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Catriona Rowntree unleashes over controversial new plan

<p>Catriona Rowntree has slammed the Victorian Labor government's plans to cover land at Mount Rothwell under solar panels </p> <p>The Getaway star shared her call to action in an <a href="https://www.instagram.com/reel/DFlVylRTfYG/?utm_source=ig_web_button_share_sheet&amp;igsh=MzRlODBiNWFlZA==" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Instagram video</a> shared on Monday. </p> <p>“Welcome to beautiful Mount Rothwell in Little River,” Rowntree began in her video.</p> <p>"This is actually the number one film location in Victoria. This has been the scene of so many incredible movies and productions, bringing in a fortune for the local government.</p> <p>"This incredible area Vic Labor is now considering covering this whole area with a solar farm in its rush for renewables.</p> <p>"They are considering all these completely wrong locations."</p> <p>She previously opposed the state government's plans to build a huge lithium battery farm next to her family property near Little River, and mentioned it again in her most recent video.</p> <p>Rowntree branded the planned lithium battery farm as a fire hazard, saying: “So how can you help? Some of you may know that we have been battling as well, they want to put a lithium facility in a firezone in Little River.</p> <p>“What did Little River ever do to the Labor government? I don’t know why you keep picking on us," she continued.</p> <p>"No one will talk to us, it’s been nearly seven months, we’ve heard nothing.”</p> <p>In her caption for the video, Rowntree said she had no choice but to "get political" and vote for Liberal candidate Steve Murphy in the upcoming Werribee state by-election, saying: "He actually took the time to visit us and see how wrong this area is for their renewables”.</p> <p>"Has it come to this?" she wrote.</p> <p>"Do I have to get political to get someone to notice the region that VIC Labor wants to destroy?"</p> <p>She also issued a direct plea to the premier, tagging Jacinta Allen and asking: “Where are you? Why do you want to ruin what is the Number 1 film location in Victoria? Why won’t anyone from Victorian Labor stop this?”</p> <p>"You should be ashamed,” she told the state government. </p> <p><em>Images: Instagram</em></p>

Legal

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Grandmother mistakes $50m Powerball win for solar panel sales call

<p>A quiet Thursday evening turned into an unforgettable moment for one Central Queensland grandmother, who was expecting yet another pesky solar panel sales pitch but instead received news that would blow the roof off any house – solar panels or not.</p> <p>The elderly couple held one of two division one winning entries in Thursday night’s $100 million Powerball jackpot, pocketing a life-altering $50 million. While most of us might faint, dance or immediately Google "how to buy a private island", the grandmother’s first reaction was a calm, “You’re joking.”</p> <p>“I expected you to ask if we have solar panels, not to tell us we’ve just won $50 million," she told the Lott official, still recovering from the whiplash of going from potential sales target to multi-millionaire. “There’s going to be a few more prezzies under the tree on Christmas day.”</p> <p>The grandmother confessed that their winning ticket wasn’t even the result of her usual superstitious number-picking strategy. “I’ve been playing for a long time now – since the game first started. I had always used the same numbers, but this ticket was just a QuickPick. I’m in a total state of shock."</p> <p>The couple, long-time residents of Rockhampton, said the windfall would primarily benefit their family. Of course, that family might now include second cousins they've never met and a few random people claiming they once smiled at them in Woolies.</p> <p>Meanwhile, the second winner – hailing from Melbourne’s City of Darebin – remains blissfully unaware they’re sitting on $50 million at the time of writing. The unregistered ticket holder has yet to come forward, sparking a local hunt. Lott officials have urged residents to check every ticket – even the crumpled one in your car’s cupholder.</p> <p>So, next time your phone rings and you brace yourself for a sales pitch, remember: it might just be the universe handing you $50 million. Or, you know, another pitch for that unlimited mobile plan.</p> <p><em>Image: Shutterstock</em></p>

Money & Banking

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Michael Bublé leaves Project panel speechless

<p dir="ltr">Michael Bublé has shared a fan's unique way of dedicating their love, which left <em>The Project</em> panel speechless.</p> <p dir="ltr">The award-winning singer revealed that a fan of his had gotten a tattoo of him which was inspired by an unfortunate photo of him eating a corn on the cob “the wrong way”.</p> <p dir="ltr">“Apparently most people don’t eat it from the top,” he said, urging the program to show the hilarious image which looked quite phallic.</p> <p dir="ltr">“That was the closest thing to a real love note that I’ve ever had and it was sexy and phallic,” he joked.</p> <p dir="ltr">The Canadian superstar was boasting with confidence despite the potentially embarrassing situation.</p> <p dir="ltr">“I feel like people made fun of me, but I think part of it was jealousy because I just think they wish they could take it as deep as I did.”</p> <p dir="ltr">The <em>Feeling Good </em>singer who is currently touring Australia, and promoting his new fragrance, still had his mind in the gutter when <em>Project</em> host Sarah Harris asked him what he “likes to smell on a lady”.</p> <p dir="ltr">Bublé was stunned for a split second before he burst into laughter and replied that there were “so many things” he wanted to say.</p> <p dir="ltr">The segment took another hilarious turn when comedian and panellist Sam Taunton brought out a Michael Bublé cardboard cutout he had borrowed from a chicken shop.</p> <p dir="ltr">“I found this cut out and I saw a lady hugging it actually as well,” he said.</p> <p dir="ltr">“Do you mind if we do some stuff to this?”</p> <p dir="ltr">The audience was left in stitches and Bublé himself was laughing as he said that they could “absolutely” do whatever they wanted.</p> <p dir="ltr"><em>Images: The Project</em></p>

TV

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Major shake-up to Sunrise panel

<p>The <em>Sunrise</em> panel had a major shake-up for their Monday morning program, with a peppy newcomer taking the reins.</p> <p>At the beginning of the week, veteran sports reporter Mark Beretta was notably absent, with Katie Brown stepping in to fill his shoes. </p> <p>The reporter, who is considered to be a rising star of the breakfast show, shocked viewers by filling in for Beretta with unbridled enthusiasm. </p> <p data-t="{&quot;n&quot;:&quot;blueLinks&quot;}">Katie, who only recently scored an interview with Crown Princess Mary on her trip to Australia, was gleeful as she sat among the network stars. </p> <p data-t="{&quot;n&quot;:&quot;blueLinks&quot;}">"Got to sit with the big kids today, even got to wear my favourite colour," she wrote on Instagram, sharing a number of behind the scenes photos from the <em>Sunrise</em> studio.</p> <p data-t="{&quot;n&quot;:&quot;blueLinks&quot;}">She later posted to Instagram Stories to show her preparation for the show. </p> <p data-t="{&quot;n&quot;:&quot;blueLinks&quot;}">"Happy Monday! Filling in for Beretts today on the desk," she wrote, sharing a sneak peak of the morning's script. </p> <p data-t="{&quot;n&quot;:&quot;blueLinks&quot;}">Katie did not share how long Beretta would be away from the desk, although he is expected to return later this week after spending the weekend at a charity event in Brisbane. </p> <p data-t="{&quot;n&quot;:&quot;blueLinks&quot;}">She was showered with praise for taking on the role with even Mark approving of his young protégé's efforts. </p> <p data-t="{&quot;n&quot;:&quot;blueLinks&quot;}">"Great job KB!!!" Mark commented on the photos, while cricket star Holly Ferling added, "What a weapon."</p> <p data-t="{&quot;n&quot;:&quot;blueLinks&quot;}">Beretta's absence comes after Kochie was missing from the panel in April, further fuelling rumours about his retirement. </p> <p data-t="{&quot;n&quot;:&quot;blueLinks&quot;}"><em>Image credits: Instagram</em></p>

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Microwaving solar panels makes them easier to recycle

