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Could this be Australia's worst roundabout?

A Sydney suburb is making headlines for a traffic feature so confusing, it’s giving GPS systems an existential crisis and forcing drivers into interpretive dance routines with their steering wheels. Residents of Austral have been left bewildered by a diamond-shaped roundabout that’s turning an ordinary intersection into a high-stakes game of vehicular Twister. It’s not clear who approved this geometric oddity, but what is clear is that nobody can drive around it without looking like they’re auditioning for Fast & Furious: Suburban Drift. Liverpool City Councillor Peter Ristevski, who seems to have drawn the short straw as the face of this fiasco, confirmed to Today that he's requested an official investigation into the design decision. "My inbox last night was bombarded with over 300 responses asking, 'what is going on? You guys can't even build a roundabout,'" <a href="https://9now.nine.com.au/today/diamond-roundabout-liverpool-council-design-flaw-labelled-embarrassing/960c2e76-d1b4-4425-a184-0000fde9c7ed" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Peter told Today</a>, possibly while rubbing his temples and Googling “how to disappear”. Local drivers have reportedly been attempting three-point turns, four-point turns, and even something resembling modern dance to navigate the angular nightmare, before giving up and just driving over it – a choice that, while technically illegal, is increasingly viewed as emotionally valid. <a href="https://9now.nine.com.au/today/diamond-roundabout-liverpool-council-design-flaw-labelled-embarrassing/960c2e76-d1b4-4425-a184-0000fde9c7ed" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Aerial footage revealed</a> there was, in fact, enough room for a traditional roundabout, leading many to question how this avant-garde concrete rhombus got approved in the first place. Was it modern art? A prank? A failed Illuminati summoning circle? Peter Ristevski didn’t have the answers. “It’s quite embarrassing,” he admitted. “I’m in Canberra for the Australian Local Government Conference, where I’ve had every single councillor here in Australia rip into me about this roundabout.” Yes, while the rest of the country’s councillors are exchanging ideas about sustainability and infrastructure, Peter is fending off jokes like “Hey mate, did Picasso design that thing for you?” Peter also revealed he didn’t know how much the roundabout cost to install, which is fair – the true cost may be measured in dented bumpers, strained marriages and a sharp uptick in meditation app downloads. “It’s a pretty good reflection of where things are at with council, but ratepayers are paying for it all and they’re going to have to pay for this to be rectified because it’s an absolute joke looking at it,” Today host Karl Stefanovic pointed out with the grim amusement of a man watching a train crash in slow motion. Local authorities have yet to announce how or when the diamond disaster will be fixed, but residents are hoping for something a little more traditional – perhaps even... round. Until then, drivers in Austral are advised to keep calm, steer cautiously and maybe bring a compass. Images: Today show

Travel Trouble

Brrrrr! Australia's coldest town revealed

Australia is in the grip of an icy blast as temperatures plummet across large parts of the country, with the winter solstice – the shortest day of the year – just around the corner. On Friday morning, widespread frost coated much of New South Wales, Victoria and even parts of Queensland. A combination of cold air and clear skies pushed temperatures below zero, with some areas recording their coldest morning in two years. “This is definitely the lowest temperatures that we’ve seen this year [for some],” Bureau of Meteorology (BOM) senior meteorologist Miriam Bradbury <a href="https://www.abc.net.au/news/2025-06-20/australias-coldest-towns-as-winter-weather-brings-frost/105433446" target="_blank" rel="noopener">told ABC News</a>. “But that makes sense as we’ve moved into the beginning of winter, and typically that sort of June, July period is the coldest for most parts of Australia.” But which town can truly claim the crown as Australia’s coldest? The very question was put to the BOM’s climate team, and the stats reveal two chilly champions – depending on how you measure it. Cooma: Coldest Nights When it comes to overnight minimum temperatures, Cooma in southern New South Wales takes top honours. Nestled at 800 metres elevation in the Snowy Mountains region, Cooma averages a frosty -2.6°C on July nights, with the airport recording a similar -2°C. This week, Cooma lived up to its reputation, shivering through -7°C on Thursday and a bone-chilling -8.5°C on Friday morning. “Anything elevated is going to be cooler because the temperature does decrease with height,” Ms Bradbury explained. “So Cooma, because it’s got that little bit of elevation, generally sees a cooler climate than some of those lower-lying areas.” Honourable mention goes to Walcha in the Northern Tablelands, where July nights average a brisk -2.2°C. Oberon: Coldest Days If daytime chill is the measure, Oberon in the Central Tablelands of New South Wales takes the title. Even in the middle of the day, July temperatures in Oberon barely reach between 8.1°C and 8.8°C on average. Throw in a bit of wind chill, and it feels colder still. “When it’s windier, it feels colder,” Ms Bradbury said. “When it’s more humid or the dew point temperature is higher, it tends to feel warmer.” In fact, both Oberon and Cooma are tied for coldest town when you look at average temperatures overall – no tie-breaker needed to know it’s freezing in both. Record low for Australia... and beyond While Cooma and Oberon claim the coldest town titles, the coldest temperature ever recorded in Australia was far more extreme. Charlotte Pass in the Snowy Mountains hit -23°C on June 29, 1994. On a global scale, Vostok Station in Antarctica holds the record low, plunging to a staggering -89.4°C on July 21, 1983. With the winter solstice upon us, Australians can expect a few more weeks of frosty mornings and icy days – and perhaps a few more records to fall before spring begins to thaw the chill. Images: Instagram

Travel Trouble

What does Trump’s looming ‘revenge tax’ mean for Australia?

<div class="theconversation-article-body">The Australian Labor Party just won an <a href="https://theconversation.com/albanese-increases-majority-and-dutton-loses-seat-in-stunning-election-landslide-255616">election victory for the ages</a>. Now, it may be forced to walk back one of the key achievements of its first term. Here’s why: United States President Donald Trump is about to declare an income tax war on much of the world – and we Australians are not on the same side. Over in the US, the “<a href="https://www.congress.gov/bill/119th-congress/house-bill/1/text">One Big Beautiful Bill act</a>” – a tax and spending package worth trillions of dollars – has been <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2025/may/22/what-is-trump-big-beautiful-bill">passed</a> by the House of Representatives. It’s now before the Senate for consideration. Within it lies a new and highly controversial provision: <a href="https://www.axios.com/2025/05/30/taxes-section-899-big-beautiful-bill">Section 899</a>. This increases various US tax rates payable by taxpayers from any country the US claims is maintaining an “unfair foreign tax” by five percentage points each year, up to an additional 20% loading. Having been an integral part of an international effort to create a global 15% minimum tax, Australia now finds itself in the firing line of Trump’s “<a href="https://finance.yahoo.com/news/revenge-tax-buried-deep-budget-213451951.html">revenge tax</a>” warfare – and it’s a fight we’re unlikely to win. <h2>A global minimum tax rate</h2> The origins of the looming income tax war <a href="https://www.oecd.org/en/publications/2013/07/action-plan-on-base-erosion-and-profit-shifting_g1g30e67.html">started in 2013</a>, when the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (<a href="https://www.oecd.org/en/about.html">OECD</a>) released its plan to stamp out “base erosion and profit shifting”. This refers to a range of strategies often used by multinational companies to minimise the tax they pay, exploiting differences and gaps in the tax rules of different countries. The OECD’s first attempt to tackle the problem was a collection of disparate measures directed not only at corporate tax avoidance, but also controlling tax poaching by national governments and “<a href="https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2013/apr/29/sweetheart-tax-deals">sweetheart deals</a>” negotiated by tax officials. Under both Labor and the Coalition, Australia was initially an enthusiastic backer of these attempts. However, the project was not a widespread success. Many countries endorsed the final reports but, unlike Australia, few countries acted on them. After the failure of this first project, the OECD tried again in 2019. This evolved to encompass two “pillars” to change the global tax rules. <a href="https://www.oecd.org/content/dam/oecd/en/topics/policy-issues/cross-border-and-international-tax/pillar-one-amount-a-fact-sheet.pdf">Pillar one</a> would give more tax to countries where a company’s customers are located. <a href="https://www.oecd.org/en/topics/sub-issues/global-minimum-tax/global-anti-base-erosion-model-rules-pillar-two.html">Pillar two</a> is a minimum tax of 15% on (a version of) the accounting profits of the largest multinationals earned in each country where the multinational operates. Labor picked up this project for the 2022 election, <a href="https://jimchalmers.org/latest-news/media-releases/labor-s-plan-to-ensure-multinationals-pay-their-fair-share-of-tax/">promising</a> to support both pillars – and they honoured that promise. <h2>Mixed success</h2> Around the world, the two pillar project had mixed success. Pillar one was dead-on-arrival: most countries did nothing. But Australia and several other countries, mostly in Europe, implemented pillar two – the global minimum tax. The OECD has always maintained the base erosion and profit shifting (BEPS) project was a coalition of the willing, meant to rebalance the way income tax is allocated between producer and consumer countries, and rid the world of tax havens. In the US, Republicans <a href="https://www.reuters.com/world/us/yellen-us-negotiating-rd-tax-credit-part-global-tax-deal-2024-04-30/">did not share that view</a>. For them, BEPS was simply another attempt by foreign countries to get more tax from US companies. This Republican dissatisfaction with the OECD is now on full display. On the first day of his second term, Trump issued an <a href="https://www.whitehouse.gov/presidential-actions/2025/01/the-organization-for-economic-co-operation-and-development-oecd-global-tax-deal-global-tax-deal/">executive order</a>, formally repudiating any OECD commitments the Biden administration might have given. He also directed his officials to report on options for retaliatory measures the US could take against any foreign countries with income tax rules that are “extraterritorial” or “disproportionately affect American companies”. <h2>Why Australia is so exposed</h2> Australia could find itself in the firing line of Trump’s tax warfare on many fronts. And the US doesn’t lack firepower. Section 899 adds to a number of <a href="https://theconversation.com/what-is-the-90-year-old-tax-rule-trump-could-use-to-double-us-taxes-on-foreigners-248154">retaliatory tax provisions</a> the US already had at its disposal. The increased tax rates would affect Australian super funds and other investors earning dividends, rent, interest, royalties and other income from US companies. Australian super funds in particular are heavily invested in US markets, which have outperformed local stocks in recent years. It would also affect Australian managed funds owning land and infrastructure assets in the US, as well as Australian entities such as banks that carry on business in the US. And there are other measures that would expose US subsidiaries of Australian companies to US higher tax. The bill would even remove the doctrine of sovereign immunity for the governments of “offending” countries. <a href="https://www.ato.gov.au/individuals-and-families/your-tax-return/if-you-disagree-with-an-ato-decision/object-to-a-decision/what-to-include-in-your-objection/supporting-information-to-provide/sovereign-immunity">Sovereign immunity</a> refers to a tax exemption on returns that usually applies to governments. This means the Australian government itself could have to pay tax to the US. There are <a href="https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2025-05-30/trump-revenge-tax-would-lower-foreign-investment-in-us-scorekeeper-predicts">concerns on Wall Street</a> this will dampen demand for US government bonds from foreign governments, which are big buyers of US Treasuries. The argument may sway some in the Senate – but how many remains to be seen. <h2>What Australia may need to do next</h2> We may be incredulous that anyone would consider our tax system combative, but enacting the OECD pillar two was always known to be risky. There are other, homegrown Australian tax measures that have drawn American ire. In 2015, Australia enacted an income tax measure (commonly called the “<a href="https://www.smh.com.au/business/the-economy/google-restructures-to-avoid-hefty-penalties-in-australia-as-tax-bill-hits-16-million-20160429-goi8fl.html">Google tax</a>”) specifically directed at US tech companies. In 2017, we followed this up with a <a href="https://www.ato.gov.au/businesses-and-organisations/international-tax-for-business/in-detail/doing-business-in-australia-or-overseas/diverted-profits-tax">diverted profits tax</a>. Trump’s bill specifically targets both measures. Tying ourselves to the OECD’s global minimum tax project might have seemed like a good idea in 2019. In 2025, it looks decidedly unappealing, and not just because of Trump. First, there is not actually any serious revenue in pillar two for Australia. Treasury’s <a href="https://archive.budget.gov.au/2023-24/bp2/download/bp2_2023-24.pdf">revenue estimate</a> totalled only $360 million after four years, just slightly more than a rounding error in the federal budget. Second, we are increasingly alone and vulnerable in this battle. It might feel emotionally satisfying to stand up to the US. If there was a sizeable coalition alongside us, there might be some point. If Trump’s One Big Beautiful Bill act does pass through the US Senate, the Australian government and business will be left exposed to much higher costs. Since abandoning the US market is not really an option, it might be time to surrender quietly and gracefully – by reversing, at the very least, the contentious bits of pillar two.<img style="border: none !important; box-shadow: none !important; margin: 0 !important; max-height: 1px !important; max-width: 1px !important; min-height: 1px !important; min-width: 1px !important; opacity: 0 !important; outline: none !important; padding: 0 !important;" src="https://counter.theconversation.com/content/257961/count.gif?distributor=republish-lightbox-basic" alt="The Conversation" width="1" height="1" /> By <a href="https://theconversation.com/profiles/graeme-cooper-3215">Graeme Cooper</a>, Professor of Taxation Law, <a href="https://theconversation.com/institutions/university-of-sydney-841">University of Sydney</a> This article is republished from <a href="https://theconversation.com">The Conversation</a> under a Creative Commons license. Read the <a href="https://theconversation.com/australia-is-in-the-firing-line-of-trumps-looming-revenge-tax-its-a-fight-were-unlikely-to-win-257961">original article</a>. Image: Pexels / Nataliya Vaitkevich </div>

Money & Banking

Most of us will leave behind a large ‘digital legacy’ when we die. Here’s how to plan what happens to it

