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Refinancing your home later in life – what you need to know

There are many reasons why you may look to refinance your home. The obvious one is to lower mortgage repayments with a better rate. However, other reasons people refinance later in life include: <ul> <li>unlocking equity to invest</li> <li>paying down other debts</li> <li>buying a holiday home</li> <li>funding extended travel</li> <li>launching a new business</li> <li>supporting children with a property deposit</li> </ul> Regardless of why you want to refinance, the points below will help you navigate your options. Changing lenders It may have been a while since you last revisited your mortgage, meaning you may not be aware of current lending options and traps. A common trick lenders use is the so-called “headline rate” to grab your attention. However, this interest rate is typically not what you end up paying. It may only be an introductory rate for the first few months, or hefty fees attached may wipe out any savings. Banks aren’t the only ones offering loans nowadays. Registered non-bank lenders, fintechs and online lenders can refinance your mortgage and provide other credit services the same as any bank; they just don’t take cash deposits. Alternatively, you could explore credit unions and mutual societies. Also consider any shareholder benefits you may have. Most banks have done away with them now but may still honour pre-existing ones. If you change lenders, you could lose this entitlement – permanently. Reverse mortgages Generally, only available to people aged 60-plus, a reverse mortgage effectively allows you to unlock equity in your home without you needing to make immediate repayments. However, they often have strict conditions including: <ul> <li>minimum borrowing amounts</li> <li>maximum borrowing ratios</li> <li>higher interest rates than standard mortgages</li> </ul> Crucially, the interest accrues over time and is repaid when you sell, move or pass away. As such, your debt liability grows over time – potentially impacting your future living arrangements and how much is left for beneficiaries in your will. The Govt has the “loan equity scheme” as another option to lenders. I just want to highlight the need to be careful with reverse mortgages. Changing homes Rather than selling, downsizing could involve making an investment property your primary residence and then renting out your existing home. This approach may require you to refinance both loans simultaneously. There will also be tax considerations to work through – including Capital Gains Tax liabilities when you do sell, negative gearing, depreciation, and changes to your income tax. Then there are the lifestyle factors to weigh up, especially if you are moving to a different area: <ul> <li>living expenses</li> <li>insurance and travel costs</li> <li>access to healthcare</li> <li>rental income</li> <li>property management expenses</li> </ul> Remember that if you have a Self Managed Super Fund (SMSF), it CANNOT own any property that you directly use yourself, including your home. Becoming Bank of Mum and Dad Refinancing can unlock equity to support adult children with their first property deposit. However, it isn’t without its risks. Ask yourself honestly: <ul> <li>Will this be a gift or loan?</li> <li>If a loan, under what terms? Will interest be applied? How and when will repayments be made? What if they default?</li> <li>What happens if their relationship breaks down, will you get your money back?</li> <li>How does going without that money affect your retirement?</li> <li>Do you have alternative assets to support you if your circumstances change?</li> <li>How does this affect inheritances or deposit contributions to your other children?</li> <li>Can you assist them another way without using your home equity?</li> </ul> Draw up a written agreement outlining all conditions and scenarios to avoid disagreements in the future. Pension impacts Don’t overlook how refinancing your home could impact your pension. While your home is exempt from the means test, any income or assets you generate from unlocking equity is not. You could inadvertently see your pension amount reduced or your eligibility voided altogether. This would come as a nasty shock if you haven’t pre-budgeted for such a change! Getting advice To ensure you get the best bang for your buck when refinancing, be sure to enlist the help of a good: <ul> <li>mortgage broker to source the best loans for your circumstances</li> <li>insurance broker to ensure your cover is right sized for your needs, risk and budget</li> <li>accountant to work through any tax implications</li> <li>estate planner to manage any changes</li> <li>financial adviser to keep your investments and financial strategy working for you</li> </ul> Ultimately, decisions – including about refinancing – are only as good the information you have at hand. So, make sure you have all the relevant facts before signing on the dotted line. Helen Baker is a licensed Australian financial adviser and author of the new book, Money For Life: How to build financial security from firm foundations (Major Street Publishing $32.99). Helen is among the 1% of financial planners who hold a master’s degree in the field. Proceeds from book sales are donated to charities supporting disadvantaged women and children. Find out more at <a style="color: #467886;" title="http://www.onyourowntwofeet.com.au/" href="http://www.onyourowntwofeet.com.au/">www.onyourowntwofeet.com.au</a> Disclaimer: The information in this article is of a general nature only and does not constitute personal financial or product advice. Any opinions or views expressed are those of the authors and do not represent those of people, institutions or organisations the owner may be associated with in a professional or personal capacity unless explicitly stated. Helen Baker is an authorised representative of BPW Partners Pty Ltd AFSL 548754.

Money & Banking

Do stem cell injections for knee osteoarthritis actually work?