<div> <p><a href="https://cosmosmagazine.com/news/solar-cells-essential-for-brighter-future/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Solar cell</a> manufacturing and recycling should be easier with a surprising new discovery by Macquarie University scientists – that uses a commercial microwave.</p> <p>While they’re being made, the silicon in solar panels goes through a process called “annealing”, which involves heating the materials to temperatures well above 500°C.</p> <p>Annealing is usually done with ovens. But a study <a href="https://doi.org/10.1063/5.0127896" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">published</a> in Applied Physics Letters shows that microwaves are not only faster and more energy efficient for the job, but make the panels much easier to disassemble, and thus recycle, at the end of life.</p> <p>This is because microwave radiation heats individual substances – like the water in food, or silicon.</p> <p>“It just heats the very thin layer of silicon rather than heating the bulk of the materials around, and it’s really fast,” says lead author Dr Binesh Puthen Veettil, a researcher at Macquarie University’s School of Engineering.</p> <p>This also makes the process easier, because the microwave doesn’t have to be as carefully cleaned.</p> <p>“In most of the high temperature processes, lots of contaminants come out of the walls of the oven. But in this case, the heat is flowing from the silicon outwards, while everything else is at room temperature, it’s kind of a pseudo room temperature process where the contaminants don’t get diffused from outside,” says Veettil.</p> <p>“But the thing we are most excited about is the benefit to recycling.”</p> <p>Currently, solar cell recycling is a very <a href="https://cosmosmagazine.com/earth/sustainability/solar-panel-recycling/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">energy intense process</a> which involves crushing up the panels and heating them to temperatures of at least 1000°C, so that all of the expensive elements can be extracted.</p> <p>This method destroys some of the reusable solar cell components: particularly, the toughened glass on the top of the panel.</p> <p>“This glass contains most of the weight of the solar panel,” explains Veettil.</p> <p>That glass is stuck to a layer of plastic, usually ethylene vinyl acetate, which keeps the silicon plate underneath dry. This plastic is too hard to remove, so the whole thing is smashed up, with the glass sold as scrap.</p> <p>But microwaving the silicon specifically softens the plastic, making it easy to peel.</p> <p>“You can just peel off the silicon cell, without destroying the glass, and you can reuse that expensive glass,” says Veettil.</p> <p>“If you can reuse the glass, the recycling will pay for itself.”</p> <p>Plus, it doesn’t need the same high temperatures, or extra chemicals needed to wash and dissolve the plastic.</p> <p>For now, the process is lab-based – and only for solar panels that fit in a commercial microwave.</p> <p>“Initially, when we started the research, we used a laboratory microwave that we purchased from a US company,” says Veettil.</p> <p>“And we after that, we purchased some kitchen microwaves locally, and modified it to suit our purposes.”</p> <p>This modification involved heat-proofing the microwave so that it could handle the annealing temperatures.</p> <p>“It goes from room temperature to 500° Celsius in just two seconds,” says Veettil. (Depending on the size of the sample: bigger things take longer.)</p> <p>But the researchers have a patent pending for the recycling process, and are now investigating how to improve and commercialise it.</p> <p>“We are hoping that with some industry collaboration and funding, we can scale it up,” says Veettil.</p> <p>“Recycling needs to be meet two conditions: it should be environmentally friendly, and second, it should pay for itself.</p> <p>“I’m pretty sure, with the numbers I have in mind, it will it will be profitable and then the market will take care of itself and it organically grow recycling centres. That’s my hope.”</p> </div> <div id="contributors"> <p><em>This article was originally published on <a href="https://cosmosmagazine.com/technology/microwaving-solar-panels-recycling/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">cosmosmagazine.com</a> and was written by Ellen Phiddian.</em></p> <p><em>Images: Getty</em></p> </div>

Technology

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"Where is the diversity?": Australian Idol judging panel hits first major snag

<p dir="ltr"><em>Australian Idol </em>is yet to hit the screens but it’s already facing a major problem with its lack of diversity.</p> <p dir="ltr">Radio shock jock <a href="https://oversixty.com.au/entertainment/music/he-s-a-real-crooner-kyle-reveals-judging-line-up-for-return-of-australian-idol" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Kyle Sandilands announced</a> that he will be joined by US singers Meghan Trainor and Harry Connick Jr and Australian pop star Amy Shark as judges on the talent show.</p> <p dir="ltr">The show’s social media accounts also shared the news but many people asked about the lack of diversity with the judges.</p> <p dir="ltr">“Where is the diversity?” queried former ABC News reporter Mark Kearney.</p> <p dir="ltr">“The OG Australian Idol had at the heart of its panel Marcia Hines. This one has … a foul shock jock with a history of racism, misogyny and homophobia? Yucky.”</p> <p dir="ltr">Co-founder of Media Diversity AU Antoinette Lattouf sarcastically said there was a bit of diversity because one of the judges has a hyphen in their name.</p> <blockquote class="instagram-media" style="background: #FFF; border: 0; border-radius: 3px; box-shadow: 0 0 1px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.5),0 1px 10px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.15); margin: 1px; max-width: 540px; min-width: 326px; padding: 0; width: calc(100% - 2px);" data-instgrm-captioned="" data-instgrm-permalink="https://www.instagram.com/p/CjBmkvnhDq_/?utm_source=ig_embed&amp;utm_campaign=loading" data-instgrm-version="14"> <div style="padding: 16px;"> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: row; align-items: center;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; flex-grow: 0; height: 40px; margin-right: 14px; width: 40px;"> </div> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: column; flex-grow: 1; justify-content: center;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; margin-bottom: 6px; width: 100px;"> </div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; width: 60px;"> </div> </div> </div> <div style="padding: 19% 0;"> </div> <div style="display: block; height: 50px; margin: 0 auto 12px; width: 50px;"> </div> <div style="padding-top: 8px;"> <div style="color: #3897f0; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: 550; line-height: 18px;">View this post on Instagram</div> </div> <div style="padding: 12.5% 0;"> </div> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: row; margin-bottom: 14px; align-items: center;"> <div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; height: 12.5px; width: 12.5px; transform: translateX(0px) translateY(7px);"> </div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; height: 12.5px; transform: rotate(-45deg) translateX(3px) translateY(1px); width: 12.5px; flex-grow: 0; margin-right: 14px; margin-left: 2px;"> </div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; height: 12.5px; width: 12.5px; transform: translateX(9px) translateY(-18px);"> </div> </div> <div style="margin-left: 8px;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; flex-grow: 0; height: 20px; width: 20px;"> </div> <div style="width: 0; height: 0; border-top: 2px solid transparent; border-left: 6px solid #f4f4f4; border-bottom: 2px solid transparent; transform: translateX(16px) translateY(-4px) rotate(30deg);"> </div> </div> <div style="margin-left: auto;"> <div style="width: 0px; border-top: 8px solid #F4F4F4; border-right: 8px solid transparent; transform: translateY(16px);"> </div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; flex-grow: 0; height: 12px; width: 16px; transform: translateY(-4px);"> </div> <div style="width: 0; height: 0; border-top: 8px solid #F4F4F4; border-left: 8px solid transparent; transform: translateY(-4px) translateX(8px);"> </div> </div> </div> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: column; flex-grow: 1; justify-content: center; margin-bottom: 24px;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; margin-bottom: 6px; width: 224px;"> </div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; width: 144px;"> </div> </div> <p style="color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 17px; margin-bottom: 0; margin-top: 8px; overflow: hidden; padding: 8px 0 7px; text-align: center; text-overflow: ellipsis; white-space: nowrap;"><a style="color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 17px; text-decoration: none;" href="https://www.instagram.com/p/CjBmkvnhDq_/?utm_source=ig_embed&amp;utm_campaign=loading" target="_blank" rel="noopener">A post shared by Australian Idol (@australianidol)</a></p> </div> </blockquote> <p dir="ltr">“This is an epic and exciting opportunity to get judged by six white people. (To be fair there is some diversity, one has a hyphen in their name.)” she tweeted.</p> <p dir="ltr">“Not sure why anyone is surprised about the Australian Idol judging panel - the other talent shows on our screens are just as bad. If they want diversity they always just have Mel B on,” someone else commented.</p> <p dir="ltr">“I LoVe tHiS rEpReSenTatiOn oF oUr MuLtiCuLtuRaL cOunTrY,” another wrote.</p> <p dir="ltr"><em>Australian Idol</em> first hit the screen 10 years ago and will come back on Channel 7 in 2023.</p> <p dir="ltr">“(We) start filming the auditions next week. It’ll be me. The other Australian I’ve chosen, Amy Shark will be the other Australian. She’s excellent. She’s a nice girl but she’s been busy, she writes songs, she works hard, she’ll be fabulous,” Sandilands said.</p> <p dir="ltr">“Meghan Trainor … and from American Idol … Harry Connick Jr. Yes grannies, get your panties wet now. Harry Connick Jr. is on Australian Idol. He’s a real crooner.”</p> <p dir="ltr">It will take back its old format in which contestants from around Australia will audition before a top 12 is chosen for live shows.</p> <p dir="ltr">Past seasons have come out with incredible stars including Guy Sebastian, Jessica Mauboy and Casey Donovan.</p> <p dir="ltr"><em>Images: Instagram</em></p>