<div class="theconversation-article-body"> Imagine you are planning the funeral music for a loved one who has died. You can’t remember their favourite song, so you try to login to their Spotify account. Then you realise the account login is inaccessible, and with it has gone their personal history of Spotify playlists, annual “wrapped” analytics, and liked songs curated to reflect their taste, memories, and identity. We tend to think about inheritance in physical terms: money, property, personal belongings. But the vast volume of digital stuff we accumulate in life and leave behind in death is now just as important – and this “<a href="https://digitallegacyassociation.org">digital legacy</a>” is probably more meaningful. Digital legacies are increasingly complex and evolving. They include now-familiar items such as social media and banking accounts, along with our stored photos, videos and messages. But they also encompass virtual currencies, behavioural tracking data, and even AI-generated avatars. This digital data is not only fundamental to our online identities in life, but to our inheritance in death. So how can we properly plan for what happens to it? <h2>A window into our lives</h2> Digital legacy is commonly classified into two categories: <a href="https://www.esafety.gov.au/key-topics/digital-wellbeing/what-happens-to-your-digital-accounts-after-you-die">digital assets and digital presence</a>. Digital assets include items with economic value. For example, domain names, financial accounts, monetised social media, online businesses, virtual currencies, digital goods, and personal digital IP. Access to these is spread across platforms, hidden behind passwords or restricted by privacy laws. Digital presence includes content with no monetary value. However, it may have great personal significance. For example, our photos and videos, social media profiles, email or chat threads, and other content archived in cloud or platform services. There is also data that might not seem like content. It may not even seem to belong to us. This includes analytics data such as health and wellness app tracking data. It also includes behavioural data such as location, search or viewing history collected from platforms such as Google, Netflix and Spotify. This data reveals patterns in our preferences, passions, and daily life that can hold intimate meaning. For example, knowing the music a loved one listened to on the day they died. Digital remains now also include scheduled <a href="https://go-paige.com/memories/">posthumous messages</a> or <a href="https://www.hereafter.ai">AI-generated avatars</a>. All of this raises both practical and ethical questions about identity, privacy, and corporate power over our digital afterlives. Who has the right to access, delete, or transform this data? <h2>Planning for your digital remains</h2> Just as we prepare wills for physical possessions, we need to plan for our digital remains. Without clear instructions, important digital data may be lost and inaccessible to our loved ones. In 2017, I helped develop key recommendations for <a href="https://accan.org.au/files/Grants/Death%20and%20the%20Internet_2017-web.pdf">planning your digital legacy</a>. These include: <ul> <li>creating an inventory of accounts and assets, recording usernames and login information, and if possible, downloading personal content for local storage</li> <li>specifying preferences in writing, noting wishes about what content should be preserved, deleted, or shared – and with whom</li> <li>using password managers to securely store and share access to information and legacy preferences</li> <li>designating a <a href="https://www.tonkinlaw.com/resources/digital-estate-planning-victoria-safeguarding-online-assets/">digital executor</a> who has legal authority to carry out your digital legacy wishes and preferences, ideally with legal advice</li> <li>using legacy features on available platforms, such as <a href="https://www.facebook.com/help/1070665206293088">Facebook’s Legacy Contact</a>, <a href="https://support.google.com/accounts/answer/3036546?hl=en">Google’s Inactive Account Manager</a>, or <a href="https://digital-legacy.apple.com">Apple’s Digital Legacy</a>.</li> </ul> <h2>What if your loved one left no plan?</h2> These steps may sound uncontroversial. But digital wills remain uncommon. And without them, managing someone’s digital legacy can be fraught with legal and technical barriers. Platform terms of service and privacy rules often prevent access by anyone other than the account holder. They can also require official documentation such as a death certificate before granting limited access to download or close an account. In such instances, gaining access will probably only be possible through imperfect workarounds, such as searching online for traces of someone’s digital life, attempting to use account recovery tools, or scouring personal documents for login information. <figure><iframe src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/WmQH27MNLz8?wmode=transparent&start=0" width="440" height="260" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen"></iframe></figure> <h2>The need for better standards</h2> Current platform policies have clear limitations for handling digital legacies. For example, policies are inconsistent. They are also typically limited to memorialising or deleting accounts. With no unified framework, service providers often prioritise data privacy over family access. Current tools prioritise visible content such as profiles or posts. However, they exclude less visible yet equally valuable (and often more meaningful) behavioural data such as listening habits. Problems can also arise when data is removed from its original platform. For example, photos from Facebook can lose their social and relational meaning without their associated comment threads, reactions, or interactivity. Meanwhile, emerging uses of posthumous data, especially AI-generated avatars, raise urgent issues about digital personhood, ownership, and possible harms. These “digital remains” may be stored indefinitely on commercial servers without standard protocols for curation or user rights. The result is a growing tension between personal ownership and corporate control. This makes digital legacy not only a matter of individual concern but one of digital governance. <a href="https://www.archivists.org.au/community/representation/standards-australias-committee-it-21-records-management-and-archives">Standards Australia</a> and the <a href="https://dcj.nsw.gov.au/news-and-media/media-releases-archive/2022/reform-to-allow-data-access-after-death.html">New South Wales Law Reform Commission</a> have recognised this. Both organisations are seeking <a href="https://lawreform.nsw.gov.au/documents/Current-projects/Digital%20assets/Preliminary%20submissions/PDI10.pdf">consultation</a> to develop frameworks that address inconsistencies in platform standards and user access. Managing our digital legacies demands more than practical foresight. It compels critical reflection on the infrastructures and values that shape our online afterlives.<img style="border: none !important; box-shadow: none !important; margin: 0 !important; max-height: 1px !important; max-width: 1px !important; min-height: 1px !important; min-width: 1px !important; opacity: 0 !important; outline: none !important; padding: 0 !important;" src="https://counter.theconversation.com/content/257121/count.gif?distributor=republish-lightbox-basic" alt="The Conversation" width="1" height="1" /> By <a href="https://theconversation.com/profiles/bjorn-nansen-102356">Bjorn Nansen</a>, Associate Professor, School of Computing and Information Systems, <a href="https://theconversation.com/institutions/the-university-of-melbourne-722">The University of Melbourne</a> This article is republished from <a href="https://theconversation.com">The Conversation</a> under a Creative Commons license. Read the <a href="https://theconversation.com/most-of-us-will-leave-behind-a-large-digital-legacy-when-we-die-heres-how-to-plan-what-happens-to-it-257121">original article</a>. Image: Pexels / Mart Production </div>

Meet the young princess and future queen who's moving to Australia

In a delightful development that has captivated royal watchers and Australians alike, Norway's Princess Ingrid Alexandra is preparing to start an exciting new chapter – right here in Australia. (Sydney, to be more precise!) The 21-year-old royal, who is second in line to the Norwegian throne, will soon trade Oslo’s snowy landscapes for Sydney’s sunny shores as she embarks on full-time university study. The Royal House of Norway confirmed that the princess will begin a Bachelor of Social Science at the University of Sydney this August, with a focus on international relations and political economy. Adding a touch of tradition to this modern tale, Princess Ingrid Alexandra will be living on campus at the prestigious St Andrew's College. In a warm message to students, the college principal, Dr Daniel Tyler, encouraged the community to respect the princess’s privacy as she settles into campus life. While the Norwegian royal family may be lesser-known in Australia compared to their British or Danish counterparts, that’s expected to change quickly. Crown Princess Mette-Marit, Ingrid’s mother, also has ties to Australia, having studied at Wangaratta High School in Victoria as a teenager. Now, it’s her daughter’s turn to embrace life Down Under. Born in Oslo in 2004, Princess Ingrid Alexandra is poised to make history as Norway's first queen regnant in over 600 years. Her grandfather, King Harald V, currently holds the throne as Europe’s oldest reigning monarch at 88. Ingrid is the eldest child of Crown Prince Haakon and Crown Princess Mette-Marit and has a younger brother, Prince Sverre Magnus. Far from a traditional royal upbringing, Princess Ingrid has forged a path that blends duty, discipline and adventure. Just this April, she completed 15 months of military service, earning respect as an engineer soldier and rifleman with the Norwegian Army's Brigade North. “You are much stronger together,” she told Norwegian media of the experience. “Without [my team], I would not have enjoyed myself as much here.” Ingrid’s move to Australia will pause her official royal duties for up to three years, though she is expected to return home during breaks. She has only recently begun taking on regular public roles, including a landmark appearance at a state banquet earlier this year and joining her family on the royal palace balcony to celebrate Norway’s National Day. Passionate about the environment and global affairs from a young age, Princess Ingrid’s academic focus aligns with her growing commitment to public service. She began official engagements as a child, attending World Environment Day at just five years old, and by age 11 she had already christened a rescue vessel for the Norwegian Society for Sea Rescue. And she’s not just a scholar or a soldier – she's also a sports fan. A talented surfer, Ingrid was named Norway’s junior surfing champion in 2020. She’s also an avid skier and kickboxer, embodying a refreshingly modern image of royalty. With a surfboard possibly in one hand and a textbook in the other, Princess Ingrid Alexandra’s time in Sydney promises to be a uniquely royal adventure – and Australia will be watching with warm anticipation. Images: Instagram

International Travel

Bubsie rides again: A century-old journey retraced across Australia

A century ago, a humble 5-horsepower car named "Bubsie" made history by becoming the first motor vehicle to circumnavigate the Australian continent. Now, a century later, its spirit roars back to life as a devoted team of enthusiasts prepares to retrace its entire 17,500km journey – in a painstakingly restored replica of the original 1923 Citroën 5CV. The year was 1925. With little more than swags, spare tyres and unwavering faith, 22-year-old Seventh-day Adventist missionary Nevill Westwood and his friend Greg Davies set off from Perth in a tiny yellow car. They had a simple mission: deliver literature to the remote outback. What they accomplished was far more profound: a trailblazing voyage across Australia, at a time when roads were scarce and courage was the only constant. Through flooded riverbeds, makeshift tracks and across the sun-scorched Nullarbor, the young men pressed on. With knees jammed beneath the steering wheel, they bounced across the nation in what Westwood affectionately dubbed "Bubsie". The 5CV was small, simple and entirely unsuited for such a grand expedition – yet it carried them across six states, through monsoonal downpours and desolate plains, forging a path for motoring history. Now, exactly 100 years since that audacious journey, a new crew is preparing to retrace their route in a meticulously restored 1923 Citroën 5CV. The project, dubbed <a href="https://rightaroundaustralia.tij.tv/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Right Around Australia</a>, is led by the faith-based media group The Incredible Journey and has brought together passionate motoring enthusiasts from across the country. Warren May, a car restorer from Western Australia, joined the project in mid-2023 and quickly immersed himself in the mammoth task of rebuilding a vehicle worthy of the original Bubsie. After months of searching, the team found the perfect base: a rare 1923 Citroën 5CV owned by collector Paul Smyth. "It was 102 years old – and in rough shape," Mr May <a href="https://www.abc.net.au/news/2025-05-18/bubsie-citroen-circumnavigation-1925-retraced-in-2025/105257744" target="_blank" rel="noopener">told the ABC</a>. “We had to fabricate a lot of new panels because it was just so old.” The motor, miraculously, was still in good shape. But the bodywork was another story. What followed was a year-long restoration odyssey, with over 1,000 hours of labour, rust cut away and replaced, and every nut and bolt sandblasted and repainted. With the help of friends Colin Gibbs and Graham Tyler, the team brought the little French car back to life – ready to relive one of Australia’s great adventures. The replica has been touring Australia since early 2025, and this June, it will officially begin retracing Bubsie’s route. Starting from Bickley, Western Australia – where Westwood once lived – the car will travel thousands of kilometres, mostly by trailer but driving short stretches through regional towns and historic locations. “It’s about commemorating the courage and determination of those early explorers,” said event organiser Kevin Amos. “Nevill and Greg didn’t have highways. Sometimes they had no roads at all. They literally bush-bashed their way across the country.” Indeed, from the Kimberley to Mount Isa, their journey was defined by improvisation and grit. When they came to the Fitzroy River in northern WA, locals rigged a pulley system to carry Bubsie across. In the Northern Territory, they slid through mud and monsoon rains. They stopped to help others – including a stranded trio near the Nullarbor, who were out of water and near death. Westwood gave them water, fixed their car, and saved their lives. For the modern team, this centennial journey isn’t just about honouring history – it’s about reliving a story of quiet faith and mateship. Dr Laura Cook, curator at the National Museum of Australia where the original Bubsie now rests, said Westwood’s photographs and letters provide a vivid, almost daily account of the 1925 expedition. “His story is more than just a motoring milestone,” she said. “It captures the spirit of a generation who dared to push boundaries. These weren’t professional drivers – they were people of vision and courage.” By December 1925, after six gruelling months, Westwood rolled back into Perth – completing the first full circumnavigation of Australia by car. His companion Greg had returned home early to resume nursing studies, but Westwood pressed on alone. When he returned from overseas the next year, he tracked Bubsie down (it had been sold) and bought it back. Today, Bubsie is more than a car. It’s a symbol of Australia’s pioneering spirit. And as its modern twin prepares to hit the road once more, that legacy rolls forward – not in horsepower, but in heart. So keep an eye out for Bubsie's twin as it rolls through your town, and history comes alive. Images: National Museum of Australia / Right Around Australia

Domestic Travel

It’s almost winter. Why is Australia still so hot?