<div class="theconversation-article-body">More than 500 million people around the world <a href="https://www.thelancet.com/journals/lanrhe/article/PIIS2665-9913(23)00163-7/fulltext">live with osteoarthritis</a>. The knee is affected more often than any other joint, with symptoms (such as pain, stiffness and reduced movement) affecting work, sleep, sport and <a href="https://www.aihw.gov.au/reports/chronic-musculoskeletal-conditions/osteoarthritis">daily activities</a>. Knee osteoarthritis is often thought of as thinning of the protective layer of cartilage within the joint. But we now understand it affects all the structures of the joint, including the bones, muscles and nerve endings. While there are things that <a href="https://www.safetyandquality.gov.au/standards/clinical-care-standards/osteoarthritis-knee-clinical-care-standard/information-consumers-osteoarthritis-knee-clinical-care-standard">can be done to manage</a> the symptoms of knee osteoarthritis, there is no cure, and many people experience persistent pain. As a result, an opportunity exists for <a href="https://www.rheuma.com.au/stem-cell-therapy-good-bad-ugly/174">as yet unproven treatments</a> to enter the market, often before regulatory safeguards can be put in place. Stem cell injections are one such treatment. A <a href="https://www.cochranelibrary.com/cdsr/doi/10.1002/14651858.CD013342.pub2">new review</a> my colleagues and I published this week finds that evidence of their benefits and harms remains elusive. <h2>Stem cell treatments</h2> Stem cells are already established as treatments for some diseases – <a href="https://www.lymphoma.org.au/lymphoma/treatments/stem-cell-transplants/autologous-stem-cell-transplant/">mostly disorders of the blood</a>, bone marrow or immune system – which has led to suggestions they could be used for a much wider array of conditions. Stem cells have been touted as promising treatments for osteoarthritis because they have special properties which allow them to replicate and develop into the mature healthy cells that make up our body’s organs and other tissues, including cartilage. Stem cell treatments for osteoarthritis generally involve <a href="https://www.aboutstemcells.org/treatments">taking a sample of tissue</a> from a site that is rich in stem cells (such as bone marrow or fat), treating it to increase the number of stem cells, then injecting it into the joint. The hope is that if the right type of stem cells can be introduced into an osteoarthritic joint in the right way and at the right time, they may help to repair damaged structures in the joint, or have other effects such as reducing inflammation. But no matter how convincing the theory, we need good evidence for effectiveness and safety before a new therapy is adopted into practice. Stem cell injections have not been approved by Australia’s <a href="https://www.tga.gov.au/news/news/stem-cell-treatments-and-regulation-quick-guide-consumers#:%7E:text=Does%20the%20TGA%20regulate%20stem,does%20not%20regulate%20medical%20practice">Therapeutic Goods Administration</a> for the treatment of osteoarthritis. Nonetheless, some clinics in Australia and around the world still offer them. Because of the regulatory restrictions, we don’t have reliable numbers on how many procedures are being done. They’re not covered by Medicare, so the procedure can cost the consumer thousands of dollars. And, as with any invasive procedure, both the <a href="https://coroners.nsw.gov.au/documents/findings/2016/Findings%20Drysdale.pdf">harvest of stem cells</a> and the joint injection procedure may carry the potential for harm, such as infection. <h2>What we found</h2> Our <a href="https://www.cochranelibrary.com/cdsr/doi/10.1002/14651858.CD013342.pub2">new review</a>, published by the independent, international group the Cochrane Collaboration, looks at all 25 randomised trials of stem cell injections for knee osteoarthritis that have been conducted worldwide to date. Collectively, these studies involved 1,341 participants. We found stem cell injections may slightly improve pain and function compared with a placebo injection, but the size of the improvement may be too small for the patient to notice. The evidence isn’t strong enough to determine whether there is any improvement in quality of life following a stem cell injection, whether cartilage regrows, or to estimate the risk of harm. This means we can’t confidently say yet whether any improvement that might follow a stem cell injection is worth the risk (or the cost). <h2>Hope or hype?</h2> It’s not surprising we invest hope in finding a transformative treatment for such a common and disabling condition. Belief in the benefits of stem cells is widespread – more than <a href="https://www.arthroscopyjournal.org/article/S0749-8063(21)00571-5/abstract">three-quarters of Americans</a> believe stem cells can relieve arthritis pain and more than half believe this treatment to be curative. But what happens if a new treatment is introduced to practice before it has been clearly proven to be safe and effective? The use of an unproven, invasive therapy is not just associated with the risks of the intervention itself. Even if the treatment were harmless, there is the risk of unnecessary cost, inconvenience, and a missed opportunity for the patient to use existing therapies that are known to be effective. What’s more, if we need to play catch-up to try to establish an evidence base for a treatment that’s already in practice, we risk diverting scarce research resources towards a therapy that may not prove to be effective, simply because the genie is out of the bottle. <h2>Working towards a clearer answer</h2> Several more large <a href="https://anzctr.org.au/Trial/Registration/TrialReview.aspx?ACTRN=12620000870954">clinical trials</a> are currently underway, and should increase our understanding of whether stem cell injections are safe and effective for knee osteoarthritis. Our review incorporates “<a href="https://www.cochrane.org/news/cochranes-pioneering-role-living-evidence">living evidence</a>”. This means we will continue to add the results of new trials as soon as they’re published, so the review is always up to date, and offers a comprehensive and trustworthy summary to help people with osteoarthritis and their health-care providers to make informed decisions. In the meantime, there are a number of <a href="https://www.racgp.org.au/clinical-resources/clinical-guidelines/key-racgp-guidelines/view-all-racgp-guidelines/knee-and-hip-osteoarthritis/summary-plain-language">evidence-based treatment options</a>. Non-drug treatments such as physiotherapy, regular exercise, maintaining a healthy weight, and cognitive behavioural therapy can be more effective than you think. Anti-inflammatory and pain medications can also play a supporting role. Importantly, it’s not inevitable that osteoarthritic joints get worse with time. So, even though <a href="https://aoanjrr.sahmri.com/background">joint replacement surgery</a> is often highly effective, it’s the last resort and fortunately, many people never need to take this step.<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/253404/count.gif?distributor=republish-lightbox-basic" alt="The Conversation" width="1" height="1" /> By <a href="https://theconversation.com/profiles/samuel-whittle-2357927">Samuel Whittle</a>, ANZMUSC Practitioner Fellow, <a href="https://theconversation.com/institutions/monash-university-1065">Monash 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/people-are-getting-costly-stem-cell-injections-for-knee-osteoarthritis-but-we-dont-know-if-they-work-253404">original article</a>. Image: Shutterstock </div>