TV

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Travelling around the globe might not have to cost the Earth

<p>The last time you booked a flight online, you may have been offered the chance to ‘offset’ the carbon produced by your travel. This is due in part to recognition that the aviation industry is responsible for around 5% of human-made emissions resulting in climate change.</p> <p>The efforts by this sector to respond to its environmental impact can range from switching fuels (from coal to biomass, for instance), more efficient combustion processes (by improving aircraft engines, for example), protecting forests or promoting sustainable development in local communities.</p> <p>Now, in a potentially ground-breaking innovation for long-haul flights, a team of researchers at the Swiss Federal Institute of Technology, Zürisch (ETH Zurich) have developed an all-in-one solar-powered tower that’s able to use energy from the Sun’s rays to convert water and carbon dioxide into synthetic fuels.</p> <p>Think: water + carbon dioxide = energy. Sound familiar? Well, it should. It’s what many plants do to make energy for themselves.</p> <p>The ETH Zurich process has a lot in common, really, explains Dr Jessica Allen, a chemical engineer and renewable energy technologies expert at the University of Newcastle. Although in this case, “industrial photosynthesis might be a better term as this particular process doesn’t involve any physiological mechanisms like plants and living material”, says Allen.</p> <p>The proof-of-concept solar tower consists of 169 Sun-tracking panels that reflect and concentrate sunlight into a tower-top solar reactor. Here, energy from the Sun’s rays meets a combination of water, carbon dioxide and a special structure made of ceria (cerium oxide), which is porous and “acts like a filter network, undergoing many reduction-oxidation (also known as redox) reactions”, says Allen.</p> <p>These reaction cycles produce syngas (synthesis gas), which is then converted to liquid fuels such as diesel and kerosene (which is used as jet fuel for long-haul flights) via a well-established process known as the Fischer-Tropsch reaction, which typically occurs in the presence of metal catalysts, temperatures of 150–300°C and pressures of several tens of atmospheres.</p> <p>Much work remains to translate the process to industrial scale. Currently, the energy efficiency of the process is only at 4%, meaning that out of 100 parts of energy available, only four parts are captured in the process. This is something the researchers are keen to push up towards around 15%.</p> <p>According to Allen, that’s still at the low end of the energy efficiency of current solar-to-electricity and solar-to-thermal energy generation. She says that efficiency is crucial when it comes to systems that use land area for solar collection (such as solar panels and the ETH Zurich tower’s reflectors): “A low efficiency will mean a large land area to generate the required fuel.”</p> <p>Where the CO2 comes from is also very important. At present, it’s injected into the system, but the next obvious step is to start capturing it directly from the air. At that point the fuel production process might be considered carbon neutral, as the amount of CO2 captured from the air is the same as the amount released during fuel combustion.</p> <p>Direct-from-air carbon dioxide capture comes at a cost, though. “There is a fairly major energy penalty for doing direct air capture, because it’s quite hard to filter out carbon dioxide from the rest of the gasses,” says Allen.</p> <p>Then there’s the carbon footprint related to the manufacture and production of equipment and materials, but Allen urges a long-term outlook: “In the system that we’re in at the moment there will be an emission penalty for the materials, however, in the long term, we’ll eventually be manufacturing these things using zero emission approaches.” This will make the whole process – and not just the fuel itself – carbon neutral.</p> <p>The average fuel consumption of a Boeing 747 (which are still used as long-haul cargo transport today) is around 4L per second. For a flight of 10 hours, this equates to 144,000L of fuel.</p> <p>In the future, EHT Zurich researchers will work to increase the system’s energy efficiency to 15%, capture more heat in the process and improve the ceria structures in the reactor in addition to capturing CO2 directly from the air. Their long-term aim is to scale the process to an industrial size – in which enough fuel can be produced to truly fly us into a carbon-neutral aviation future.</p> <p><em><strong>This article originally appeared on <a href="https://cosmosmagazine.com/science/carbon-neutral-travel-wont-cost-earth/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">cosmosmagazine.com</a> and was written by Clare Kenyon.</strong></em></p> <p><em>Image: Shutterstock</em></p>

Travel Trouble

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How to choose the best solar panels for your home

<p dir="ltr">The solar industry has seen a rapid growth over the past decade and become the cleanest, greenest and cheapest source of electricity.</p> <p dir="ltr">As electricity bills continue to rise at an exponential level, switching to solar makes sense. </p> <p dir="ltr">With many solar providers out there offering different services for widely differing costs, it's easy to get lost in the semantics of switching to solar. </p> <p dir="ltr">Luckily, Beau Savage, Co-Founder of <a href="https://smartenergy.co/au/">Smart Energy</a>, has shared his top tips to consider when finding the right solar provider for your home.</p> <p dir="ltr"><strong>Evaluate your home</strong></p> <p dir="ltr">The first step is to figure out if solar power is right for you. </p> <p dir="ltr">There are a few reasons why solar might not suit, including renters, apartment-dwellers, and anyone who lives in a shady spot might not be the ideal candidate for solar power.</p> <p dir="ltr">Luckily there are other ways to reduce your carbon footprint.</p> <p dir="ltr">“If conditions don’t suit, it might be better to invest in a 100 per cent carbon neutral energy plan,” says Beau.</p> <p dir="ltr"><strong>Do your research</strong></p> <p dir="ltr">Shopping for solar is no different to buying new furniture. </p> <p dir="ltr">It’s important to shop around for the best deal by looking at user reviews, comparing prices and services, and talking to experts before locking down a provider. </p> <p dir="ltr">Beau says, “The only negative reviews you want to see appearing on a good company should be from those who delayed getting and wished they’d done it sooner.”</p> <p dir="ltr"><strong>Find the right company</strong></p> <p dir="ltr">While there’s nothing wrong with prioritising affordability and cost comparison, be aware that low costs can occasionally translate to poor customer service and unreliable installers.</p> <p dir="ltr">According to Beau, “For the best long term results, choose a solar company who uses local installers so that if there is a problem, there will always be someone ready to immediately fix the issue.”</p> <p dir="ltr"><strong>Find the right spot</strong></p> <p dir="ltr">When it comes to solar power, location is key. </p> <p dir="ltr">The last thing you want is to discover that your installer has placed the panels in a bad spot, which only leads to more costs to correct the error. </p> <p dir="ltr">“When having an initial consultation it is essential to ask whether or not the company you are talking to sends trained engineers who can look at your roof, its shading and sunlight levels. This will ensure that you will get the most out of your solar system.”</p> <p dir="ltr">In order to get the most of your solar power, make sure there are no obstructions to your panels, and be sure to monitor the system’s performance to make sure you’re getting the very best green energy. </p> <p dir="ltr"><em>Image credits: Getty Images</em></p>

