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Older Australians are also hurting from the housing crisis. Where are the election policies to help them?

<div class="theconversation-article-body"> It would be impossible at this stage in the election campaign to be unaware that housing is a critical, potentially vote-changing, issue. But the suite of policies being proposed by the <a href="https://theconversation.com/how-do-the-coalition-and-labor-plans-on-housing-differ-and-what-have-they-ignored-253337">major parties</a> largely focus on young, first home buyers. What is glaringly noticeable is the lack of measures to improve availability and affordability for older people. Modern older lives are diverse, yet older people have become too easily pigeonholed. No more so than in respect to property, where a perception has flourished that older people own more than their fair share of housing wealth. While the value of housing has no doubt increased, home <a href="https://www.aihw.gov.au/reports/australias-welfare/home-ownership-and-housing-tenure#:%7E:text=The%20home%20ownership%20rate%20of,compared%20with%2036%25%20in%202021.">ownership rates</a> among people reaching retirement age has actually declined since the mid-1990s. Older people can also face <a href="https://www.anglicare.asn.au/research-advocacy/rental-affordability/">rental stress and homelessness</a> – with almost 20,000 <a href="https://www.abs.gov.au/statistics/people/housing/estimating-homelessness-census/latest-release">homeless people</a> in Australia aged over 55. Severe housing stress is a key contributing to those homelessness figures. It’s easy to blame older Australians for causing, or exacerbating, the housing crisis. But doing so ignores the fact that right now, our housing system is badly failing many older people too. <h2>No age limits</h2> Owning a home has traditionally provided financial security for retirees, especially ones relying on the age pension. This is so much so, that home ownership is sometimes described as the “fourth pillar” of Australia’s retirement system. But housing has become more expensive – to rent or buy – for everyone. Falling rates of <a href="https://grattan.edu.au/report/money-in-retirement/">home ownership</a> combined with carriage of mortgage debt into retirement, restricted access to shrinking stocks of social housing, and lack of housing affordability in the private rental market have a particular impact on older people. <h2>Housing rethink</h2> Housing policy for older Australians has mostly focused on age-specific options, such as retirement villages and aged care. Taking such a limited view excludes other potential solutions from across the broader housing system that should be considered. Furthermore, not all older people want to live in a retirement village, and fewer than <a href="https://www.abs.gov.au/statistics/health/disability/disability-ageing-and-carers-australia-summary-findings/latest-release#:%7E:text=5.5%20million%20Australians%20(21.4%25),a%20profound%20or%20severe%20disability.">5% of older people</a> live in residential aged care. During my <a href="https://www.churchilltrust.com.au/fellow/victoria-cornell-sa-2019/">Churchill Fellowship study</a> exploring alternative, affordable models of housing for older people, I discovered three cultural themes that are stopping us from having a productive conversation about housing for older people. <ul> <li> Australia’s tradition of home ownership undervalues renting and treats housing as a commodity, not a basic need. This disadvantages older renters and those on low income. </li> <li> There’s a stigma regarding welfare in Australia, which influences who is seen as “deserving” and shapes the policy responses. </li> <li> While widely encouraged, “ageing-in-place” means different things to different people. It can include formal facilities or the family home that needs modifications to make it habitable as someone ages. </li> </ul> These themes are firmly entrenched, often driven by policy narratives such as the primacy of home ownership over renting. In the past 50 years or so, many have come to view welfare, such as social housing, as a <a href="https://www.ahuri.edu.au/research/final-reports/390">last resort</a>, and have aimed to age in their family home or move into a “desirable” retirement village. <h2>Variety is key</h2> A more flexible approach could deliver housing for older Australians that is more varied in design, cost and investment models. The promises made so far by political parties to help younger home buyers are welcome. However, the housing system is a complex beast and there is no single quick fix solution. First and foremost, a national housing and homelessness plan is required, which also involves the states and territories. The plan must include explicit consideration of housing options for older people. Funding for housing developments needs to be more flexible in terms of public-private sector investment and direct government assistance that goes beyond first home buyer incentives. <h2>International models</h2> For inspiration, we could look to Denmark, which has developed numerous <a href="https://www.spatialagency.net/database/co-housing">co-housing communities</a>. Co-housing models generally involve self-managing communities where residents have their own private, self-contained home, supported by communal facilities and spaces. They can be developed and designed by the owner or by a social housing provider. They can be age-specific or multi-generational. Funding flexibility, planning and design are key to their success. Institutional investors include <ul> <li> so-called impact investors, who seek social returns and often accept lower financial returns </li> <li> community housing providers </li> <li> member-based organisations, such as mutuals and co-operatives. </li> </ul> Government also plays a part by expediting the development process and providing new pathways to more affordable ownership and rental options. Europe is also leading the way on social housing, where cultural attitudes are different from here. In Vienna, Austria, more than 60% of residents live in 440,000 <a href="https://www.wienerwohnen.at/wiener-gemeindebau/municipal-housing-in-vienna.html">socially provided homes</a>. These homes are available for a person’s entire life, with appropriate age-related modifications permitted if required. At over 20% of the total housing stock, <a href="https://lbf.dk/om-lbf/english-the-danish-social-housing-model/">social housing</a> is also a large sector in Denmark, where the state and municipalities support the construction of non-profit housing. <h2>Overcoming stereotyes</h2> Our population is ageing rapidly, and more older people are now renting or facing housing insecurity. If policymakers continue to ignore their housing needs, even more older people will be at risk of living on the street, and as a result will suffer poor health and social isolation. Overcoming stereotypes - such as the idea that all older people are wealthy homeowners - is key to building fairer, more inclusive solutions. This isn’t just about older Australians. It’s about creating a housing system that works for everyone, at every stage of life.<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/255391/count.gif?distributor=republish-lightbox-basic" alt="The Conversation" width="1" height="1" /> By <a href="https://theconversation.com/profiles/victoria-cornell-2372746">Victoria Cornell</a>, Research Fellow, <a href="https://theconversation.com/institutions/flinders-university-972">Flinders 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/older-australians-are-also-hurting-from-the-housing-crisis-where-are-the-election-policies-to-help-them-255391">original article</a>. Image: Shutterstock </div>

Money & Banking

Remains of 4 Australian soldiers discovered just days ahead of Anzac Day

The remains of four Australian soldiers who perished in World War I have been uncovered in northern France, more than a century after they were killed in the brutal Second Battle of Bullecourt. According to the Australian Department of Defence, the discovery was made during a recent fieldwork operation conducted by the Australian Army’s Unrecovered War Casualties unit. The soldiers were among the thousands who fought in the battle in May 1917, a fierce attempt by the Australian Imperial Force to penetrate the German Hindenburg Line. Up to 10,000 Australian troops were either killed or wounded during the operation, with approximately 3,700 confirmed dead between April and May 1917. Tragically, more than half of these fallen soldiers are believed to lie in unmarked graves across the region. The site of their final stand lies near Villers-Bretonneux, where the Australian National Memorial to the Missing was erected to honour the many who have no known grave. Australian Army Chief Lieutenant General Simon Stuart acknowledged the emotional timing of the find, just days before Anzac Day. “As we approach Anzac Day, recovering these four Australian soldiers reminds us the search for the missing is tireless and ongoing,” Lieutenant General Stuart said. “We do not forget the service and sacrifice of those who serve our nation.” Efforts are now underway to identify the soldiers using forensic analysis and historical research. The Defence Department has vowed to ensure they are reburied with full military honours and the dignity they deserve. The Unrecovered War Casualties unit continues to receive dozens of leads each year regarding the locations of Australian war dead. Discoveries like this are not uncommon: nine soldiers from the Battle of Fromelles were identified in 2018, with another five identified as recently as 2023. More than 44,000 Australians died on the Western Front during World War I, and around 17,000 remain without known graves. This Friday, Australians around the world will pause to reflect at dawn services in honour of the more than 103,000 servicemen and women who have laid down their lives in conflicts past, with the latest discovery serving as a reminder of the war's enduring legacy. Image: Wikimedia Commons