Body

Labor’s in with a fighting chance, but must work around an unpopular leader

<div class="theconversation-article-body"> The Albanese government has a fighting chance of winning the 2025 election, but will need to achieve in five weeks of campaigning what it hasn’t in three years in office. That is, work out a narrative explaining what it’s about and that can persuade Australians to back it for a second term. Convincing voters that electing a Peter Dutton-led Coalition government would be risky is the other essential element for a Labor victory – a task made easier by the evident chaos arising from the Trump administration’s recent actions in the US. The main Coalition promises announced ahead of the election being called were to start a nuclear power industry, slash the public service and, without explaining how, cut immigration. These policies are sufficiently Trumpesque in tone to lend some credence to Labor insinuations that Dutton could be a mini-Trump if elected. Attacks on Dutton’s integrity and policy credibility have improved Labor’s position in the run-up to the election. With Prime Minister Anthony Albanese somewhat lifting his performance this year, and getting Dutton slightly off balance, the trend is perceived to be moving Labor’s way. Government insiders hope the 2025 election will mimic the 1998 election, where the incumbent government survived despite losing the two party-preferred vote 48.5% to the opposition’s 51.5%. This paradoxical outcome, which saw the Howard government survive, was because the swing to the Beazley Labor opposition was concentrated in seats the opposition already held, rather than those it needed to win office. There’s little room for complacency, though. A handkerchief-sized set of policies such as Dutton’s did not stop opposition leader John Howard winning the 1996 election. Nor did a campaign built entirely on a three-pronged slogan stop opposition leader Tony Abbott winning the 2013 election. Labor will need to do deliberately what it did on the fly last time, when opposition leader Albanese got COVID during the 2022 campaign. That is, showcase attractive and articulate Labor frontbenchers to glow up, by association, an unloved leader. Both Albanese and Dutton have negative net approval ratings and are a drag on each of their party’s vote. In the <a href="https://theconversation.com/anthony-albanese-gains-in-newspoll-but-the-race-remains-neck-and-neck-251352">latest Newspoll</a> before the election was called, Albanese was on –12% and Dutton on –14%. An aggregate analysis of Newspoll by state and gender, covering the three months in the run up to the election, underlines the problem. Both leaders had double digit net negative approval ratings in every state except Queensland, where Dutton has a positive net rating of 9%. Both leaders have negative net approval ratings by gender, though Albanese’s (men –16%, women –18%) is worse than Dutton’s (men –8%, women –15%). Albanese has been famously indifferent to advice in the government’s first term. He long resisted the urgings of some cabinet colleagues to <a href="https://www.abc.net.au/news/2024-02-27/stage-three-tax-cut-changes-pass-senate/103519338">restructure the stage 3 tax cuts</a> legislated by the Morrison government, for example, until the need for a mid-term political circuit-breaker made him budge. However, the risk of not getting a second term will make the prime minister more open to the advice of senior colleagues, ALP national secretary Paul Erickson, and party elders during the campaign. Albanese’s solution to all problems, as one Labor figure puts it, is to “apply more Albo”. Since voters rate Labor more highly than its leader, however, “more Albo” during the campaign is not the answer. Effective communicators such as Treasurer Jim Chalmers, Environment Minister Tanya Plibersek, Finance Minister Katy Gallagher, Education Minister Jason Clare, Housing Minister Clare O'Neil, Home Affairs Minister Tony Burke and Employment Minister Murray Watt must be showcased. Their job is to embody an implicit promise that inside the Albanese government there’s a better one waiting to break out, and through that to stir voters’ hopes. So if the Albanese government can finally work out its story and get the message out via frontbenchers to whom voters are willing to listen, it could get across concrete promises that make them want to give it another go. What those concrete policy promises are will, of course, be crucially important. Labor has a tremendous challenge ahead. When up against one of the worst governments since Federation – that led by prime minister Scott Morrison – Albanese Labor won with a majority of just two seats in 2022. <figure><iframe src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/BenaVvL8BbE?wmode=transparent&start=0" width="440" height="260" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen"></iframe></figure> Voters have accorded new governments a second term at every federal poll since Federation, with the exception of the Depression-era 1931 election. But in 2025, this is far from assured. The unusual situation is partly a product of what systems thinkers describe as an “eroding goals” problem. After the loss of the Voice referendum campaign, the government’s leadership quickly conditioned Labor MPs to settle for the likelihood of minority government after the 2025 election. Now that election is here, and there are real fears even this lower hurdle might not be achieved. Having a leader who can do both the substance and theatre of politics is crucial to winning elections. If people don’t want to listen to you, the best government policies and performance can’t be communicated, recognised and rewarded. Having the right people in key portfolios is another. The prime minister prioritised the containment of potential leadership rivals over party and the national interest in some portfolio allocation decisions. This hurt the government’s performance and disappointed voters. Australians have signalled in repeated polls that they believe neither the current Labor prime minister nor the current Coalition alternative prime minister are up to the job. It is striking that the major parties, which claim to listen to voters, disrespect those voters by offering them deeply unpopular choices for prime minister. The spraying of votes to minor parties and independent candidates evident at the 2022 election could well accelerate as a consequence. People and parties often seem to be determined to learn the hard way. Now the election is here, Labor needs to tack around its shortcomings in this term of office and convincingly project there’s better ahead to win.<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/248663/count.gif?distributor=republish-lightbox-basic" alt="The Conversation" width="1" height="1" /> By <a href="https://theconversation.com/profiles/chris-wallace-314481">Chris Wallace</a>, Professor, School of Politics Economics & Society, Faculty of Business Government & Law, <a href="https://theconversation.com/institutions/university-of-canberra-865">University of Canberra</a> This article is republished from <a href="https://theconversation.com">The Conversation</a> under a Creative Commons license. Read the <a href="https://theconversation.com/labors-in-with-a-fighting-chance-but-must-work-around-an-unpopular-leader-248663">original article</a>. Image: Instagram </div>

Legal

Hilarious gift for Home and Away icon after her final scene

After an incredible 33-year run on Home and Away, beloved actress Lynne McGranger has filmed her final scene, marking the end of an era for both the show and its devoted fans. Portraying the iconic Irene Roberts, McGranger’s departure is a moment of celebration and nostalgia for the Australian TV industry. McGranger wrapped up her last scene on the legendary Pier Diner set at Seven’s Eveleigh Studios in Sydney on Wednesday. The emotional moment was met with cheers and heartfelt applause as the cast and crew gathered to witness the final take for the longest-serving female cast member in the show’s history. Producer Lucy Addario led the tributes, presenting McGranger with a bouquet of flowers on behalf of the Home and Away production team. Adding a touch of humour and nostalgia, she was also gifted the famous “Hamburger Phone” – a prop synonymous with the Diner – as a token of appreciation for her unforgettable contribution to the show. Grateful and emotional, McGranger reflected on her incredible journey. “I’ve had the ride of my life. And I love each and every one of you so much: The cast – Ray, Georgie, Emily, Shane, Ada, James, all the youngins,” she said. “The art department, the writers, everybody – there’s so many unsung heroes. This show is made up of so many parts. You’re all amazing, and it’s been my great privilege to work with each and every one of you. I’m touched, I’m humbled, and I’m so honoured. Thank you so much.” <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/DHp-tuUCy-h/?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/DHp-tuUCy-h/?utm_source=ig_embed&utm_campaign=loading" target="_blank" rel="noopener">A post shared by 7NEWS Sydney (@7newssyd)</a> </div> </blockquote> Though McGranger’s time on set has concluded, her character’s exit storyline promises to keep viewers captivated for months to come. Since her debut in January 1993, Irene has been a cornerstone of Summer Bay, known for her toughness, sharp wit and heart of gold. A recovered alcoholic who turned her life around, Irene’s journey has seen her take in numerous foster children and face some of the show’s most dramatic storylines, from battling breast cancer to surviving bomb explosions and plane crashes. Throughout the years, Irene’s signature catchphrases – “girly”, “darl”, and “flippin’ heck!” – have cemented her place in Australian pop culture. In 2023, TV WEEK even ranked her the second Greatest Australian TV Character Of All Time, a testament to McGranger’s unforgettable performance (Alf was No.1, in case you're wondering). Even as fans prepare to say goodbye to Irene Roberts over the coming months, McGranger’s legacy will live on in the hearts of Home and Away viewers. Her unmistakable charm has left an indelible mark on the show, and she will always be remembered as a true Summer Bay icon. Images: Network 7

Why do I grieve my childhood home so much now we’ve sold it?

