independents, we’ve spent quite a bit of time on the teals this week, along with the RBA’s decision to raise the cash rate. But unlike most other outlets, we’ve also been talking about the problems Australia faces by having so much of the media in the hands of Rupert, and covered a Labor scandal that seems to have slipped by without much attention at all.

Oh, and we’ve also had a bit of fun with ScoMo’s curry nights.

Find all those stories, and plenty more, below.

LEONARDO PUGLISI 3 minute read

The joke was on social media cyber bullies after the Labor leader agreed to be interviewed by the young team at 6 News Australia.

GUY RUNDLE 8 minute read

Facing a prickly candidates forum in Melbourne, the Liberal MP combated pointed questions on climate extinction — while also rallying against his own dying light.

GLENN DYER and BERNARD KEANE 2 minute read

If you've only just recovered from the Easter airport debacle, Qantas has a surprise solution in store for the next big travel season: cutting flights and raising prices.

MICHAEL YABSLEY 12 minute read

When former Liberal Party treasurer and shrewd political fundraiser Michael Yabsley says big money in politics shreds integrity, it's a jarring warning from the poacher turned gamekeeper.

STEPHEN MAYNE 4 minute read

After a hammering by independent Kooyong candidate Monique Ryan, could the treasurer be quietly preparing to 'do a Campbell Newman'?

CAM WILSON 2 minute read

A group of hackers say they were driven to release Nauru police emails by allegations of poor treatment at detention centres.

BERNARD KEANE and GLENN DYER 3 minute read

Inflation has been exacerbated by a budget that is pumping tens of billions of deficit spending into a low-unemployment economy.

BERNARD KEANE 3 minute read

News that the Andrews government will be slammed in a Victorian anti-corruption watchdog report hasn't featured so far in the federal election.

IMOGEN CHAMPAGNE 2 minute read

The PM has once again sent Australian social media into a conspiracy spin after serving up what looks like raw chicken to Jen and the girls.

BERNARD KEANE 3 minute read

The PM's warning of 'public autocracy' is the plea of a man who can't be trusted to be left alone to abuse power and resources.