<div class="theconversation-article-body"> This year, for many Australians, it feels like summer never left. The sunny days and warm nights have continued well into autumn. Even now, in May, it’s still unusually warm. Much of the southern half of the continent is experiencing both unseasonable warmth and dry conditions. This is linked to persistent high atmospheric pressure (called “blocking”) to the south and southeast of Australia. While temperatures will fall across southern Australia as we approach the winter solstice, early indications are that this winter will be a warm one. Rainfall predictions are less certain. The extra warmth we’ve experienced raises obvious questions about the influence of human-caused climate change. The warming signal is clear and it’s a sign of things to come. <h2>A warm and dry autumn for many</h2> <a href="http://www.bom.gov.au/jsp/awap/temp/index.jsp?colour=colour&time=latest&step=1&map=meananom&period=month&area=nat">March</a> and <a href="http://www.bom.gov.au/jsp/awap/temp/index.jsp?colour=colour&time=latest&step=0&map=meananom&period=month&area=nat">April</a> brought unseasonal heat to much of Australia. March was widely hot, with temperatures several degrees above normal across much of the country. But April’s heat was largely restricted to the southeast. <figure class="align-center zoomable"><a href="https://images.theconversation.com/files/666591/original/file-20250507-68-vjvcb5.png?ixlib=rb-4.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=1000&fit=clip"><img src="https://images.theconversation.com/files/666591/original/file-20250507-68-vjvcb5.png?ixlib=rb-4.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=754&fit=clip" sizes="(min-width: 1466px) 754px, (max-width: 599px) 100vw, (min-width: 600px) 600px, 237px" srcset="https://images.theconversation.com/files/666591/original/file-20250507-68-vjvcb5.png?ixlib=rb-4.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=600&h=450&fit=crop&dpr=1 600w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/666591/original/file-20250507-68-vjvcb5.png?ixlib=rb-4.1.0&q=30&auto=format&w=600&h=450&fit=crop&dpr=2 1200w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/666591/original/file-20250507-68-vjvcb5.png?ixlib=rb-4.1.0&q=15&auto=format&w=600&h=450&fit=crop&dpr=3 1800w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/666591/original/file-20250507-68-vjvcb5.png?ixlib=rb-4.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=754&h=566&fit=crop&dpr=1 754w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/666591/original/file-20250507-68-vjvcb5.png?ixlib=rb-4.1.0&q=30&auto=format&w=754&h=566&fit=crop&dpr=2 1508w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/666591/original/file-20250507-68-vjvcb5.png?ixlib=rb-4.1.0&q=15&auto=format&w=754&h=566&fit=crop&dpr=3 2262w" alt="Graph of rising Australian-average temperatures in March from 1900-2025" /></a><figcaption>Australia had its hottest March on record and the heat has continued, especially in Victoria and parts of New South Wales. <a class="source" href="http://www.bom.gov.au/cgi-bin/climate/change/timeseries.cgi?graph=tmean&area=aus&season=03&ave_yr=0&ave_period=6190">Bureau of Meteorology</a></figcaption></figure> Victoria had its <a href="http://www.bom.gov.au/cgi-bin/climate/change/timeseries.cgi?graph=tmean&area=vic&season=04&ave_yr=0&ave_period=6190">warmest April</a> on record, and parts of the state experienced temperatures more than 3°C above normal across both March and April. Temperatures normally fall quite quickly over the southeast of Australia during April and May as the days shorten and the continent’s interior cools. But this year, southern Australia was unusually warm at the start of May. Some locations experienced days with maximum temperatures more than 10°C above normal for the time of year. Records were broken in <a href="https://www.skynews.com.au/australia-news/weather/hobart-parts-of-melbourne-sweat-through-hottest-may-night-on-record-as-warm-windy-weather-sweeps-across-australias-southeast/news-story/8b1c76fc40c7a84842a5aaf6a57eb038">Hobart</a> and <a href="https://7news.com.au/news/jane-bunn-weather-tuesdays-balmy-morning-in-melbourne-was-just-shy-of-all-time-record-c-18600201">parts of Melbourne</a>, which had their warmest May nights since observations began. <figure class="align-center zoomable"><a href="https://images.theconversation.com/files/666592/original/file-20250507-62-nf86bk.gif?ixlib=rb-4.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=1000&fit=clip"><img src="https://images.theconversation.com/files/666592/original/file-20250507-62-nf86bk.gif?ixlib=rb-4.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=754&fit=clip" sizes="(min-width: 1466px) 754px, (max-width: 599px) 100vw, (min-width: 600px) 600px, 237px" srcset="https://images.theconversation.com/files/666592/original/file-20250507-62-nf86bk.gif?ixlib=rb-4.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=600&h=412&fit=crop&dpr=1 600w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/666592/original/file-20250507-62-nf86bk.gif?ixlib=rb-4.1.0&q=30&auto=format&w=600&h=412&fit=crop&dpr=2 1200w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/666592/original/file-20250507-62-nf86bk.gif?ixlib=rb-4.1.0&q=15&auto=format&w=600&h=412&fit=crop&dpr=3 1800w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/666592/original/file-20250507-62-nf86bk.gif?ixlib=rb-4.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=754&h=518&fit=crop&dpr=1 754w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/666592/original/file-20250507-62-nf86bk.gif?ixlib=rb-4.1.0&q=30&auto=format&w=754&h=518&fit=crop&dpr=2 1508w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/666592/original/file-20250507-62-nf86bk.gif?ixlib=rb-4.1.0&q=15&auto=format&w=754&h=518&fit=crop&dpr=3 2262w" alt="GIF of Australian daily maximum temperature anomalies for 1st to 6th May" /></a><figcaption>The start of May saw daytime maximum temperatures across much of Australia well above average for the time of year. <a class="source" href="http://www.bom.gov.au/jsp/awap/temp/index.jsp?colour=colour&time=history%2Fnat%2F2025050520250505&step=0&map=maxanom&period=daily&area=nat">Bureau of Meteorology</a></figcaption></figure> While Queensland and the New South Wales coast have had very wet spells, including downpours from Tropical Cyclone Alfred at the start of March, other parts of Australia have been quite dry. The area between Adelaide and Melbourne has been exceptionally dry. <a href="http://www.bom.gov.au/climate/maps/rainfall/?variable=rainfall&map=drought&period=3month&region=nat&year=2025&month=04&day=30">A drought is unfolding</a> in the region after a <a href="http://www.bom.gov.au/climate/maps/rainfall/?variable=rainfall&map=drought&period=12month&region=nat&year=2025&month=04&day=30">severe lack of rainfall</a>, with deficits stretching back over the past year or so. Western Tasmania is also suffering from a severe lack of rainfall since the start of autumn, although welcome rain fell in the past week. And it’s not just on land that unusual heat has been observed. The seas around Australia have been warmer than normal, causing severe coral bleaching to <a href="https://theconversation.com/synchronised-bleaching-ningaloo-and-the-great-barrier-reef-are-bleaching-in-unison-for-the-first-time-252906">the west and east</a> of the continent, <a href="https://www.epa.sa.gov.au/environmental_info/water_quality/harmful-algal-blooms">harmful algal blooms</a> and other ecosystem disruptions. <h2>Blocking highs largely to blame</h2> A high pressure system has dominated over the south and southeast of Australia over the past few months. High pressure in the Tasman Sea can sometimes get stuck there for a few days. This leads to what’s known as “blocking”, when the usual passage of weather systems moving from west to east is obstructed. This can lock in weather patterns for several days or even a week. Repeated blocking occurred this autumn. As winds move anticlockwise around high pressure systems in the Southern Hemisphere, blocking highs in the Tasman Sea can bring moist, onshore winds to the New South Wales and Queensland coasts, increasing rainfall. But such high pressure systems also bring drier conditions for the interior of the southeast and much of Victoria and South Australia. Often, these high pressure systems also bring northerly winds to Victoria, and this can cause warmer conditions across much of the state. High pressure systems also tend to bring more clear and sunny conditions, which increases daytime temperatures in particular. Air in high pressure systems moves down towards the surface and this process causes warming, too. Australia sits between the Pacific and Indian Oceans and is subject to their variability, so we often look there to help explain what’s happening with Australia’s climate. In autumn though, our climate influences, such as the El Niño-Southern Oscillation and the Indian Ocean Dipole, are less active and have weaker relationships with Australian climate than at other times of year. Neither of these climate influences is <a href="http://www.bom.gov.au/climate/outlooks/#/overview/influences">in a strong phase</a> at the moment. <h2>A warm winter on the cards</h2> One big question is how long the heat will last. In parts of southeast Australia, including <a href="http://www.bom.gov.au/jsp/ncc/cdio/cvg/av?p_stn_num=086071&p_prim_element_index=0&p_display_type=statGraph&period_of_avg=ALL&normals_years=allYearOfData&staticPage=">Melbourne</a>, average temperatures drop quickly at this time of year as we approach the winter solstice. However, the seasonal outlook from the Bureau of Meteorology points to a high likelihood of a relatively <a href="http://www.bom.gov.au/climate/outlooks/#/temperature/maximum/median/seasonal/0">warm winter</a>. Australians rarely escape having a winter without any significant cold spells, but the long-range forecast suggests we should anticipate above-normal temperatures on average. Both daytime maximum temperatures and nighttime minimum temperatures are expected to be above average generally this winter. <figure><iframe src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/Y5NIa7X2H-s?wmode=transparent&start=0" width="440" height="260" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen"></iframe><figcaption>Climate and water long-range forecast, issued 1 May 2025 (Bureau of Meteorology)</figcaption></figure> <h2>Global warming is here</h2> The elephant in the room is climate change. Human-caused climate change is increasing autumn temperatures and the frequency of late season heat events. As greenhouse gas emissions continue at a <a href="https://theconversation.com/global-carbon-emissions-inch-upwards-in-2024-despite-progress-on-evs-renewables-and-deforestation-243133">record pace</a>, expect continued warming and a greater chance of autumn heatwaves in future. The effect of climate change on rainfall is less clear though. For the vast majority of Australia, there is <a href="https://interactive-atlas.ipcc.ch/regional-information">high uncertainty</a> as to whether autumn will become wetter or drier as the world warms.<img style="border: none !important; box-shadow: none !important; margin: 0 !important; max-height: 1px !important; max-width: 1px !important; min-height: 1px !important; min-width: 1px !important; opacity: 0 !important; outline: none !important; padding: 0 !important;" src="https://counter.theconversation.com/content/256071/count.gif?distributor=republish-lightbox-basic" alt="The Conversation" width="1" height="1" /> By <a href="https://theconversation.com/profiles/andrew-king-103126">Andrew King</a>, Associate Professor in Climate Science, ARC Centre of Excellence for 21st Century Weather, <a href="https://theconversation.com/institutions/the-university-of-melbourne-722">The University of Melbourne</a> This article is republished from <a href="https://theconversation.com">The Conversation</a> under a Creative Commons license. Read the <a href="https://theconversation.com/its-almost-winter-why-is-australia-still-so-hot-256071">original article</a>. Image: Supplied </div>

Travel Trouble

Major change to drivers licences across Australia

Thousands of permanent residents across Australia may soon be driving illegally unless they take urgent action to update their licences, as a major change to driving regulations comes into effect this week. From Wednesday April 30, most states and territories will scrap the Experienced Driver Recognition (EDR) program, a scheme that previously allowed permanent residents to convert their overseas licences to Australian ones without retaking a driving test. Under the new rules, many international drivers will now be required to pass a local driving exam to continue driving legally. This shift affects licence holders from a wide range of countries, including Bulgaria, Czech Republic, Estonia, Hungary, Hong Kong (SAR of China), Latvia, Lithuania, Poland, Cyprus, South Korea, Serbia, Romania, Slovakia, Slovenia, South Africa and Taiwan. Permanent residents from these countries will now need to book and pass both the theory and practical components of the Australian driving test if they wish to maintain legal driving status. However, the rules are different for temporary residents, who will still be permitted to drive using their overseas licences. The changes will be implemented across all states and territories on April 30, with a few exceptions. Queensland will enforce the new requirements later in the year, while New South Wales and Western Australia will delay implementation until October 31. Officials say the change is intended to align road safety standards nationwide and ensure all drivers meet consistent local requirements. Images: Shutterstock

Legal

Australia has the highest gambling losses in the world. Is it time for mandatory limits?