<div class="theconversation-article-body"> Grief can hit us in powerful and unanticipated ways. You might expect to grieve a person, a pet or even a former version of yourself – but many people are surprised by the depth of sad yearning they can feel after selling the childhood home. In fact, it is <a href="https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s10615-018-0682-5">normal to grieve a place</a>. And this grief can be especially profound if it coincides with a parent dying or moving into residential aged care, leading to the sale of their house. Grief is the response to the loss of anything to which we have an emotional connection. A <a href="https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s10615-018-0682-5">growing body</a> of <a href="https://www.taylorfrancis.com/books/mono/10.4324/9780203860731/counting-losses-darcy-harris">research</a> is looking at how grief can extend to “non-person” losses such as infertility, loss of religion and, yes, the loss of a former home. <h2>Why would someone grieve a house?</h2> The childhood home can be an important place for many of us. It literally housed our formative development, family bonds, and core memories. Hopefully, the childhood home is where we learned about safety, security and love. It was likely surrounded by our neighbourhood, and close to important places such as school, playgrounds and friends’ houses. It is no wonder we grieve it when it’s gone. It’s normal to <a href="https://www.taylorfrancis.com/chapters/edit/10.4324/9781315126197-20/grieving-lost-home-marc-fried">grieve things we can’t see and touch</a> but are real and valued. Just as a <a href="https://doi.org/10.1002/pon.70031">serious diagnosis might trigger</a> grief for an imagined future for yourself, or an <a href="https://doi.org/10.1177/1049732314538550">identity</a> you once cherished, loss of a childhood home can hit us harder than we think. When you sell a once-beloved home, you don’t just lose the physical space. You also lose all of what that space might represent, such as birthday celebrations, Christmas lunches, sleepovers with friends or many happy hours playing in the garden. The childhood home often is a symbol of family connection and an anchor in the storm of life. Thinking of the home and all it represents can elicit nostalgia. In fact, the word “nostalgia” <a href="https://www.bps.org.uk/psychologist/nostalgia-cowbells-meaning-life">derives from the Greek</a> words nostos (return) and algos (pain). The word is rooted in the pain we often feel being away from home. And just as siblings are unique – each with different memories of and connections to their childhood home – their responses to its sale can differ markedly. It is normal if your sister or brother grieves the home in a different way to you – or maybe doesn’t even seem to grieve its loss at all. <h2>A complicated grief</h2> When a childhood home is sold because of the death of parents, the feelings of loss about the home are closely linked. The home being sold can be a type of secondary loss that sits in the periphery to the primary loss of parents. Grieving the deaths might, at first, take precedence over the loss of the home. It might only be later that the loss of the home and all it represents becomes apparent. Because the home provides a connection to the deceased person, the loss of the home might add another layer of grief about your parents. Perhaps you find that whenever you recall memories of mum or dad, they seem always to be at the house. It’s also normal if you feel immense <a href="https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s10615-018-0682-5">guilt</a> about grieving the home. People might chastise themselves for worrying about “silly things” and not grieving “enough” about the person who died. <a href="https://www.agingcare.com/questions/how-do-i-deal-with-the-guilt-of-selling-moms-house-481550.htm">Guilt about selling the home</a> can also be common. Not everyone has positive memories of their childhood home. Difficult family dynamics, maltreatment and abuse can complicate the emotional connection to childhood spaces and the grief response to their loss. In such cases, the loss of the childhood home can elicit grief about the loss of the childhood that could have – and should have – been. The loss of a home that was the site of discord can be even more challenging than for people with more idyllic childhood experiences. <h2>How can I cope with this loss?</h2> Grief from the loss of a childhood home is <a href="https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s10615-018-0682-5">real and valid</a>. We should recognise this and be kind to ourselves and others experiencing it. We shouldn’t minimise the loss or make fun of it. Usually, the loss is anticipated, and this allows you to take photos, furniture or mementos from the home or garden before you leave or sell. Grief researchers call these “<a href="https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0010440X20300031">transitional</a> <a href="https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/abs/10.1080/13576270412331329812">objects</a>”. They may help you maintain a connection to what is lost, while still grieving the place. <a href="https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s10615-018-0682-5">Social support</a> while grieving is important. Some people share memories and photos of the home with their siblings, or derive comfort from driving by the home. Just be prepared for the possibility it will likely change as the new owners adapt it to their needs. You might feel affronted, but hopefully can eventually accept the property now belongs to someone else. Chat to your doctor if the loss is particularly difficult, and your grief doesn’t change and subside over time. They might be able to recommend a psychologist who specialises in grief. If this article has raised issues for you, or if you’re concerned about someone you know, call Lifeline on 13 11 14.<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/251058/count.gif?distributor=republish-lightbox-basic" alt="The Conversation" width="1" height="1" /> By <a href="https://theconversation.com/profiles/lauren-breen-1142446">Lauren Breen</a>, Professor of Psychology, <a href="https://theconversation.com/institutions/curtin-university-873">Curtin 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/why-do-i-grieve-my-childhood-home-so-much-now-weve-sold-it-and-what-can-i-do-about-it-251058">original article</a>. Image: RDNE Stock project/Pexels </div>

Home & Garden

A decade in the making: Jamie Durie finally unveils dream home

After a decade of meticulous planning, popular TV host Jamie Durie has finally revealed his dream home, a breathtaking sustainable property on Sydney’s Northern Beaches. The Seven Network presenter took to Instagram to share an album of images showcasing the eco-friendly sanctuary he built for his family. "Grateful. 10 years of planning, 2 years of construction and we’re finally back home," Durie, 54, captioned the post. The luxurious and environmentally conscious home is now the residence of Durie, his fiancée Ameka Jane, and their two children: three-year-old daughter Beau and one-year-old son Nash. The entire process of planning and construction has been chronicled on Durie’s latest TV venture, Growing Home With Jamie Durie, airing on Seven. "It’s been a lifelong dream of mine to build an off-the-grid house," Durie told Woman’s Day in November. "Ten years ago, I sketched the house. We lodged the plans five years ago, and then the last two years have been dedicated to construction." Durie said that the journey to completion was anything but smooth. "I don’t think poor Ameka had any idea what she was signing up for when we met. But she came up with a number of ideas that added a lot of value to it." He also admitted that building the house tested the family in a variety of ways. "Any family out there who’s building their own house will go through the same as what we’ve gone through," he said. "Huge budget blowouts, rising interest rates, massive construction costs that are constantly going up. We’ve had to go back to the bank four times." Despite the hurdles, Durie and Jane remained committed to using innovative eco-friendly features wherever they could. "We challenged ourselves with new eco-initiatives that not many people would ever dream of trying, or may not even know about," he said, before describing the experience as "the toughest project I have ever taken on in my whole life". Following Durie’s Instagram reveal, a wave of celebrity friends flooded the comments section with praise for the spectacular home. The Morning Show’s Larry Emdur wrote, "Mate!!! Just wow";fFormer Bachelor star Anna Heinrich called it "incredible"; while TV personality Sally Obermeder simply stated, "WOW". Comedian Dave Hughes was equally impressed, writing, "That’s proper wow. My god." Getaway host Catriona Rowntree described the home as "bloomin’ gorgeous". Images: Instagram