Caring

Australian Cardinal among select group tasked with choosing next Pope

In the wake of Pope Francis' death, a 45-year-old Ukrainian-born bishop based in Melbourne has emerged as one of the most significant figures in the Catholic Church’s transition to new leadership. Cardinal Mykola Bychok, who was elevated to the cardinalate by Pope Francis last year, will participate in the sacred and centuries-old process of electing the next pope. As the youngest cardinal in the entire Catholic Church and Australia’s sole representative in the College of Cardinals, Bychok's inclusion marks a historic moment for the local and global Catholic community. Born on February 13, 1980, in Ternopil, a city in western Ukraine, Bychok joined the religious life in 2003 and was ordained a priest in 2005. His path through the church has included serving as abbot of a Ukrainian monastery and working as a parish priest in the northeastern United States. In 2020, Pope Francis appointed him bishop of the Ukrainian Greek Catholic Church’s Diocese of Saints Peter and Paul in Melbourne. He was formally installed as a cardinal during a Vatican ceremony last October, alongside 21 other senior church figures. In a heartfelt tribute following the pope’s passing, Bychok described Francis as a "pope of peace" whose legacy would endure through his unwavering commitment to justice and unity. "In a world devastated by war, he called for peace and justice," said Bychok. "I am grateful for the late Holy Father's frequent appeals for a just peace in Ukraine and for the efforts of the Holy See that he oversaw, known and secret, that in some way helped bring relief to the imprisoned and suffering." Bychok also praised Francis’ ecumenical efforts, noting his work to bridge divides between Eastern and Western traditions, as well as foster dialogue among different faiths. "He worked for the healing of divisions… building on that which we have in common rather than our differences,” he said. Though currently en route to the Middle East on a pilgrimage, Bychok is expected to return to Rome as soon as possible to participate in the conclave – a closed-door gathering of cardinals under the age of 80 who are eligible to vote for a new pontiff. Church law limits the number of voting cardinals to 120, although the latest Vatican figures indicate 136 cardinals are currently eligible, a number that may fluctuate before voting begins. The conclave will involve a series of solemn rituals, including the piercing of ballots with needle and thread and the traditional burning of votes to produce black or white smoke – the latter signalling the election of a new pope to lead the world’s 1.3 billion Catholics. Cardinal Bychok’s participation in this historic process is a significant moment not only for the Ukrainian diaspora and Australian Catholic community, but also for a Church at a crossroads – searching once again for a spiritual leader to guide it through a complex and divided world. Images: Wikimedia Commons

Legal

Sweet feat: high schooler smashes Raelene Boyle's 57-year-old sprint record

Australian sprinting has a new superstar in the making! In a jaw-dropping performance at the national junior athletics championships in Perth, 17-year-old Leah O’Brien rocketed to glory, obliterating a 57-year-old record set by the legendary Raelene Boyle. O’Brien, a WA schoolgirl, stunned the athletics world by storming to victory in the under-18 100 metres, clocking an electrifying 11.14 seconds – with a perfectly legal tailwind of +1.7 metres per second. Her blistering run toppled Boyle’s iconic mark of 11.20 seconds from the 1968 Mexico City Olympics, a record many believed would stand for generations. “I think I have really put my name out there,” an elated O’Brien said, beaming with pride. “It's crazy to be running these times while still in high school!” But the milestones didn’t stop there. O’Brien’s dazzling dash also catapulted her into Australian sprinting history, drawing level with Olympic gold medallist Sally Pearson on the all-time national open 100m list – now tied at fourth-fastest ever. Only Torrie Lewis (11.10), Melissa Breen (11.11) and Melinda Gainsford-Taylor (11.12) have ever run faster. To make the feat even sweeter, O’Brien now finds herself ranked ninth in the world under-18 rankings, a remarkable achievement for the young star. Cheered on by family and friends, O’Brien soaked up the moment. “This is definitely the most support I’ve ever had. It’s so great to experience this moment with the people I love and share the happiness.” And she wasn’t done yet. Earlier in the championships, O’Brien also stormed to victory in the 200m, clocking a personal best of 23.37 seconds despite facing a stiff headwind of -1.1 m/s. In a thrilling race, she powered past Queensland’s Thewbelle Philp with her trademark long stride and high knee lift, leaving the field in her wake. The sprint sensation isn’t slowing down anytime soon. O’Brien will return to the track this week at the WA Athletics Stadium to contest the open 100m, where she’ll face established stars like Torrie Lewis, Bree Rizzo and Ebony Lane. With talents like O’Brien, Lewis, <a href="https://www.oversixty.com.au/entertainment/tv/i-m-saying-that-hands-down-matt-shirvo-s-bold-prediction" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Gout Gout</a> and Lachlan Kennedy rising rapidly through the ranks, Australia’s sprinting future looks brighter than ever as the countdown to the Brisbane 2032 Olympics begins. Images: Australian Athletics

Body

"Yes, Burger Boy!": Australian Idol winner crowned for 2025

What a night to remember! After two electrifying evenings packed with powerhouse performances and surprise guest appearances, Australian Idol has officially crowned its 2025 winner. In a grand finale brimming with excitement, finalists Iilysh Retallick, Gisella Colletti and Marshall Hamburger delivered unforgettable performances – but it was 19-year-old Marshall Hamburger who stole the show and captured the hearts of the nation. Marshall’s victory marks a sensational end to the show’s tenth season, earning him not only the coveted title of Australian Idol 2025 but also a life-changing prize package: $100,000 in cash and an exclusive recording deal with Hive Sound Studios. Overflowing with gratitude, Marshall beamed moments after his name was announced. “Thank you, Australia, thank you so much. You're gonna hear a lot of me in the future, I'll be out there,” he promised, as cheers erupted across the studio. Fans didn’t hold back their excitement, lighting up social media with praise for the newly crowned star. "I’m so happy congratulations Marshall," one fan wrote, while another cheered, "What a legend!" And in a playful nod to his surname, another delighted supporter exclaimed, "Yes, Burger Boy!" <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/reel/DIJN6_MiD5_/?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/reel/DIJN6_MiD5_/?utm_source=ig_embed&utm_campaign=loading" target="_blank" rel="noopener">A post shared by Australian Idol (@australianidol)</a> </div> </blockquote> Behind the scenes, Australian Idol host Scott Tweedie shared some fun insights into the suspenseful process of announcing the winner live on air, revealing the team’s clever methods to avoid any mishaps during such high-stakes moments. "We have it written down, so there’s no way that communication can be wrong," he explained. "On the card we've got in our hands, it has the winner's name – and we even use the 'thumb rule.' Your thumb has to be on the name you’re about to announce, so you cannot say the wrong name." Adding to the excitement, co-host Ricki-Lee, who has a deep-rooted history with Idol, typically takes centre stage for the final announcement. "Because of her DNA with Idol, I think she is the best at doing those really big announcements," Scott said, noting he’s always ready to back her up live on air. With a thrilling season now complete, all eyes are on Marshall Hamburger as he embarks on what promises to be an incredible musical journey. If his grand finale performance is any indication, Australia – and the world – will be hearing plenty from this rising star. Images: Instagram

"No sympathy": 26-year-old roasted over massive tax bill complaint

It’s a classic tale of riches to tax brackets – OnlyFans creator Talia Batiste, 26, has found herself in the fiery depths of an Australian Tax Office reckoning, and the internet has wasted no time serving up a heaping plate of zero sympathy. Batiste, who revealed that she’s been hit with a tax bill totalling $71,008.45 (yes, she included the cents for maximum devastation), took to social media to lament her financial woes. “For everyone that likes to make sure I’m paying my tax. I’m going to go and cry myself to sleep now,” she wrote, presumably while clutching her silk pillow stuffed with $100 bills. The internet’s reaction? Less “thoughts and prayers”, more “play stupid games, win inevitable government-mandated financial responsibilities”. “Absolutely robbery,” one concerned citizen commented, clearly distressed by the idea of anyone having to contribute to society. “To pay that much tax, you earn a sh**load. No sympathy,” another user shot back, presumably while furiously entering their own lacklustre income into a tax return calculator. Some were more pragmatic, offering sage financial wisdom. “I hope you have a good accountant to get you those tax deductions,” someone advised, the unspoken message being: “There’s still hope, young one.” While many scoffed at the idea of crying over a salary that most people only see on TV shows where billionaires buy entire islands for sport, Batiste remained defiant. <a href="https://www.news.com.au/finance/economy/cry-myself-to-sleep-26yearold-in-tears-over-giant-tax-bill/news-story/7adfcb10f0ea62a1749f4dc6c1b65934" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Speaking to news.com.au</a>, she admitted that the bill “wasn’t too bad” compared to the tax nightmares of yesteryear. (Yes, it turns out paying taxes gets easier when you know they’re coming. Who knew?) Batiste revealed that an early accounting blunder had initially classified her as a sole trader rather than a business, making her tax situation about as pleasant as a surprise phone call from the ATO. “So when I make $400,000+ a year, it looks like that is my personal income rather than money going back into a business,” she explained, finally unlocking the ancient wisdom of self-employment taxation. Now, with proper financial advice in place, she says she takes a modest salary while the rest of her earnings go into business expenses – like, presumably, funding the tissue budget for her post-tax breakdowns. Despite her newfound tax strategy, Batiste insists that the process “never gets easier”. (Except for last year, when she owed a whopping $136k, making this year’s bill look like pocket change by comparison.) She also had some words about Australia’s taxation system: “Everybody pays too much tax.” Yes, much like death and bad reality TV spin-offs, taxation is inevitable. But Batiste isn’t letting it get her down – at least, not too much. Even though she says she’s “prepared” for these bills now, that doesn’t mean she enjoys sending her hard-earned money into the great abyss of government spending. “Hitting send on that ATO payment hurts every time,” she said. Meanwhile, taxpayers earning a fraction of her income simply sighed, checked their bank balances, and went back to their regularly scheduled programming: budgeting how to afford avocados and rent in the same month. Images: TikTok