Home & Garden

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New panel places the voice of aged care consumers at the centre

<p dir="ltr">The voice of aged care consumers and their families is vitally important for the Aged Care Quality and Safety Commission to hear and understand.</p> <p dir="ltr">This is the message from Aged Care Quality and Safety Commissioner, Janet Anderson, as the Commission establishes its first ever Consumers and Families Panel.</p> <p dir="ltr">“People receiving aged care, and their experience of that care, are central to the Commission’s purpose - ensuring their wellbeing underpins all of our efforts,” Ms Anderson said.</p> <p dir="ltr">“They must be front and centre of everything aged care providers do, and also in the work of the Commission, placing the needs of those receiving care at the forefront at all times.”</p> <p dir="ltr">To better understand what’s important to people who use aged care services, the Commission is establishing a Consumers and Families Panel made up of people receiving Australian Government funded aged care services, their family members and representatives.</p> <p dir="ltr">The Commission wants the panel to reflect the diversity of people who access aged care across Australia.</p> <p dir="ltr">“It is very important that the panel is as diverse as the people who use Australian Government funded aged care,” Ms Anderson said.</p> <p dir="ltr">“We are inviting anyone living in residential aged care or receiving home care or using Commonwealth- funded aged care services in the community to share their ideas and opinions with us. We’re also interested in hearing from family members and carers of aged care recipients, and people who are considering using aged care services within the next 12 months.”</p> <p dir="ltr">The Consumers and Families Panel will help the Commission, as the national aged care regulator, in its work overseeing the quality of aged care services and resolving complaints about these services.</p> <p dir="ltr">“It will improve the way we regulate aged care services and resolve complaints and help make sure that the information we produce is fit for purpose and easy to understand for everyone,” Ms Anderson said.</p> <p dir="ltr">The Commission will invite panel members to share their ideas and opinions about things such as:</p> <ul> <li dir="ltr" aria-level="1"> <p dir="ltr" role="presentation">issues that are of most concern to people receiving care that the Commission should know about</p> </li> <li dir="ltr" aria-level="1"> <p dir="ltr" role="presentation">how the Commission can reach people better</p> </li> <li dir="ltr" aria-level="1"> <p dir="ltr" role="presentation">how people can be better supported to interact with the Commission</p> </li> <li dir="ltr" aria-level="1"> <p dir="ltr" role="presentation">videos or other resources prepared by the Commission.</p> </li> </ul> <p dir="ltr">Panel members will be able to provide input and engage in different ways, including by email or telephone, or by taking part in online or in-person meetings.</p> <p>The CEO of the Older Persons Advocacy Network (OPAN), Craig Gear OAM, welcomes the Commission’s new Consumers and Families Panel.</p> <p dir="ltr">“Older people must be consulted at every step of the aged care journey to ensure their rights, needs and preferences are being met,” Mr Gear said.</p> <p dir="ltr">“The Consumers and Families Panel will enable older people and their families to better engage with, and inform, the aged care regulator. Their lived experience is critical to ensuring all older people receive the care and services they deserve.”</p> <p dir="ltr">People wishing to be part of the Commission’s Consumers and Families Panel can register their interest via the Commission’s website at: <a href="http://www.agedcarequality.gov.au/consumer-panel" target="_blank" rel="noopener">www.agedcarequality.gov.au/consumer-panel</a> or call the Commission on 1800 951 822.</p> <p dir="ltr">For more information about the Commission and its work, please visit the Commission’s website at: <a href="http://www.agedcarequality.gov.au" target="_blank" rel="noopener">www.agedcarequality.gov.au</a>.</p> <p><span id="docs-internal-guid-af2d2a81-7fff-e401-f0fd-7e4f22a77acc"></span></p> <p dir="ltr"><em>Image: Shutterstock</em></p>

Retirement Life

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Solar curtailment is emerging as a new challenge to overcome as Australia dashes for rooftop solar

