Leigh Tonkin
Leigh Tonkin is the ABC's editor of features and context.
Latest by Leigh Tonkin
Analysis
analysis:Sourdough, toasted. Avocado, smashed. Salt and pepper, sprinkled: The simple recipe that took Australian food to the world
By Leigh Tonkin
Thirty years ago Bill Granger put a dish on his Darlinghurst cafe menu. It came to represent so much more to a generation locked out of the housing market, writes Leigh Tonkin.
Updated
As Mary Fowler and Caitlin Foord become household names, here's your pocket guide to the Matildas
The Matildas have gone from strength to strength in the FIFA Women's World Cup. With more players joining Sam Kerr as household names, here's your pocket guide to the entire Matildas squad.
Updated
Labor vows 'fresh start', Perrottet stands down — as it happened
By Paige Cockburn, Kevin Nguyen and Leigh Tonkin
Labor will emerge from 12 years of opposition and form government, after seeing big swings in the NSW election. It's on track to win a majority of seats. As it happened.
Updated
Miriam already knew the budget would bring hard days. But for many Australians, it's an even bleaker picture
By Maani Truu, Leigh Tonkin, and Emma Machan
Meet Miriam. She's the "typical Aussie", juggling a family, a part-time job and a growing pile of bills. Not one policy in the budget's five-point plan for cost of living relief will help her now — but for millions like her, crunch time is already here.
Updated
Pensioners, women, young people: What's in the budget for you?
By Leigh Tonkin and Maani Truu
Labor's first budget in almost a decade has been handed down — here's what you need to know about what's in it for you.
The 'real victims' of the Optus data breach
By Leigh Tonkin
The nine days which have elapsed since the largest data breach of its kind was disclosed have been filled with confusion, with Optus struggling to explain to customers who is affected and how.
Updated
'Diana died at age 36. Younger than Catherine is now': The long shadow hanging over the new princess
By Leigh Tonkin
There hasn't been a Princess of Wales since Diana's death in a car crash in 1997 and Catherine would be well aware of the significance it holds — for the family, and the British public.
Updated
The Queen's last 516 days without the man who called her 'Cabbage'
By Leigh Tonkin
One year, five months ago — or 516 days — Queen Elizabeth faced one of the biggest personal challenges of her reign: the death of her consort, Prince Philip.
Updated
The government predicted how war, China and global uncertainty might hit Australia. This is what it said
By Leigh Tonkin
If the last two budgets were delivered under the spectre of COVID, this year’s budget has a different bogeyman: the outbreak of war in Europe and growing unrest in the Asia-Pacific region.
Updated
Analysis
analysis:COVID has been in Australia for two years — twice as long as the Spanish flu — with no end in sight
By Leigh Tonkin
Two years ago today, Australia first joined the COVID club. Within days we'd have more cases, within weeks our own lockdowns, writes Leigh Tonkin.
Analysis
analysis:Supermarket shortages, a stretched healthcare system, and a million COVID cases: What comes next for Australia?
By Catherine Taylor and Leigh Tonkin
As we pause after a bumpy ride on this week's COVID wave, it's worth reflecting on the journey and the key questions we wrestled with.
Updated
Analysis
analysis:This week, Australians were forced to make a big cognitive jump — and there's no going back
By Leigh Tonkin
It's tempting to see the testing crisis as evidence of Australia falling at the first hurdle, but in reality the hurdles are gone, the track has changed, writes Leigh Tonkin.
Updated
Analysis
analysis:'But wait there's more': At last the premiers are in step, even when it comes to treats for tired states
By Leigh Tonkin
If Victoria is heading in the same direction as its northern neighbour, it wouldn't have liked the glimpse of its possible future it got this week, writes Leigh Tonkin.
Updated
Tonight's census will show how we've changed, but so do these census ads from 1966
By Leigh Tonkin
The series of five television ads for the national count in 1966 — the first year it was advertised on TV — are a time capsule.
Updated
Are you dirtier than the typical Australian? Take our quiz to find out
By Leigh Tonkin
How much of a gross stinker are you? Prepare to be judged compared to fellow Australians.
Lockdown, winter weather and school holidays: Tips to stop close quarters turning to boredom — or worse
By Leigh Tonkin
Lockdowns, winter weather, school holidays and working from home — it's a recipe for cabin fever that's at home among plots for the scariest horror movies.
How long will the Queen mourn? Officially until Thursday, but then the next struggle begins
By Leigh Tonkin and Emily Clark
While the UK came out of its national period of grieving with the conclusion of the funeral, for the royal family, and particularly the Queen, it's just the beginning of processing their loss.
Updated
Prince Philip will be buried twice — just like his mother
By Leigh Tonkin
Now Prince Philip's funeral is over, the nation's eight-day period of national mourning comes to an end and his coffin won't have far to go to reach its next resting spot.
Updated
'Shockingly malicious' or true to life? How The Crown retold Prince Philip's story
By Leigh Tonkin
Prince Philip was known more for his public gaffes and missteps before The Crown retold his story for a new generation. These episodes give an insight into the man he was.
Updated
Prince Philip's gaffes leave a difficult legacy for the royal family to negotiate
By Anne Barker and Leigh Tonkin
Whether he genuinely thought he was funny or simply lacked tact, the Duke of Edinburgh was well known for the sometimes offensive gaffes that now complicate his legacy as the royal family adapts in the 21st century.
Updated
Two steps behind, but always by her side: Inside Prince Philip and the Queen’s enduring love
By Leigh Tonkin
As a teenager, the future Queen Elizabeth was smitten with Philip of the House Mountbatten. It became a love story that would last a lifetime.
Updated
Australia ranks 8th in its coronavirus response — what can the top 7 teach us?
By Annika Blau and Leigh Tonkin
Australia is managing the coronavirus crisis well, but seven countries are considered to have done a better job. These are the lessons each can teach us about how they got on top of COVID-19.
Updated
Analysis
analysis:As Trump's D-Day arrives, America's coronavirus 'wildfire' is the worst it has been
By Casey Briggs and Leigh Tonkin
Donald Trump has declared dozens of times that coronavirus will simply "go away". But now, in the week that voters cast their judgement on the record of the President, the pandemic is, on many measures, worse than it has ever been, writes Casey Briggs.
Updated
A million lives lost, billions left worse off in its wake: The pandemic in 10 charts
By Leigh Tonkin, Casey Briggs and Jonathan Hepburn
The biggest pandemic in 100 years has now claimed the lives of 1 million people around the world.
Updated
What happens if the Oxford vaccine doesn't work?
By Bridget Judd, Catherine Taylor and Leigh Tonkin
Lauded as "one of the most advanced and promising in the world", the Oxford vaccine has sparked hope among many of us. But no single vaccine can work in isolation — and its effectiveness could hinge on a number of factors.
Updated