<div class="theconversation-article-body">Gambling prevalence studies provide a snapshot of gambling behaviour, problems and harm in our communities. They are typically conducted about every five years. In some Australian states and territories, four or five have been conducted over the past 20 or so years. These have provided a snapshot into how gambling has changed – and how it has not. So, how has gambling in Australia changed in the past two decades or so, and where may we be heading? <blockquote class="twitter-tweet"> Australia has the highest gambling losses in the world. Australia should: 🚫 Ban gambling ads 🎰 Introduce loss limits on pokies and online gambling 📉 Progressively cut the number of pokies in each state Our new report shows how governments should prevent gambling harm.… <a href="https://t.co/7U3IgzOLSp">pic.twitter.com/7U3IgzOLSp</a> — Grattan Institute (@GrattanInst) <a href="https://twitter.com/GrattanInst/status/1831297414080176469?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">September 4, 2024</a></blockquote> <h2>The intensification of gambling</h2> In 1997-98, the Productivity Commission found <a href="https://www.pc.gov.au/inquiries/completed/gambling/report/summary.pdf">about 82% of Australians</a> had gambled in the previous 12 months. Almost all further prevalence studies show the proportion of adults gambling has declined substantially over time. The <a href="https://www.gambleaware.nsw.gov.au/resources-and-education/check-out-our-research/published-research/nsw-gambling-survey-2024">2024 NSW prevalence survey</a>, for example, found 54% reported gambling in the previous 12 months, down from 69% in 2006. While fewer people are gambling, the proportion of people experiencing problems has not changed much, <a href="https://www.qgso.qld.gov.au/statistics/theme/society/gambling/australian-gambling-statistics">nor has gambling turnover</a>. In some states, gambling turnover has increased, even when you take inflation into account. So while a smaller proportion of people are gambling, those who do gamble are doing so more frequently, and spend more money – a phenomenon we have described as the “intensification” of the industry. As figures from the Grattan Institute show, the vast majority of gambling spend comes from a very small proportion of people who gamble. <iframe id="Z6EYJ" class="tc-infographic-datawrapper" style="border: 0;" src="https://datawrapper.dwcdn.net/Z6EYJ/" width="100%" height="400px" frameborder="0" scrolling="no"></iframe> <h2>What’s the problem?</h2> Typically, the focus in gambling studies has been on “problem gamblers”, a term we now avoid because it can be stigmatising. This refers to those experiencing severe problems due to their gambling, which is typically <a href="https://www.justice.vic.gov.au/justice-system/safer-communities/gambling/victorian-population-gambling-and-health-study-2023">about 1% of the adult population</a>, and around 2% of people who gamble. This doesn’t sound like much, until you remember 1% of adults in Australia is more than 200,000 people. That’s a lot of people struggling with severe problems. Based on recent prevalence surveys in Australia, these gamblers spend <a href="https://www.gambleaware.nsw.gov.au/resources-and-education/check-out-our-research/published-research/nsw-gambling-survey-2024">about 60 times as much</a> as people who do not experience problems. However, that’s just the most severe cases. <h2>How gambling harms people</h2> When most people think of gambling harm, they think about financial harm. But gambling can cause problems with relationships, work and study, emotional and psychological harm, and <a href="https://bmcpublichealth.biomedcentral.com/articles/10.1186/s12889-016-2747-0">even cause health issues</a>. Some degree of gambling harm is experienced by <a href="https://www.gambleaware.nsw.gov.au/resources-and-education/check-out-our-research/published-research/nsw-gambling-survey-2024">around 10-15%</a> of people who gamble. Some groups are overrepresented: young men typically experience very high levels of harm compared to others. Other overrepresented groups are: <ul> <li>those who have not completed tertiary education</li> <li>people who speak a language other than English</li> <li>people who identify as Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander.</li> </ul> Harm isn’t just experienced by people who gamble, though – it impacts the people around them. While young men are more likely to experience harm from their own gambling, <a href="https://www.gambleaware.nsw.gov.au/resources-and-education/check-out-our-research/published-research/nsw-gambling-survey-2024">women, particularly young women</a>, are most likely to experience harm from someone else’s gambling. When we take all of these sources of harm into account, we get a much better picture of gambling harm in our community: <a href="https://www.gambleaware.nsw.gov.au/resources-and-education/check-out-our-research/published-research/nsw-gambling-survey-2024">around 15-20% of all adults</a> (not all gamblers) experience harm. That’s very different to the figure of 1% we’ve focused on in the past. We’re still missing some accounting, though: we don’t know how much harm is experienced by people under 18, for example, because prevalence studies typically only include adults. <h2>Where does the harm come from?</h2> The most problematic form in Australia is pokies, responsible for <a href="https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC10260219/#:%7E:text=EGMs%20are%20responsible%20for%2051,problems%20due%20to%20low%20participation.">about 51-57% of problems</a>. Casinos are responsible for <a href="https://ftp.justice.vic.gov.au/justice-system/safer-communities/gambling/victorian-population-gambling-and-health-study-2023">another 10-14%</a>, although fewer people have been gambling in casino games in recent years. Sports betting and race betting together account for about another 19-20% of harm. Between them, pokies, casino games and sports and race betting account for about 90% of harm to Australian gamblers. <iframe id="w2wEY" class="tc-infographic-datawrapper" style="border: 0;" src="https://datawrapper.dwcdn.net/w2wEY/" width="100%" height="400px" frameborder="0" scrolling="no"></iframe> <h2>Availability is an issue</h2> This widespread availability of pokies is the biggest single driver behind gambling harm in Australia. <iframe id="hIgeD" class="tc-infographic-datawrapper" style="border: 0;" src="https://datawrapper.dwcdn.net/hIgeD/" width="100%" height="400px" frameborder="0" scrolling="no"></iframe> In other countries, pokies are limited to venues that are specifically used for gambling, like casinos or betting shops. We have pokies in a huge number of our pubs and clubs, except in Western Australia. A couple of years ago, we used national prevalence data to compare gambling problems in WA <a href="https://akjournals.com/view/journals/2006/12/3/article-p721.xml">to the rest of the country</a>. A higher percentage of adults in WA gamble, but mostly on the lotteries which are typically <a href="https://theconversation.com/pokies-lotto-sports-betting-which-forms-of-problem-gambling-affect-australians-the-most-240665">not associated with much harm</a>. Gambling on pokies is far less prevalent in WA because they’re only available in one casino. Gambling problems and harm are about one-third lower in WA, and our analysis shows this can be attributed to the limited access to pokies. This also tells us something important. If pokies are not available, people will typically not substitute them with other harmful forms. It points to the role of the availability of dangerous gambling products in gambling harm, rather than personal characteristics. Online gambling has also become a lot more available. Most of us now have a mobile phone almost surgically implanted onto our hand, making online gambling more accessible than ever. Not surprisingly, <a href="https://www.gamblingresearch.org.au/publications/second-national-study-interactive-gambling-australia-2019-20">online gambling continues to increase</a>. <h2>An obvious solution to try</h2> Governments have taken increasingly proactive measures to help address gambling harm, such as the <a href="https://www.dss.gov.au/gambling/resource/national-consumer-protection-framework-online-wagering-national-policy-statement">National Consumer Protection Framework for Online Gambling</a>, strategies for minimising harm such as NSW’s investment into <a href="https://www.nsw.gov.au/media-releases/gambleaware-week-0">gambling harm minimisation</a>, Victoria’s <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2024/nov/26/victoria-pokies-changes-limits-new-laws">proposed reforms on pokies</a> including mandatory precommitment limits, Queensland’s <a href="https://www.publications.qld.gov.au/dataset/gambling-harm-min/resource/84d444db-97e0-4be0-8e87-0c6f0cb412d6">Gambling Harm Minimisation Plan</a> and the ACT’s <a href="https://www.gamblingandracing.act.gov.au/__data/assets/pdf_file/0009/1436580/Strategy-for-gambling-harm-prevention.pdf">Strategy for Gambling Harm Prevention</a>. Voluntary limits have been trialled to help people keep their gambling under control, but have had <a href="https://www.abc.net.au/news/2024-12-03/nsw-government-cashless-gaming-trial-findings-released/104679384">virtually no uptake</a>. For example, the recent <a href="https://www.liquorandgaming.nsw.gov.au/__data/assets/pdf_file/0018/1340136/evaluation-of-the-nsw-digital-gaming-wallet-trial-2024.pdf">NSW Digital Gaming Wallet trial</a> was conducted in 14 venues. Only 32 people were active users, and 14 of these were deemed genuine users. <a href="https://www.adelaide.edu.au/saces/ua/media/652/evaluation-of-yourplay-final-report_0.pdf">Another study</a> found only 0.01% of all money put through machines in Victoria used the voluntary YourPlay scheme. The problem with voluntary limits is, no one volunteers. Mandatory limits though are almost certainly necessary, just like we have mandatory limits for how fast you can drive, or how much you can drink before the bartender puts you in a taxi. There will almost certainly be push back against this, just like the introduction of mandatory seatbelts in the 1970s, or <a href="https://www.abc.net.au/news/2023-10-04/road-safety-history-australia-toll-increase/102903364">the introduction of random breath testing</a>. Now, we accept them as important public health measures. History tells us the same will happen with mandatory gambling limits, even if we’re a bit uncomfortable about it at first.<img style="border: none !important; box-shadow: none !important; margin: 0 !important; max-height: 1px !important; max-width: 1px !important; min-height: 1px !important; min-width: 1px !important; opacity: 0 !important; outline: none !important; padding: 0 !important;" src="https://counter.theconversation.com/content/252389/count.gif?distributor=republish-lightbox-basic" alt="The Conversation" width="1" height="1" /> By <a href="https://theconversation.com/profiles/alex-russell-133860">Alex Russell</a>, Principal Research Fellow, <a href="https://theconversation.com/institutions/cquniversity-australia-2140">CQUniversity Australia</a>; <a href="https://theconversation.com/profiles/matthew-browne-97705">Matthew Browne</a>, Senior Lecturer in Statistics, <a href="https://theconversation.com/institutions/cquniversity-australia-2140">CQUniversity Australia</a>, and <a href="https://theconversation.com/profiles/matthew-rockloff-569">Matthew Rockloff</a>, Head, Experimental Gambling Research Lab, <a href="https://theconversation.com/institutions/cquniversity-australia-2140">CQUniversity Australia</a> This article is republished from <a href="https://theconversation.com">The Conversation</a> under a Creative Commons license. Read the <a href="https://theconversation.com/gambling-in-australia-how-bad-is-the-problem-who-gets-harmed-most-and-where-may-we-be-heading-252389">original article</a>. Image: Shutterstock </div>

Money & Banking

Woman accused of murdering terminally ill partner hours after palliative care meeting

A woman accused of killing her terminally ill partner after he postponed making a decision on assisted dying has been denied bail by the Queensland Supreme Court. Kylie Ellina Truswell-Mobbs, 50, was arrested on April 3, more than a year after the death of her partner, David Ronald Mobbs, 56, who died at their home in Alexandra Hills, southeast Brisbane, in December 2023. During a bail hearing on Tuesday, the court heard that Mr Mobbs, who had been diagnosed with motor neurone disease (MND), had expressed a desire to delay a decision on voluntary assisted dying just hours before his death. Crown prosecutor Sarah Dennis alleged that later that same night, Truswell-Mobbs made three separate attempts to administer a lethal drug cocktail to Mr Mobbs via his feeding tube. “Her conduct was purposeful and determined,” Dennis told the court. “It continued over a number of hours through the night... her intent was protracted.” According to Dennis, Truswell-Mobbs acted after a palliative care meeting on December 5, where Mr Mobbs reportedly told others he wished to delay his decision about assisted dying by at least a week. Despite this, prosecutors allege Truswell-Mobbs acted within hours to end his life. The court also heard that Mr Mobbs, who used a signing board to communicate, had allegedly been given a lethal dose of drugs. Police claim Truswell-Mobbs later confessed her actions to both a close family member and a professional carer. One witness reported she told them she “couldn’t take it anymore”. Truswell-Mobbs’ defence barrister, Ruth O’Gorman, argued for bail, noting that her client had no prior criminal history and had not fled during the 16 months she was under police investigation. O’Gorman also raised the possibility that the charge could be reduced, suggesting that aiding suicide might be more appropriate than murder. “It’s not inevitable that the Crown would proceed with the charge of murder against her, or that the jury would convict,” O’Gorman said. However, Justice Glenn Martin found the prosecution had a strong case, noting the significant body of evidence pointing toward a potential conviction. He said there was a clear distinction between knowing one is under investigation and being formally charged with murder. Bail was denied, and Truswell-Mobbs is expected to appear in Brisbane Magistrates Court for mention of the murder charge. Images: Facebook