Real Estate

Thousands of Aussie women to benefit from cheaper medicine in May

A new treatment for a common painful condition, along with two other drugs, will soon become far more affordable, improving the lives of thousands of Australian women. The federal government announced on Sunday that, from May 1, about 8,500 Australian women are expected to benefit annually from the inclusion of Ryeqo on the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme (PBS). The drug offers a new treatment option for endometriosis sufferers who experience moderate to severe pain and have not found relief through other hormonal treatments and painkillers. Endometriosis affects one in seven Australian women, with tissue similar to the womb’s lining growing elsewhere in the body, leading to severe pain and potential fertility issues. Symptoms can vary, often causing delays in diagnosis that average six and a half years, according to Endometriosis Australia. Additional subsidies will also reduce the costs of a progestogen-only contraceptive pill and an IVF hormone therapy. Women with low hormone levels will now have earlier access to Pergoveris for $32 per treatment cycle from their first IVF attempt, rather than waiting for multiple failed cycles. An unsubsidised cycle typically costs around $3,500. Adelaide mother Helana Shehadeh <a href="https://7news.com.au/news/thousands-of-australians-to-benefit-from-cheaper-medicine-c-18056149" target="_blank" rel="noopener">told 7News</a> that she used Pergoveris during her second IVF cycle in 2023, resulting in the birth of baby Zayn. She said that it's important to get early access to fertility treatments, adding that, “Anyone who has been through IVF understands the agony of multiple cycles. Earlier access to this fertility treatment will alleviate some of the burden for women undergoing IVF.” The announcement comes as Australia’s birth rate falls to a record low of 1.5 babies per woman. Fertility Society of Australia and New Zealand president Petra Wale welcomed the move, highlighting the financial strain of assisted reproduction. “The cost of assisted reproduction remains a major barrier for many families, particularly amid the ongoing cost-of-living crisis. Fewer financial and logistical hurdles mean more families can focus on what truly matters – having a baby,” she said. “Women have asked government to take their health care seriously," said Health Minister Mark Butler, "and we have listened. These listings could save women and their families thousands of dollars across their lifetimes.” Addressing criticism over delays in listing Ryeqo, Butler defended the government’s actions, stating that all recommendations had been handled “expeditiously”. He noted that in the previous nine years under the coalition government, “not a single new pill, not a single endometriosis treatment, not a single menopause treatment” was added to the PBS. The opposition, however, criticised the government for leaving women waiting more than a year for “potentially life-changing medications”. Opposition health spokeswoman Senator Anne Ruston reaffirmed the coalition’s commitment to timely PBS listings for all Pharmaceutical Benefits Advisory Committee-recommended medicines. Additionally, the cost of the contraceptive pill Slinda, used by about 80,000 women, will also be reduced under the PBS. The annual price will drop from approximately $320 to $94 for general patients and to $22 for concession card holders. Slinda, a progestogen-only pill, is particularly suitable for older women, smokers, women at increased risk of blood clots, and those who suffer from migraines. Image: Shutterstock

Caring

Australia denied exemption from Trump tariffs

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

Legal

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

Beloved champion athlete dies from rare brain tumour

A beloved Australian athlete has tragically died after a high-profile battle with a rare and aggressive brain tumour. Jenny Alcorn, a champion triathlete, passed away on Monday at the age of 66, with her partner Margot Rupe breaking the devastating news. “She pushed every boundary in life and it was incredible,” Rupe said. “She was the love of my life for 20 years, she helped me raise two amazing children." “Yes, triathlon was her life but she always enjoyed all the sports our kids did, she never missed a TSS First 15 game, she never missed a Bond Uni rugby game." “Even on Saturday afternoon, she sat up and watched our son play rugby in Japan, so she was a pretty amazing person." “We’re all heartbroken, our souls are heartbroken, she did everything with love, she loved her family, she loved me, she loved our kids and embraced everything she did.” Alcorn was a sporting legend and Alcorn was recognised just last year at the AusTriathlon Awards, as she was particularly well known in Queensland as a coach, a competitor, and an inspiration to many. In 2016, at the age of 55, Alcorn came out of retirement and won the famous Kona Ironman World Championships in her age group. Last December, Alcorn’s “three-decade contribution” to Australia’s triathlon scene was recognised with the President’s Special Recognition Award, as the Trizone website said, “Her honour highlighted not just her achievements as an athlete and coach, but her inspiring resilience while battling a rare brain tumour." Surfers Paradise Triathlon Club member Dan Teasdale and close friend of Alcorn's paid tribute to his late friend. “She was always a fantastic spectator so you’d hear her yelling out ‘go Danny boy’ on the side of the race,” he said. “She was a very caring, loving person but a tough-as-nails athlete. She never had a bad word to say about anyone she was very inclusive, welcomed everyone and loved the sport triathlon.” Image credits: Instagram

Caring

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

Albo quizzed over luxury home purchase

Anthony Albanese has been grilled by Karl Stefanovic over the recent purchase of a multi-million dollar home, that was widely slammed by the public as being "out of touch". As part of his pre-election campaign, the Prime Minister and his fiancé Jodie Haydon sat down with 60 Minutes where they discussed the controversial real estate move. Karl Stefanovic described as the $4.1 million purchase of the Copacabana holiday home as “harebrained", as Albo defended his decision to buy the home. “Whose harebrained idea was Copacabana?” Stefanovic asked as the program began. Mr Albanese, who is notoriously sensitive about the purchase amid claims it was tone-deaf during a cost-of-living crisis, laughed at the question as he responded, “Look, Jodie and I are getting married.” “What you don’t do is move into the family home where Carmel and I raised Nathan together as a family. And guess what, Karl? At some stage … I won’t be Prime Minister into my 80s and therefore we have bought a place close to where Jodie grew up … where her family are all based.” In the program, Stefanovic observed that, “I’ve spent some time with her these last couple of days and I get the feeling the girl from the Central Coast would sooner rather than later have her feet up at Copacabana, whether you are there or not!” “No — well, she’s a Coastie and a proud one,” Mr Albanese replied. “And it was very much a personal decision, not a political one. And I think Australians get that.” Karl then asked about the controversy around the home, asking the PM, “Did it sting you at all the criticism around that, the perception being during a cost-of-living crisis, the PM shouldn’t be seen as being, you know, so lavish?” Albanese responded, “I’m pretty resilient, Karl, and if you’re worried about every bit of criticism that was out there, then life would be much more difficult than it is." Image credits: 60 Minutes <p style="box-sizing: inherit; border: 0px; font-stretch: inherit; line-height: inherit; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', HelveticaNeue, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size-adjust: inherit; font-kerning: inherit; font-variant-alternates: inherit; font-variant-ligatures: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-position: inherit; font-feature-settings: inherit; font-optical-sizing: inherit; font-variation-settings: inherit; font-size: 18px; margin: 0px 0px 24px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">

Money & Banking

From sunscreen to essential oils, why some personal care products could be harmful to your health