Money & Banking

Controversy after former officer who tasered Clare Nowland learns his fate

Kristian James Samuel White, the now-former police officer who fatally tasered 95-year-old Clare Nowland, has avoided a prison sentence. A judge described the act as a "terrible mistake" but ruled it fell at the lower end of seriousness for manslaughter cases. White, 35, left the NSW Supreme Court on Friday under strict conditions, including a two-year community corrections order requiring good behaviour and an order to complete 425 hours of community service. The sentencing follows the tragic events of May 17, 2023, when White fired a Taser at Nowland at the Yallambee Lodge aged-care home in Cooma, NSW. Justice Ian Harrison acknowledged the unlawful and dangerous nature of White's actions, stating he had misread or misunderstood the situation. “A frail and confused 95-year-old woman in fact posed nothing that could reasonably be described as a threat of any substance,” he said. Nowland, who suffered from dementia, was holding a knife while using a walking frame and had ignored staff attempts to disarm her. White, after only a few minutes at the scene, discharged his Taser, reportedly saying, "nah, bugger it," before the weapon’s barbs struck her chest. The force of the Taser caused her to fall and suffer a brain bleed, leading to her death in hospital a week later. Justice Harrison recognised the grief and anger of Nowland’s family, stating, “The complete and utter frustration and despair exhibited by her family in the circumstances is easy to understand when things could have so easily been handled better.” While White’s actions were deemed unlawful, the judge noted that he had been called to the aged-care home lawfully and had been required to resolve the situation. “He could not have chosen to do nothing,” Justice Harrison said. During sentencing, White stood expressionless, while members of Nowland’s family were visibly emotional. In a letter to the family submitted to the court, White expressed deep remorse, writing, “I take full responsibility for my actions – I felt and still feel horrible for what happened. I do not expect you to take my apology as a request for forgiveness and I understand that you suffer greatly.” Since the incident, White has been diagnosed with major depressive disorder and post-traumatic stress disorder. Due to public outrage in Cooma, he will be forced to relocate. White was dismissed from the NSW Police Force in December following his guilty verdict. However, he has initiated legal action to seek a review of the decision. The case has sparked widespread debate over police use of force, particularly in interactions with vulnerable individuals, with the lenient sentence leaving many questioning whether justice was adequately served for Nowland and her grieving family. Images: Supplied

Legal

"Future leader": Search resumes for missing police officer

Authorities are set to resume the desperate search for a Queensland police officer who went missing while surfing in New South Wales. Detective Inspector Jay Notaro was last seen surfing before his surfboard and keys were discovered at Broken Head in NSW’s Northern Rivers region at approximately 12:40pm on Tuesday. Queensland Cross-Border Commissioner Ian Leavers described Mr Notaro as a highly regarded officer with a promising future in the force. “Jay is one of the most competent and capable coppers I know, who has a great future in the police,” Leavers told The Courier Mail. “He is not only a friend, he is one of the future leaders of the organisation. I’m praying, he’s just a champion.” The extensive search operation on Tuesday involved Tweed/Byron Police, Police Rescue, Marine Area Command, Queensland PolAir and Surf Life Saving NSW. A NSW Police spokesperson confirmed that search efforts would continue on Wednesday morning, focusing on areas between Lennox Head and Cape Byron, with particular attention to Broken Head. Authorities and colleagues remain hopeful as the search continues for the experienced officer, with many praying for his safe return. Images: 9News

Caring

Federal Budget 2025: The short, sharp and – sort of – sweet version

The federal budget is always a massive, jargon-filled beast, but don’t worry – we’ve got your back. Here’s a quick and easy rundown of the key numbers, economic forecasts and big-ticket promises (without making your head spin). Whether it’s tax cuts, energy bill relief, or debt figures that sound like someone’s phone number, this summary gives you the essentials in plain English. THE BIG PICTURE: WHERE THE MONEY’S GOING (AND COMING FROM) Economic Growth: The economy is expected to grow by 1.5% in 2024-25, which isn’t exactly fireworks but at least it’s moving in the right direction. Unemployment Rate: The jobless rate is set to rise to 4.25%, meaning more people might be dusting off their résumés. Inflation: The cost of living squeeze is easing slightly, with inflation forecast to drop to 2.5%, finally giving our wallets a breather. Wages Growth: Paychecks are expected to grow by 3%, so while you won’t be rolling in cash, you might afford an extra coffee per week. Living Standards: Household disposable income is expected to rise a bit faster than planned, so that’s a small win for the grocery bill. Migration: Net overseas migration is slowing down, dropping from 435,000 in 2023-24 to 225,000 by 2026-27, as the government tweaks immigration settings. The Big One: Budget Deficit: The country will be $27.6 billion in the red this year, which sounds bad, but hey, it’s better than some past years. Commonwealth Debt: The nation’s credit card balance will hit $940 billion in 2024-25 before cracking $1 trillion the year after, making it one of the biggest IOUs in Aussie history. Net Debt: The government’s net debt will rise to $556 billion, proving once again that we’re all experts at spending more than we have. WHAT’S IN IT FOR YOU (IF LABOR STAYS IN POWER)? If Labor wins the next election, they’ve got a shopping list of goodies lined up. From tax cuts and cheaper meds to more affordable childcare and a crackdown on dodgy workplace contracts, here’s what they’re promising in order to make life a little easier (or at least a little less expensive). Tax Cuts: Everyone gets a tiny tax break worth about $10 a week, starting in July 2026 – not enough for a holiday, but maybe an extra beer, depending on where you buy your drinks. Energy Bill Relief: Households and small businesses will get $150 off their power bills, because, let’s face it, electricity prices are still a killer. Cheaper Medicines: Prescription drugs will be capped at $25 per script, meaning fewer nasty surprises at the pharmacy checkout. Healthcare Boost: More bulk-billing, 50 new urgent care clinics, and extra funding for nurses and GPs, costing a whopping $9 billion over four years – great news if you hate long waits at the doctor. Childcare Help: Families earning up to $500,000 (yes, you read that right) will get at least three days of subsidised childcare, costing $427 million over five years. First Home Buyer Support: The Help to Buy scheme will get a boost, making it a bit easier for first-home buyers to get into the market (assuming they can still afford avocado toast). Workplace Shake-Up: Banning non-compete clauses for low- and middle-income workers could boost wages by $2,500 a year – so no more weird contracts stopping you from getting a better job. HECS Debt Slash: A 20% cut to student loan debt, wiping $16 billion from the books – a rare win for anyone still haunted by their HECS balance. Disaster Recovery: $1.2 billion is going towards helping communities in southeast Queensland and northern NSW recover from ex-Tropical Cyclone Alfred – because Mother Nature isn’t playing nice. Big Infrastructure Plans: Expect major upgrades like $7.2 billion for Queensland’s Bruce Highway, $2 billion for a new rail hub in Melbourne, and $1 billion for Sydney’s southwest rail corridor – so maybe, just maybe, your commute will be a little less torturous. Defence Spending: A fast-tracked $1 billion investment in guided weapons, submarines and frigates, because apparently, we’re getting serious about military hardware. And that’s the budget in a nutshell! More spending, some relief for households, and a debt number that’ll make your calculator cry. Images: WikiCommons