<p>Almost <a href="https://www.smh.com.au/environment/climate-change/australia-reaches-3-million-households-with-rooftop-solar-20211108-p59721.html">a third</a> of Australia’s estimated <a href="https://www.ibisworld.com/au/bed/number-of-households/31/">ten million households</a> now have solar on the roof. But as the nation moving fastest to produce energy on our homes, we are also encountering teething problems, such as “curtailment” of output.</p> <p>This issue will be one we have to overcome as ever more Australians install solar. Our grids were designed primarily for large fossil fuel power stations transmitting electricity in one direction, while solar households both consume and export power.</p> <p>That means in some conditions, household solar may contribute to spikes in voltage levels outside of the acceptable range, especially as voltage levels are typically already high.</p> <p>To counter this, your solar system can stop exporting to the grid or even shut down temporarily if voltage levels are too high. This is called “curtailment”.</p> <p><a href="https://images.theconversation.com/files/436513/original/file-20211209-21-qfm0ve.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&amp;q=45&amp;auto=format&amp;w=1000&amp;fit=clip"><img src="https://images.theconversation.com/files/436513/original/file-20211209-21-qfm0ve.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&amp;q=45&amp;auto=format&amp;w=754&amp;fit=clip" alt="Solar technicians installing panels" /></a> <span class="caption">The rush for solar shows no signs of slowing – but curtailment could be a stumbling block.</span> <span class="attribution"><span class="source">Shutterstock</span></span></p> <h2>So what’s the issue?</h2> <p>The average solar household lose less than 1% of its power production to curtailment – and even less for those with home batteries. While that sounds minor, an unlucky few households are losing as much as 20%.</p> <p>Why the drastic difference? It depends on factors like the house’s location, the local electricity network equipment, home wiring, the number of solar systems in the area, and the size of a solar system and inverter settings, which can vary depending on the date of installation.</p> <p>These findings are from <a href="https://www.racefor2030.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2021/11/CANVAS-Succinct-Final-Report_11.11.21.pdf">our scoping study</a> in South Australia, conducted in partnership with AGL, SA Power Networks and Solar Analytics as part of the <a href="https://www.racefor2030.com.au/">RACE for 2030</a> research centre.</p> <p>We analysed two out of three modes of automatic curtailment, with further research underway to assess the third mode, which may account for greater overall curtailment.</p> <p>This issue is set to get bigger, as more and more solar systems are installed and export to the grid at the same time.</p> <p>Given the different ways solar households experience curtailment, this research also raises issues of fairness.</p> <p>Our research interviewed and ran focus groups with South Australians who have solar. We found most participants didn’t know about curtailment and hadn’t experienced it or noticed it.</p> <p>But when we described curtailment, most people found it off-putting and questioned whether rooftop solar owners should be made to absorb any losses, given the contribution of rooftop solar to the renewable energy transition.</p> <p>Not only that, our participants told us they believed the issue could slow down the adoption of solar and potentially undermine faith in the system.</p> <p><a href="https://images.theconversation.com/files/436514/original/file-20211209-19-azcfvo.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&amp;q=45&amp;auto=format&amp;w=1000&amp;fit=clip"><img src="https://images.theconversation.com/files/436514/original/file-20211209-19-azcfvo.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&amp;q=45&amp;auto=format&amp;w=754&amp;fit=clip" alt="Power pylons" /></a> <span class="caption">Australia’s rapid renewable transition means challenges to overcome for the grid.</span> <span class="attribution"><span class="source">Shutterstock</span></span></p> <h2>Is this a problem for solar uptake?</h2> <p>The issue of curtailment means people may not get everything they expect out of their solar system. But this may not be a deal breaker, given <a href="https://ecss.energyconsumersaustralia.com.au/behaviour-survey-oct-2021/purchase-intentions/">earlier research</a> and our study both show that people hope to benefit in many different ways from installing a solar system.</p> <p>For instance, some want to reduce their reliance on fossil fuels and contribute to a cleaner grid. Others want to be less reliant on electricity providers and enjoy producing and using their own energy. And some just want cheaper electricity, and don’t mind whether they get these savings through selling their power or just buying less of what they need from the grid.</p> <p>The good news is that as the solar sector matures, new ways are emerging of maximising value from our solar, including:</p> <ul> <li>home energy management systems letting us time the use of appliances such as <a href="https://www.pv-magazine-australia.com/2021/09/06/unsw-study-channelling-rooftop-pv-into-water-heating-is-a-residential-super-saver/">hot water tanks</a> for daytime periods, when solar generates most power</li> <li>batteries letting us store power for use in the home when it is needed, such as in the evening</li> <li><a href="https://www.solarpowerworldonline.com/2017/09/virtual-power-plant/">virtual power plants</a> enabling households to be paid for allowing their solar and battery systems to help stabilise the electricity grid.</li> </ul> <p>While attractive in their own right, these options can also reduce how much your solar system is curtailed, and have the potential to help tackle challenges at a grid scale.</p> <p>Other changes to electricity and grid access and pricing could also help us better manage curtailment.</p> <p><a href="https://www.abc.net.au/news/2021-04-15/sa-power-networks-to-control-solar-exports-in-adelaide-trial/100070068">Flexible export limits</a> being trialled in South Australia and elsewhere would mean households could export electricity to the grid when it is needed, while occasionally being prevented from doing so when the network does not have capacity.</p> <p>Flexible export limits also mean households can install larger solar systems regardless of their location within the network. They could stop curtailment affecting solar households in unexpected and uneven ways.</p> <p>Other responses include <a href="https://discover.agl.com.au/solar/helping-to-maximise-your-solar-savings/">programs to reward households</a> for having their export curtailed, recognising it as a service to the market and the network.</p> <p>There is no single solution to the issue of curtailment. But the different solutions described above may contribute to the successful integration of more rooftop solar energy and pave the way for a more renewable grid.</p> <p>Now is the time to talk about the future of solar in Australia, and the ways we can value it, use it and manage it when abundant.<!-- Below is The Conversation's page counter tag. Please DO NOT REMOVE. --><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; text-shadow: none !important;" src="https://counter.theconversation.com/content/172152/count.gif?distributor=republish-lightbox-basic" alt="The Conversation" width="1" height="1" /><!-- End of code. If you don't see any code above, please get new code from the Advanced tab after you click the republish button. The page counter does not collect any personal data. More info: https://theconversation.com/republishing-guidelines --></p> <p><span><a href="https://theconversation.com/profiles/sophie-adams-1203744">Sophie Adams</a>, Research Fellow, School of Humanities and Languages, <em><a href="https://theconversation.com/institutions/unsw-1414">UNSW</a></em>; <a href="https://theconversation.com/profiles/baran-yildiz-1259582">Baran Yildiz</a>, Senior Research Associate, <em><a href="https://theconversation.com/institutions/unsw-1414">UNSW</a></em>; <a href="https://theconversation.com/profiles/naomi-stringer-1296976">Naomi Stringer</a>, Research Associate, <em><a href="https://theconversation.com/institutions/unsw-1414">UNSW</a></em>, and <a href="https://theconversation.com/profiles/shanil-samarakoon-1295900">Shanil Samarakoon</a>, Lecturer, Centre for Social Impact, <em><a href="https://theconversation.com/institutions/unsw-1414">UNSW</a></em></span></p> <p>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/solar-curtailment-is-emerging-as-a-new-challenge-to-overcome-as-australia-dashes-for-rooftop-solar-172152">original article</a>.</p> <p><em>Image: Shutterstock</em></p>

Home Hints & Tips

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Australia's pork panel officially reveal the best value Christmas ham in Australia

<p>The Christmas ham is the glistening centrepiece of every table come this time of the year.</p> <p>With the big day fast approaching, the question on the minds of many is: Where do I get the “perfect” ham? There is where Australian Pork steps in. To help narrow It down, CEO Margo Andrae has stepped in to let shoppers know what to choose and what to look for when buying their Christmas ham.</p> <p>“We know from our research that over 78% of shoppers will purchase their ham from their local supermarket. With our Supermarket Ham Taste Test, we want to take the work out of choosing a ham for Australians, and provide a cheat sheet for any budget and any celebration size this year,” Ms Andrae says.</p> <p>Ms Andrea, together with celebrity chef Adrian Richardson and award-winning free range pig producer Judy Croagh, blind taste-tested 20 hams from all the major retailers on best taste and value.</p> <p>All making their way through the pork, it was Woolworth’s Double Smoked Half Leg Ham at $12.50/kg that has taken the crown for best pork in 2021.</p> <p>Judges described it as having a sweet and light aroma, clean robust appearance and deliciously delicate taste.</p> <p>The overall Value Ham also came from Woolworths, with the Half Leg Ham available at $8.50/kg.</p> <p>“This ham had a beautiful balance smoky aroma, flavour with a good bite,” said one of the judges.</p> <p>Woolworth’s commercial director Jason McQuaid said they’re thrilled both hams have been recognised with these awards.</p> <p>“With customers starting to plan their Christmas celebrations, we’re expecting more than 1.75 million kilos of our Woolworths Half Leg Ham, a 20% increase from last year, to fly off the shelves in the lead up to Christmas,” Mr McQuiad said.</p> <p>Coles, Costco and IGA’s top hams cost just $8.50 a kilo, with Aldi’s best-selling ham just a few dollars more at $11.99.</p> <p>The judges were blown away by the free-range Berkshire full leg ham on the bone from</p> <p>Costco, awarding it the Premium Buy at $19.99 per kilogram.</p> <p>Ham sales have gone up 20 per cent from 2020, as families prepare for a much-needed celebration after another tough year.</p> <p><strong>GLAZING YOUR HAM</strong></p> <p>This comes down to four steps, as recommended by Australian Pork.</p> <ol> <li>Prepare your favourite glaze recipe</li> <li>Remove rind and use a sharp knife to score ham in a diamond pattern</li> <li>Place ham scored side up in a large baking pan and brush over glaze</li> <li>Place into a preheated oven or hooded barbecue at 180°C for 20 minutes per kg, basting occasionally, until ham is brown and warmed through</li> </ol> <p><strong>STORING YOUR HAM</strong></p> <ol> <li>Soak a Ham Bag, pillowcase or tea towel in 4 cups of water and 2 tbsp vinegar</li> <li>Wring out excess liquid and place or wrap ham inside</li> <li>Store in coolest part of fridge</li> <li>Re-soak bag in solution every few days or when Ham Bag dries out</li> </ol>

Food & Wine

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Beware the lure of unethical solar power