Legal

Big changes are planned for aged care in 2025

<div class="theconversation-article-body">There has been little new in pre-election promises for Australia’s aged-care workers, providers or the <a href="https://www.gen-agedcaredata.gov.au/topics/people-using-aged-care#agedcareuseinaustralia">1.3 million people</a> who use aged care. In March, Labor announced <a href="https://www.health.gov.au/ministers/the-hon-anika-wells-mp/media/extra-26-billion-to-deliver-another-pay-rise-for-aged-care-nurses">A$2.6 billion</a> for another pay rise for aged-care nurses in addition to previous <a href="https://theconversation.com/aged-care-workers-have-won-a-huge-pay-rise-what-about-the-cleaners-cooks-and-admin-staff-who-support-them-226236">pay increases</a>. There’s been <a href="https://stories.theconversation.com/policy-tracker/">nothing substantial on aged care</a> from Labor or the Opposition since. Major changes are scheduled for the sector later this year, four years after the damning <a href="https://www.royalcommission.gov.au/aged-care/final-report">Royal Commission report into aged care</a>. Yet no additional funding has been announced. Estimates suggest funding is short <a href="https://www.stewartbrown.com.au/images/documents/StewartBrown_-_Taskforce_Funding_Reforms_Analysis_September_2024.pdf">around $5 billion</a> to address losses by residential care providers or the shortfall in <a href="https://www.health.gov.au/our-work/hcp/about">Home Care Packages</a>. <h2>What can we expect this year?</h2> A <a href="https://www.health.gov.au/our-work/aged-care-act">new Aged Care Act</a> will come into force on July 1 with a much greater emphasis on the rights of older people to get the care that suits their needs. This will mean: <ul> <li> a new system to regulate aged care </li> <li> a new independent complaints commissioner </li> <li> a new <a href="https://www.health.gov.au/our-work/support-at-home">Support at Home</a> program for older people who want to live at home, and in the community </li> <li> changes to fees for residential aged care. </li> </ul> But a number of problems remain and it is not clear the reforms being introduced this year will fix them. <h2>Access is still an issue</h2> Access to aged care <a href="https://www.igac.gov.au/sites/default/files/2024-08/2024-progress-report-on-the-implementation-of-the-recommendations-of-the-royal-commission-into-aged-care-quality-and-safety.pdf">continues to be a problem</a>, particularly in rural and remote areas. The system is difficult to navigate for often vulnerable and confused consumers and their families. The government relies heavily on the <a href="https://www.myagedcare.gov.au/">My Aged Care website</a> to inform older people and their families about aged care options. But this provides only basic information and it is difficult to get individualised support. There is also a “digital divide” for a significant group who are unfamiliar with, and lack confidence in, using online services. So we need a much greater emphasis on providing local “one stop shops” for personalised support and advice, particularly when people first enter the aged-care system. These services could be provided through Centrelink or new regional aged-care offices. <figure class="align-center zoomable"><a href="https://images.theconversation.com/files/660643/original/file-20250409-56-a7c9ej.png?ixlib=rb-4.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=1000&fit=clip"><img src="https://images.theconversation.com/files/660643/original/file-20250409-56-a7c9ej.png?ixlib=rb-4.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=754&fit=clip" sizes="(min-width: 1466px) 754px, (max-width: 599px) 100vw, (min-width: 600px) 600px, 237px" srcset="https://images.theconversation.com/files/660643/original/file-20250409-56-a7c9ej.png?ixlib=rb-4.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=600&h=288&fit=crop&dpr=1 600w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/660643/original/file-20250409-56-a7c9ej.png?ixlib=rb-4.1.0&q=30&auto=format&w=600&h=288&fit=crop&dpr=2 1200w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/660643/original/file-20250409-56-a7c9ej.png?ixlib=rb-4.1.0&q=15&auto=format&w=600&h=288&fit=crop&dpr=3 1800w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/660643/original/file-20250409-56-a7c9ej.png?ixlib=rb-4.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=754&h=361&fit=crop&dpr=1 754w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/660643/original/file-20250409-56-a7c9ej.png?ixlib=rb-4.1.0&q=30&auto=format&w=754&h=361&fit=crop&dpr=2 1508w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/660643/original/file-20250409-56-a7c9ej.png?ixlib=rb-4.1.0&q=15&auto=format&w=754&h=361&fit=crop&dpr=3 2262w" alt="Screenshot of My Aged Care website" /></a><figcaption>Not everyone can navigate websites to get information about the care they need. <a class="source" href="https://www.myagedcare.gov.au/">Screenshot/My Aged Care</a></figcaption></figure> About <a href="https://www.abs.gov.au/statistics/health/disability/disability-ageing-and-carers-australia-summary-findings/latest-release">one-third of older people</a> say they need help to live at home. But to get assistance you need an aged-care assessment and that process too needs improving. <a href="https://www.pc.gov.au/ongoing/report-on-government-services/2024/data-downloads/rogs-2024-partf-overview-and-sections.pdf">Waiting times for assessment</a> have blown out, with reported delays of up to <a href="https://www.theweeklysource.com.au/home-care/older-australians-are-increasingly-dying-waiting-for-home-care-packages-to-be-assigned">five months</a>. <h2>Older people prefer to stay at home</h2> There are some concerns the number of new aged-care beds is <a href="https://www.theweeklysource.com.au/aged-care/the-repercussions-of-a-need-for-6600-new-aged-care-beds-in-fy24-colliers">not increasing fast enough</a>. For instance, there are shortages of residential aged care in particular areas such as <a href="https://www.abc.net.au/news/2025-02-13/act-government-shuts-burrangiri-aged-care-respite-facility/104927780">Canberra</a>. But admission times to residential aged care generally <a href="https://www.pc.gov.au/ongoing/report-on-government-services/2024/data-downloads/rogs-2024-partf-overview-and-sections.pdf">have not increased</a> and occupancy rates are <a href="https://www.pc.gov.au/ongoing/report-on-government-services/2024/data-downloads/rogs-2024-partf-overview-and-sections.pdf">declining</a>. This suggests older people <a href="https://www.australianageingagenda.com.au/royal-commission/most-want-home-based-aged-care/#:%7E:text=A%20survey%20of%20more%20than,to%20live%20in%20a%20facility.">would prefer home</a> to residential care. Yet increased demand for home-care packages is <a href="https://www.gen-agedcaredata.gov.au/getmedia/c2339cbc-3e13-4893-9d03-9ca43ecdc55f/Home-Care-Packages-Program-Data-Report-2nd-Qtr-2024-2025">not being met</a>. For those who need more intensive services at home, <a href="https://www.gen-agedcaredata.gov.au/getmedia/c2339cbc-3e13-4893-9d03-9ca43ecdc55f/Home-Care-Packages-Program-Data-Report-2nd-Qtr-2024-2025">waiting times</a> remain stubbornly and unacceptably long because there aren’t enough home care packages. Despite years of complaints, there are still more than <a href="https://www.theweeklysource.com.au/government-policy/home-care-wait-list-climbs-to-over-81000-with-six-month-delays-at-all-levels">80,000 people</a> on the waiting list for care at home. The new <a href="https://www.health.gov.au/our-work/support-at-home/about">Support at Home program</a> will introduce an eight-level system of support. The highest level of home-care funding will <a href="https://www.health.gov.au/our-work/support-at-home/features#key-elements-of-the-new-program">increase to $78,000</a> to bridge the gap between funding for home and residential care. But many more intensive care packages for home care will be needed to reduce waiting times. The Support at Home program also introduces significantly higher out-of-pocket costs for older people. Such costs for everyday services – such as meals, cleaning and gardening – currently funded through the Commonwealth Home Support Program will <a href="https://www.health.gov.au/sites/default/files/2025-02/support-at-home-program-handbook.pdf">increase significantly</a>. Most controversially, there will also be <a href="https://www.health.gov.au/sites/default/files/2025-02/support-at-home-program-handbook.pdf">greater out-of-pocket costs</a> for “independence” services including personal care, social support, respite care and therapy. <h2>Staff shortages still a concern</h2> For aged-care providers, <a href="https://theconversation.com/we-have-too-few-aged-care-workers-to-care-for-older-australians-why-and-what-can-we-do-about-it-232707">chronic workforce shortages</a> are still the biggest problem. Recent <a href="https://theconversation.com/aged-care-workers-have-won-a-huge-pay-rise-what-about-the-cleaners-cooks-and-admin-staff-who-support-them-226236">increases in wages</a> for aged-care workers, including nurses, are a step in the right direction. But wages are still low. It remains hard to attract staff, staff turnover is high and staff are under-trained, risking the quality of care. Shortages are particularly acute in rural areas. The <a href="https://ageingaustralia.asn.au/media-releases/ageing-australia-calls-on-all-parties-to-make-aged-care-an-election-priority/">aged-care industry is calling for</a> streamlined migration, better training and incentives for regional workers to make up the shortfall. But so far no new election announcements have been made. <h2>No real reform</h2> Despite changes we’ll see from July, the organisation and financing of aged care remains fundamentally unchanged. Overall, Australia’s aged-care system is still heavily privatised and fragmented. In <a href="https://www.health.gov.au/sites/default/files/2024-08/financial-report-on-the-australian-aged-care-sector-2022-23.pdf">2022-23</a> there were 923 home-care providers, 764 residential-care providers and 1,334 home-support providers, nearly all in the private and not-for-profit sectors. The Commonwealth continues to manage the sector through a cumbersome combination of highly centralised regulation and prescriptive funding contracts. It has not put into place an effective, regional management structure to plan, organise and govern the sector to drive quality, innovation, equity, responsiveness and efficiency. Nor has the Commonwealth been willing to adequately finance the system either through a levy, a social insurance scheme or via increased taxation. Instead, it’s upping the reliance on user fees to meet the cost of providing services.<img style="border: none !important; box-shadow: none !important; margin: 0 !important; max-height: 1px !important; max-width: 1px !important; min-height: 1px !important; min-width: 1px !important; opacity: 0 !important; outline: none !important; padding: 0 !important;" src="https://counter.theconversation.com/content/253727/count.gif?distributor=republish-lightbox-basic" alt="The Conversation" width="1" height="1" /> By <a href="https://theconversation.com/profiles/hal-swerissen-9722">Hal Swerissen</a>, Emeritus Professor of Public Health, <a href="https://theconversation.com/institutions/la-trobe-university-842">La Trobe University</a> This article is republished from <a href="https://theconversation.com">The Conversation</a> under a Creative Commons license. Read the <a href="https://theconversation.com/big-changes-are-planned-for-aged-care-in-2025-but-youd-never-know-from-the-major-parties-253727">original article</a>. Image: Shutterstock </div>

Caring

Australia's Next Top Model star passes away at just 27

The fashion world is mourning the loss of Australian model Lucy Markovic, who has tragically passed away at the age of 27 following complications from a brain arteriovenous malformation (AVM). The heartbreaking news was shared via a post on Markovic’s Instagram Story, believed to have been written by her partner. "Dear friends and family, I regret to inform you that Lucy has passed," the message read. "She was at peace. Me, her mother and my mother were present with her. We ask you to please give us space in these hard times. May Lucy rest in peace." Markovic, a former contestant and runner-up on season nine of Australia's Next Top Model, had kept her followers updated on her health journey. Just weeks ago, she had revealed to her 90,000 followers that she was preparing to undergo brain surgery to remove a golf ball-sized AVM. "Excited, thankful, scared, supported, hopeful," she wrote at the time. "Full flood of emotions in this time. Life's a journey and I'm ready for the next chapter." Her modelling agency, Elite Model Management NYC, paid tribute to her spirit and talent in a statement. "We are heartbroken to share that Lucy Markovic has passed away after a brave battle with a brain AVM," the agency wrote on Instagram. "Lucy was a bright shining light, and had an incredible dry sense of humor. Her smile and laughter could light up a room and draw you closer to her. She loved to dance, she really shined." "Modeling was one of Lucy's dreams and we are deeply honoured to have been part of that journey with her," the statement continued. "She brought elegance, strength and beauty to her work. But more than that, she brought herself – her warmth, her laughter, her light." <blockquote class="instagram-media" style="background: #FFF; border: 0; border-radius: 3px; box-shadow: 0 0 1px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.5),0 1px 10px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.15); margin: 1px; max-width: 540px; min-width: 326px; padding: 0; width: calc(100% - 2px);" data-instgrm-captioned="" data-instgrm-permalink="https://www.instagram.com/p/DIRsInvveRP/?utm_source=ig_embed&utm_campaign=loading" data-instgrm-version="14"> <div style="padding: 16px;"> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: row; align-items: center;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; flex-grow: 0; height: 40px; margin-right: 14px; width: 40px;"> </div> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: column; flex-grow: 1; justify-content: center;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; margin-bottom: 6px; width: 100px;"> </div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; width: 60px;"> </div> </div> </div> <div style="padding: 19% 0;"> </div> <div style="display: block; height: 50px; margin: 0 auto 12px; width: 50px;"> </div> <div style="padding-top: 8px;"> <div style="color: #3897f0; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: 550; line-height: 18px;">View this post on Instagram</div> </div> <div style="padding: 12.5% 0;"> </div> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: row; margin-bottom: 14px; align-items: center;"> <div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; height: 12.5px; width: 12.5px; transform: translateX(0px) translateY(7px);"> </div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; height: 12.5px; transform: rotate(-45deg) translateX(3px) translateY(1px); width: 12.5px; flex-grow: 0; margin-right: 14px; margin-left: 2px;"> </div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; height: 12.5px; width: 12.5px; transform: translateX(9px) translateY(-18px);"> </div> </div> <div style="margin-left: 8px;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; flex-grow: 0; height: 20px; width: 20px;"> </div> <div style="width: 0; height: 0; border-top: 2px solid transparent; border-left: 6px solid #f4f4f4; border-bottom: 2px solid transparent; transform: translateX(16px) translateY(-4px) rotate(30deg);"> </div> </div> <div style="margin-left: auto;"> <div style="width: 0px; border-top: 8px solid #F4F4F4; border-right: 8px solid transparent; transform: translateY(16px);"> </div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; flex-grow: 0; height: 12px; width: 16px; transform: translateY(-4px);"> </div> <div style="width: 0; height: 0; border-top: 8px solid #F4F4F4; border-left: 8px solid transparent; transform: translateY(-4px) translateX(8px);"> </div> </div> </div> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: column; flex-grow: 1; justify-content: center; margin-bottom: 24px;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; margin-bottom: 6px; width: 224px;"> </div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; width: 144px;"> </div> </div> <p style="color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 17px; margin-bottom: 0; margin-top: 8px; overflow: hidden; padding: 8px 0 7px; text-align: center; text-overflow: ellipsis; white-space: nowrap;"><a style="color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 17px; text-decoration: none;" href="https://www.instagram.com/p/DIRsInvveRP/?utm_source=ig_embed&utm_campaign=loading" target="_blank" rel="noopener">A post shared by Elite Model Management NYC (@elitenyc)</a> </div> </blockquote> Tributes have poured in from across the fashion industry. Renowned Italian designer Donatella Versace, for whom Markovic modelled last year, also expressed her sorrow. "I am so sorry to hear the news about Lucy Markovic. Rest in peace, beautiful girl," Versace wrote on her Instagram story. Markovic’s rise in the fashion world was meteoric. After gaining national attention on Australia’s Next Top Model, she went on to walk the runway for global fashion houses such as Versace, Givenchy, and Dion Lee, carving out an impressive international career. In the hours leading up to the announcement of her passing, a heartbreaking post appeared on her social media, sharing that she was "currently battling for her life" and asking for prayers. Six hours later, her loved ones confirmed the devastating news. Images: Instagram

Caring

Virgin Australia issuing refunds to 61,000 travellers

Virgin Australia has announced it will refund approximately 61,000 customers after discovering a pricing error that led to overcharges on itinerary changes made over the past five years. The airline revealed that a glitch in its pricing system caused some tickets to be incorrectly repriced when passengers adjusted their bookings. The issue affected bookings made between April 21, 2020, and March 31, 2025, representing around 0.1 per cent of total reservations during that period. Affected customers will be contacted directly by Virgin Australia, with the average refund expected to be around $55. “At Virgin Australia, we have policies that determine when and how we reprice a guest's booking when they make a change to their itinerary," a spokesperson said in a statement. "We recently found that in some instances, bookings were repriced in a way that does not align with our policy, and we are refunding all impacted guests for that amount." The airline has apologised to affected travellers and launched an "itinerary change claim program" to manage the process. Deloitte Australia has been appointed to assist with handling claims and expediting refunds. "We want to do the right thing, and that means acknowledging when we get things wrong and fixing it," the spokesperson added. "Guests will have up to 12 months to make a claim, and any unclaimed amounts will be donated to charity." Virgin Australia has also notified the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC) and pledged to work closely with the regulator to meet any further obligations. The airline confirmed it holds the details of all impacted customers and will be sending out communication, in partnership with Deloitte, on how to claim refunds. Image: Virgin Australia

Travel Trouble

Despite some key milestones since 2000, Australia still has a long way to go on gender equality

