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Should Australia scrap superannuation? Experts clash in heated debate

Australia’s superannuation system has come under intense scrutiny after two financial experts clashed in a fiery debate on SBS’s Insight, with one economist declaring the system should be dismantled entirely – and the other branding that idea “insane”. The central question – should Australia’s superannuation system be scrapped? – sparked impassioned responses from both Cameron Murray, chief economist at Fresh Economic Thinking, and Andy Darroch, independent financial adviser and director at Independent Wealth Advice. Dr Murray argued the system is fundamentally flawed and does more harm than good, claiming it primarily benefits the wealthiest Australians while failing to assist the poor or the already rich. “It’s skewed to the people who would never be on the age pension and would be independently wealthy at retirement age anyway,” he told the program. <a href="https://www.news.com.au/finance/superannuation/call-to-scrap-australias-superannuation-system-sparks-heated-debate/news-story/ab56297c9ce2f43d9cb5808ab8593084" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Speaking to news.com.au after the broadcast</a>, Dr Murray pointed to major inefficiencies in the current setup, calling super an “unnecessary industry” that drains national talent and resources. He also raised concerns about accessibility, noting that one in seven men die before ever touching their super savings. “Super doesn’t help the poor, who generally will still need to rely on the pension. It doesn’t help the rich, as they have enough wealth to support themselves,” Dr Murray said. “It only increases the retirement income of the middle by making them poorer when they are young and poor with a family to support, so they can be richer when they are old and rich with no one to support.” Dr Murray proposed a radical alternative: abolish compulsory super entirely and allow Australians to access that money during their working lives. He suggested a phased transition, with capped annual withdrawals and eventual conversion of super funds into non-tax-advantaged investment accounts. In stark contrast, Mr Darroch defended the system as one of Australia’s greatest economic achievements. “You would have to be insane to want to get rid of it,” he said on Insight, calling Australia’s super setup the “envy of the world”. He said scrapping it would be “the single most destructive thing you could do to middle class Australians” and warned it could plunge a third of the population into poverty during retirement. “I think Australia is the only country on Earth that you can have a nurse and a diesel fitter get to age 65 with close to a million dollars in super,” he said. Mr Darroch also pushed back against arguments that superannuation could or should be used to address issues like housing affordability or the cost of living. “Understandably, people see their superannuation balance and have a desire to use it to assist with housing,” he said, “but superannuation can’t and won’t fix housing. Any of the suggestions won’t even move the dial.” Worse still, he warned, using super to fund home ownership or ease short-term cost-of-living pressures would ultimately “create systemic issues with poverty in retirement”. As for Dr Murray, he believes that without super, most Australians would still save voluntarily and fall back on the age pension if needed – an existing system he says already keeps older Australians out of poverty. “The age pension is the safety net,” he said. “We can quibble about its adequacy, but we should do it in the context of all welfare payments.” With the future of superannuation now firmly back in the spotlight, it’s clear that while the system may need reform, whether to overhaul – or outright abolish – it remains a fiercely divisive question. Images: SBS

Retirement Income

Antiques Roadshow uncovers incredibly rare Beatles snaps

A lifelong Beatles fan has discovered that her teenage memories are worth more than just nostalgia – they’re worth a small fortune. Appearing on a recent episode of Antiques Roadshow, the woman brought along a well-loved album filled with original photographs from a weekend in July 1963 that would change her life forever. Back then, she and four Beatles-obsessed friends travelled to Great Yarmouth, England, just as the Fab Four happened to be in town. After seeing them perform live – “screaming like mad”, as she recalled – the group of girls got an insider tip from a local friend about where the band was staying. “We went and sat in the lounge and they came downstairs and sat with us,” she said, beaming as she shared the story. Among the photos and memories was something even more remarkable: four original Beatles autographs, carefully tucked into her diary from the trip. Antiques expert Marc Allum could hardly believe what he was seeing. “In addition to the photographs, you've got a little album here with something even more special in it,” he said, visibly impressed. Allum estimated the collection, particularly the autographs from John, Paul, George and Ringo, could fetch up to £5,000 – nearly $10,500 AUD – at auction. “Good gracious. Wow!” the stunned owner exclaimed, holding her priceless teenage memories a little tighter. It’s a story of friendship, fandom and a little rock 'n' roll magic – and proof that sometimes, history hides in the most unexpected places. Images: Antiques Roadshow

Money & Banking

Family speaks out after teen found guilty of murdering Melbourne doctor

The grieving family of Melbourne doctor Ash Gordon has spoken of their bittersweet relief after the teenager who stabbed him to death was found guilty of murder. A Supreme Court jury convicted the 17-year-old boy following a harrowing trial in which the youth had already pleaded guilty to two counts of aggravated burglary. Dr Gordon was killed in the early hours of January 13 last year after waking to find intruders in his Doncaster unit, in Melbourne’s north-east. He chased the two 16-year-olds into the street, but was fatally stabbed less than a kilometre from his home. The brutal and senseless loss of the much-loved doctor sent shockwaves through his community – and left his family shattered. Speaking to A Current Affair, Ash’s sister Nat said the guilty verdict brought some measure of justice after what she described as a long, “gut-wrenching” legal process. "To get a guilty verdict was a huge relief for the family,” she said. “It will never bring him back but it cements for us that we have everyone behind us." Their father, Glen Gordon, described the emotional toll the trial had taken – and the quiet moment of comfort that came with the jury’s decision. "It's been a struggle, but after the verdict today, it just felt like a big weight has been lifted off our shoulders," he said. "It's still a sad situation, but at least the person got what he deserved." Since Ash’s death, the family has channelled their grief into a push for reform – advocating for tougher bail laws and stronger sentencing for youth offenders. "It definitely doesn't get any easier, nothing will ever bring him back, but a small win was had today – not only by us but the wider community and the justice system,” Nat said. Determined not to let her brother’s death be in vain, she issued a heartfelt plea for change. "At the end of the day, if there is no verdict and no consequences, they will continue to do this,” she said. “It won’t be just my family – it will be every family within the country feeling the pain that we’re feeling, and I never, ever want to inflict that pain on any other family." "I don’t want my brother’s memory to be in vain." Images: A Current Affair

Caring

Cheapest supermarket for winter shopping revealed

Aldi has once again cemented its reputation as Australia’s most budget-friendly supermarket, topping <a href="https://www.choice.com.au/shopping/everyday-shopping/supermarkets/articles/cheapest-groceries-australia" target="_blank" rel="noopener">CHOICE’s latest quarterly survey</a> on the cost of winter groceries. The consumer advocacy group compared the prices of an average basket of 14 common grocery items – including staples such as milk, chicken, and fresh fruit, as well as popular winter additions like vegetable stock, drinking chocolate, and butternut pumpkin. Aldi offered the most affordable basket at $55.35 without specials, with Woolworths close behind at $58.92, followed by Coles at $59.22 and IGA at $69.74. “Aldi had the best deal for shoppers looking to keep cosy this winter,” said CHOICE CEO Ashley de Silva. “Without specials, Woolworths had the cheapest chicken breasts and pumpkin, while Coles offered the best price on apples. IGA came out on top for carrots and garlic. For all other products in our basket, Aldi is your best bet.” When specials were taken into account, Aldi still led the pack, with its basket dropping to $54.44. Coles followed at $57.67, Woolworths at $58.86, and IGA at $67.54. “All up, if you’re planning a hearty porridge breakfast or wanting a cup of hot chocolate to keep you feeling snug, Aldi should be your first stop,” de Silva added. He also encouraged shoppers to look beyond supermarket choice for savings: “Checking the unit pricing, keeping an eye on specials, shopping around, and trying out house brand products can all add up to significant savings.” CHOICE field workers collected prices in March 2025 at 104 supermarkets across 27 locations nationwide. The group’s base basket includes full cream milk, Weet-Bix, Royal Gala apples, carrots, Cavendish bananas, strawberries and chicken breast fillets. This quarter’s additional winter items were vegetable stock, sour cream, drinking chocolate, butternut pumpkin, quick oats, garlic and onions. The findings come as supermarket prices remain a hot political issue. Cost-of-living pressures and alleged price gouging by major chains dominated debate in the last federal parliament. During the recent election campaign, Labor pledged to introduce laws to crack down on price gouging, while the Coalition promised to introduce divestiture powers that would allow the ACCC to force supermarkets to sell off stores to boost competition. Image: Pexels / Gustavo Fring