Money & Banking

Replacing stamp duty with a land tax could save home buyers big money. Here’s how

<div class="theconversation-article-body"> Infrastructure Victoria has released a <a href="https://assets.infrastructurevictoria.com.au/assets/Victorias-draft-30-year-infrastructure-strategy.pdf">draft 30-year plan </a> outlining how the state can grow sustainably. It focuses on key areas like transport, housing, energy, and public services to support a growing population and improve liveability. The plan also suggests ways to make the state’s infrastructure and tax system fairer, more efficient and more sustainable. The plan’s recommendations are expected to cost between A$60 billion and $75 billion, mostly spent before 2035. This is around 10% of <a href="https://www.abs.gov.au/statistics/economy/national-accounts/australian-national-accounts-state-accounts/2023-24-financial-year#data-downloads">Victoria’s yearly economic output</a> in 2023-24, spread over the next decade. With Victoria already spending record amounts on infrastructure, and <a href="https://pbo.vic.gov.au/document/BudgetUpdateSnapshot2024-25">budget deficits forecast</a> until 2025-26, finding the money to fund social housing, transport and other projects is a key challenge. We estimate the Infrastructure Victoria proposals would add between $4 billion and $5 billion to Victorian government expenditure each year. Yet one of its proposals — replacing stamp duty with an annual land tax — would only cost between $1 million and $5 million to implement, but generate substantial gains for Victorian households. <h2>Why replace stamp duty with land tax?</h2> Stamp duty is one of the biggest barriers to moving house in Victoria and other Australian states. This tax, which people pay when they buy property, adds thousands of dollars to the cost of moving. In 2022-23, Victorians paid about <a href="https://www.abs.gov.au/statistics/economy/national-accounts/australian-national-accounts-state-accounts/2023-24-financial-year#data-downloads">$12 billion</a> to move house. Of this, $3 billion went to actual moving costs (like real estate services, and removalists) and $9 billion was <a href="https://www.abs.gov.au/statistics/economy/government/taxation-revenue-australia/latest-release#data-downloads">stamp duty</a>. That’s an effective tax rate of 300% on the true cost of moving, and in 2023 <a href="https://www.e-business.sro.vic.gov.au/calculators/land-transfer-duty">added about</a> $40,000, or 5.3%, to the cost of purchasing the average Victorian home. High stamp duty discourages people from relocating, even when their needs change — whether that’s moving for a new job, finding a bigger home for a growing family or downsizing after retirement. This leads to longer commutes, traffic congestion and a less efficient housing market. Switching from stamp duty to an annual land tax would make moving easier and spread the tax burden more fairly. Instead of a large, one-time tax when buying a home, all landowners would pay a smaller tax each year. This would help fund schools, hospitals, and other infrastructure more sustainably. <h2>What can we learn from Canberra?</h2> Victoria University’s Centre of Policy Studies <a href="https://www.treasury.act.gov.au/__data/assets/pdf_file/0009/1618407/cops-final-report.pdf">studied a similar reform</a> in the Australian Capital Territory, where stamp duty has been gradually phased out since 2012 and replaced with higher general rates (a type of land tax). Each year, the ACT government sets a target for how much money it needs to raise. Landowners then pay a share of that total, based on the value of their land. One of the biggest benefits of this approach is that it raises money more efficiently. Unlike other taxes, land taxes don’t discourage investment or economic activity. The study found removing stamp duty had a big positive impact on the ACT’s economy. Around 80% of the economic boost came from removing stamp duty, while introducing land tax also had benefits. By studying transaction data from the ACT, we showed each 10% reduction stamp duty rates drove a 6% rise in property transactions. <h2>Would it help housing affordability?</h2> One of the main arguments for replacing stamp duty with land tax is its effect on housing prices. Economists widely agree land taxes reduce land values, which makes housing more affordable. However, the impact of removing stamp duty is less predictable. Our previous research found <a href="https://theconversation.com/swapping-stamp-duty-for-land-tax-would-push-down-house-prices-but-push-up-apartment-prices-new-modelling-finds-184381">the effect on house prices</a> depends on how often properties are bought and sold. Apartments, for example, tend to change hands more frequently than houses. Because of this, removing stamp duty tends to push up apartment prices more than house prices. Even so, the overall effect of the reform is a drop in property prices. The challenge is ensuring this price reduction is evenly spread across different types of housing. <h2>A fairer tax system</h2> To make the system fairer, policymakers could adjust how land tax is applied. One option is to introduce a fixed-rate component, as <a href="https://www.revenue.nsw.gov.au/grants-schemes/previous-schemes/first-home-buyer-choice">proposed </a> in New South Wales. Another idea, suggested 15 years ago in the <a href="https://treasury.gov.au/sites/default/files/2019-10/afts_final_report_part_1_consolidated.pdf">Henry Tax Review</a>, is to base the tax on the per-square-metre value of land. Another key factor is housing supply. If planning laws allow more high-density housing in inner suburbs, price changes could be better managed. <h2>We also need short-term solutions</h2> Replacing stamp duty with land tax is a long-term reform that would take years to fully implement. The ACT, for example, planned a 20-year transition. If all state governments implemented this reform, we estimate Australian households would ultimately be <a href="https://www.copsmodels.com/ftp/workpapr/g-337.pdf">better off by about</a> $,1600 per household per year. In the short term, <a href="https://theconversation.com/whats-the-best-way-to-ease-rents-and-improve-housing-affordability-we-modelled-4-of-the-governments-biggest-programs-225446">other policies </a> could help improve housing affordability. These include increasing Commonwealth Rent Assistance and rethinking first-home buyer support. These steps could complement broader tax, infrastructure and housing supply reforms. The Victorian government is <a href="https://engage.vic.gov.au/victorias30yearinfrastructurestrategy">seeking feedback</a> on the draft plan before releasing the final version later this year. This is an opportunity for Victorians to contribute ideas on how to shape the state’s future and ensure its infrastructure and tax system work for everyone.<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/251472/count.gif?distributor=republish-lightbox-basic" alt="The Conversation" width="1" height="1" /> <a href="https://theconversation.com/profiles/jason-nassios-318488">Jason Nassios</a>, Associate Professor, Centre of Policy Studies, <a href="https://theconversation.com/institutions/victoria-university-1175">Victoria University</a> and <a href="https://theconversation.com/profiles/james-giesecke-9853">James Giesecke</a>, Professor, Centre of Policy Studies and the Impact Project, <a href="https://theconversation.com/institutions/victoria-university-1175">Victoria 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/replacing-stamp-duty-with-a-land-tax-could-save-home-buyers-big-money-heres-how-251472">original article</a>. Image: 7news.com.au </div>

Money & Banking

A late start, then a big boom: why it took until 1975 for Australians to finally watch TV in colour