<div class="theconversation-article-body"><a href="https://theconversation.com/profiles/asit-kumar-mishra-1458839">Asit Kumar Mishra</a>, <a href="https://theconversation.com/institutions/university-college-cork-1321">University College Cork</a> Each time you apply sunscreen to your face, you may inhale somewhere between <a href="https://www.mdpi.com/1660-4601/20/11/5944">10 to 30 milligrams of ethanol</a>, the type of alcohol used in alcoholic drinks. While the ethanol in sunscreen may not give you a buzz, it could make you think about what other chemicals you might be exposed to from personal care products. Products that are applied to the face, like sunscreen, can increase the inhalation of some chemicals by ten times or more than you would inhale from your <a href="https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/34816489/">home air in the entire day</a>. The levels of ethanol in cosmetics and skincare products may be reasonably safe – although it can still dry out the skin, causing pain, redness and swelling, and <a href="https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/ethanol-properties-uses-and-incident-management/ethanol-general-information">irritate the eyes</a>, causing tears, burning and stinging – but personal care products such as shampoos, skin creams, deodorants, cosmetics and perfumes contain fragrances and other volatile organic compounds (VOCs), which can be inhaled, absorbed through skin or ingested and some are more toxic than others. Unfortunately, manufacturers of personal care products <a href="https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s11869-015-0327-6">do not have to disclose</a> every fragrance compound used. This is concerning when you consider the potential effects of toxic compounds that <a href="https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/34816489/">have been detected</a> in the air from personal care products. For example, hair-smoothing products have released formaldehyde, a toxic chemical that can cause <a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK597627/">a range of symptoms</a> from dermatitis to low sperm count. Some perfumes and deodorants have generated monoterpenes, chemicals which <a href="https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC8912113/#sec1-molecules-27-01716">can prove toxic</a> for some users. <figure><iframe src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/cfloNXKeyX8?wmode=transparent&start=0" width="440" height="260" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen"></iframe></figure> Some of the VOCs found in personal care products <a href="https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/36976159/">may trigger</a> skin irritation, headaches – and difficulty breathing, which can develop into an asthma attack in some users. The highest or peak concentration of these VOCs are likely to <a href="https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/22406137/">occur within ten minutes</a> of application. But these concentrations may take up to <a href="https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/34816489/">two hours to decrease to background levels</a>, depending on your home’s ventilation. <h2>Natural doesn’t mean risk free</h2> But even if the levels of <a href="https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/20659630/">VOCs in personal care products</a> are kept <a href="https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/22406137/">within safe limits</a>, they can still cause discomfort and a variety of health issues, including irritation of the eyes and airways, migraines and asthmatic reactions, in those who’re <a href="https://enveurope.springeropen.com/articles/10.1186/s12302-020-00311-y">fragrance sensitive</a>. In the UK, <a href="https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s11869-018-00655-8">27% of the population</a> self reports as fragrance sensitive. It makes sense then that some people attempt to avoid potentially toxic synthetic chemicals in cosmetics by opting for “natural” or “clean” personal care products. But, <a href="https://enveurope.springeropen.com/articles/10.1186/s12302-020-00311-y">natural does not mean safer</a>. For instance, essential oils are often used in “natural” personal care products as fragrance. Essential oils, though, are a source of terpenes, some of which can be <a href="https://www.lung.org/blog/essential-oils-harmful-or-helpful">toxic if absorbed, inhaled or swallowed</a>. Indoor concentration of terpenes are often at levels where you can smell them but not high enough to cause <a href="https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/28126407/">eye or respiratory tract irritation</a>. However, the terpenes from essential oils can react with other chemicals, such as ozone from outdoor air, producing <a href="https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/32162221/">byproducts like formaldehyde, a known carcinogen</a> and <a href="https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/22250748/">allergens</a>. <h2>Beauty salon safety</h2> Beauty salons can be particularly risky environments for exposure to VOCs. <a href="https://www.mdpi.com/1660-4601/19/7/4176">Studies have found</a> contaminants such as formaldehyde, ammonia and <a href="https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/toluene-properties-incident-management-and-toxicology/toluene-toxicological-overview">toluene</a>, a potentially harmful ingredient used in many personal care products, at high levels in salons, putting staff who work there at the highest risk. Formaldehyde levels in some salons have reached <a href="https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/31321727/">above safety limits</a>. <a href="https://www.dcceew.gov.au/environment/protection/npi/substances/fact-sheets/methyl-methacrylate#tabs-2">Methyl methacrylate</a>, which can cause skin irritation, allergic reactions and potential <a href="https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC3072694/">respiratory issues</a> has been <a href="https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/30276513/">detected in the air of nail salons</a>. <figure><iframe src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/ydRklqO01fE?wmode=transparent&start=0" width="440" height="260" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen"></iframe></figure> These contaminants are not necessarily limited to the places in a salon <a href="https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/23765035/">where a certain product is being used</a>. Beauty salons with poor ventilation are likely to expose workers and customers to <a href="https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/29494285/">much higher levels of contaminants</a>. Some of the components of personal care products are known, harmful contaminants and carcinogens. Regulations specifically related to ventilation in environments where large volumes of these products are used do reduce exposures. For instance, studies show that after ventilation regulations came into effect in Boston, US in 2011, the <a href="https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/31622145/">air quality inside nail salons improved</a>. When visiting your nail salon or hair stylist, check with them about their ventilation system and other steps they are taking to reduce exposure to VOCs. To limit exposure to potential VOCs at home when using personal care products, try to open windows and use extractor fans in wet rooms. Be especially careful when applying products to the face or when using a high temperature application – <a href="https://occup-med.biomedcentral.com/articles/10.1186/s12995-018-0213-x">high temperatures can increase emissions</a>.<img style="border: none !important; box-shadow: none !important; margin: 0 !important; max-height: 1px !important; max-width: 1px !important; min-height: 1px !important; min-width: 1px !important; opacity: 0 !important; outline: none !important; padding: 0 !important;" src="https://counter.theconversation.com/content/248273/count.gif?distributor=republish-lightbox-basic" alt="The Conversation" width="1" height="1" /> <a href="https://theconversation.com/profiles/asit-kumar-mishra-1458839">Asit Kumar Mishra</a>, Research Fellow in School of Public of Health, <a href="https://theconversation.com/institutions/university-college-cork-1321">University College Cork</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/from-sunscreen-to-essential-oils-why-some-personal-care-products-could-be-harmful-to-your-health-248273">original article</a>. </div>

Body

Bunnings workers find deadly snake in gardening aisle

Bunnings workers were stunned to find a tiger snake among the flower pots in the gardening section of the hardware store's Goulburn branch in NSW. Tiger snakes are one of the most venomous snakes in the nation and the "vibrant orange" reptile was trapped in a large pot, before snake catcher Ray McGibbon was called to relocate it. In an interview with Yahoo News, McGibbon said he was stunned by the snake's markings which were "not typical of tiger snakes". "It was very orange and vibrant," he said. "Cool climate reptiles are usually darker colours... it's like us wearing dark clothing in a cooler climate, it will attract the heat faster. "If you look at Queensland in comparison, the reptiles up there are brighter in colour because of the hotter climate." He also doesn't recommend placing a pot over a reptile, and said the best course of action would be to keep your distance, especially if it's venomous. Luckily, the snake was placid and easy to relocate, with McGibbon releasing it in nearby bushland. Tiger snakes account for an estimated 17 per cent of snake bites in Australia with four known deaths recorded, according to Australia Wide First Aid. "It's not really common to find one in Bunnings, they just randomly pop up every now and then. It was a warm day so it will have come inside to sit on the cool concrete. They're cold-bloodied but they're like us, if they're too hot they'll retreat for something cool," McGibbon added. Images: Facebook