Money & Banking

How old are you really? Are the latest ‘biological age’ tests all they’re cracked up to be?

<div class="theconversation-article-body"> We all like to imagine we’re ageing well. Now a simple blood or saliva test promises to tell us by measuring our “<a href="https://www.si.com/soccer/cristiano-ronaldo-shocking-biological-age">biological age</a>”. And then, as many have done, we can <a href="https://nypost.com/2024/07/25/entertainment/khloe-kardashian-40-learns-her-biological-age-is-28/">share</a> how “young” we really are on social media, along with our secrets to success. While chronological age is how long you have been alive, <a href="https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/chronological-aging">measures of biological age</a> aim to indicate how old your body actually is, purporting to measure “wear and tear” at a molecular level. <blockquote class="twitter-tweet"> Cristiano Ronaldo is biologically 29 years old! 😱 CR7’s WHOOP stats put his body at 12 years younger than his actual age! 💪 Cristiano’s dedication to his health and longevity is second to none 👏 (Via <a href="https://twitter.com/Cristiano?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@cristiano</a>/<a href="https://twitter.com/WHOOP?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@WHOOP</a>) <a href="https://t.co/PwKqc77031">pic.twitter.com/PwKqc77031</a> — DAZN Football (@DAZNFootball) <a href="https://twitter.com/DAZNFootball/status/1925894821203321009?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">May 23, 2025</a></blockquote> The appeal of these tests is undeniable. Health-conscious consumers may see their results as reinforcing their anti-ageing efforts, or a way to show their journey to better health is paying off. But how good are these tests? Do they actually offer useful insights? Or are they just clever marketing dressed up to look like science? <h2>How do these tests work?</h2> Over time, the chemical processes that allow our body to function, known as our “metabolic activity”, lead to damage and a decline in the activity of our cells, tissues and organs. Biological age tests aim to capture some of these changes, offering a snapshot of how well, or how poorly, we are <a href="https://www.aginganddisease.org/EN/10.14336/AD.2022.1107">ageing on a cellular level</a>. Our DNA is also affected by the ageing process. In particular, chemical tags (methyl groups) attach to our DNA and affect gene expression. These changes occur in predictable ways with age and environmental exposures, in a process called methylation. Research studies have used “epigenetic clocks”, which measure the methylation of our genes, to estimate biological age. By analysing methylation levels at specific sites in the genome from participant samples, researchers apply predictive models to estimate the cumulative wear and tear on the body. <h2>What does the research say about their use?</h2> Although the science is rapidly evolving, the evidence underpinning the use of epigenetic clocks to measure biological ageing in research studies is <a href="https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/39743988/">strong</a>. Studies have shown epigenetic biological age estimation is a <a href="https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC5940111/">better predictor</a> of the risk of death and ageing-related diseases than chronological age. Epigenetic clocks also have been found to <a href="https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1279770725001277?dgcid=rss_sd_all">correlate strongly</a> with lifestyle and environmental exposures, such as smoking status and diet quality. In addition, they have been found to be able to <a href="https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC8484046/">predict</a> the risk of conditions such as cardiovascular disease, which can lead to heart attacks and strokes. Taken together, a growing body of research indicates that at a population level, epigenetic clocks are robust measures of biological ageing and are strongly linked to the risk of <a href="https://www.aginganddisease.org/EN/10.14336/AD.2022.1107">disease and death</a> <h2>But how good are these tests for individuals?</h2> While these tests are valuable when studying populations in research settings, using epigenetic clocks to measure the biological age of individuals is a different matter and requires scrutiny. For testing at an individual level, perhaps the most important consideration is the “signal to noise ratio” (or precision) of these tests. This is the question of whether a single sample from an individual may yield widely differing results. A <a href="https://www.nature.com/articles/s43587-022-00248-2">study from 2022</a> found samples deviated by up to nine years. So an identical sample from a 40-year-old may indicate a biological age of as low as 35 years (a cause for celebration) or as high as 44 years (a cause of anxiety). While there have been significant improvements in these tests over the years, there is considerable <a href="https://www.nature.com/articles/s43587-022-00248-2">variability</a> in the precision of these tests between commercial providers. So depending on who you send your sample to, your estimated biological age may vary considerably. <blockquote class="twitter-tweet"> Khloé Kardashian, 40, learns her biological age after confessing bad eating habits <a href="https://t.co/vlipIl9Im2">https://t.co/vlipIl9Im2</a> <a href="https://t.co/s1zRdpht0K">pic.twitter.com/s1zRdpht0K</a> — New York Post (@nypost) <a href="https://twitter.com/nypost/status/1816322940532650399?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">July 25, 2024</a></blockquote> Another limitation is there is currently no standardisation of methods for this testing. Commercial providers perform these tests in <a href="https://www.livescience.com/health/ageing/new-biological-aging-test-predicts-your-odds-of-dying-within-the-next-12-months">different ways</a> and have different algorithms for estimating biological age from the data. As you would expect for commercial operators, providers don’t disclose their methods. So it’s difficult to compare companies and determine who provides the most accurate results – and what you’re getting for your money. A third limitation is that while epigenetic clocks correlate well with ageing, they are simply a “<a href="https://frontlinegenomics.com/opinion-direct-to-consumer-epigenetic-tests-are-not-getting-enough-scrutiny/#:%7E:text=Companies%20claim%20that%20epigenetic%20variants,in%20the%20usual%20DTC%20scrutiny">proxy</a>” and are not a diagnostic tool. In other words, they may provide a general indication of ageing at a cellular level. But they don’t offer any specific insights about what the issue may be if someone is found to be “ageing faster” than they would like, or what they’re doing right if they are “ageing well”. So regardless of the result of your test, all you’re likely to get from the commercial provider of an epigenetic test is generic advice about what the science says is healthy behaviour. <h2>Are they worth it? Or what should I do instead?</h2> While companies offering these tests may have good intentions, remember their ultimate goal is to sell you these tests and make a profit. And at a cost of around A$500, they’re not cheap. While the idea of using these tests as a personalised health tool has potential, it is clear that <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/science/2022/jun/13/biological-age-startups-why">we are not there yet</a>. For this to become a reality, tests will need to become more reproducible, standardised across providers, and validated through long-term studies that link changes in biological age to specific behaviours. So while one-off tests of biological age make for impressive social media posts, for most people they represent a significant cost and offer limited real value. The good news is we already know what we need to do to increase our chances of living longer and healthier lives. These <a href="https://theconversation.com/you-cant-reverse-the-ageing-process-but-these-5-things-can-help-you-live-longer-214580">include</a>: <ul> <li>improving our diet</li> <li>increasing physical activity</li> <li>getting enough <a href="https://academic.oup.com/sleep/article/47/1/zsad253/7280269">sleep</a></li> <li>quitting smoking</li> <li><a href="https://theconversation.com/how-much-stress-is-too-much-a-psychiatrist-explains-the-links-between-toxic-stress-and-poor-health-and-how-to-get-help-222245">reducing stress</a></li> <li>prioritising social connection.</li> </ul> We don’t need to know our biological age in order to implement changes in our lives right now to improve our health. <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/257710/count.gif?distributor=republish-lightbox-basic" alt="The Conversation" width="1" height="1" />By <a href="https://theconversation.com/profiles/hassan-vally-202904">Hassan Vally</a>, Associate Professor, Epidemiology, <a href="https://theconversation.com/institutions/deakin-university-757">Deakin 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/how-old-are-you-really-are-the-latest-biological-age-tests-all-theyre-cracked-up-to-be-257710">original article</a>. Image: Pexels / Cottonbro Studio </div>