<div class="theconversation-article-body"> Australia has a gender problem. Despite social, economic and political reform aimed at improving opportunities for women, gender gaps are increasing and Australia is falling behind other countries. The World Economic Forum currently places Australia 24th among 146 countries, down from 15th in 2006. At the current rate of change, the forum suggests it will take <a href="https://www.weforum.org/publications/global-gender-gap-report-2024/">more than 130 years</a> to achieve gender equality globally. Australia has taken important steps forward in some areas, while progress in other areas remains painfully slow. So how far have we come since 2000, and how much further do we have to go? <h2>The good stuff</h2> There are now more women in <a href="https://www.aigroup.com.au/resourcecentre/research-economics/factsheets/factsheet-gender-and-the-australian-labour-market/#:%7E:text=Female%20labour%20market%20participation%20was,gender%20participation%20gap%20of%208%25.">the labour market</a>, in <a href="https://www.abs.gov.au/statistics/measuring-what-matters/measuring-what-matters-themes-and-indicators/cohesive/representation-parliament">parliament</a>, and leading <a href="https://www.forbes.com.au/lists/people/women-of-the-asx/">large companies</a> than at any other time. Over the past 25 years, there have been major social and political milestones that indicate progress. These include the appointment of Australia’s first female governor-general in 2008 and prime minister in 2010, the introduction of universal paid parental leave in 2011, a high-profile inquiry into workplace sexual harassment in 2020, and new legislation requiring the public reporting of gender pay gaps in 2023. <h2>Timeline of equality milestones</h2> <ul id="timelineList"> <li> <h2>2000</h2> Child Care Benefit introduced, subsidising cost of children for eligible families </li> <li> <h2>2008</h2> First female Governor-General (Dame Quentin Bryce) </li> <li> <h2>2010</h2> First female Prime Minister elected (Julia Gillard) First Aboriginal woman from Australia elected to UN Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues (Megan Davis) Australia’s first national paid parental leave scheme </li> <li> <h2>2012</h2> Julia Gillard misogyny speech Workplace Gender Equality Act becomes law, Workplace Gender Equality Agency established </li> <li> <h2>2013</h2> Dad or Partner Pay Leave commenced </li> <li> <h2>2016</h2> First Indigenous woman elected to House of Representatives (Linda Burney) </li> <li> <h2>2017</h2> Launch of Women’s Australian Football League #metoo movement spreads globally to draw attention to sexual harassment and assault </li> <li> <h2>2020</h2> Respect@Work National Inquiry into sexual harassment in the Australian workplace chaired by Kate Jenkins released. </li> <li> <h2>2021</h2> Grace Tame named Australian of the Year for her advocacy in sexual violence/harassment campaigns Independent review into Commonwealth parliamentary workplaces launched </li> <li> <h2>2022</h2> National plan to end violence against women is finalised </li> <li> <h2>2023</h2> Closing the Gender Pay Gap Bill passes parliament </li> <li> <h2>2024</h2> Superannuation on government-funded paid parental leave from July 1, 2025 Parental leave to be increased to 26 weeks from July 2026. </li> </ul> There are, however, other areas where progress is agonisingly slow. <h2>Violence and financial insecurity</h2> Women are <a href="https://www.wgea.gov.au/newsroom/wgea-bcec-gender-equity-insights-2024-report">more likely</a> to be in casual and part-time employment than men. This is part of the reason women retire with <a href="https://www.abc.net.au/news/2019-02-21/carer-credits-proposal-aims-to-reduce-superannuation-gap/10826246">about half</a> the superannuation savings of men. This is also linked to financial insecurity later in life. Older women are among the <a href="https://humanrights.gov.au/our-work/age-discrimination/projects/risk-homelessness-older-women">fastest-growing groups</a> of people experiencing homelessness. The situation for First Nations women is even more severe. The <a href="https://www.niaa.gov.au/news-and-media/closing-gap-report-released">most recent</a> Closing the Gap report indicates First Nations women and children are 33 times more likely to be hospitalised due to violence compared with non-Indigenous women. They are also <a href="https://theconversation.com/indigenous-women-are-dying-violent-preventable-deaths-endless-inquiries-wont-help-unless-we-act-244815">seven times more likely</a> to die from family violence. Improving outcomes for Indigenous women and children requires tackling the long-term effects of colonisation, removal from Country, the Stolen Generations, incarceration and intergenerational trauma. This means challenging not only gender inequality but also racism, discrimination and violence. At work, <a href="https://www.wgea.gov.au/publications/employer-gender-pay-gaps-report">the latest data</a> from the Workplace Gender Equality Agency suggests the gender pay gap is narrowing, with 56% of organisations reporting improvements. On average, though, the pay gap is still substantial at 21.8% with women earning only 78 cents for every $1 earned by men. This totals an average yearly shortfall of $28,425. There are also some notable organisations where the gender pay gap has widened. <h2>The burden of unpaid work</h2> Another measure of inequality that has proved stubbornly slow to change is women’s unequal responsibilities for unpaid domestic and care work. Without real change in gender divisions of time spent on unpaid housework and care, our capacity to move towards equality in pay gaps and employment is very limited. Australian women undertake almost 70% of unpaid household labour. The latest Australian Bureau of Statistics <a href="https://www.abs.gov.au/statistics/people/people-and-communities/how-australians-use-their-time/latest-release">time use data</a> show that of those who participate in domestic labour, women spend an average of 4.13 hours per day on unpaid domestic and care work, compared with men’s 2.14 hours. This gap equates to more than a third of a full-time job. If we add up all work (domestic, care and paid), mothers have the longest working week by about 10 hours. This has changed very little over time. These charts, based on analyses of data from the Households, Income and Labour Dynamics in Australia (HILDA) study, show what drives this gap. Women respond to increased demand for care and domestic work by doing more, while men do not. Parenthood significantly increases the time women spend on unpaid care and housework, while also reducing their time in employment. <hr /> <iframe id="115GU" class="tc-infographic-datawrapper" style="border: 0;" src="https://datawrapper.dwcdn.net/115GU/" width="100%" height="400px" frameborder="0" scrolling="no"></iframe> <hr /> Men increase their time in unpaid care after a birth, but the jump is minor compared with women, and there is no change to men’s employment hours. Not surprisingly given these patterns, parenthood is associated with substantial declines in women’s <a href="https://aifs.gov.au/research/research-reports/employment-patterns-and-trends-families-children">employment hours</a>, earnings, <a href="https://www.mdpi.com/2076-328X/14/4/275">career progression</a>, and <a href="https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/jomf.12531">mental health and wellbeing</a>. <h2>The way forward</h2> Current policy priorities primarily incentivise women to remain in employment, while continuing to undertake a disproportionate share of unpaid family work, through moving to part-time employment or making use of other forms of workplace flexibility. This approach focuses on “fixing” women rather than on the <a href="https://www.annualreviews.org/content/journals/10.1146/annurev-psych-032620-030938">structural roots of the problem</a>. There is limited financial or cultural encouragement for men to step out of employment for care work, or reduce their hours, despite the introduction of a two-week Dad and Partner Pay scheme <a href="https://www.wgea.gov.au/parental-leave">in 2013</a> and more recent changes to expand support and access. Fathers who wish to be more actively involved in care and family life face significant financial barriers, with current schemes only covering a basic wage. If one member of the family has to take time out or reduce their hours, it usually makes financial sense for this to be a woman, given the gender earning gap. The benefits of enabling men to share care work will not only be improvements for women, but will also improve family relationships and outcomes for children. <a href="https://theconversation.com/roses-are-red-violets-are-blue-ill-stay-forever-if-you-scrub-out-the-loo-72793">Research shows</a> relationship conflict declines when men do more at home. Time spent with fathers has been found to be especially beneficial for children’s <a href="https://psycnet.apa.org/record/2018-48232-001">cognitive development</a>. Fixing the gender problem is not just about helping women. It’s good for everyone. Gender inequality costs the Australian economy <a href="https://womensagenda.com.au/business/the-us225-billion-a-year-australia-could-benefit-from-with-a-focus-on-women/">$225 billion annually</a>, or 12% of gross domestic product. Globally, the World Bank <a href="https://openknowledge.worldbank.org/server/api/core/bitstreams/fd676a12-7ee4-5c6a-ab2b-83365ed25bf1/content">estimates</a> gender inequality costs US$160.2 trillion. We can’t afford to slip further behind or to take more than a century to fix the problem. <hr /> This piece is part of a series on how Australia has changed since the year 2000. You can read other pieces in the series <a href="https://theconversation.com/au/topics/first-quarter-of-the-century-series-172070">here</a>.<img style="border: none !important; box-shadow: none !important; margin: 0 !important; max-height: 1px !important; max-width: 1px !important; min-height: 1px !important; min-width: 1px !important; opacity: 0 !important; outline: none !important; padding: 0 !important;" src="https://counter.theconversation.com/content/250250/count.gif?distributor=republish-lightbox-basic" alt="The Conversation" width="1" height="1" /> By <a href="https://theconversation.com/profiles/janeen-baxter-611570">Janeen Baxter</a>, Director, ARC Life Course Centre and ARC Kathleen Fitzpatrick Laureate Fellow, <a href="https://theconversation.com/institutions/the-university-of-queensland-805">The University of Queensland</a> This article is republished from <a href="https://theconversation.com">The Conversation</a> under a Creative Commons license. Read the <a href="https://theconversation.com/despite-some-key-milestones-since-2000-australia-still-has-a-long-way-to-go-on-gender-equality-250250">original article</a>. Image: </div>

Legal

More young people are caring for a loved one with dementia. It takes a unique toll

<div class="theconversation-article-body"> Dementia is a growing health problem, affecting more than <a href="https://www.who.int/news-room/fact-sheets/detail/dementia">55 million people</a> around the world. In Australia, an estimated <a href="https://www.dementia.org.au/about-dementia/dementia-facts-and-figures">433,300 people</a> are living with dementia. This figure is projected to rise to 812,500 by 2054. Dementia <a href="https://www.dementia.org.au/about-dementia">refers to brain disorders</a> that are not a normal part of ageing. These disorders, including Alzheimer’s disease, cause a decline in cognitive function and changes in mood, memory, thinking and behaviour. Ultimately they affect a person’s ability to carry out everyday tasks. In Australia, around <a href="https://www.sydney.edu.au/news-opinion/news/2020/10/06/research-backs-home-based-program-for-people-living-with-dementi.html">75% of people with dementia</a> live at home. While dementia care at home has traditionally been associated with older spouses or middle-aged children, it seems an increasing number of young adults in their 20s and 30s, and <a href="https://www.ncb.org.uk/sites/default/files/uploads/files/young_people_caring_for_adults_with_dementia.pdf">even teenagers</a>, are stepping into this role to care for grandparents, parents or other loved ones. In Australia, 3 million people (11.9% of the population) are carers. This includes <a href="https://www.abs.gov.au/statistics/health/disability/disability-ageing-and-carers-australia-summary-findings/latest-release">391,300 under 25</a> – a sharp rise from 235,300 in 2018. How many young carers are specifically caring for a loved one with dementia is unclear, and something we need more data on. Young dementia carers remain largely invisible, with minimal recognition or support. <h2>Unique challenges and the burden of responsibility</h2> Unlike older carers, who may have more financial stability and free time, young carers often must balance caregiving with university, early-career pressures, and personal development, including maintaining social relationships, pursuing hobbies, and prioritising mental welling. In Australia, where <a href="https://aifs.gov.au/media/more-young-adults-living-parents">51% of men and 43% of women</a> aged 20–24 still live with their parents, many young carers will have limited experience in managing a household independently. They’re often thrust into <a href="https://www.ncb.org.uk/sites/default/files/uploads/files/young_people_caring_for_adults_with_dementia.pdf">complex responsibilities</a> such as cooking, housework, managing the family budget, coordinating medical appointments and administering medications. Beyond that, they may need to provide physical care such as lifting or helping their loved one move around, and personal care such as dressing, washing, and helping with toileting. All this can leave young carers <a href="https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.2147/PROM.S499063">feeling unprepared</a>, overwhelmed and isolated. While general support groups exist for dementia carers and young carers more broadly, few cater specifically to <a href="https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC9819145/">young adults caring for someone with dementia</a>. This lack of targeted support is likely to heighten <a href="https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/pdf/10.1080/13676261.2024.2390899?casa_token=6Q73sIFsfssAAAAA:1rQ7NyiiHkwTwIk4mkk6d2r5tiUxeXJDCKTfIohKmHzCue9xvuj5r4e8-fowJGQeIYKe6afuO9FT">feelings of isolation</a>, as the young person’s friends struggle to relate to the emotional and practical burdens <a href="https://link.springer.com/content/pdf/10.1186/s12877-020-01976-z.pdf">young carers face</a>. The demanding nature of caregiving, combined with the difficulty of sharing these experiences with peers, means young dementia carers can become <a href="https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/epub/10.1177/14713012211023653?src=getftr&utm_source=tfo&getft_integrator=tfo">disconnected socially</a>. <h2>The psychological toll</h2> These challenges take a profound <a href="https://www.mentalhealth.org.uk/explore-mental-health/statistics/carers-statistics">psychological toll</a> on young carers. Research shows young carers are <a href="https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC9263065/">35% more likely</a> to report mental health issues than their non-caregiving peers. These can include <a href="https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/pdf/10.1177/1471301220980243">depression</a>, anxiety and burnout. Again, we don’t have data on mental health outcomes among young dementia carers specifically. But <a href="https://www.aihw.gov.au/reports/dementia/dementia-in-aus/contents/carers-and-care-needs-of-people-with-dementia/impact-of-the-caring-role-on-carers">in Australia</a>, 75% of dementia carers reported being affected physically or emotionally by their caring role. Some 41% felt weary or lacked energy, and 31% felt worried or depressed. Also, there are negative stereotypes about ageing – that people turn forgetful, frail, and need constant care. For young carers whose loved ones have dementia, these stereotypes <a href="https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/pdf/10.1111/j.1467-8721.2009.01662.x?casa_token=w0MW7GGY80gAAAAA:szB0XyXKPG_XMqAVyAHLm0Tye8yH3TYXK9X5cFCSIRkorhsNHx4Wgurmy_oAuZKsTsskS6kBw9Vr">can be reinforced</a> by their experience. This could shape young carers’ perceptions of <a href="https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/13607863.2025.2464705?utm">their own future health</a> and wellbeing and increase anxiety about ageing. Caregiving may also affect <a href="https://www.apa.org/pi/about/publications/caregivers/faq/health-effects">physical health</a>. Research suggests carers often sacrifice <a href="https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/pdf/10.1111/psyg.12354">healthy habits</a> such as exercise and a balanced diet. What’s more, <a href="https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/pdf/10.1111/psyg.12354">carers report symptoms</a> including poor sleep, fatigue, headaches and back pain due to the physical demands of caregiving. <h2>Caring for a parent – a role reversal</h2> This emotional burden is particularly acute for those caring for a parent. These young carers are likely to experience the progressive loss of parental support, while simultaneously assuming the <a href="https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/pdf/10.1177/1471301220988231">demanding role of caregiver</a>. A significant portion of young dementia carers support parents with <a href="https://www.aihw.gov.au/reports/dementia/dementia-in-aus/contents/dementia-in-priority-groups/population-health-impacts-of-younger-onset-dementi">young-onset dementia</a>, a form of dementia diagnosed before age 65. These <a href="https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/pdf/10.1177/1471301220988231">young carers</a> face the shock of a diagnosis that defies typical expectations of ageing. The burden may be compounded by fears of <a href="https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/10.1177/0038026119874280?icid=int.sj-abstract.citing-articles.9">genetic inheritance</a>. Young onset dementia often has a <a href="https://www.nia.nih.gov/health/alzheimers-causes-and-risk-factors/alzheimers-disease-genetics-fact-sheet">hereditary component</a>. This means young carers may have a higher risk of developing the condition themselves – a concern spousal carers don’t have. This fear can fuel health anxiety, alter life planning, and create a pervasive <a href="https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/26560507/">sense of vulnerability</a>. <h2>How we can better support young dementia carers</h2> Despite their growing numbers, young dementia carers <a href="https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.2147/JMDH.S464195">remain largely overlooked</a> in research, policy and support services. This is partly due to the challenges in engaging this demographic in research, as these young people juggle busy lives <a href="https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/pdf/10.1002/gps.4502?casa_token=5-Ih4KcUejwAAAAA%3AOvuh8ghI_ednIzRZmHdUl-_C7EQ8IUw2Qp7E0-0Z9abjV0xT6I4WK17V2U8JMCcxMl9yvpawBeT-l7c">balancing caregiving</a> with education and work. Many young carers also <a href="https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/36353077/">don’t self-identify as carers</a>, hindering their access to support and resources. This could be because of the stigmatising label, or a feeling they’re <a href="https://www.ncb.org.uk/sites/default/files/uploads/files/young_people_caring_for_adults_with_dementia.pdf">not doing enough</a> to qualify as a carer. It could even be because of cultural norms which can frame caregiving as a family obligation, rather than a distinct role. Nonetheless, young dementia carers require <a href="https://www.mdpi.com/1660-4601/20/1/127">targeted support</a> beyond generic caregiving resources. This support might include specialised <a href="https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.2147/JMDH.S464195">peer networks</a>, educational programs, and practical skills training. Tailored programs and resources should ideally be <a href="https://www.mdpi.com/1660-4601/20/1/127">co-designed with young dementia carers</a> to ensure they meet their unique needs and preferences. With dementia cases in Australia and elsewhere <a href="https://www.dementia.org.au/about-dementia/dementia-facts-and-figures">projected to increase</a>, the demand for informal carers – including young adults – will continue to grow. Without intervention, these young carers risk burnout, social isolation, and long-term health consequences. We must ensure flexible, age-appropriate support for this often invisible group. Investing in young dementia carers is not just a moral imperative – it’s a crucial step toward a sustainable, compassionate care system for the future. <a href="https://www.dementia.org.au/living-dementia/family-friends-and-carers">Dementia Australia</a> offers a national helpline, information sessions, and a peer-to-peer connection platform for carers. <a href="https://youngcarersnetwork.com.au/">The Young Carers Network</a>, run by <a href="https://www.carersaustralia.com.au/">Carers Australia</a>, offers mental health resources, financial guidance, and respite care information, plus bursaries young carers can apply for to reduce financial pressure.<img style="border: none !important; box-shadow: none !important; margin: 0 !important; max-height: 1px !important; max-width: 1px !important; min-height: 1px !important; min-width: 1px !important; opacity: 0 !important; outline: none !important; padding: 0 !important;" src="https://counter.theconversation.com/content/249361/count.gif?distributor=republish-lightbox-basic" alt="The Conversation" width="1" height="1" /> By <a href="https://theconversation.com/profiles/katya-numbers-784650">Katya Numbers</a>, Postdoctoral Research Fellow & Lecturer, Centre for Healthy Brain Ageing, <a href="https://theconversation.com/institutions/unsw-sydney-1414">UNSW Sydney</a> and <a href="https://theconversation.com/profiles/serena-sabatini-2320527">Serena Sabatini</a>, Lecturer in Psychology, <a href="https://theconversation.com/institutions/university-of-surrey-1201">University of Surrey</a> This article is republished from <a href="https://theconversation.com">The Conversation</a> under a Creative Commons license. Read the <a href="https://theconversation.com/more-young-people-are-caring-for-a-loved-one-with-dementia-it-takes-a-unique-toll-249361">original article</a>. Image: Shutterstock </div>