<div class="theconversation-article-body"> Some 50 years ago, on March 1 1975, Australian television stations officially moved to colour. Networks celebrated the day, known as “<a href="https://artsandculture.google.com/story/c-day-and-the-colour-monster-national-archives-of-australia/LAWRcgnnNY1cKA?hl=en">C-Day</a>”, with unique slogans such as “come to colour” (ABC TV), “Seven colours your world” (Seven Network), “living colour” (Nine Network) and “first in colour” (<a href="https://televisionau.com/feature-articles/network-ten">0-10 Network</a>, which later became Network Ten). The ABC, Seven and Nine networks also updated their logos to incorporate colour. <figure><iframe src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/T7gZdYVZJNc?wmode=transparent&start=0" width="440" height="260" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen"></iframe></figure> For most viewers, however, nothing looked much different. The majority owned a black and white TV, while a coloured broadcast required a colour TV set. Advertisers were initially reluctant to accept the change, which required them to re-shoot black and white commercials with colour stock at a significantly higher cost. Many reasoned viewers were still watching the ads in black and white. And initially this assumption was correct. But by nine months later, 17% of Australian homes <a href="https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/110829595?searchTerm=colour%20television%20in%20australia%201975">had a colour receiver</a>. This rose to 31% by July 1976. By 1978, 64% of Melbourne and 70% of Sydney households owned colour TV sets, making Australia one of the world’s fastest adopters of colour TV. According to the Federation of Australian Commercial Television Stations (FACTS) annual report for 1975–76, colour TV increased overall viewership by 5%, with people watching for longer periods. The 1976 Montreal Olympics also led to an <a href="https://www.nfsa.gov.au/collection/curated/asset/96836-olympic-games-coverage-colour">increase in TV sales</a>, with the colour broadcast shared between the ABC, Seven and Nine. <figure><iframe src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/L-75iIoshak?wmode=transparent&start=0" width="440" height="260" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen"></iframe><figcaption>Highlights from the Montreal 1976 Olympic Games marathon event.</figcaption></figure> <h2>A late start</h2> With the United States introducing colour TV from 1954, it’s peculiar that Australia took so long to make the transition – especially since conversations about this had been underway since the 1960s. In 1965, a report outlining the process and economic considerations of transitioning to colour was tabled in parliament. Feedback from the US highlighted problems around broader acceptance in the marketplace. Colour TV sets were expensive and most programs were still being shot in black and white, despite the availability of colour. Networks were the most hesitant (even though they’d go on to become one of the most major benefactors). In 1969, it was <a href="https://australianfoodtimeline.com.au/colour-tv-introduced/">estimated transitioning to colour</a> would cost the ABC A$46 million (the equivalent of $265,709,944 today) over six years. The federal government, led by then prime minister Robert Menzies, decided to take a cautious approach to the transition – allowing manufacturers, broadcasters and the public time to prepare. The first colour “test” broadcast took place on June 15 1967, with <a href="https://televisionau.com/2025/03/tv-50-years-in-colour.html">live coverage</a> of a Pakenham country horse racing event in Victoria (although few people would have had coloured TV sets at this point). Other TV shows also tested broadcasting in colour between 1972 and 1974, with limited colour telecasts aired from mid-1974. It wasn’t until March 1975 that colour TV was being transmitted permanently. <figure><iframe src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/vIqqiK4ncfs?wmode=transparent&start=40" width="440" height="260" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen"></iframe><figcaption>‘Aunty Jack Introduces Colour’ was a one-off television special of The Aunty Jack Show, broadcast on the ABC on February 28 1975.</figcaption></figure> <h2>The cinema industry panics</h2> <a href="https://anzacportal.dva.gov.au/wars-and-missions/vietnam-war-1962-1975/events/withdrawal-from-1971">Australia’s involvement</a> in the Vietnam War created further urgency to televise in colour. With the war ending in April 1975, Australians watched the last moments in colour. Other significant events broadcast in colour that year included the December federal election, in which Malcolm Fraser defeated Gough Whitlam after the latter was <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SXq056TJhU4">dramatically dismissed</a> as prime minister on November 11. With the public’s growing interest in colour TV, local manufacturers began lobbying for higher tariffs on imports to encourage domestic colour TV production. In the mid 1970s, a new colour set in Australia cost between $1,000 and $1,300, while the average full-time annual income was <a href="https://www.abs.gov.au/AUSSTATS/abs@.nsf/Lookup/6302.0Main+Features1Sep%201975?OpenDocument=">around $8,000</a>. Still in the throes of a financial recession, customers began seeking out illegally-imported colour TV sets – which were appearing at car boot markets across the country. <figure><iframe src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/wTKMqPg4hM8?wmode=transparent&start=0" width="440" height="260" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen"></iframe><figcaption>British childrens show The Wombles came to Australian screens shortly after colour TV was introduced.</figcaption></figure> The government also created an advertising campaign warning the public of scammers who would offer to convert black-and-white TVs to colour. These door-to-door “salesmen” <a href="https://hoaxes.org/archive/permalink/instant_color_tv#google_vignette">claimed to have</a> a special screen which, when placed over a TV, would magically turn it colourful. By 1972, the estimated cost of upgrading broadcasting technology to colour <a href="https://www.nfsa.gov.au/latest/colour-tv-part-1">had reached $116 million</a>. The cinema industry, in a panic, even questioned whether colour TV could damage a viewer’s eyesight. The industry had previously suffered huge losses in cinema attendance with the introduction of black-and-white TV from 1956. Cinemas had a monopoly on colour and were petrified over what the introduction of colour to television could do to their attendances. Such fears were founded. In 1974 Australia had 68 million admissions to the cinema. By 1976, there were just 28.9 million admissions. Never again would yearly cinema admissions reach <a href="https://www.screenaustralia.gov.au/fact-finders/cinema/industry-trends/historical-admissions">above 40 million</a>. But despite the complaints – from the cinema industry, advertisers, broadcasters and manufacturers – audiences were ready for colour. And any network that dared to program in black and white would subject itself to a barrage of annoyed viewers. Colour TV was here to stay.<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/251363/count.gif?distributor=republish-lightbox-basic" alt="The Conversation" width="1" height="1" /> <a href="https://theconversation.com/profiles/stephen-gaunson-265553">Stephen Gaunson</a>, Associate Professor in Cinema Studies, <a href="https://theconversation.com/institutions/rmit-university-1063">RMIT 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/a-late-start-then-a-big-boom-why-it-took-until-1975-for-australians-to-finally-watch-tv-in-colour-251363">original article</a>. Image: Youtube/Austvarchive </div>

Over 350k Aussies to be forced back into the office

Opposition leader Peter Dutton has vowed to end working from home arrangements for public servants, forcing them back into an office five days a week. The leader of the Coalition will end flexible work arrangements for federal government employees, which currently allows them to work from home for two days a week. According to a report in the <a href="https://www.afr.com/policy/economy/coalition-to-force-public-servants-to-return-to-the-office-20250303-p5lge3" target="_blank" rel="noopener" data-link-type="article-inline">Australian Financial Review,</a> the Coalition will also make massive job cuts, slashing about 36,000 jobs, which will save about $6 billion per year, if elected in the upcoming federal election. Prime Minister Anthony Albanese warned that the drastic move would impact frontline workers, meaning slower delivery times for Aussies on benefits, including veterans. Opposition spokeswoman Jane Hume said the government has offered a “blank cheque to work from home” to employees, saying it was “unsustainable” and “not an arrangement that works for everyone”. On Tuesday, 7News reporter Nick McCallum and Founding Director of Western Sydney Women, Amanda Rose, spoke with Nat Barr about the policy on Sunrise. “Nick, would there be a revolt if public servants are ordered back to the office?” Barr asked. “I have no doubt there would be. I actually like the policy. I think it is ridiculous that, what is it now, more than 60 per cent of federal public servants have ability to work at home,” McCallum said. “There is a big ‘but’ to all of this: Peter Dutton, it’s a perfect policy for him to sound tough, sound Donald Trump-like, bang his chest and say ‘I am going to demand they come back’ but they’ve recently signed a workplace agreement and under that there is a presumption that they can work at home." “All people in the public service can at least request it. There is a presumption they can do it and there is no limit on the number of days they can actually work from home." “So, he can’t really change that until 2027 anyway. So, call me cynical but it’s a perfect policy for him but at the moment he can’t do a lot about it.” Image credits: STEVEN MARKHAM/EPA-EFE/Shutterstock Editorial

Money & Banking

Cricket great takes aim at Albo's beer tax freeze

Cricket great David Warner has slammed Prime Minister Anthony Albanese's move to combat soaring beer prices. On Monday, Albanese promised to pause the government's tax hike on beers poured at pubs for the next two years. Albanese announced the policy while enjoying his "first beer of the year" at the Bob Hawke Beer and Leisure Centre in Marrickville. "This will make a difference. It is a positive announcement. As I said, good for beer drinkers, good for pubs and clubs, good for cost of living pressures," he said. Australia's inflation-indexed alcohol tax - which increases twice annually - has long been an issue for breweries, pub owners and customers. This month, there was a 3.5 per cent rise on the price of beer, an additional cost that usually gets passed onto the customer. The Prime Minister said if he is re-elected, the Labor government would freeze the indexation on draught beer excise for 24 months from the next indexation date this coming August. However, Warner believes this move is a "few years too late," slamming the Prime Minister's pledge on social media. Warner, who is an investor and director of Victoria's St Andrews Beach Brewery, has been affected by the rising prices. Shortly after Albanese's announcement, Coalition treasury spokesman Angus Taylor said Peter Dutton, if elected, would also freeze tax. "The government has chosen the eve of an election to promise voters a freeze on a tax that has skyrocketed due to its failure to address inflation at its core," Taylor said. Image: LUKAS COCH/EPA-EFE/ Shutterstock Editorial/ Instagram

Money & Banking

I spy with my little eye: 3 unusual Australian plant ecosystems to spot on your next roadtrip