Body

How Iran will likely retaliate following US military strikes

US President Donald Trump’s decision to launch airstrikes on Iran’s nuclear facilities has plunged the Middle East into renewed uncertainty, with fears escalating over how Tehran might respond in the coming days. Speaking from Istanbul on Sunday, Iran’s Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi condemned the strikes as a “grave violation” of the UN Charter, international law, and the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT). In a statement posted to social media, Araghchi warned that Iran has “a variety of options” for retaliation. “The events this morning are outrageous and will have everlasting consequences,” Araghchi said. “In accordance with the UN Charter and its provisions allowing a legitimate response in self-defence, Iran reserves all options to defend its sovereignty, interests, and people.” UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres voiced deep concern over the escalation, warning of a “growing risk that this conflict could rapidly get out of control”. Potential Flashpoints for Retaliation Experts say Iran could target US military interests across the region. With around 40,000 US troops stationed at 19 sites in the Middle East – including 2,500 in Iraq – Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) may turn to its network of proxies in Iraq, Syria, and Yemen. The Iran-backed Houthi rebels have already hinted at renewed attacks on US ships in the Red Sea, calling for Trump to “bear the consequences” of the strikes. Iran might also seek to disrupt global oil trade by attempting to close the Strait of Hormuz, a vital shipping lane for 20 million barrels of oil per day. Such a move could send shockwaves through global markets, pushing up oil prices and jeopardising Trump’s economic agenda. Meanwhile, hardline voices in Tehran are calling for missile strikes in retaliation. Hossein Shariatmadari, a prominent adviser to Iran’s Supreme Leader, warned that after the US attack on the Fordow nuclear facility, “it is now our turn.” Nuclear Fallout Analysts fear that Trump’s actions could push Iran to abandon diplomacy altogether and accelerate its nuclear ambitions. Trita Parsi of the Quincy Institute said the strike “guaranteed that Iran will be a nuclear weapons state in the next five to 10 years”, particularly if hardliners take power. There is also speculation that Iran may withdraw from the NPT, removing one of the last formal restraints on its nuclear program. Ali Vaez of the International Crisis Group said an NPT withdrawal is “quite likely.” A War of Attrition or Asymmetric Warfare? Faced with overwhelming US and Israeli military power, Iran could opt for a war of attrition, using asymmetric tactics such as cyberattacks and terrorism to wear down its adversaries. The IRGC, while damaged by Israeli strikes, still retains the capacity to carry out operations both within and beyond the region, experts say. The Diplomatic Deadlock Hopes for renewed nuclear talks appear dim. Araghchi said on Sunday that the US had “blown up” diplomatic efforts, accusing both Washington and Tel Aviv of sabotaging negotiations. While talks with European powers reportedly made some progress last week, analysts say the latest escalation has likely shut the door on diplomacy – at least for now. “Their aim is to force Trump to stop Netanyahu’s war,” said Parsi, referring to Israel’s Prime Minister. “But by doing so, Tehran may have handed Israel a veto on US-Iran diplomacy.” As the world watches for Tehran’s next move, the stakes could hardly be higher – for Iran, for the region and for global stability. Images: Supplied