Home & Garden

Marty Sheargold axed from Triple M after Matildas comments

Radio host Marty Sheargold has been axed by Triple M after "disgusting" <a href="https://oversixty.com.au/finance/legal/disgusting-radio-host-slammed-over-women-s-sports-comments" target="_blank" rel="noopener">comments</a> made regarding the Matildas and women's sport. The network confirmed that Sheargold had been let go, as Southern Cross Austereo chief content officer Dave Cameron said in a statement, "Triple M and Marty Sheargold have mutually agreed to part ways." "SCA takes its responsibility to listeners, shareholders, and clients seriously and its programming should align with the standards and expectations of its audience. "Right now, it's clear this is a moment for reflection and review. Triple M will continue to take all necessary steps to support staff. Triple M acknowledges Marty's contribution over the past four years, and we wish him well for the future." After the announcement was made about Sheargold's position at Triple M, he issued his own statement to apologise for the offence he had caused. "Having mutually agreed to part ways with the Triple M Network, I fully understand the gravity of my comments," he said. "I'd like to sincerely apologise to the Matildas and the broader organisation.I would also like to thank my immediate team for their hard work and apologise for the situation they now find themselves in." Sheargold's rant prompted many to speak out in defence of the Matildas and women's sport in general, with respected Channel 7 sports presenter Mel McLaughlin finishing her sports news segment on Wednesday evening with her thoughts on the situation. “Just a word on the bizarre, pathetic, and embarrassing comments we heard earlier regarding our mighty Matildas,” McLaughlin said on Seven. “They obviously do not represent how any of us feel, and hopefully all the girls and boys out there know that.” “This is by no means a backward step on how far we’ve come and women’s football, and women’s sport in general, as we know guys, is awesome.” Matildas coach Tom Sermanni was also among those to scold Sheargold, as he said, "As sporting teams, we're used to criticisms – but sometimes the comments cross the line and that one certainly did cross the line." "It was firstly completely unnecessary and generally outrageous ... And you know, it's something that just from a behavioural perspective is really, very, very disappointing." "For me, it's not so much about sexism and misogyny, in a sense – although that's unacceptable, let me make that clear. It's kind of what the comments were." Image credits: Triple M

Legal

"Absolutely cooked": Old Sydney home sold for over $4.1 million

A one-storey red brick home in Lane Cove, Sydney has sold for a whopping $4,165,000 at an auction on Saturday. The home, which boasts two bathrooms, a backyard, four bedrooms and a “traditional kitchen” has sold for more than $600,000 over reserve, despite being built between the 1920s-1950s and needing renovation. The home was snapped up by a British family after a fierce bidding war with six other registered buyers. “The people who purchased it were the opening bid. (The bidders) were actively bidding into the high threes, and two of them pushed it above the four mark,” said Sam Lloyd from McGrath Estate Agents. “As far as we know, they will definitely do some work to it to make it their family home.” Lloyd added that there was was “plenty of interest” in the 695 sqm property, with its prime location near the suburb's retail and restaurant precinct. The selling agent said that both himself and the owner were “surprised” by the high price of the property – which had a reserve of $3.5 million. “It was definitely above our expectations” he said. According to Domain, the median house price for a four bedroom home in Lane Cove is $3.505 million. Many expressed their outrage over the "crazy" price online, with freelancer chief executive Matt Barrie saying: “Sydney house prices rapidly approaching $5m. Absolutely cooked." “$4 million for the house, plus another $2-3 million to demolish and rebuild. The reality of living in Australia where even the top one per cent income earners face significant costs for home ownership,” another added. “Our economy is out of control, what a ridiculous price for an average house,” a third wrote. “That’s some crazy pricing! I hear Adelaide is lovely this time of year …” a fourth commented. Image: Domain

Money & Banking

"A miracle": Man walks away from horror crash

A man has walked away with only minor injuries after surviving a horrific crash in Sydney's north. The horrific scene unfolded when the man's car was crushed after he collided with a truck on the Spit Bridge in Manly on Monday morning. The man in his 40s was cut out of the wreckage by firefighters, with NSW Ambulance confirming that he was taken to Royal North Shore Hospital after sustaining minor injuries to his back and neck. Many people were stunned after seeing images of the mangled vehicle, wondering how the driver managed to walk away relatively unscathed. “How good are those first responders to get him out alive. Bloody heroes every single one of them,” one person said, while another added, “That is a miracle.” “So glad he is OK! He should buy a lotto ticket, thank you to the amazing first responses you do an amazing job,” another said. Fire and Rescue NSW Superintendent Andrew Dewberry told <a href="https://manlyobserver.com.au/spit-bridge-closed-after-car-crushed/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">The Manly Observer</a> that the car was "completely crushed and mangled" and it was a "miracle" he survived. Two of three outbound lanes were closed on the bridge for about an hour as emergency crews worked to free the person from the vehicle and clear the scene. Many commuters were stuck in the heavy traffic delays, with dozens of people fleeing standstill buses and trekking along the highway to escape the chaos. Image credits: The Manly Observer

Caring

Home and Away icon bids farewell after 33 years

In news that has sent shockwaves through lounge rooms across the country, Lynne McGranger, the heart and soul of Home and Away, is preparing to hang up her iconic apron and bid farewell to her beloved character, Irene Roberts. After an impressive 33 years of delivering heartfelt performances, dishing out sage advice and reminding every misbehaving local to "listen here, girlie", McGranger will be making her emotional exit later this year. Seven has promised fans that Irene’s departure will be one for the history books – no, not via the usual dramatic Summer Bay methods of freak storms, runaway cars or inexplicable amnesia, but an “emotional exit” that “cannot be missed”. While details are tightly under wraps, we can only speculate: Will Irene sail off into the sunset? Open a surf club for wayward teens? Or finally take that well-earned break from all the Summer Bay chaos and settle somewhere where people aren’t constantly getting lost at sea? Fans, naturally, have been left reeling. Social media has been flooded with messages of heartbreak, nostalgia and a desperate plea for Irene to return – even if only for a guest appearance or as a ghostly vision (a Home and Away classic). Lynne herself has spoken out about the farewell, calling it “bittersweet” to leave a role that has been not just a job, but a family. "After almost 33 years in my dream role and working every day with people I love, respect and whom I now consider family, it’s bittersweet to be closing the chapter on what has been the best and longest gig of my life,” she said. Ever the class act, Lynne expressed gratitude to the crew, writers and, of course, the fans – those who have stuck by Irene through every high, low and dramatic face-off at the Diner. And let’s not forget Irene’s legendary status. TV Week readers ranked her as the second Greatest Australian TV Character of All Time (although we suspect if the voting had been left solely to Home and Away die-hards, she’d have taken the crown). Julie McGauran, Home and Away’s Executive Producer, summed it up best: “Lynne’s extraordinary portrayal of down-to-earth Irene Roberts is why the character is held with such great affection by fans around the world.” Despite wrapping up filming in March, Irene will still grace our screens for months to come – enough time for fans to prepare themselves emotionally (and stock up on tissues). In the meantime, Lynne will return to the stage with her comedy show, "The Grandparents Club", proving that she has no plans to slow down anytime soon. The farewell will undoubtedly be a tearjerker, but if we know anything about Irene Roberts, she’ll be leaving Summer Bay the same way she lived in it: with heart, humour and a no-nonsense attitude. As one fan put it perfectly, "Now listen here, girlie, you are going to be missed soooo much." And that, as they say, is the bottom line. Image: Instagram