<div class="theconversation-article-body"><a href="https://theconversation.com/profiles/gregory-moore-1779">Gregory Moore</a>, <a href="https://theconversation.com/institutions/the-university-of-melbourne-722">The University of Melbourne</a> When the growing gets tough, the tough trees and shrubs get growing. Australia’s environment is brutal. Its ancient, low-nutrient soils and generally low rainfall make it a hard place for plants to grow. Despite this, the continent is filled with wonderfully diverse plant ecosystems. If you don’t know what you’re looking for, it can be easy to miss these seemingly unremarkable species. So, here are three little-known Australian plant species and ecosystems to look out for during your next roadtrip. <h2>1. Cycads and eucalypts</h2> If you are driving a coastal route along southern New South Wales, keep an eye out for the stunning combination of burrawang cycads (Macrozamia communis) and spotted gum (Corymbia maculata). These species live in harmony along the <a href="https://www.botanicgardens.org.au/our-science/our-collections/plant-families/cycads#:%7E:text=Meet%20one%20of%20the%20world's%20most%20southern%20Cycads&text=On%20the%20New%20South%20Wales,Spotted%20Gums%20(Corymbia%20maculata).">NSW coastline</a>, from Kempsey to Bega, and inland as far as Mudgee. If you’re on a road trip, now is the perfect time to talk to children about ancient moving continents, volcanoes and dinosaurs. Cycads are <a href="https://anpsa.org.au/APOL2009/feb09-s3.html">ancient gymnosperms</a> (cone-bearing plants) which evolved long before the Gondwanan supercontinent separated. These tough, hardy plants saw the dinosaurs come and go, and their relatives are found all around the world. These <a href="https://www.botanicgardens.org.au/our-science/our-collections/plant-families/cycads#:%7E:text=Not%20only%20is%20Macrozamia%20communis,inland%20as%20far%20as%20Mudgee.">cycads</a> form a striking understorey to the spotted gum. As their scientific name (Macrozamia communis) suggests, they form a dense community. Further north in Queensland, pineapple cycads (Lepidozamia peroffskyana), and Western Australia’s zamia palm (Macrozamia riedlei) are also worth spotting. Cycad seeds are poisonous, but First Nations Australians worked out a complex process to prepare them for <a href="https://www.apscience.org.au/apsf20036/">safe eating</a>. This involved dissolving the <a href="https://www.scienceflip.com.au/subjects/chemistry/equilibriumandacidreactions/learn10/">plant’s toxins</a> in running water, cooking, working and grinding the seeds into a powder. Spotted gums evolved long after dinosaurs went extinct. Early eucalypt fossils date from about 34 million years ago, while current species are often only a few million years old. Spotted gums are a great example of how plants that survive tough environments often also do well in difficult <a href="https://theconversation.com/the-humble-spotted-gum-is-a-world-class-urban-tree-heres-why-212540">urban situations</a>. Cycads are similarly found growing in poor soils and arid conditions. They have long, glossy leaves up to about 1.5 metres in length with lots of leaflets. There are both male and female plants. The female cone is an impressive, wide-domed structure that can be almost half a metre across. Its bright orange-red seeds are eaten by <a href="https://backyardbuddies.org.au/backyard-buddies/cycads/#:%7E:text=If%20you%20have%20a%20female,bats%20will%20feed%20on%20them.">foraging marsupials</a>, large birds and flying foxes. Spotted gums are tall, straight eucalyptus trees with dark green, glossy leaves. Old bark creates dark grey spots against their cream coloured trunk, giving them a mottled look. It is interesting to see ancient and modern species in such a close community relationship in cycad-spotted gum forests. Both are also well-adapted to the fires that frequent their habitat. <h2>2. Ancient acacias</h2> Travelling inland, the environment gets even tougher. Most large trees disappear and are replaced by woodlands dominated by <a href="https://www.agriculture.gov.au/sites/default/files/abares/forestsaustralia/publishingimages/forest%20profiles%202005/acacia_forests_2005.pdf">inland acacia</a> (wattle) species. These inland acacias are short but mighty, with deep, extensive root systems. Two of these species, <a href="http://theconversation.com/the-mighty-mulga-grows-deep-and-lives-long-118838">mulga</a> (Acacia aneura) and brigalow (A. harpophylla) are part of Australian folklore. A Banjo Paterson character <a href="https://gutenberg.net.au/ebooks/e00072.txt">says</a>: “You know how the brigalow grows […] saplings about as thick as a man’s arm”. Nutrients and water resources are limited, so mulga and brigalow trees are often evenly spaced across the landscape. This eerie symmetry makes it look like they were planted by humans. Many people are unaware that the twisted, stunted specimens they see are more than 250 years old and occupy vast tracts of the Australian landscape. <a href="https://www.dcceew.gov.au/environment/biodiversity/threatened/action-plan/priority-plants/waddy-wood">Waddy-wood</a> (Acacia peuce) is a rare species of acacia, found in just three locations on the edge of the Simpson Desert. This tree has very strong wood, and was used by Indigenous Australians for making clubs (waddys) and tools for carrying fire. Inland acacias were widely used by Indigenous Australians for their wood, resins and medicinal properties. They have also been used as <a href="https://www.dpi.nsw.gov.au/__data/assets/pdf_file/0003/671421/using-mulga-as-a-forage-supplement-for-livestock-in-droughts.pdf">fodder for livestock</a>, especially during drought. These <a href="https://era.dpi.qld.gov.au/id/eprint/13430/1/QJAS_6%5B2%5D_1949_pp87-139_everist.pdf">crucial species</a> provide important habitat for other plants and animals. But they are under threat. As old trees collapse and die, there are no young trees replacing them. This is because of drought and grazing, compounded by <a href="https://www.agriculture.gov.au/sites/default/files/documents/environmental-risk-mitigation-plan-acacia.pdf">climate change</a>. <a href="https://www.britannica.com/science/desertification">Desertification</a> – where fertile land is degraded until it essentially becomes desert – is becoming a huge problem due to the massive area dominated by acacias. <h2>3. Boabs</h2> If you’re driving across the Northern Territory and Western Australia, you might come across the <a href="https://theconversation.com/built-like-buildings-boab-trees-are-life-savers-with-a-chequered-past-118821">mighty boab</a> (Adansonia gregoryii). These close relatives of the African and Madagascan baobabs <a href="https://theconversation.com/baobab-trees-all-come-from-madagascar-new-study-reveals-that-their-seeds-and-seedlings-floated-to-mainland-africa-and-all-the-way-to-australia-231031">floated to Australia</a> as seeds or seedlings around 12 million years ago. These <a href="https://www.australiangeographic.com.au/topics/science-environment/2019/07/how-did-the-iconic-boab-tree-get-to-australia/">deciduous trees</a> live in mostly dry environments that also experience strong monsoonal-type rains. Boabs trap and store water in their trunks, allowing them not only to survive but thrive. Their African and Madagascan baobab relatives are sometimes called <a href="https://www.oneearth.org/species-of-the-week-african-baobab-tree/">trees of life</a>, as they support many species. Australian boabs are similar. They offer habitat, roosting and nesting sites. Their flowers and fruits are food sources to many species of insects and birds. They were – and are – important trees in First Nations cultures. Carvings and symbols on their trunks can last for more than a century, much longer than on other trees. These are called <a href="https://www.snexplores.org/article/carvings-australia-boab-trees-lost-history-first-nation">dendroglyphs</a>. For example, <a href="https://theconversation.com/the-boab-trees-of-the-remote-tanami-desert-are-carved-with-centuries-of-indigenous-history-and-theyre-under-threat-191676">snake carvings</a> dated to more than 200 years old have been found on boab trees in Northern Australia’s Tanami Desert. While these special trees are usually found far from the beaten track, they can be spotted growing around Darwin and other remote towns. If you get the chance to see them, count yourself lucky. <h2>Tough terrain, tough trees</h2> Plant communities are remarkably resilient. They also display great creativity when evolving ways to survive tough environments. Make sure to keep an eye out as you’re exploring Australia and enjoy the fascinating plants our country has to offer.<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/246129/count.gif?distributor=republish-lightbox-basic" alt="The Conversation" width="1" height="1" /> <a href="https://theconversation.com/profiles/gregory-moore-1779">Gregory Moore</a>, Senior Research Associate, School of Agriculture, Food and Ecosystem Sciences, <a href="https://theconversation.com/institutions/the-university-of-melbourne-722">The University of Melbourne</a> Image credits: Shutterstock 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/i-spy-with-my-little-eye-3-unusual-australian-plant-ecosystems-to-spot-on-your-next-roadtrip-246129">original article</a>. </div>