Legal

How sleep loss can lead to weight gain – and worse

<div class="theconversation-article-body"> You stayed up too late scrolling through your phone, answering emails or watching just one more episode. The next morning, you feel groggy and irritable. That sugary pastry or greasy breakfast sandwich suddenly looks more appealing than your usual yogurt and berries. By the afternoon, chips or candy from the break room call your name. This isn’t just about willpower. Your brain, short on rest, is nudging you toward quick, high-calorie fixes. There is a reason why this cycle repeats itself so predictably. Research shows that <a href="https://doi.org/10.1038/s41574-022-00747-7">insufficient sleep disrupts hunger signals</a>, <a href="https://doi.org/10.1016/j.smrv.2021.101514">weakens self-control</a>, <a href="https://doi.org/10.1016/j.metabol.2018.02.010">impairs glucose metabolism</a> and <a href="https://doi.org/10.1002/oby.23539">increases your risk of weight gain</a>. These changes <a href="https://doi.org/10.1523/JNEUROSCI.0250-18.2018">can occur rapidly</a>, even after a single night of poor sleep, and <a href="https://doi.org/10.1111/nyas.14926">can become more harmful over time</a> if left unaddressed. I am a <a href="https://scholar.google.com/citations?user=sTqquL0AAAAJ&hl=en">neurologist specializing in sleep science</a> and its impact on health. Sleep deprivation affects millions. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, more than one-third of U.S. adults <a href="https://www.cdc.gov/sleep/data-research/facts-stats/adults-sleep-facts-and-stats.html">regularly get less than seven hours of sleep</a> per night. Nearly three-quarters of adolescents <a href="https://www.cdc.gov/sleep/data-research/facts-stats/high-school-students-sleep-facts-and-stats.html?utm_source=chatgpt.com">fall short of the recommended 8-10 hours sleep</a> during the school week. While anyone can suffer from sleep loss, essential workers and first responders, including nurses, firefighters and emergency personnel, are <a href="https://doi.org/10.1136/bmj.i5210">especially vulnerable</a> <a href="https://doi.org/10.3390/jcm13154505">due to night shifts and rotating schedules</a>. These patterns disrupt the body’s internal clock and are linked to increased cravings, poor eating habits and elevated risks for obesity and metabolic disease. Fortunately, even a few nights of consistent, high-quality sleep can help rebalance key systems and start to reverse some of these effects. <h2>How sleep deficits disrupt hunger hormones</h2> Your body regulates hunger through a <a href="https://doi.org/10.1056/NEJMra2402679">hormonal feedback loop</a> <a href="https://doi.org/10.1016/j.peptides.2025.171367">involving two key hormones</a>. Ghrelin, produced primarily in the stomach, signals that you are hungry, while leptin, which is produced in the fat cells, tells your brain that you are full. Even one night of restricted sleep <a href="https://doi.org/10.1002/oby.23616">increases the release of ghrelin and decreases leptin</a>, which leads to greater hunger and reduced satisfaction after eating. This shift is driven by changes in how the <a href="https://doi.org/10.1002/oby.23616">body regulates hunger</a> and stress. Your brain becomes less responsive to fullness signals, while at the same time <a href="https://doi.org/10.1111/obr.13051">ramping up stress hormones</a> that can increase cravings and appetite. These changes are not subtle. In controlled lab studies, healthy adults reported <a href="https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1365-2869.2008.00662.x">increased hunger and stronger cravings</a> for calorie-dense foods after sleeping only four to five hours. The effect worsens with ongoing sleep deficits, which can lead to a <a href="https://doi.org/10.1111/obr.13051">chronically elevated appetite</a>. <figure><iframe src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/r6pItuOoGxc?wmode=transparent&start=0" width="440" height="260" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen"></iframe><figcaption>Sleep is as important as diet and exercise in maintaining a healthy weight.</figcaption></figure> <h2>Why the brain shifts into reward mode</h2> Sleep loss changes how your brain evaluates food. Imaging studies show that <a href="https://doi.org/10.1038/ncomms3259">after just one night of sleep deprivation</a>, the prefrontal cortex, which is responsible for decision-making and impulse control, <a href="https://doi.org/10.3945/ajcn.111.027383">has reduced activity</a>. At the same time, <a href="https://doi.org/10.1523/JNEUROSCI.0250-18.2018">reward-related areas such as the amygdala</a> and the nucleus accumbens, a part of the brain that drives motivation and reward-seeking, become <a href="https://doi.org/10.1093/sleep/zsx125">more reactive to tempting food cues</a>. In simple terms, your brain becomes more tempted by junk food and less capable of resisting it. Participants in sleep deprivation studies not only rated high-calorie foods as more desirable but were also <a href="https://doi.org/10.3945/ajcn.111.027383">more likely to choose them</a>, regardless of how hungry they actually felt. <h2>Your metabolism slows, leading to increased fat storage</h2> Sleep is also critical for blood sugar control. When you’re well rested, your body efficiently uses insulin to move sugar out of your bloodstream and into your cells for energy. But even one night of partial sleep can <a href="https://doi.org/10.1210/jc.2009-2430">reduce insulin sensitivity by up to 25%</a>, leaving more sugar circulating in your blood. If your body can’t process sugar effectively, it’s more likely to convert it into fat. This contributes to weight gain, especially around the abdomen. Over time, poor sleep is associated with <a href="https://doi.org/10.1161/CIR.0000000000000444">higher risk for Type 2 diabetes and metabolic syndrome</a>, a <a href="https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/metabolic-syndrome/symptoms-causes/syc-20351916">group of health issues</a> such as high blood pressure, belly fat and high blood sugar that raise the risk for heart disease and diabetes. On top of this, sleep loss raises cortisol, your body’s main stress hormone. <a href="https://doi.org/10.1210/jc.2013-4254">Elevated cortisol encourages fat storage</a>, especially in the abdominal region, and can further disrupt appetite regulation. <h2>Sleep is your metabolic reset button</h2> In a culture that glorifies hustle and late nights, sleep is often treated as optional. But your body doesn’t see it that way. Sleep is not downtime. It is active, essential repair. It is when your brain recalibrates hunger and reward signals, your hormones reset and your metabolism stabilises. Just one or two nights of quality sleep can begin to <a href="https://doi.org/10.1152/ajpendo.00301.2013">undo the damage from prior sleep loss</a> and restore your body’s natural balance. So the next time you find yourself reaching for junk food after a short night, recognize that your biology is not failing you. It is reacting to stress and fatigue. The most effective way to restore balance isn’t a crash diet or caffeine. It’s sleep. Sleep is not a luxury. It is your most powerful tool for appetite control, energy regulation and long-term health.<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/255726/count.gif?distributor=republish-lightbox-basic" alt="The Conversation" width="1" height="1" /> <a href="https://theconversation.com/profiles/joanna-fong-isariyawongse-1470879">Joanna Fong-Isariyawongse</a>, Associate Professor of Neurology, <a href="https://theconversation.com/institutions/university-of-pittsburgh-854">University of Pittsburgh</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/sleep-loss-rewires-the-brain-for-cravings-and-weight-gain-a-neurologist-explains-the-science-behind-the-cycle-255726">original article</a>. Image: Pexels / Ron Lach </div>

Body

Council to refund up to $12m in parking fines after 12-year error

Drivers across Melbourne’s inner north are set to be refunded millions of dollars in parking fines after Merri-bek City Council admitted to overcharging motorists for more than a decade due to an administrative blunder. The council, formerly known as Moreland, revealed this week it had incorrectly issued parking fines worth up to $12 million between July 1, 2013 and June 11, 2025. Around 248,000 infringements are believed to be affected, with individual refunds ranging from $43 to $59 depending on when the fine was issued. The error stemmed from the council charging 0.5 penalty units for certain parking violations – without having the necessary resolution in place. Under Victorian law, in the absence of a formal resolution, the maximum charge should have been 0.2 penalty units. “Unfortunately, it has recently been discovered that there was no resolution in place setting this value,” the council said in a statement. “This was due to an administrative error in 2013, which has not been identified until recently.” The fines in question relate primarily to overstaying time limits in “green sign zones” and other minor parking infringements. The 11 affected offence types include failing to park at the correct angle, parking outside a marked bay, or stopping in designated motorbike or bicycle parking areas. Merri-bek City Council chief executive officer Cathy Henderson apologised for the long-standing oversight. “Today’s announcement reflects Merri-bek City Council’s commitment to integrity, transparency and fairness. Now that we have found the mistake, we are fixing it,” she said. “This is a regrettable historical administrative error, and we apologise for the impact of the overcharge.” Henderson emphasised that parking fines are reinvested into community services and facilities, and that parking controls remain necessary to ensure fair access to limited spaces. The council will launch a Parking Fines Refund Scheme in July, offering affected motorists 12 months to apply for a refund. Fines Victoria has confirmed it will place impacted outstanding fines on hold during this process, suspending enforcement action and additional fees. “Fines Victoria will continue to work with Merri-bek City Council as they take action to resolve this matter,” the agency said in an online statement. Drivers keen to find out if they are eligible for a refund can <a href="https://www.merri-bek.vic.gov.au/my-council/news-and-publications/news/parking-fines-refund-scheme/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">visit the Merri-bek City Council website</a> for further details. Image: Merri-bek City Council