Caring

Amid claims of abuse, neglect and poor standards, what is going wrong with childcare in Australia?

<div class="theconversation-article-body"> On Monday, an ABC’s Four Corners <a href="https://www.abc.net.au/news/2025-03-17/betrayal-of-trust/105063150">investigation</a> reported shocking cases of abuse and neglect in Australian childcare centres. This included examples of children being sexually abused, restrained for hours in high chairs, and fed nutritionally substandard meals such as pasta with ketchup. While acknowledging there are high-quality services operating in the community, the program also showed how centre-based childcare is big business, dominated by for-profit providers, who may not be meeting regulatory standards. What is going wrong with childcare in Australia? <h2>Differing levels of quality</h2> Data from Australia’s childcare regulator <a href="https://www.acecqa.gov.au/sites/default/files/2025-02/NQF%20Snapshot%20Q4%202024%20FINAL.pdf">consistently shows</a> for-profit childcare services are, on average, rated as <a href="https://www.acecqa.gov.au/sites/default/files/2021-02/NQFSnapshot_Q4_2020.pdf">lower quality</a> than not-for-profit services. Of those rated by regulators, 11% of for-profit long daycare centres are not meeting national minimum quality standards (they are just “working towards”). This compares with 7% of not-for-profit centres not meeting minimum standards. There are 13% of for-profit centres exceeding the standards, compared to 28% of not-for-profits. Inquiries suggest this divergence is due to staffing levels, qualifications and pay. In 2023, the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC) <a href="https://www.accc.gov.au/inquiries-and-consultations/childcare-inquiry-2023/december-2023-final-report">found</a> large for-profit providers spend significantly less on staffing than not-for-profit providers. Large for-profit providers <a href="https://www.accc.gov.au/inquiries-and-consultations/childcare-inquiry-2023/september-2023-interim-report">have a higher proportion of part-time and casual staff</a> than not-for-profits. They also employ less experienced early childhood teachers. On top of this, they are more likely to use award rates of pay, which are typically lower than enterprise agreement rates. Lower pay and less job security is related to higher turnover of staff, which makes it <a href="https://theconversation.com/covid-chaos-has-shed-light-on-many-issues-in-the-australian-childcare-sector-here-are-4-of-them-174404">difficult for educators to establish and maintain</a> the trusting relationships with children and families that underpin high quality. Despite this, the federal government continues to support for-profit services through <a href="https://www.education.gov.au/early-childhood/providers/child-care-subsidy">childcare subsidies</a>. These subsidies are designed to help families with the costs of childcare. But they do not stop some providers increasing their fees. The ACCC <a href="https://www.accc.gov.au/media-release/changes-proposed-to-make-childcare-affordable-and-accessible-for-all-families">found a consistent pattern</a> of increased government subsidies leading to higher out-of-pocket expenses for families, due to subsequent fee increases. <h2>It hasn’t always been like this</h2> Childcare subsidies haven’t always worked in this way. “Operational subsidies” were introduced in 1972 through the historic <a href="https://classic.austlii.edu.au/au/legis/cth/consol_act/cca197275/">Child Care Act</a>, which set the precedent for Australian governments to fund childcare. This aimed to support women’s workforce participation through an expanded, high-quality childcare sector. Subsidies at the time were only available to not-for-profit services and required the employment of qualified staff, including teachers. In these ways, Commonwealth funding positioned childcare as a public good, like school education. Then, in 1991, federal government subsidies were extended to for-profit providers. This prompted dramatic changes in the childcare landscape, leading to a dominance of for-profit centres. Today, more than 70% of all long day-care centres are <a href="https://www.pc.gov.au/inquiries/completed/childhood/report/childhood-volume1-report.pdf">operated by private providers</a>. Between <a href="https://www.pc.gov.au/inquiries/completed/childhood/report/childhood-volume2-supporting.pdf">2013 and 2023</a>, the number of for-profit long daycare services jumped by 60%, while not-for-profits only grew by 4%. <h2>Quality concerns</h2> There are <a href="https://www.startingblocks.gov.au/large-providers">25 large long daycare providers</a> in Australia and of these, 21 are run for profit. Large for-profit providers impact sector quality in several ways. Many have disproportionately high numbers of staffing waivers, granted by regulators, permitting them to operate centres without the required number of qualified staff. According to unpublished research by Gabrielle Meagher, as of October 2024, 11 large for-profit providers held waivers for a quarter or more of their services and five held waivers for more than a third. This compares to 15% of the sector overall. Large for-profit providers also serve investors as well as families. So there are extra <a href="https://academic.oup.com/qje/article-abstract/112/4/1127/1911721">incentives to cut costs</a> and maximise profits. The dominance of for-profit providers also makes them <a href="https://www.cambridge.org/core/journals/world-politics/article/abs/institutional-sources-of-business-power/E9D9D945CB59843C4DF8CE4835350602">powerful players</a> in policy-making circles, as governments depend on them to provide an essential service. <h2>Why isn’t the system working?</h2> Given Australia has a <a href="https://www.acecqa.gov.au/national-quality-framework">regulatory and quality assurance system</a> for childcare services, why do we have these quality issues? As the Productivity Commission <a href="https://www.pc.gov.au/inquiries/completed/childhood/report/childhood-volume2-supporting.pdf">found</a>, regulators are under-resourced, and inspections are infrequent. Services that repeatedly fail to meet the minimum standards are still allowed to operate, sometimes for more than a decade. Services are notified about upcoming inspections, potentially giving them time to give a false impression of their quality and safety standards. As Four Corners highlighted, poor-quality services, with bad pay and working conditions are driving good educators away from the sector. <h2>What next?</h2> The Albanese government recently passed legislation to “guarantee” eligible families <a href="https://www.education.gov.au/newsroom/articles/3day-guarantee-legislation-passed#:%7E:text=The%203-day%20guarantee%20will,each%20week%20for%20each%20child">three days of subsidised childcare</a> per week from January 2026. But families need more than access. They also require a guarantee this childcare will be high-quality and keep children safe. Even without the extra spending on the three-day guarantee, government spending on childcare subsidies <a href="https://www.accc.gov.au/system/files/ACCC%20Childcare%20Inquiry-final%20report%20December%202023.pdf?ref=0&download=y">is due to reach nearly A$15 billion</a> by 2026–27. Thus there is also a corresponding duty to taxpayers to ensure these funds are going to high-quality providers. In the wake of the Four Corners report, the <a href="https://www.abc.net.au/listen/programs/worldtoday/childcare-wrap/105066270">Greens are calling</a> for a royal commission into childcare. But we do not need this level of inquiry to tell us the current system needs fundamental change. Stronger regulatory powers, while important, will not be enough on their own. High-quality services need well-educated and well-supported staff. They also need governance and leadership that value educators’ expertise and enable consistently high standards.<img style="border: none !important; box-shadow: none !important; margin: 0 !important; max-height: 1px !important; max-width: 1px !important; min-height: 1px !important; min-width: 1px !important; opacity: 0 !important; outline: none !important; padding: 0 !important;" src="https://counter.theconversation.com/content/252493/count.gif?distributor=republish-lightbox-basic" alt="The Conversation" width="1" height="1" /> By <a href="https://theconversation.com/profiles/gabrielle-meagher-594155">Gabrielle Meagher</a>, Professor Emerita, School of Society, Communication and Culture, <a href="https://theconversation.com/institutions/macquarie-university-1174">Macquarie University</a> and <a href="https://theconversation.com/profiles/marianne-fenech-228936">Marianne Fenech</a>, Professor, Early Childhood Governance, <a href="https://theconversation.com/institutions/university-of-sydney-841">University of Sydney</a> This article is republished from <a href="https://theconversation.com">The Conversation</a> under a Creative Commons license. Read the <a href="https://theconversation.com/amid-claims-of-abuse-neglect-and-poor-standards-what-is-going-wrong-with-childcare-in-australia-252493">original article</a>. Image: ABC </div>

After a century of Monday to Friday, could the 4-day week finally be coming to Australia?

<div class="theconversation-article-body">The reality of shorter working hours could be one step closer for many Australians, pending the outcome of the federal election. The Greens, who could control crucial cross bench votes in a hung parliament, have announced plans for a <a href="https://greens.org.au/news/media-release/greens-launch-4-day-work-week-election-policy">four-day</a> working week, with no loss of pay. They say the policy would alleviate stress and burn out, and increase women’s participation in the workforce. Earning the same money for fewer hours would appeal to most workers. But is it too good to be true? Could it really be rolled out cost free to all workplaces, especially to “client facing” companies and service providers? Or does research suggest the Greens could be onto something? <h2>The Greens’ plan</h2> The Greens’ policy would involve a new National Institute for the Four Day Work Week and a test case through the Fair Work Commission. A series of national trials would be set up in a number of different industries, whereby workers would work 80% of their normal hours, while maintaining 100% of their pay. According to Greens Senator Barbara Pocock, it’s a win-win for everyone: <blockquote> It can increase productivity, reduce absenteeism, improve recruitment and retention and give employees more time to manage their home life. This change will allow workers to create a working week that works for them. </blockquote> <h2>The 100:80:100 model</h2> The four-day work week being proposed in this instance is commonly regarded as the 100:80:100 model. It delivers 100% of the pay, for 80% of the hours, in <a href="https://www.4dayweek.com/news-posts/100-80-100-rule">return</a> for maintaining 100% of productivity. This is unlike other forms of shorter working weeks, which compress five days’ worth of work into four longer days. This obviously disadvantages some employees. Recent <a href="https://figshare.swinburne.edu.au/articles/report/Emerging_Four_Day_Work_Week_Trends_in_Australia_New_insights_based_on_interviews_with_Australian_firms_who_have_already_adopted_4DWW_arrangements_Preview_report_/26282311?file=47647063">research</a> conducted by Swinburne University of Technology involved interviews with ten Australian firms that have already adopted the 100:80:100 model. They were a mixture of small and medium sized private sector businesses, including management consulting firms, a shipping and logistics company, and recruitment and marketing agencies. The research underlined the potential for a range of positive outcomes for both employers and employees. Workers reported having better work-life balance, more time to complete “life administration” tasks, and more time to invest in hobbies, exercise, wellness and self-care. Bosses cited productivity gains, reduced sick days, and significant improvements in recruitment and retention rates. However, the 100:80:100 model is viewed with scepticism in some quarters. There is still doubt that productivity and output would be maintained, or in some cases improved, when workers are working one day fewer per week. Also, there could be costs associated with the implementation of this work model for front-line roles, such as retail, schools, hospitals and nursing homes. Additional workers may need to be hired, at extra expense, to cover the hours dropped by the existing workforce. <h2>100 years of working 5 days a week</h2> The year 2026 will mark the 100th anniversary of the five-day work week. It was car maker Henry Ford who <a href="https://teachingamericanhistory.org/document/henry-fords-five-day-week/">reduced</a> the working week in the United States from six days to five. Other sectors and countries followed suit. This was at a time when the average life expectancy of Australian workers was just 55 and households typically only had one bread-winner. Despite the time saved by the many technological breakthroughs in the past 100 years – from the photocopier, desktop computer and fax machine, to the internet, mobile phones and AI – the average Australian is now <a href="https://futurework.org.au/report/taking-up-the-right-to-disconnect-unsatisfactory-working-hours-and-unpaid-overtime/">working longer hours</a> in paid and unpaid labour than ever before. The Greens point out Australian society is changing. More women and carers are either in the workforce or would be encouraged into the workforce by more flexible arrangements: <blockquote> yet we are constrained by archaic labour laws that see the fruits of our efforts swallowed up in profits for bosses and shareholders. </blockquote> The role of generative AI technologies in the workplace may also deliver benefits to workers. Separate Swinburne <a href="https://figshare.swinburne.edu.au/articles/report/Generative_AI_at_work_Empowering_employee_mental_wellbeing/27252948">research</a> has revealed an increasing expectation among workers that they will receive a share in the time saved by future technologies in the form of improved work-life balance and wellbeing gains. <h2>Time to enter the 21st century</h2> Earlier this year, <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/money/2025/jan/27/two-hundred-uk-companies-sign-up-for-permanent-four-day-working-week">200 UK companies</a> signed up to the 100:80:100 model, as part of a campaign to “reinvent Britain’s working week”. Large scale trials are also underway in <a href="https://4dayweek.io/country/canada">Canada</a> and several <a href="https://www.euronews.com/next/2024/02/02/the-four-day-week-which-countries-have-embraced-it-and-how-s-it-going-so-far">European</a> countries. The global interest in a shorter working week is not surprising, and has likely been fuelled by the COVID pandemic, which has caused workers and employers to re-imagine their working lives. If the Greens are in a position to leverage any balance of power after the coming election, it could be Australia’s turn to recognise the conventional five-day working week is no longer fit for purpose.<img style="border: none !important; box-shadow: none !important; margin: 0 !important; max-height: 1px !important; max-width: 1px !important; min-height: 1px !important; min-width: 1px !important; opacity: 0 !important; outline: none !important; padding: 0 !important;" src="https://counter.theconversation.com/content/252379/count.gif?distributor=republish-lightbox-basic" alt="The Conversation" width="1" height="1" /> By <a href="https://theconversation.com/profiles/john-l-hopkins-255434">John L. Hopkins</a>, Associate Professor of Management, <a href="https://theconversation.com/institutions/swinburne-university-of-technology-767">Swinburne University of Technology</a> This article is republished from <a href="https://theconversation.com">The Conversation</a> under a Creative Commons license. Read the <a href="https://theconversation.com/after-a-century-of-monday-to-friday-could-the-4-day-week-finally-be-coming-to-australia-252379">original article</a>. </div>