Domestic Travel

Australian women will soon be eligible for a menopause health check. Here’s what to expect

<div class="theconversation-article-body"><a href="https://theconversation.com/profiles/susan-davis-10376">Susan Davis</a>, <a href="https://theconversation.com/institutions/monash-university-1065">Monash University</a> The federal government has recently pledged to create a new Medicare rebate for menopause health assessments. It’s due to be available <a href="https://www.health.gov.au/sites/default/files/2025-02/more-choice-lower-costs-and-better-health-care-for-women.pdf">from July 1</a>. The announcement featured in the <a href="https://www.health.gov.au/resources/publications/government-response-to-inquiry-issues-related-to-menopause-and-perimenopause?language=en">government’s response</a> to the <a href="https://www.aph.gov.au/Parliamentary_Business/Committees/Senate/Community_Affairs/Menopause/Report">Senate inquiry</a> into menopause, released last week, though was first flagged earlier this month as part of the government’s pre-election funding package <a href="https://www.abc.net.au/news/2025-02-08/federal-labor-promises-funding-boost-for-womens-health/104914202">for women’s health</a>. So what is a menopause health assessment? And how will it improve the health care women receive during this stage in their lives? <h2>Why we need this</h2> Outside reproductive health, women’s health care has generally been modelled on the needs of men. A prime example is the government-funded <a href="https://www9.health.gov.au/mbs/fullDisplay.cfm?type=note&q=AN.0.38&qt=noteID">midlife health check</a> for people aged 45 to 49. This is intended to identify and manage risks to prevent chronic diseases such as diabetes and heart disease. The recent <a href="https://www.aph.gov.au/Parliamentary_Business/Committees/Senate/Community_Affairs/Menopause">Senate inquiry</a> into issues related to menopause and perimenopuase highlighted that the timing of this health check is not fit for purpose for women. This is because at <a href="https://www.cell.com/cell/fulltext/S0092-8674(23)00905-4?_returnURL=https%3A%2F%2Flinkinghub.elsevier.com%2Fretrieve%2Fpii%2FS0092867423009054%3Fshowall%3Dtrue">menopause</a>, which occurs on average at the <a href="https://www.menopause.org.au/hp/information-sheets/what-is-menopause">age of 51 in Australia</a>, women’s health profiles change. Women <a href="https://www.cell.com/cell/fulltext/S0092-8674(23)00905-4?_returnURL=https%3A%2F%2Flinkinghub.elsevier.com%2Fretrieve%2Fpii%2FS0092867423009054%3Fshowall%3Dtrue">gain tummy fat</a>, their <a href="https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC2682462/">cholesterol levels go up</a>, and glucose (sugar) metabolism <a href="https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/28953212/">becomes less efficient</a>. All these changes <a href="https://www.cell.com/cell/fulltext/S0092-8674(23)00905-4?_returnURL=https%3A%2F%2Flinkinghub.elsevier.com%2Fretrieve%2Fpii%2FS0092867423009054%3Fshowall%3Dtrue">increase a woman’s risk</a> of heart disease and diabetes. Vast numbers of women are given a clean bill of health at this midlife health check in their late 40s. But when they subsequently go through menopause, they can go on to develop heart disease and diabetes <a href="https://www.cell.com/cell/fulltext/S0092-8674(23)00905-4?_returnURL=https%3A%2F%2Flinkinghub.elsevier.com%2Fretrieve%2Fpii%2FS0092867423009054%3Fshowall%3Dtrue">risk factors</a>, which may go undetected. Some women also go through <a href="https://www.imsociety.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/INTERNATIONAL-GUIDELINE-ON-POI-2024.pdf">early menopause</a>: around 12% between the ages of 40 and 45, and around 4% before 40. Those women who experience menopause before age 45 are known to be at significantly <a href="https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jamacardiology/fullarticle/2551981">higher risk of heart disease</a> than other women. But, by the time women with early menopause qualify for the midlife health check, <a href="https://www.imsociety.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/INTERNATIONAL-GUIDELINE-ON-POI-2024.pdf">crucial metabolic changes</a> may have silently occurred, and the opportunity to intervene early to address them may be missed. <h2>What will a menopause health check involve?</h2> The federal government has committed <a href="https://www.health.gov.au/sites/default/files/2025-02/government-response-to-inquiry-issues-related-to-menopause-and-perimenopause.pdf">A$26 million</a> over two years to fund the new menopause health assessments, as part of a $64.5 million package designed to improve health care for women experiencing perimenopause and menopause. Some <a href="https://www.health.gov.au/sites/default/files/2025-02/government-response-to-inquiry-issues-related-to-menopause-and-perimenopause.pdf">$12.8 million</a> will also be dedicated to a menopause-related community awareness campaign. My own research has shown women understand menopause means the loss of fertility, but often have little <a href="https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/10.1080/13697137.2020.1791072?url_ver=Z39.88-2003&rfr_id=ori:rid:crossref.org&rfr_dat=cr_pub%20%200pubmed">knowledge of the health changes</a> that occur as part of the menopause transition. So increasing health literacy around menopause is much needed. Similarly, for the introduction of these menopause-specific consultations to be effective, women will need to know what these health checks are for, if they’re eligible, and how to access a menopause health check. The new menopause health checks will be provided by GPs. Exactly what they will involve is yet to be clarified. But I would anticipate they will include a combination of the assessment and management of perimenopause and menopause, overall health and wellbeing, and assessment of risk and prevention of future ill health, notably heart disease, diabetes and osteoporosis. <h2>Upskilling health-care providers</h2> Equally, health-care providers will need to understand the impact of menopause on long-term health and how best to mitigate against disease risks, including the role of <a href="https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/cen.15211">menopausal hormone therapy</a>. My research has shown <a href="https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/10.1080/13697137.2021.1936486?url_ver=Z39.88-2003&rfr_id=ori:rid:crossref.org&rfr_dat=cr_pub%20%200pubmed">health-care providers lack confidence</a> in delivering menopause-related care, indicating a need for more education around menopause. In line with this, the <a href="https://www.health.gov.au/sites/default/files/2025-02/government-response-to-inquiry-issues-related-to-menopause-and-perimenopause.pdf">Senate inquiry</a> called for the upskilling of the medical workforce in the field of menopause through medical school training, postgraduate specialist programs, and ongoing education of clinicians. While the government cannot mandate what is taught in medical schools or the content of specialist training programs, its <a href="https://www.health.gov.au/sites/default/files/2025-02/government-response-to-inquiry-issues-related-to-menopause-and-perimenopause.pdf">response to the inquiry</a> encourages these institutions to incorporate menopause in their curricula. Further, part of the government funding will go towards expanding a professional development program on managing menopause offered by <a href="https://www.jeanhailes.org.au/health-professionals/elearning-modules/courses-for-gps">Jean Hailes for Women’s Health</a>. <h2>A good start, but still not enough</h2> The government’s new funding, and the new menopause health checks in particular, recognises that women’s health is strongly dictated by major biological events, such as menopause, as opposed to age. This is good news. But we need to do more to equip health professionals to provide the best menopause care to women in these health assessments and beyond. Adding new menopause modules to medical school and specialist training programs will ensure greater awareness of the impact of menopause on women’s health and wellbeing. However, awareness alone won’t ensure high-level training for the complex care many perimenopausal and menopausal women need. The opportunities for medical graduates to gain hands-on clinical experience in menopausal medicine are mostly limited to the select few who get to work in a hospital specialist menopause clinic during their training. Notably, there’s no credentialed training program in menopause medicine in Australia. Meanwhile, the North American Menopause Society does offer a <a href="https://menopause.org/professional-resources/mscp-certification">credentialed program</a>. The challenge has been that menopause does not belong to one medical specialty. This is why we need an accredited training program – for both GPs and medical specialists – to ensure a truly skilled workforce able to deliver gold standard menopause care. But without further federal funding to set this up, it will not happen.<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/249499/count.gif?distributor=republish-lightbox-basic" alt="The Conversation" width="1" height="1" /> <a href="https://theconversation.com/profiles/susan-davis-10376">Susan Davis</a>, Chair of Women's Health, <a href="https://theconversation.com/institutions/monash-university-1065">Monash University</a> Image credits: Shutterstock 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/australian-women-will-soon-be-eligible-for-a-menopause-health-check-heres-what-to-expect-249499">original article</a>. </div>