Legal

Jaws at 50: how two musical notes terrified an entire generation

<div class="theconversation-article-body"> Our experience of the world often involves hearing our environment before seeing it. Whether it’s the sound of something moving through nearby water, or the rustling of vegetation, our fear of the unseen is rooted in our survival instincts as a species. Cinematic sound and music taps into these somewhat unsettling instincts – and this is exactly what director Steven Spielberg and composer John Williams achieved in the iconic 1975 thriller Jaws. The sound design and musical score work in tandem to confront the audience with a mysterious killer animal. In what is arguably the film’s most iconic scene, featuring beach swimmers’ legs flailing underwater, the shark remains largely unseen – yet the sound perfectly conveys the threat at large. <figure><iframe src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/rW23RsUTb2Y?wmode=transparent&start=0" width="440" height="260" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen"></iframe></figure> <h2>Creating tension in a soundtrack</h2> Film composers aim to create soundscapes that will profoundly move and influence their audience. And they express these intentions through the use of musical elements such as rhythm, harmony, tempo, form, dynamics, melody and texture. In Jaws, the initial encounter with the shark opens innocently with the sound of an offshore buoy and its clanging bell. The scene is established both musically and atmospherically to evoke a sense of isolation for the two characters enjoying a late-night swim on an empty beach. But once we hear the the low strings, followed by the central two-note motif played on a tuba, we know something sinister is afoot. <figure><iframe src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/yrEvK-tv5OI?wmode=transparent&start=0" width="440" height="260" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen"></iframe></figure> This compositional technique of alternating between two notes at an increasing speed has long been employed by composers, including by Antonín Dvořák in his 1893 work <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jOofzffyDSA&pp=ygUcdGhlIG5ldyB3b3JsZCBzeW1waG9ueSBuby4gOQ==">New World Symphony</a>. John Williams <a href="https://limelight-arts.com.au/features/the-music-of-jaws-an-interview-with-john-williams/">reportedly used</a> six basses, eight cellos, four trombones and a tuba to create the blend of low frequencies that would go on to define his entire Jaws score. The bass instruments emphasise the lower end of the musical frequency spectrum, evoking a dark timbre that conveys depth, power and intensity. String players can use various <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Violin_technique">bowing techniques</a>, such as staccato and marcato, to deliver dark and even menacing tones, especially in the lower registers. Meanwhile, there is a marked absence of tonality in the repeating E–F notes, played with increasing speed on the tuba. Coupled with the intensifying dynamics in the instrumental blend, this accelerating two-note motif signals the looming danger before we even see it – tapping into our instinctive fear of the unknown. <figure><iframe src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/BQKLJ2MuHvY?wmode=transparent&start=0" width="440" height="260" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen"></iframe></figure> The use of the two-note motif and lower-end orchestration characterises a composition style that aims to unsettle and disorientate the audience. Another example of this style can be heard in Bernard Herrmann’s <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9kvzZ6nkZ6Q">car crash scene audio</a> in North by Northwest (1959). Similarly, in Sergei Prokofiev’s <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?app=desktop&v=Y4U7wNZu-CU%22%22">Scythian Suite</a>, the opening of the second movement (Dance of the Pagan Gods) uses an alternating D#–E motif. The elasticity of Williams’ motif allows the two notes to be played on different instruments throughout the soundtrack, exploring various timbral possibilities to induce a kaleidoscope of fear, panic and dread. <h2>The psychology behind our response</h2> What is it that makes the Jaws soundtrack so psychologically confronting, even without the visuals? Music scholars have various theories. <a href="https://boldentrance.com/the-power-of-jaws-is-in-john-williams-two-note-musical-score/">Some suggest</a> the two notes imitate the sound of human respiration, while others have proposed the theme evokes the heartbeat of a shark. Williams explained his approach <a href="https://www.latimes.com/entertainment/la-ca-john-williams-20120108-story.html">in an interview</a> with the Los Angeles Times: <blockquote> I fiddled around with the idea of creating something that was very … brainless […] Meaning something could be very repetitious, very visceral, and grab you in your gut, not in your brain. […] It could be something you could play very softly, which would indicate that the shark is far away when all you see is water. Brainless music that gets louder and gets closer to you, something is gonna swallow you up. </blockquote> Williams plays with the audience’s emotions throughout the film’s score, culminating in the scene Man Against Beast – a celebration of thematic development and heightened orchestration. <figure><iframe src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/xrjUIz7fy6c?wmode=transparent&start=0" width="440" height="260" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen"></iframe></figure> The film’s iconic soundtrack has created a legacy that extends beyond the visual. And this suggests the score isn’t just a soundtrack – but a character in its own right. By using music to reveal what is hidden, Williams creates an intense emotional experience rife with anticipation and tension. The score’s two-note motif showcases his genius – and serves as a sonic shorthand that has kept a generation behind the breakers of every beach.<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/258068/count.gif?distributor=republish-lightbox-basic" alt="The Conversation" width="1" height="1" /> By <a href="https://theconversation.com/profiles/alison-cole-1443114">Alison Cole</a>, Composer and Lecturer in Screen Composition, Sydney Conservatorium of Music, <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/jaws-at-50-how-two-musical-notes-terrified-an-entire-generation-258068">original article</a>. Image: </div>

Movies

“We are righting the wrongs”: Excavation begins to unearth nearly 800 lost children

WARNING: Distressing content A tranquil, walled patch of grass in a quiet Irish housing estate is about to expose one of Ireland’s darkest secrets. The site, in the town of Tuam, 220km west of Dublin, is the final resting place for significant quantities of human remains – the victims of a brutal chapter in the nation’s history known as the “mother and baby” home scandal. From 1925 to 1961, Tuam’s mother and baby home, run by the Bon Secours nuns, housed women who became pregnant outside of marriage – and their children, many of whom died in disturbing numbers. The institution was demolished in 1972, but the land lay largely untouched. That will change next month, as excavation teams begin the delicate task of recovering the bodies buried in what is believed to be a disused septic tank. “There are so many babies, children just discarded here,” said Catherine Corless, the local historian whose painstaking research uncovered the mass grave and sparked national reckoning. In 2014, Corless, now 71, produced evidence showing that 796 children, from newborns to age nine, died at the Tuam home. “There are no burial records for the children, no cemetery, no statue, no cross – absolutely nothing,” she said. Despite early investigations and the identification of human remains in underground chambers in 2016 and 2017, it took until 2022 for Ireland’s parliament to pass legislation allowing excavation of the Tuam site. For Corless, it has been a long and painful campaign. “It’s been a fierce battle – when I started this, nobody wanted to listen. At last, we are righting the wrongs,” she said. “I was just begging: take the babies out of this sewage system and give them the decent Christian burial that they were denied.” The mother and baby homes were institutions where unmarried pregnant women were sent, isolated from society and often separated from their babies through forced adoption. A state inquiry revealed that between 1922 and 1998, around 56,000 women and 57,000 children passed through 18 such homes across Ireland. More than 9,000 children died. Anna Corrigan, 70, is among those seeking answers. She only learned in her 50s that her late mother had given birth in Tuam to two boys – John and William – whose fates remain unclear. “They prevaricate, they obfuscate, they make it difficult for people to get to the truth,” Corrigan said. “There are dirty little secrets in Ireland that have to be kept hidden.” For Corrigan and others, the coming excavation is a bittersweet step forward. A specialist team, appointed last year, will search for remains, conduct DNA testing and arrange dignified reburials. “I never thought I’d see the day that we’d get over so many hurdles – push them to finally excavate what I call the ‘pit,’ not a grave,” Corrigan said. “I’m glad it’s starting, but if we can even find and identify a certain amount, it’s not going to give us all closure.” As excavation crews prepare to break the ground that has kept these stories hidden for so long, Ireland faces a fresh confrontation with a painful past – and the opportunity, at last, to honour lives lost in silence. Images: Aeon.com