Home and Away co-stars announce the birth of their baby

Former Home and Away stars Luke Mitchell and Rebecca Breeds have announced the birth of their first child. The Aussie actors shared the news that Breeds, 37, had given birth in a joint Instagram post including some gorgeous images of their newborn. Revealing they welcomed a boy, they wrote: "Welcome to the world little man. Thanks for choosing us. We love you beyond words 🙏❤️✨." Fans, friends and former Home and Away alumni raced to the comments to congratulate the family. <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-permalink="https://www.instagram.com/p/DGTat_vxsSJ/?utm_source=ig_embed&utm_campaign=loading" data-instgrm-version="14"> <div style="padding: 16px;"> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: row; align-items: center;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; flex-grow: 0; height: 40px; margin-right: 14px; width: 40px;"> </div> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: column; flex-grow: 1; justify-content: center;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; margin-bottom: 6px; width: 100px;"> </div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; width: 60px;"> </div> </div> </div> <div style="padding: 19% 0;"> </div> <div style="display: block; height: 50px; margin: 0 auto 12px; width: 50px;"> </div> <div style="padding-top: 8px;"> <div style="color: #3897f0; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: 550; line-height: 18px;">View this post on Instagram</div> </div> <div style="padding: 12.5% 0;"> </div> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: row; margin-bottom: 14px; align-items: center;"> <div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; height: 12.5px; width: 12.5px; transform: translateX(0px) translateY(7px);"> </div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; height: 12.5px; transform: rotate(-45deg) translateX(3px) translateY(1px); width: 12.5px; flex-grow: 0; margin-right: 14px; margin-left: 2px;"> </div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; height: 12.5px; width: 12.5px; transform: translateX(9px) translateY(-18px);"> </div> </div> <div style="margin-left: 8px;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; flex-grow: 0; height: 20px; width: 20px;"> </div> <div style="width: 0; height: 0; border-top: 2px solid transparent; border-left: 6px solid #f4f4f4; border-bottom: 2px solid transparent; transform: translateX(16px) translateY(-4px) rotate(30deg);"> </div> </div> <div style="margin-left: auto;"> <div style="width: 0px; border-top: 8px solid #F4F4F4; border-right: 8px solid transparent; transform: translateY(16px);"> </div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; flex-grow: 0; height: 12px; width: 16px; transform: translateY(-4px);"> </div> <div style="width: 0; height: 0; border-top: 8px solid #F4F4F4; border-left: 8px solid transparent; transform: translateY(-4px) translateX(8px);"> </div> </div> </div> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: column; flex-grow: 1; justify-content: center; margin-bottom: 24px;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; margin-bottom: 6px; width: 224px;"> </div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; width: 144px;"> </div> </div> <p style="color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 17px; margin-bottom: 0; margin-top: 8px; overflow: hidden; padding: 8px 0 7px; text-align: center; text-overflow: ellipsis; white-space: nowrap;"><a style="color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 17px; text-decoration: none;" href="https://www.instagram.com/p/DGTat_vxsSJ/?utm_source=ig_embed&utm_campaign=loading" target="_blank" rel="noopener">A post shared by Luke Mitchell (@lukemitchell17)</a> </div> </blockquote> Home and Away star Georgie Parker commented: "Oh Luke, huge congratulations to you and Bec. Now the fun begins. Sending love." The pair kept their baby's face concealed, but shared images of his feet, tiny hands and hair, and chose not to announce the baby boy's name. Breeds announced her pregnancy in November, posing on the red carpet and cradling her baby bump for photos. The couple met on set of iconic soap Home and Away and fell head over heels and have now been together for 15 years, tying the knot back in 2013. Image credits: Instagram

Family & Pets

Calls for major shops to ditch "toxic" product

Common poisons sold at Bunnings, Mitre 10, Coles and Woolworths could potentially wipe out five species of carnivorous mammals. <a href="https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S004896972500467X" target="_blank" rel="nofollow noopener" data-i13n="cpos:2;pos:1" data-ylk="slk:and a new study by Edith Cowan University;cpos:2;pos:1;elm:context_link;itc:0;sec:content-canvas" data-rapid_p="12" data-v9y="1">A new study by Edith Cowan University</a> has discovered the impact of these common rat poisons is more widespread than first thought, with predators also being impacted by the toxins as well as the pests. “This is the first documentation of pretty substantial rodenticide exposure in our entire suite of top marsupial carnivores in Australia,” researcher and adjunct lecturer Dr Michael Lohr told <a href="https://au.news.yahoo.com/calls-for-bunnings-mitre-10-coles-and-woolworths-to-ditch-toxic-product-going-to-kill-everything-063045604.html" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Yahoo News</a>. “Tasmanian devils and quolls are potentially being exposed at rates that could have a substantial impact on the trajectory of their populations going forward, and not in a good way.” The use of second-generation rat baits is currently under review by a government regulator – the Australian Pesticides and Veterinary Medicines Authority (APVMA), with Dr Lohr urging retailers to take them off shelves. "I think it's really important for Australia at this point to try to catch up to the rest of the developed world," he said. "Action is needed on this and the world has already agreed on that." The use and sale of these pesticides are heavily restricted in the United States, European Union and United Kingdom, but are freely available in Australia. More than 7,000 people have signed a <a href="https://www.change.org/p/help-wildlife-and-pets-poisoned-dying-in-agony-bunnings-stop-selling-sgar-rat-baits" target="_blank" rel="noopener" data-i13n="cpos:9;pos:1" data-ylk="slk:Change.org petition;cpos:9;pos:1;elm:context_link;itc:0;sec:content-canvas" data-rapid_p="20" data-v9y="1">Change.org petition</a> calling for supermarket giants Coles and Woolworths to ditch these "highly toxic" rat baits which it said can kill pets and native animals. Veteran wildlife advocate Cat Coake told Yahoo retailers have a duty to stop non-targeted poisons, as she said, "Otherwise they're going to kill everything." In a statement, Bunnings noted that it's not the only major retailer in Australia selling second-generation rodenticides. "Like many retailers, we offer a range of rodent control products, including anticoagulant rodenticides and non-poisonous alternatives, to provide choice for customers on the best solution to their specific rodent problem," it said. Bunnings also said it's complying with government regulations on the sale of these poisons. Image credits: Shutterstock

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"Absolutely cooked": Old Sydney home sold for over $4.1 million

"A miracle": Man walks away from horror crash

Home and Away icon bids farewell after 33 years

Home and Away co-stars announce the birth of their baby

Calls for major shops to ditch "toxic" product

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