<div> <div class="copy"> <p>Solar energy may be the future. But only if it lets go of the past.</p> <p>International NGO the <a rel="noreferrer noopener" href="https://www.weforum.org/agenda/2021/09/to-lead-the-green-energy-future-solar-must-clean-up-its-supply-chains/" target="_blank">World Economic Forum</a> has issued a damning report card on the state of the world’s solar panel manufacturing. It may be experiencing rapid growth. It may be one of the cheapest sources of power. But its climate credentials face intense scrutiny.</p> <p>Forced labour, coal-fuelled production processes and a lack of transparency around the source of crucial components combine, the WEF says, into a cause for concern.</p> <p>“The solar industry is currently grappling with supply chain issues that could significantly impact its future,” the authors, professors Morgan Bazilian and Dustin Mulvaney, write.</p> <p>Much of their concern is concentrated on the production of polysilicon and the drive to make it cheap.</p> <p>Some 45% of global production of this component is sourced from Xinjiang province in China. And much of the labour force used to produce it is supplied by “re-education camps” detaining ethnic Kazakhs and Kyrgyz. </p> <p>On top of that, the remote desert region relies heavily on locally sourced coal for its power supply. “This attracted polysilicon manufacturers to this region of China in the first place because electricity is a major cost in the production process,” the report reads.</p> <p class="has-text-align-center"><strong><em>Read more: <a rel="noreferrer noopener" href="https://cosmosmagazine.com/technology/solar-and-wind-cheapest-energy-source-in-australia/" target="_blank">Solar and wind cheapest energy source in Australia</a></em></strong></p> <p>This, they say, undermines any climate and environmental benefits offered by solar panels further down the supply chain.</p> <p>“Solar panels are cheaper to build and install today in many places than alternative sources of electricity like coal and natural gas, translating to lower levels of greenhouse gases and air pollution,” they write.</p> <p>But Professor Alistair Sproul of the ANU’s School of Photovoltaic &amp; Renewable Energy Engineering says photovoltaic power has more than enough wiggle room in its pricing to clean up its act. Much of the price drop in photovoltaic (PV) production in recent years has been driven by advances in technology, particularly crystalline silicon, he says. “Even if the price stayed where it is now or went up a little – PV is very cost-competitive.”</p> <p>Under current life-cycle <a rel="noreferrer noopener" href="https://www.nrel.gov/analysis/life-cycle-assessment.html" target="_blank">calculations</a>, crystalline silicon PV cells produce about 50g of <span>CO<sub>2 </sub></span>for every kilowatt-hour of electricity. Black coal, in comparison, comes in at 1000g of <span>CO<sub>2</sub></span> per kWh. </p> <p>“The PV industry is growing each decade or so by a factor of 10 – this next decade is crucial – but as scale increases, costs will come down anyway – and the industry is not reliant on forced labour,” says Sproul.</p> <p>“Low-cost energy is really key here – so that there is a virtuous cycle – that as PV itself becomes cheaper it should be possible to lower the cost of producing PV further by utilising increasing amounts of PV electricity in manufacturing.”</p> <p>Sproul says materials that need coal for processing – especially steel – are all seeking alternatives.  “Hydrogen is definitely an avenue worth exploring as an alternative to coal to reduce iron oxide (for steel)  and silicon dioxide ( for silicon). [And] all supply chains need to be clear, transparent and free from forced labour.”</p> <em>Image credit: Shutterstock                         <!-- Start of tracking content syndication. Please do not remove this section as it allows us to keep track of republished articles --> <img id="cosmos-post-tracker" style="opacity: 0; height: 1px!important; width: 1px!important; border: 0!important; position: absolute!important; z-index: -1!important;" src="https://syndication.cosmosmagazine.com/?id=167605&amp;title=Beware+the+lure+of+unethical+solar+power" alt="" width="1" height="1" /> <!-- End of tracking content syndication -->          </em></div> <div id="contributors"> <p><em>This article was originally published on <a rel="noopener" href="https://cosmosmagazine.com/technology/energy/beware-the-lure-of-unethical-solar-power/" target="_blank">cosmosmagazine.com</a> and was written by Jamie Seidel. </em></p> </div> </div>

Technology

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Major shake-up on the cards for The Project panel in 2020

<p>A Channel Ten executive has confirmed that hit panel show<span> </span><em>The Project</em>is set for a re-shuffle this year after the show struggles to compete with the<span> </span><em>ABC</em>.</p> <p>Speaking to the<span> </span><em><a rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://www.heraldsun.com.au/entertainment/channel-10s-the-project-set-for-a-reshuffle/news-story/450b8a30a62fbbd156767c3cfa50b8f5" target="_blank">Herald Sun</a></em><span> </span>on Thursday, Ten chief content officer Beverley McGarvey said that the almost-nightly changes to the panel line-up will stop.</p> <p>“You won't see the same faces six nights a week but what I would like to have is consistency and familiarity,” she said.</p> <p>Last year, viewers saw a mix of hosts including Susie Youseff, Joel Creasey and Dave Thornton, which is a factor that could be explained by the decreased ratings.</p> <blockquote 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);" class="instagram-media" data-instgrm-permalink="https://www.instagram.com/p/B5zXYoulFEz/?utm_source=ig_embed&amp;utm_campaign=loading" data-instgrm-version="12"> <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> <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;" rel="noopener" href="https://www.instagram.com/p/B5zXYoulFEz/?utm_source=ig_embed&amp;utm_campaign=loading" target="_blank">A post shared by The Project (@theprojecttv)</a> on Dec 7, 2019 at 11:11pm PST</p> </div> </blockquote> <p>"We don't want people to feel like they're getting the B-team.</p> <p>"It needs to be that if you see Waleed, Carrie, and Pete on a Monday... it will be every single Monday," she continued.</p> <blockquote 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);" class="instagram-media" data-instgrm-permalink="https://www.instagram.com/p/B4uONjml7bV/?utm_source=ig_embed&amp;utm_campaign=loading" data-instgrm-version="12"> <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> <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;" rel="noopener" href="https://www.instagram.com/p/B4uONjml7bV/?utm_source=ig_embed&amp;utm_campaign=loading" target="_blank">A post shared by The Project (@theprojecttv)</a> on Nov 11, 2019 at 2:43am PST</p> </div> </blockquote> <p>In ratings that were published by<span> </span><a rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://mumbrella.com.au/friday-cricket-helps-seven-to-a-penultimate-ratings-win-608678" target="_blank">Mumbrella</a><span> </span>in December,<span> </span><em>The Project</em>failed to attract a bigger audience than ABC’s<span> </span><em>7:30</em>, which beat out the show by 100,000 viewers.</p>

TV

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Mum's urgent warning against exploding Christmas lights

<p>A mum has raised concerns after a set of solar-powered lights from Kmart exploded in the sun and severely burnt a wall outside her home.</p> <p>The woman from Queensland recently took to Facebook to warn others in case the same thing happens to them, as she shared multiple photos revealing the damage caused by the explosion.</p> <p>She reassured that no one was hurt and thanks to quick-thinking neighbours, embers were extinguished before dry glass was set alight.</p> <p>“Thank God for neighbours or things could have been a lot worse,” she captioned her post.</p> <p>“Solar panel on Xmas lights exploded. Bought them from Kmart approx. (sic) 3 weeks ago.</p> <p>“Will be notifying the store I brought them from tomorrow.”</p> <p>Kmart is currently selling Anko branded solar-powered LED multi-coloured string lights for $34 for a pack of 500.</p> <p style="text-align: center;"><img style="width: 480px; height: 480px;" src="https://oversixtydev.blob.core.windows.net/media/7833577/1.jpg" alt="" data-udi="umb://media/b920f6ca3e2c41d0a3cd1f2f79a337ee" /></p> <p>According to information on the store’s website, the lights are suitable for outdoor use.</p> <p>“Set the mood for the Christmas season with our festive LED string lights that will look stunning in your backyard!” reads the product description.</p> <p>Since sharing her warning, the post has received over 1800 reactions and hundreds of comments from concerned people.</p> <p>“My husband’s just gone to take ours down,” wrote one person. “I don’t know if it’s the same type but they are from Kmart so not risking it.”</p> <p>While another added: “This is so concerning! Glad I don’t have any of them, but not so good for the thousands of people that do!”</p> <p>A spokesperson from Kmart said the retailer had reached out to the customer to offer support as part of a commitment to ensuring all products are “fully compliant with regulations and safety standards”.</p> <p>“At Kmart Australia safety is our number one priority and we are committed to ensuring the products we sell are fully compliant with regulations and safety standards,” said the spokesperson.</p> <p>“We have reached out to the customer to offer support and conduct a review of their case.”</p>