Caring

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

How this driver lost 22 demerit points and $1800 in a single traffic stop

A NSW learner driver has been hit with nearly $1,800 in fines and an eye-watering 22 demerit points in a single traffic stop, prompting police to issue a stern reminder about the importance of following road rules – especially for novice drivers. The incident occurred on Sunday afternoon when Mittagong Highway Patrol officers clocked a silver Saab convertible travelling at 129km/h in a 110km/h zone on the Hume Highway near Penrose. What initially appeared to be a simple speeding matter quickly snowballed into a catalogue of serious offences. The driver – a male holder of a NSW Learner's Class C licence – should not have been travelling above 90km/h and was also found not to be displaying the required yellow L plates on either the front or rear of the vehicle. Upon stopping the vehicle at 4.15pm, officers discovered a mobile phone mounted near the steering wheel, playing a YouTube music video. When questioned, the driver swiped the screen to a map app and claimed he was "just looking at the map". In NSW, learner and provisional drivers are prohibited from using a mobile phone for any reason, including navigation. Compounding the offences, the driver’s female supervisor told police she had been asleep in the passenger seat – a direct violation of her legal duty to actively supervise the learner. The full list of infringements included: Exceeding speed by more than 30km/h: $1,045 fine and 10 demerit points (doubled for long weekend); Learner using a mobile phone: $410 fine and 10 demerit points (doubled); Failure to display L plates: $320 fine and 2 demerit points (doubled). With double demerits in effect due to the long weekend, the driver racked up 22 demerit points – far exceeding the four-point limit for learners – resulting in an automatic licence suspension, with a formal disqualification from NSW Transport to follow. The female supervisor also received a penalty for failing to fulfil her supervisory obligations. NSW Traffic and Highway Patrol officers said the case is a stark example of reckless behaviour behind the wheel and urged all drivers, especially learners, to understand and respect the rules of the road. Images: NSW Traffic and Highway Patrol Command “This is exactly what not to do,” an officer said.

Legal

ABC rumoured to be axing Q+A amid fresh round of cuts

Long-running ABC current affairs program Q+A is reportedly facing the axe after 17 years on Australian television, with multiple media outlets citing unnamed sources within the national broadcaster. The influential panel show, which launched in 2008 with Tony Jones as host, is said to have been dropped ahead of its scheduled return in August. The decision places Q+A among a growing list of legacy programs facing the chopping block, coming just days after Channel Ten confirmed it was ending The Project following a 16-year run. Q+A went into its scheduled hiatus in mid-May, and it remains unclear whether it will return at all in 2025. ABC’s new managing director, Hugh Marks, is expected to reveal sweeping changes at the public broadcaster this week, including potential staff redundancies and confirmation of the show’s fate. The Media Entertainment and Arts Alliance (MEAA) warned ABC staff on Tuesday that job cuts were imminent, with employees reportedly being called into meetings to discuss a major restructure. Marks, who replaced David Anderson in March, has previously signalled a focus on streamlining the broadcaster’s operations, suggesting the ABC may need to “do fewer things better” in the future. In addition to cuts, the ABC is expected to announce new content initiatives, including a dedicated documentary unit championed by ABC chair Kim Williams. Created by executive producer Peter McEvoy, Q+A debuted in May 2008 and quickly became a flagship program for the ABC. Its format, inspired by the BBC’s Question Time, brought politicians, experts and members of the public together to debate national issues in real time. Following Jones’ departure in 2019, the show struggled to maintain its ratings. Hamish Macdonald took over as host in 2020, before stepping down amid mixed reviews. Stan Grant’s brief tenure in 2022 ended after he became the target of racist abuse unrelated to the show. The current host, Patricia Karvelas, has led the program since early 2023. While viewership has modestly improved under Karvelas, the show’s ratings remain among the lowest in the ABC’s current affairs stable. A 2023 “Garma Special” episode drew just 84,000 metro viewers – Q+A’s lowest figures on record. The ABC has not officially confirmed the program’s cancellation. However, the coming days are expected to bring clarity as the national broadcaster embarks on a major overhaul under new leadership. Image: ABC

‘Not available in your region’: what is a VPN and how can I use one safely?

<div class="theconversation-article-body"> “This video is not available in your location”. It’s a message familiar to many people trying to watch global content online. But beneath this frustration lies a deeper question – how do we navigate digital borders safely and ethically? As our digital lives expand, so too does our desire for access. Maybe you want to see the latest streaming shows before they arrive in your country. Maybe you’re a sports fan wanting to watch live broadcasts of international events. Or perhaps you need to log into your company’s secure intranet while at home or overseas. Enter the virtual private network (VPN) – a technology that’s become as essential as antivirus software for many. With many commercial and free VPN providers on the market, interest in these services <a href="https://www.comparitech.com/vpn/vpn-statistics/">has grown in recent years</a>. <h2>How does a VPN work?</h2> A <a href="https://computingaustralia.com.au/5-minute-helpdesk-what-is-a-vpn-and-why-should-i-use-one/">VPN</a> is like a secure tunnel between your device and the internet. When you use a VPN, your <a href="https://www.esafety.gov.au/key-topics/online-tools-and-features/encryption">internal traffic is scrambled into unreadable data</a> and routed through a remote server, which also masks your real IP address. Think of it like this: instead of sending a postcard with your return address, you send it in an envelope to a trusted friend overseas who mails it on your behalf. To anyone looking at the envelope, it looks like the message came from your friend and not you. This technique shields your identity, protects your data from snoopers, and tricks websites into thinking you are browsing from another location. While often marketed as <a href="https://www.le-vpn.com/australia-cyber-privacy-vpn/">tools for online privacy</a>, VPNs have grown popular for another reason: access. Many people use VPNs to access geo-blocked content, secure their internet activity, work remotely – <a href="https://www.cyber.gov.au/protect-yourself/staying-secure-online/security-tips-remote-working">especially when handling sensitive data</a> – and protect against online tracking and targeted advertising. <h2>VPNs are legal, if a bit grey</h2> VPN services are offered by dozens of providers globally. Companies such as NordVPN, ProtonVPN, ExpressVPN and Surfshark offer paid subscriptions with strong security guarantees. Free VPNs also exist but come with caveats (more on this in a moment). In <a href="https://us.norton.com/blog/privacy/are-vpns-legal">most countries</a>, including <a href="https://www.cyber.gov.au/protect-yourself/staying-secure-online/connecting-to-public-wi-fi">Australia</a>, using a VPN is completely legal. However, what makes it murky is what one might use it for. While using a VPN is legal, engaging in illegal activities while using one remains prohibited. Streaming services like Netflix or Disney+ license content by region. Using a VPN to access a foreign catalogue may violate their terms of service and potentially be grounds for account suspension. Australian law does not criminalise accessing geo-blocked content via VPN, but the copyright act does prohibit circumventing “technological protection measures” in certain cases. The grey area lies in enforcement. Technically, copyright law does ban getting around certain protections. However, the <a href="https://www.copyright.org.au/browse/book/ACC-Geoblocking%2C-VPNs-%26-Copyright-INFO127">latest advice does not mention</a> any cases where regular users have been taken to court for this kind of behaviour. So far, enforcement has mostly targeted websites and platforms that host or enable large-scale copyright infringement; not everyday viewers who want to watch a show a bit early. <h2>Beware of ‘free’ VPNs</h2> Not all VPNs are created equal. While premium services invest in strong encryption and privacy protections, free VPNs often make money by collecting user data – <a href="https://www.choice.com.au/electronics-and-technology/internet/connecting-to-the-internet/buying-guides/vpn-services">the very thing you may be trying to avoid</a>. Risks of unsafe VPNs include data leaks, injection of ads or trackers into your browsing, and malware and spyware, <a href="https://www.abc.net.au/news/2017-01-25/viruses-spyware-found-in-alarming-number-of-android-vpn-apps/8210796">especially in free mobile apps</a> that claim to provide a VPN service. Using a poorly designed or dishonest VPN is like hiring a bodyguard who sells your location. It might give the impression of safety, but you may actually be more vulnerable than before. <h2>Okay, so how do I choose a VPN?</h2> With so many VPNs available, both free and paid, it can be hard to know which one to trust. If you are considering a VPN, here are five things to look for. <a href="https://www.expressvpn.com/what-is-vpn/policy-towards-logs">No-log policy</a>. A trustworthy VPN should have a strict no-log policy, meaning it does not store any records of your internet activity, connection time or IP address. This ensures even if the VPN provider is hacked, subpoenaed or pressured by a government, they have nothing to hand over. Strong encryption standards. Encryption is what makes your data unreadable to anyone snooping on your connection, such as hackers on public WiFi or your internet provider. A somewhat technical thing to look out for is <a href="https://www.kiteworks.com/risk-compliance-glossary/aes-256-encryption/">AES 256-bit encryption</a> – it’s extremely secure and is used by banks and governments. Independent audits. Reliable VPN services <a href="https://vpncentral.com/nordvpn-reaffirms-no-log-claims-with-fifth-deloitte-audit/">voluntarily undergo third-party audits</a> to verify their privacy claims and the security of their infrastructure. Kill switch. A kill switch is a critical safety feature that automatically blocks internet traffic if the VPN connection drops. This prevents your real IP address and data from being exposed, even momentarily. Jurisdiction. VPNs are subject to the laws of the country they are based in. The countries in the <a href="https://cyberinsider.com/5-eyes-9-eyes-14-eyes/">Five Eyes intelligence alliance</a> (Australia, Canada, United Kingdom, United States and New Zealand) may legally compel providers to hand over user data. If a VPN service has a strict no-log policy and does not collect information about what you do online, then even under legal pressure, there is nothing to hand over. So, you are safe. In an era of growing surveillance, cybercrime and corporate data collection, VPNs are essential tools for reclaiming your online privacy and data. But like any tool, the effectiveness (and ethics) of VPNs depend on how you use them. Next time you fire up your VPN, ask yourself – am I just dodging a digital border, or actively protecting my online freedom?<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/256559/count.gif?distributor=republish-lightbox-basic" alt="The Conversation" width="1" height="1" /> By <a href="https://theconversation.com/profiles/meena-jha-542776">Meena Jha</a>, Head Technology and Pedagogy Cluster CML-NET, <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/not-available-in-your-region-what-is-a-vpn-and-how-can-i-use-one-safely-256559">original article</a>. </div>