Money & Banking

Australia denied exemption from Trump tariffs

<div class="theconversation-article-body"> Australia has failed to win an exemption from Donald Trump’s 25% tariffs on aluminium and steel, but the government has vowed to fight on for a carve out. The White House spokeswoman, Karoline Leavitt, told Australian media in Washington “there will be no exemptions” from the tariffs, which come into effect imminently. Pressed on why, she said “America First steel”. She said, “If they want to be exempted, they should consider moving steel manufacturing here”. Deputy Prime Minister Richard Marles said the government would continue to lobby for an exemption. He pointed out it had taken the Coalition government many months to win a carve out from tariffs under the first Trump administration. “Tariffs don’t make any sense, it’s an act of kind of economic self harm. We’ll be able to find other markets for our steel and our aluminium and we have been diversifying those markets. But we’re obviously really disappointed with this. "I would say, though, we’ll keep advocating to the United States on this issue. Last time around it was nine months before we got an exemption in relation to steel and aluminium out of the Trump administration in its first term. So, we’ll keep pressing the case, we’ll keep diversifying our own trade. But look, there’s no hiding this, we’re really disappointed with this decision.” Opposition deputy leader Sussan Ley said the government “just hasn’t done enough”. “All of the other leaders of the Quad and AUKUS, Japan, India, the UK, travelled to the US, and they had face-to-face meetings, and they did what they needed to do. They advocated fiercely in their country’s interests, but this prime minister has been nowhere to be seen.” But given no exemptions are being provided, a personal trip by the Albanese would likely have had little effect. The PM made the case for an exemption to the president in a call some weeks ago. In that conversation Trump indicated he would consider Australia’s case, but the government quickly became pessimistic about the administration giving it a special deal. BlueScope, while expressing disappointment, saw one silver lining. “BlueScope produces more than 3 million tonnes of steel per annum at its NorthStar BlueScope plant in Delta, Ohio. As the US tariffs come into effect the company expects to see the positive impact from an improvement in steel prices.” Former prime minister Malcolm Turnbull this week predicted Trump would shy away from exemptions this time around. While some observers said Turnbull’s broad attack on Trump, whom he called a bully, could work against Australia’s lobbying, it almost certainly was irrelevant, given all representations were rejected. The Australian concern is less the direct impact of the tariffs – our exports of steel and aluminium to the US are limited – but the fallout from an international trade war that could be sparked by Trump’s policies.<img style="border: none !important; box-shadow: none !important; margin: 0 !important; max-height: 1px !important; max-width: 1px !important; min-height: 1px !important; min-width: 1px !important; opacity: 0 !important; outline: none !important; padding: 0 !important;" src="https://counter.theconversation.com/content/251623/count.gif?distributor=republish-lightbox-basic" alt="The Conversation" width="1" height="1" /> <a href="https://theconversation.com/profiles/michelle-grattan-20316">Michelle Grattan</a>, Professorial Fellow, <a href="https://theconversation.com/institutions/university-of-canberra-865">University of Canberra</a> This article is republished from <a href="https://theconversation.com">The Conversation</a> under a Creative Commons license. Read the <a href="https://theconversation.com/australia-like-everyone-else-fails-to-win-exemption-from-trumps-tariffs-on-aluminium-and-steel-251623">original article</a>. Image: Samuel Corum/CNP/Shutterstock Editorial </div>

Legal

‘Don’t panic, do prepare’: why it’s not too late to plan for Cyclone Alfred

<div class="theconversation-article-body"><a href="https://theconversation.com/profiles/yetta-gurtner-2337172">Yetta Gurtner</a>, <a href="https://theconversation.com/institutions/james-cook-university-1167">James Cook University</a> For millions of people in southeast Queensland and northern New South Wales, Cyclone Alfred will be their first experience living through a cyclone. Alfred is forecast to make landfall about 2am on Friday morning. I am a disaster expert based in northern Queensland, which regularly experiences cyclones. In my other role as an acting SES public information officer, I’m heading south to the Gold Coast to help residents prepare and respond. Here’s what I want you to know. First, don’t panic. Second, do prepare. Preparation has several steps. It’s important to clearly assess your specific threat. If you live near the sea, storm surges – where the sea spills inland – could be a significant threat, while flooding might pose a large risk if you live near a river – especially in the few days after Alfred passes. The highest rainfall is likely on Alfred’s southern flank from the Gold Coast down to northern New South Wales. Having enough food, water and medication is vital. Be ready to evacuate too, in case authorities deem it necessary. Check your local council’s disaster website, disaster apps and stay tuned to the ABC, which will run disaster alerts. <figure><iframe src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/EN_yKcjlF20?wmode=transparent&start=0" width="440" height="260" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen"></iframe><figcaption>The Bureau of Meteorology’s latest update on Cyclone Alfred’s path and likely impact, as of the morning of Wed 5th March.</figcaption></figure> <h2>What should I do right now?</h2> If you’re in the <a href="http://www.bom.gov.au/products/IDQ65002.shtml">danger zone</a>, make preparations now, before the full intensity of the cyclone arrives. Tie down loose objects. Clean gutters to avoid overflow from torrential rain. And prepare your “go bag” – a bag of essentials you can throw in the car if authorities tell you to leave immediately. Don’t take too much – just the bare necessities. Buy an AM/FM radio and tune it to ABC National, as you cannot be sure mobile networks will function. Radio is a reliable way to get good information from the ABC, Australia’s designated <a href="https://www.abc.net.au/emergency">emergency channel</a>. Make sure the car is fuelled or charged. If you’ve got a generator, make sure you have fuel and the generator is positioned outside in a well-ventilated area. Water is often unreliable after disasters. Fill your bathtub or front-loader washing machine with water. Put containers of water in your freezer, to keep food cold if the power goes out and as another water source. Plan for days of power outages. Protect windows with plywood, heavy blankets or mattresses. Put a mattress between your car and garage roller door to stop it blowing in. Turn off gas, electricity and solar power. Authorities recommend using sandbags to reduce the chance of water getting in. You can get sacks from hardware stores or council-run emergency centres, if available, who also provide sand. You also need plastic sheeting. If there’s a shortage of sand, you can use garden soil or commercial bagged soil. If you can’t get sacks, large plastic shopping bags will do. Tape strong plastic sheeting around the door or low window where water might get in. This is the barrier that actually keeps water out – sandbags keep it in place. Fill sandbags and lay them <a href="https://www.ses.nsw.gov.au/during-emergency/sandbags">like bricks</a>. Lay one row, and lay the next row offset for strength. Sandbags are good, but they have limits. There’s little point in piling sandbags higher than about 30 centimetres. If floodwaters edge higher, water will get through. Many people have had the unpleasant experience of having effluent come back up through toilets during cyclones and subsequent flooding. To stop this, cover your toilet with plastic sheeting (directly on the porcelain) and put a sandbag on top for weight. Do the same for any drains where water might flow back up. To reduce water damage, put valuable or important items up high, atop tables or bunk beds or upstairs if you have a second storey. <h2>What will it be like when Alfred hits?</h2> When the cyclone first hits, it can be overwhelming. The sound is like a roaring jet engine. If you haven’t been advised to evacuate by authorities, you will be sheltering in place. This means finding the safest room in the house, to avoid damage from flying objects. Choose the smallest room with the fewest windows – a bathroom or a room under the stairs. Basements are very safe, but will be the first affected by water. As the cyclone picks up intensity, set up inside this safe room with your pets and children. Do not leave this room until you have been told it’s safe by authorities. At the centre of strong cyclones is the eye of the storm, which we experience as a period of sudden calm. People often make the mistake of thinking it’s over. But in fact, it’s just a brief reprieve before the intense winds pick up again. Don’t make the mistake of leaving the house – check with authoritative sources. Cyclone Alfred is a <a href="https://www.abc.net.au/news/2025-03-05/cyclone-alfred-unusual-triplet-storm-climate-change-factors/105008704">slow-moving cyclone</a>, which means you might be stuck inside for a while. Be prepared to be inside your house for up to 24 hours, even after the worst has passed. This is because there may well be downed powerlines with live electricity, broken glass, falling trees and so on. For your children (and yourself), being in the cyclone is frightening. Young kids find the sound chilling. You can play music through headphones to help soothe them. Board games, books and puzzles can help pass the time. You will need distraction. Have a bucket in the corner for emergency toilet needs. Keep track of the storm and any emerging dangers through your radio and internet-enabled phone (if still functioning). <h2>What if I have to evacuate?</h2> Authorities are working to set up evacuation centres for people whose homes may not be safe. Authorities will go door-to-door to tell affected residents to leave, as well as broadcasting the information on radio and online. You’re more likely to have to evacuate if your house is on low-lying land near the sea, as a storm surge is likely. How much water is pushed ashore will depend on the tide, but it could be as high as 70cm above the high tide line if we’re unlucky. Evacuations can happen after the cyclone too. Alfred is packing a lot of rain – <a href="https://www.weatherzone.com.au/news/tropical-cyclone-alfred-could-disrupt-afl-and-nrl-matches/1890420">up to a metre</a> in some areas. That’s very likely to cause flooding, both flash floods and rivers breaking their banks. If you are asked to evacuate, you can go to the house of a friend or family member if it’s on higher ground and outside the flood risk zones. Or you can go to a local evacuation centre – check your council website to see where your closest one is. Take as little as possible with you. Many people who choose not to evacuate do so because they’re worried about their pets. This is risky. Some evacuation centres do take pets, so check now. If they don’t, look for other options with friends and family. Staying put after an evacuation order is dangerous. <h2>What will happen after the cyclone?</h2> Cyclone Alfred brings three threats: intense winds, high seas and heavy rain. After the intense winds die down, the seas will be dangerous for days after Alfred. There are coastal hazard warnings for about 1,000km of coastline. Cyclones also often decay into tropical low weather systems, which dump heavy rain for days. This is likely. As you move into recovery phase, don’t relax your guard. In far north Queensland, 16 people have <a href="https://www.abc.net.au/news/2025-03-04/melioidosis-death-toll-rises-in-queensland/105009772">now died</a> after being infected with melioidosis, a bacterium found in mud. The bug is <a href="https://theconversation.com/theres-an-outbreak-of-melioidosis-in-north-queensland-heres-what-to-know-about-this-deadly-mud-bug-250392">more prevalent</a> after heavy rainfall. Wear protective gear such as gloves and face masks when dealing with water-damaged goods and mud, and pay close attention to the latest advice authorities are giving. But remember – don’t panic. We will get through this.<img style="border: none !important; box-shadow: none !important; margin: 0 !important; max-height: 1px !important; max-width: 1px !important; min-height: 1px !important; min-width: 1px !important; opacity: 0 !important; outline: none !important; padding: 0 !important;" src="https://counter.theconversation.com/content/251463/count.gif?distributor=republish-lightbox-basic" alt="The Conversation" width="1" height="1" /> <a href="https://theconversation.com/profiles/yetta-gurtner-2337172">Yetta Gurtner</a>, Adjunct Senior Lecturer, Centre for Disaster Studies, <a href="https://theconversation.com/institutions/james-cook-university-1167">James Cook University</a> Image credits: LUKAS COCH/EPA-EFE/Shutterstock Editorial This article is republished from <a href="https://theconversation.com">The Conversation</a> under a Creative Commons license. Read the <a href="https://theconversation.com/dont-panic-do-prepare-why-its-not-too-late-to-plan-for-cyclone-alfred-251463">original article</a>. </div>

Travel Trouble

Family breaks silence after five-year-old son fatally hit by car

The devastated family of five-year-old boy Alby Thompson have remembered him for his "laughter and love". The young boy died after being struck by a four-wheel-drive in Broome, Western Australia about 5.20pm last Thursday. The five-year-old was rushed to Broome Regional Hospital where he later died. His family have issued a statement to the ABC on Wednesday and thanked the community for their “outpouring of love". “It is with profound sorrow that we share the news of our beloved son, Alby, who tragically lost his life in a road accident,” the statement began. “His laughter and love filled our hearts and home. “We kindly request privacy during this period of mourning as we come to terms with this devastating loss. “We thank the community for their outpouring of love and support during this heart-wrenching time.” The 34-year-old driver of the Landcruiser is assisting police with inquiries, and no charges have been laid. Image: 7News

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Family breaks silence after five-year-old son fatally hit by car

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