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Are you a frequent flyer? Solar storm radiation can be harmful

<p>Space weather <a href="https://theconversation.com/solar-eruption-could-help-earth-prepare-for-technology-melt-down-18747">impacts</a> many modern-day technologies. But one of the most concerning – and least reported – space weather effects is the increased radiation exposure to passengers on commercial long-distance flights during so-called “<a href="http://www.spaceweather.com/glossary/srs.html">solar radiation storms</a>”.</p> <p>The NASA-funded Nowcast of Atmospheric Ionizing Radiation System (<a href="http://sol.spacenvironment.net/~nairas/">NAIRAS</a>) is the computer system tasked with providing a real-time data-driven climatology of the aviation radiation environment.</p> <p>Recently, a series of papers published in the journal [Space Weather] estimate that when NAIRAS was turned off during the US government shutdown last year – which went into effect just as a solar radiation storm began – <a href="http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/2013SW001015/abstract">500,000 people</a> received increased radiation doses.</p> <p>It has also been estimated that this event is likely to eventually result in four cancer-related deaths.</p> <p><strong>What is a solar radiation storm?</strong></p> <p>Disturbances on the surface of the sun are commonly the cause of geomagnetic disturbances here on Earth; such as power grid faults/failures and increased errors in GPS navigation and positioning.</p> <p>Associated with some of these solar disturbances is the ejection of extremely fast plasma into the solar wind that, when aimed directly towards the Earth, causes the onset of increased geomagnetic and ionospheric activity.</p> <p>The Earth-bound solar energetic particles ejected into the solar wind eventually penetrate into the Earth’s magnetosphere.</p> <p>When inside the magnetosphere, they orbit the planet across the Earth’s magnetic field lines until they are scattered by various complicated magnetospheric processes and interactions.</p> <p>Once scattered, these solar particles then travel down the magnetic field lines until they impact the Earth’s upper atmosphere, where they are effectively absorbed.</p> <p>The penetration depth of these particles primarily depends on their kinetic energy, which is governed by their mass and velocity.</p> <p>The less energetic particles are stopped by the Earth’s atmosphere typically between 100 and 400km altitude, causing the well-known <a href="http://spaceweathergallery.com/aurora_gallery.html">aurora</a> in the northern and southern high-latitude regions.</p> <p>The atmosphere increases in density exponentially as the particle falls. This normally prevents particles penetrating to lower altitudes where they are harmful to living organisms.</p> <p>The more energetic particles, called “solar energetic particles”, caused by these solar disturbances can <a href="http://www.dartmouth.edu/~barrel/index.html">penetrate</a> to below 10km, near of commercial flights.</p> <p>During such events, the danger posed by the increased radiation levels is easily averted by decreasing the cruising altitudes of the aircraft. Pilots can also divert their flight paths to areas less affected by the increased radiation levels (more equatorward latitudes).</p> <p><strong>Several chest X-rays worth of radiation</strong></p> <p>The aviation radiation monitoring performed in real-time by computer systems such as NAIRAS can effectively be used to issue such warnings to aircraft.</p> <p>This will help remove the threat posed to hundreds of thousands of people across the globe during such space weather events.</p> <p>The geomagnetic activity levels associated with the solar radiation storm that occurred during the US government shutdown were only minor (a minimum <a href="https://theconversation.com/solar-eruption-could-help-earth-prepare-for-technology-melt-down-18747">Dst</a> of -54nT).</p> <p>This means the technologies normally classified as being <a href="https://theconversation.com/divert-power-to-shields-the-solar-maximum-is-coming-11228">vulnerable</a> to extreme space weather events are not likely to have been significantly affected.</p> <p>The solar energetic particle levels observed by <a href="http://www.ngdc.noaa.gov/stp/satellite/goes/index.html">geostationary satellites</a> classifies this as an <a href="http://www.spaceweather.com/glossary/srs.html">S2</a>solar radiation storm. It lasted more than 24 hours, and took about four days to fully subside (see video below).</p> <p>Some controversy exists around the exact method used by the scientists of the first <a href="http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/2013SW001015/abstract">study</a>into this event. There has been doubt around the estimation of the number of eventual cancer fatalities related to this solar radiation storm.</p> <p>Even though the radiation levels air travellers were exposed to during this event are much higher than they might have been had an appropriate warning been issued, they were still comparatively low – on par with the dose that one would receive from a number of chest X-rays.</p> <p>Arguments put forward by some <a href="http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/2014SW001074/abstract">researchers</a> err on the side of caution. They indicate that some people who would be considered more vulnerable to increased radiation exposure (such as frequent flyers and unborn children) should have access to this radiation monitoring information.</p> <p>This would enable them to make educated decisions about appropriate air travel times in much the same way that non-urgent X-rays may be postponed during pregnancy.</p> <p><a href="http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/2014SW001061/abstract">Other researchers</a> have erred on the opposite side, with the view that the radiation doses during this event were too small to be considered a serious threat.</p> <p>Independent of whether or not this particular space weather event exposed air travellers to dangerous levels of radiation, these studies are in clear agreement that increasing radiation monitoring is a must in the future.</p> <p>This is especially important for the aviation industry, and the provision of such information must not be hindered by short-term political partisan interests.</p> <p><em>Written by Brett Carter. Republished with permission of </em><a href="https://theconversation.com/are-you-a-frequent-flyer-solar-storm-radiation-can-be-harmful-28775"><em>The Conversation</em></a><em>. </em></p>

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How to install solar lights

<p>Garden features can be highlighted subtly using solar lights, which don’t require mains power as they feature internal batteries that are charged by a solar panel. This is usually attached to the light itself or positioned nearby.</p> <p><strong>Step 1: Position solar panel</strong></p> <p>Choose a sunny spot in the garden and position the panel by driving the plastic stake into the ground. The lights will operate best if the panel is north-facing and receives sun for most of the day.</p> <p><strong>Step 2: Attach leads</strong></p> <p>Insert the leads into the panel and run them across the lawn or the garden bed out of the way so they’re not a trip hazard. Secure the leads by pegging them into the ground every metre using stainless steel pegs.</p> <p><strong>Step 3: Switch on lights</strong></p> <p>Leave the panel in the sun for several days to charge the batteries, then set the switch on the solar panel to automatic. The solar sensor will turn on the lights once the sun has set. If the lights are dim or don’t work, reposition the panel.</p> <p><em>Republished with permission of </em><a href="http://www.handyman.net.au/how-install-solar-lights"><em>Handyman Australia</em></a><em>.</em></p>

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How solar panels can help you cut the cost on your electricity bill

<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">New research from the University of South Australia has shown that battery power storage has reached a tipping point where it’s worth the money and can help save families money.</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Samantha Corns’ family of five uses batteries to power their home. The battery stores energy generated by her rooftop solar panels and costs her $9,000 after subsidies.</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">It has dramatically decreased her power bills.</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">“We should be absolutely zero, in credits actually,” Ms Corns told  </span><a href="https://www.9news.com.au/national/new-research-finds-battery-storage-can-save-families-money/c09411f6-4dfe-4127-a7a2-ddc7dcf62a6f"><span style="font-weight: 400;">9News</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">.</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">“It just made financial sense then.”</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Researcher Vanika Sharma agrees.</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">“They can actually save money now, if they get the right battery at the right size, at the right price,” researcher Vanika Sharma said.</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">However, it’s important to do your research before jumping into the world of solar panels. This includes knowing the size of current solar panels, how much energy your household consumes per day, the price of power currently and how much you’d get for feeding the power generated from the battery back.</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">“Definitely we need something to become reliable... and the battery storage is that. It will make that solar energy reliable,” Ms Sharma said.</span></p>