Technology

Iconic singer reveals sad diagnosis

Morten Harket, the iconic voice behind A-ha’s global smash "Take on Me", has revealed he has been diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease – a progressive condition that may bring an end to his singing career. The 65-year-old Norwegian singer shared the news in a moving interview published on the band’s official website, explaining that although treatment has eased some of the condition’s physical toll, it has also affected his voice – the very heart of his artistry. “I don’t feel like singing, and for me that’s a sign,” Harket said candidly. “As things stand now, that’s out of the question.” For the past year, Harket has undergone deep brain stimulation, a complex treatment involving two surgeries to implant electrodes on both sides of his brain. The procedure delivers electrical impulses that help control tremors and muscle stiffness, but in Harket’s case, has also dulled his soaring vocal range. Despite the gravity of the diagnosis, Harket said he feels at peace with it. He credits his 94-year-old father for encouraging him to “use whatever works” in coping with the challenges of the degenerative disorder. “There’s so much to weigh up,” he said. “It’s a difficult balancing act between taking the medication and managing its side effects.” A-ha last toured in 2020 and played what may be their final show together in 2022 at the Hollywood Bowl. Harket said he has continued to work on new music but is unsure whether the songs will ever be finished. Still, in classic form, he offered fans words of hope rather than despair. “Don’t worry about me,” he said. “Spend your energy addressing real problems… and know that I am being taken care of.” Images: Instagram

Caring

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>

Millions of Aussies set for a payrise

Millions of low-paid Australian workers will receive a wage boost from July 1, after the Fair Work Commission (FWC) announced a 3.5 per cent increase to minimum and award wages. The decision affects around 2.9 million workers and will lift the national minimum wage from $24.10 to $24.94 an hour – a weekly increase of nearly $32 for full-time employees. The FWC’s ruling strikes a middle ground between competing demands from unions and business groups. The Australian Council of Trade Unions (ACTU) had pushed for a 4.5 per cent rise, citing the need to help workers keep up with the cost of living, while employer groups including the Australian Chamber of Commerce and Industry had argued for a more modest 2.5 per cent hike. The 3.5 per cent rise is slightly below last year’s 3.75 per cent decision, but still exceeds the current annual inflation rate of 2.4 per cent. With the Reserve Bank forecasting inflation to rise to 3.1 per cent by mid-2026 as government energy subsidies wind down, the FWC’s decision offers workers a modest real wage increase. ACTU Secretary Sally McManus said the decision was a lifeline for workers living paycheque to paycheque. “When you’re on those wages, you’re not saving money. Everything you earn, you spend,” she said. “It’s about whether you can keep up with your bills or not, whether your life gets slightly better, stays the same, or goes backwards.” The ACTU had argued that sustained low wage growth in recent years had left many workers falling behind, and that the time had come for wages to catch up. McManus pointed to productivity improvements in sectors such as hospitality and retail – where many award-dependent workers are employed – as justification for a stronger rise. “The commission previously has said, ‘yes, these workers need to catch up, we’ve just got to wait for the right time’. We say now is the right time,” she said. But employer groups warned the decision will pile pressure on businesses already grappling with rising costs and weak consumer spending. The Council of Small Business Organisations Australia, representing many of the nation’s cafes, restaurants and retail stores, argued a 4.5 per cent jump could have triggered job losses or even business closures. “Anything higher than 2.5 per cent would place unsustainable pressure on small businesses, potentially leading to reduced employment opportunities, business closures, and broader economic harm,” the council said in its submission. The federal government stopped short of recommending a specific number, but called for a “sustainable” increase that would keep wages ahead of inflation without undermining economic stability. AMP chief economist Shane Oliver had forecast the 3.5 per cent increase, suggesting it would give workers a real wage gain without fanning the flames of inflation. “It strikes a balance between supporting household spending power and avoiding a wage-price spiral,” he said. While union leaders expressed disappointment that the rise wasn’t higher, the decision is broadly seen as a compromise designed to support both workers and businesses amid a fragile economic recovery. Image: Shutterstock