Body

Use it or lose it as historic super cap prepares to expire

Jordan Kennedy is a Partner at accounting and advisory firm Pitcher Partners Sydney. Australians could be sitting on a golden opportunity to spur their super savings this year — but if they don’t act fast, they will miss out. That’s because in July they will lose the entitlement to claim any unused superannuation tax concessions from 2019-20, known as the concessional cap. The concessional cap is the total annual amount that can be contributed into super by a person’s employer, through salary sacrifice or claimed as a tax deduction, before the person is charged at the ordinary taxable rate. In other words, for most Australians there is a gap between what they or their employer contribute each year and the total amount they could contribute, taking advantage of tax concessions. In 2019-20, that capped amount was $25,000, and unless people were making or receiving contributions above the superannuation guarantee, they would have needed to earn about $260,000 to hit the cap. If they didn’t, there may still be ‘available’ cap that has built up over the last five years and can be used to access the 15% tax rate on earnings — until July 1, when the cap expires. While this sounds technical, reviewing past superannuation contributions and checking to see that caps have been maxed out is one of the easiest ways to achieve a tax deduction. Of course, there are a few aspects to this strategy that bear consideration. The concession cap system is a use it or lose it play. Any gap between contributions and cap will expire after five years, so this is the last chance to retrospectively boost your superannuation using the 2019-20 cap. That said, as this is the first year we have seen the cap expire, it might have slipped the minds of many. Even if you have maxed out the cap for that year, you should take the opportunity to look at more recent years as well to see if you have been carrying forward an available pool of tax concessions. The second thing to note is that the vast majority of Australians will have a tax cap opportunity available. For anyone on an average salary, the cap gap can grow by $10,000 or more each year, unless additional contributions are made through salary sacrifice or as a tax deduction. The concession is also available for those who might have stopped work to have children or who are reducing their workload approaching retirement. Check with your accountant or your super fund — you might have tens of thousands of dollars in tax concessions available for use. Thirdly, consider your timing. If you know you will have tax capacity in coming years, try to time your use for those years where you have a significant tax event, such as realising capital gains. This can reduce your tax liability without disrupting your other plans. In this case, seeking strategic advice is extremely important to determine the optimal outcome for your circumstances. And finally, recognise there are exceptions. People whose superannuation balance is already over $500,000 are excluded from taking advantage of the cap rollover, but could still benefit from advice on how they should balance their tax liabilities while maximising their superannuation. Whatever your circumstance, speaking to a qualified, independent advisor is the first step to ensure you are working within the complex rules that govern super and taking best advantage of the tax concessions available. But if there is an opportunity to reduce your tax liability for limited effort, you would be mad not to explore your options. Image credits: Shutterstock

Retirement Income

"RIP brother": Deceased officer found in police station identified

The NSW police officer who was <a href="https://www.oversixty.com.au/finance/legal/officer-found-dead-at-police-station" target="_blank" rel="noopener">found dead at a Sydney police station early on Monday morning</a> has been identified as Senior Constable Mark Hobson, 52. His body was discovered at Sydney Police Centre on Goulburn Street in Surry Hills. Authorities have revealed that they are now treating his death as a suicide, and a critical investigation is currently underway. Senior Constable Hobson began his policing journey in 1996 when he started training at Goulburn Police Academy at the age of 24. Three years later, he officially joined the force as a probationary constable. Over the course of his career, he spent time working in the State Technical Investigations Branch. His father, Ian, is a retired sergeant, and it is understood that another male relative also served in the police force. NSW Police Commissioner Karen Webb visited the station and expressed her condolences. “It was a very sad day for the NSW Police Force,” she said. “Our hearts go out to the officer’s family. Every support will be made available for staff and family affected by this tragedy.” Tributes have since poured in online from colleagues and friends. One former officer who worked alongside Hobson described him as a “nice young man”. “(He was) always helpful (and) assisted operations with major jobs,” he wrote. “RIP brother.” Another tribute expressed deep sorrow: “So, so awful. I just wish he could have seen through the mist.” “It does get better, I promise.” A report will be prepared for the coroner. If you need help in a crisis, call Lifeline on 13 11 14. Images: Facebook

Caring

Officer found dead at police station

A senior constable has been found dead inside the Sydney Police Centre in Surry Hills, shocking colleagues and prompting a critical incident investigation. The 52-year-old officer’s body was discovered early Monday morning at the station on Goulburn Street. According to a police statement, initial inquiries indicate the death is not suspicious, and a report will be prepared for the Coroner. “This is a very sad day for the NSW Police Force,” the statement read. “A critical incident investigation is underway.” NSW Police Commissioner Karen Webb visited the station on Monday to support grieving colleagues and pay respects to the fallen officer. “Our hearts go out to the officer’s family,” Commissioner Webb said. “Every support will be made available for staff and family impacted by this tragedy.” The circumstances surrounding the officer’s death remain under investigation. Authorities have not released further details, citing respect for the officer’s family and the ongoing inquiry. Images: Facebook

Legal

Readers response: Who is your favourite Australian artist, writer, or musician?

We asked our readers who their favourite Australian artist, writer, or musicians are, and the response was overwhelming. Here's what they said about their favourite homegrown talents. Greg Curtin - Judith Durham. Her voice had an amazing quality. Julie Richardson - Australia has a number of top artists, my personal favourite is John Farnham. Gail Ladds - Russell Morris. Absolutely brilliant voice. Denise Houlihan - Such a tough one, so many great musicians, one under the radar was Mark Gillespie, he always made good music. Top of the voices would have to be John Farnham, but so many! Neil Watt - So many brilliant artists in this country. Joe Camilleri is a particular fave. Faye Inskip - My favourite writer is Fiona Macintosh...her books are well researched and well written. Catherine Borthwick - Any member of Powderfinger for sure! They were all brilliant. Vicki Coulta - John Farnham, Shirley from Skyhooks, Jimmy Barnes, Russell Morris, Michael Hutchence from INXS, Bon Scott from AC/DC and so many more! Dianne Strachan - John Williamson. Sue Pentecost - Delta Goodrem! Great singer. Image credits: Shutterstock

Music

"Un-Australian": Aussies called out over "selfish" summer habit

Australians have been called out for taking part in a "selfish" summer trend that has left many people fuming. The trend began as many erupted over the increase use of beach cabanas and "reserving" spaces on the sand, which then led to similar behaviour at campsites and carparks. Eager Aussies would set up a cabana or rope off a campsite and leave their belongings behind, only to return a matter of hours later and still have their spot reserved. One of Australia's leading etiquette experts, Jo Hayes, spoke to <a href="https://au.news.yahoo.com/aussies-called-out-over-selfish-summer-trend-taking-over-car-parks-and-campsites-un-australian-055035070.html" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Yahoo News</a> on the matter, and said the "poor" trend is "reflective of a general societal decline". She argued such acts are "bad form" and even branded them "un-Australian". It turns out the "reservations" aren't exclusive to beaches or campsites, as one woman was recently photographed standing in the middle of a car park at Balmoral Beach in Sydney, in a bid to deter others from seizing the spot, arguing her "husband was coming soon". Hayes said the "only people who have the right to do such reserving" are the local council/regulators in charge of that area, adding, "It's not fair." "There are ways that one can reserve the best, desired spots, that align with common decency and proper etiquette," Hayes said. "This is the way things were done in previous generations. Get to the venue early, claim your spot and set up your gear, then stay there — you must have at least one person staying with the claimed spot." "If you've taken the time to get there ahead of others — all power to you. Well done. But you don't have the right to lay down a blanket, or cordon off an area with your own self-made sign, and then choof off." Hayes said that when in doubt, apply the golden rule of thumb: Do unto others as you would have them do unto you. "The average Joe doesn't have the right to 'reserve' a spot and leave," she reiterated. "If a group wants to have an event at a council park, they can contact local council to officially reserve the spot. Council puts up a sign stating that the area is reserved for an event. One can't just put up their own sign." Image credits: Facebook

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Officer found dead at police station

Readers response: Who is your favourite Australian artist, writer, or musician?

"Un-Australian": Aussies called out over "selfish" summer habit

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