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Family's despair after power bills increase by 400% due to law change

<p>When Lee and Warren Mullaly purchased their new home in Forster, NSW they were thrilled. Having pre-installed solar panelling would ensure that their electricity bill would remain low, and while that was the case for a period of time, this year, the semi-retired couple are paying over $400 each quarter.</p> <p>“The government incentive finished and even though we were aware this was going to happen, we still thought our bills were going to be significantly lower,” Lee Mullaly told <em><a rel="noopener" href="https://www.news.com.au/finance/money/costs/changes-to-solar-feedin-tariffs-have-caused-huge-increases-to-power-bills/news-story/a5bafadf063bcb2f99b0d739feac0296" target="_blank">News.com.au</a></em>.</p> <p>Without a battery, the Mullaly's only find their solar panels beneficial during the day as the power produced must be used immediately.</p> <p>And in the evenings when the panels are not generating electricity, any power they use during that period comes from the grid. With their bill previously coming in at $95 a quarter, they are now facing an increase of $1400 more than what they paid the year before.</p> <p>This is the consequence of the Solar Bonus Scheme that was initiated by the NSW Government, ending on 31 December 2016. With the scheme paying households 60c or 20c per kilowatt an hour for the electricity they provided to the grid, many families benefited greatly.</p> <p>Now, as the scheme has shut down, households have taken a hit, and with a battery costing $15,000 to install for the semi-retired couple, the Mullaly's believe that the outlay wouldn’t be worth it.</p> <p>“We’ve got to watch what we spend, we haven’t got a lot of money coming in and we’ve got to weigh up the benefits,” said Lee Mullally.</p> <p>The Independent Pricing and Regulatory Tribunal (IPART) sets a recommended price for retailers, but it is not mandatory for retailers to follow. This year, the suggested benchmark dropped by 44 per cent due to below average wholesale electricity prices.</p> <p>Solar expert and ShineHub co-founder Alex Georgiou said this year’s changes to feed-in tariff rates could see families losing around $300 a year on a 5-kilowatt system.</p> <p>“If a person is not home to use solar power during the day, around 75 per cent of this is sent back to the grid,” he said.</p> <p>While an average household could have earned $657 a year selling power to the grid at a price of 12 cents, this year, that price would drop to $355 if they get 6.5 cents.</p> <p>When asked if she would consider a solar panelling system now, Mrs Mullaly said she would never do it without installing a battery first.</p> <p>“If you are thinking about getting panels you need to get a battery because ultimately it will be a huge saving and will take the worry away.”</p> <p>Do you have solar panelling on your home? Tell us in the comments below. </p>

Retirement Income

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Ita Buttrose gets defensive as the Today Extra panel discuss her sex life

<p>She’s used to asking the tough questions, but the tables were turned on Ita Buttrose during a panel discussion on Friday's episode of <em>Today Extra.</em> <br /><br />During a debate about a blogger's opinion that men prefer “debt-free virgins without tattoos”, the 76-year-old became defensive when asked about her own sex life <br /><br />Prue MacSween pointed out that the former Cleo editor once committed herself to celibacy. <br /><br />“Ita was known as the woman who had never had sex!” she said. <br /><br />“Don't be ridiculous, I had two children,” Ita snapped back.  <br /><br /><iframe src="https://www.facebook.com/plugins/video.php?href=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.facebook.com%2Fiwakeupwithtoday%2Fvideos%2F2101902129844441%2F&amp;show_text=1&amp;width=560" width="560" height="432" style="border: none; overflow: hidden;" scrolling="no" frameborder="0" allowtransparency="true" allow="encrypted-media" allowfullscreen="true"></iframe><br />Ita explained that she had chosen to abstain from sex in the ‘80s as part of a health campaign amid the HIV/AIDS epidemic. <br /><br />“You shouldn't sleep around and a lot of us had signed the celibacy pact,” she said. “I did not sign it for life.” <br /><br /><strong><u><a href="http://www.oversixty.com.au/entertainment/tv/ita-buttroses-surprising-new-job">Ita is co-hosting</a></u></strong> <em>Today Extra</em> with David Campbell while Sonia Kruger is away on a “top secret” work assignment, <br /><br />Less than three months ago, <strong><u><a href="https://www.oversixty.com.au/news/news/2018/04/ita-buttrose-explains-her-sudden-departure-from-studio-10/">Ita shocked fans</a></u></strong> when she announced she was leaving rival morning show Studio 10 after five years. </p>

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Studio 10 panel faces off against Senator David Leyonhjelm over “bitch” slur

<p>This morning, Senator David Leyonhjelm faced off against the <em>Studio 10</em> panel in a heated appearance where he refused to apologise for calling co-host Angela Bishop a “bitch”.</p> <p>On the weekend, Leyonhjelm called Bishop a “bigoted bitch” on Twitter, following a segment where the host described his sexist remarks against Greens senator Sarah Hanson-Young as “pathetic”.</p> <p>Leyonhjelm appeared on the show today to discuss his remarks and share his views on “free speech”.</p> <p>"You think it's proper to call women bitches?" fill-in panellist Hugh Riminton asked the senator.</p> <p>"When they are bitches," Leyonhjelm replied.</p> <p>After refusing to apologise for calling Hanson-Young a “serious misandrist”, Bishop asked the Senator to explain the remarks he made about her on his social media account.</p> <p>"I'm not a misandrist. Why did you call me a bitch?" she asked.</p> <p>"Because you were being bigoted," he replied, highlighting the moment when Bishop’s co-host, Joe Hildebrand, had been “trying to explain the context” of the senator’s controversial remark.</p> <p>"Why not call her a bigot, why do you call her a bitch? Real men don't call women bitches," Riminton said.</p> <p>"Oh, you've had a very sheltered life, Hugh," Leyonhjelm replied. "You're entitled to your opinion... I mix with normal Australians and they use that language all the time."</p> <p>Halfway through the segment, Leyonhjelm toned down his defence and said to Bishop: “I'm sorry you took offence."</p> <p>"So do you admit that calling her a bitch was wrong?" host Harris asked.</p> <p>"Oh no," Leyonhjelm replied, causing gasps in the audience.</p> <p>Riminton later tweeted a behind-the-scenes photo of Leyonhjelm and Bishop, saying that the senator admitted “he probably shouldn’t have said it in public”.</p> <blockquote class="twitter-tweet"> <p dir="ltr"><a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/DavidLeyonhjelm?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#DavidLeyonhjelm</a>’s off-camera concession after calling ⁦<a href="https://twitter.com/AngelaBishop?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@AngelaBishop</a>⁩ a “bigoted bitch” - “I probably shouldn’t have said it in public.” ⁦<a href="https://twitter.com/tendailyau?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@tendailyau</a>⁩ ⁦<a href="https://twitter.com/channeltennews?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@channeltennews</a>⁩ <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/auspol?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#auspol</a> <a href="https://t.co/5kRiX60NvN">pic.twitter.com/5kRiX60NvN</a></p> — Hugh Riminton (@hughriminton) <a href="https://twitter.com/hughriminton/status/1014297298921091072?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">July 3, 2018</a></blockquote> <p>During the interview, Bishop questioned Leyonhjelm’s intentions with his recent controversial remarks, suggesting he was using the publicity for his re-election campaign.</p> <p>"That might be an outcome of it, but I didn't set out to achieve that... I didn't try to stop the ball but I also didn't start it," Leyonhjelm said.</p> <p>"You guys keep ringing me up to come and do interviews," he told the panel. "Free speech is important but so is sexism and calling out misandry."</p> <p>Leyonhjelm said he would only apologise for his comment about Hanson-Young if the Greens senator made three public announcements rejecting “men’s collective responsibility” in violence against women – a condition she has since rejected.</p> <p>What are your thoughts? Let us know in the comments below.</p>

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