Money & Banking

Major bank announces huge home loan rate cut

The Commonwealth Bank of Australia (CBA) will reduce its fixed-rate home loans by up to 0.40 percentage points across all terms starting Friday, following a 0.25 percentage point cut to its variable rate in response to the Reserve Bank of Australia’s (RBA) recent cash rate reduction. The new rates will see CBA’s lowest fixed offering set at 5.49% for a three-year term. Despite the move, experts say the cuts are unlikely to spark a surge in homeowners locking in their mortgages. Sally Tindall, data insights director at Canstar.com.au, said the rate adjustments bring CBA closer to its major bank competitors but aren’t enough to significantly shift consumer behaviour. “CBA’s fixed rate cuts aren’t groundbreaking, but rather a bid to inch closer to its key competitors,” Tindall said. “Fixed rates have been falling fairly consistently this year, and we expect this activity will continue as banks price in the increasing likelihood of further cash rate cuts.” While CBA’s new rates mark progress, rivals remain more competitive. ANZ holds the lowest one- and two-year fixed rates among the big four banks, while National Australia Bank (NAB) continues to offer the most attractive three-, four-, and five-year fixed terms. Tindall also noted that with only a slim margin – just 0.10 percentage points – between current fixed and variable rates, many borrowers will likely hold off from locking in. “With the possibility of further RBA cuts ramping up, it’s hard to see many people jumping at the chance to lock up their mortgage for the next three years,” she said. “The majors might have to offer a fixed rate in the ‘4’s’ if they’re serious about getting people to lock in.” Canstar’s latest data shows a flurry of activity across the lending sector since the RBA’s decision. Twenty lenders have reduced at least one fixed rate this month, and five major lenders, excluding CBA, have already made cuts. Among them, BOQ, Community First Bank, Police Bank and Queensland Country Bank now offer at least one fixed rate below 5%, setting the benchmark at 4.99%. Tindall urged borrowers to carefully consider their financial situation and risk appetite when deciding between fixed and variable rates. “If you’re deciding between a fixed or variable rate, understand what might suit your finances and, to some extent, your personality. When you make a decision, take the time to look for a competitive rate,” she said. While the trend suggests fixed rates will continue to fall, CBA's latest move clearly shows the intense competition in the home loan market – one that still leaves many Australians hesitant to commit. Image: Supplied

Money & Banking

A quarter of a billion dollars in unclaimed Medicare rebates: here's how to claim them

More than a quarter of a billion dollars in unclaimed Medicare refunds are waiting to be returned to nearly a million Australians, with Services Australia urging people to check if they’re owed a share of the money. A staggering $260 million in Medicare rebates is currently unclaimed by 960,000 patients across the country. The unclaimed funds stem from GP and specialist visits where refunds were never processed due to incomplete or outdated bank account information. “You go to the doctor, you hand over your card and then you might not check what happens next,” said Justin Bott, community information officer at Services Australia. “Failing to follow up is what could be costing patients refunds they’re entitled to.” On a state-by-state basis, the figures remain eye-opening. Residents of New South Wales are owed $81 million, Victorians are missing $64 million, Queenslanders are due $51 million, Western Australians are entitled to $30 million, and South Australians could claim $19 million. The average unclaimed amount per person sits at around $265, but in some cases, individuals could receive over $10,000. One of the most affected demographics is young adults aged 18 to 25, who are often unaware of the need to update their details. The good news? The fix is simple. By logging into the MyGov portal and checking their Medicare account, Australians can update their bank details. Once updated, refunds are typically processed and deposited within three days. “It might not be you, but maybe it’s your child, your grandchild that has that money owing. Get them to check as well,” Bott urged. “Because again, what a great present to find that money being paid to them.” With hundreds of millions of dollars potentially just a few clicks away, Australians are being encouraged to act now and reclaim what is rightfully theirs. Image: Shutterstock

Money & Banking

How to get started investing later in life

For some people – particularly women – investing may not have been an option until now, constrained by a lack of income while raising children or low incomes leaving nothing to invest once the bills were paid. Others find a new-found need to invest later in life, such as after a separation, inability to work through illness or injury, or the sudden death of their partner. No matter your reason for exploring investing later in life, the following pointers will get you on your way to building financial independence and a comfortable retirement. Update your strategy When was the last time you updated your spending and investment plan (or household budget)? It may have been before the kids left home, your mortgage was paid off, or you began transitioning into part-time retirement. If so, your living costs have changed significantly – work expenses, home energy consumption, groceries etc. Furthermore, your goals, healthcare and lifestyle needs may also have changed. Update your strategy to align with your current goals, values, income and spending habits. Only then will you understand how much you can afford to invest and where to direct those funds. Right-size your superannuation In your later years, super is likely to be front of mind. Ensure this investment works its hardest for you by scrutinising its: • Structure: retail or industry fund? SMSF? Each has its own costs and benefits to contemplate. • Investments: reexamine the types of assets held, level of diversification and risk weighting. • Insurances: do you have adequate life, permanent disability and income protection cover? • Take advantage of superannuation strategies you may not be aware of Unlock home equity The biggest source of money you likely have at this stage of life is equity in your home. This can be used to invest with minimal impact on your everyday finances. In fact, unused equity is effectively dead money (until you sell the property). I always urge caution on reverse mortgages. In theory, they seem like a great way of unlocking equity without saddling you with regular repayments. However, they typically: • accumulate more debt. • have higher interest rates than standard mortgages. • only grant access to a portion of your equity. • can restrict your options to downsize later. • could leave you with no remaining equity when you sell the property or nothing to leave to your benefactors when you pass away. Consider downsizing An alternative to refinancing is downsizing from the family home. As well as unlocking money for investing, you benefit from lower upkeep costs (and cleaning!) on a smaller property and can make a lifestyle change at the same time (moving nearer to family, away from bustling cities, or into supported care if required). Additionally, you may be able to use part of the sale proceeds (up to $300,000) to turbocharge your super with a one-off <a href="https://www.ato.gov.au/individuals-and-families/super-for-individuals-and-families/super/growing-and-keeping-track-of-your-super/how-to-save-more-in-your-super/downsizer-super-contributions" target="_blank" rel="noopener">downsizer contribution</a>. Examine pension impacts Investing can impact your ability to claim the age pension when you retire, and how much you receive. This often comes to bite people who unlock equity in their home to invest, without realising that doing so means the money suddenly counts towards the pension means test. Before doing anything, methodically weigh up which will leave you financially better off – claiming a full or part pension, or self-funding your retirement through investments. Minimise tax Hefty tax bills can easily wipe out any investment returns, making tax a crucial factor in your decision-making. Potential tax considerations to factor into your strategy include: • Determining the most tax-effective ownership structure (e.g. do you invest in your or partner’s name? Through your super? Through a trust or company? • Incorporating stamp duty into purchase costs. • Ensuring there is enough profit from the sale of an investment to cover Capital Gains Tax (CGT) and income tax liabilities before deciding to sell. • Timing a sale to fall within the optimal financial year (e.g. in a year where your taxable income is lower or when relevant tax changes come into effect). Invest in knowledge Later in life, you have fewer working years remaining to recover any losses. Given the far-reaching implications of investing, I highly recommend first speaking to a financial adviser. Many times the fees are paid for in initial tax savings. They can help you maximise your returns, minimise your tax, ensure you don’t inadvertently leave yourself worse off and give you peace of mind. After all, the whole point of investing is to make money. And, without current professional advice, you simply don’t know what you don’t know! Helen Baker is a licensed Australian financial adviser and author of the new book, Money For Life: How to build financial security from firm foundations (Major Street Publishing $32.99). Helen is among the 1% of financial planners who hold a master’s degree in the field. Proceeds from book sales are donated to charities supporting disadvantaged women and children. Find out more at <a href="http://www.onyourowntwofeet.com.au/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">www.onyourowntwofeet.com.au</a> Disclaimer: The information in this article is of a general nature only and does not constitute personal financial or product advice. Any opinions or views expressed are those of the authors and do not represent those of people, institutions or organisations the owner may be associated with in a professional or personal capacity unless explicitly stated. Helen Baker is an authorised representative of BPW Partners Pty Ltd AFSL 548754.

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

Millions of Aussies set for a payrise

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A quarter of a billion dollars in unclaimed Medicare rebates: here's how to claim them

How to get started investing later in life

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