Category: Australia

Public Housing in Inner Sydney to Undergo Redevelopment

A major public housing site in inner-city Sydney is to be redeveloped to deal with escalating numbers of people sleeping rough. The Glebe area has recorded a 23 percent increase in residents forced to take refuge in cars or on the streets. Tenants of public housing apartments at 82 Wentworth Park Road in the suburb…


Unique Kelp Puts Tasmania’s King Island on World Map

When the seas are wild, John Micic knows there will be kelp to be hauled. For some three decades, the 60-odd-year-old has been either a harvester or processing factory worker in the unique King Island industry. “Winter is the best. The weather is rougher. It stirs it up more,” he says alongside his trailer loaded…


More New Dads Seek Help for Mental Health Concerns

New dad Matt Carter knew something wasn’t quite right when he suddenly became overwhelmed with sadness as soon as his two babies started crying. From there, it just snowballed. He experienced several breakdowns before finally telling a maternal and child health nurse he was struggling. The now father of three was eventually diagnosed with postnatal…


‘Down but Never Out’: Dutton Rallies Party As Senator Van Resigns

Senator David Van has resigned from the Liberal Party after he was expelled from the party room due to multiple allegations of inappropriate behaviour towards female colleagues. In a letter to the president of the Victorian Liberal Party, Van maintained his innocence against the accusations and announced his resignation from the party. “Given the Liberal…


Is Mr. Bean Right About EVs?

Commentary Rowan Atkinson or as many of us know him: “The guy who played Mr. Bean,” has more experience with EVs than most. As an avid car owner and enthusiast, an early adopter of electric vehicles, and having previously studied electrical and electronic engineering (before his entirely unrelated career in entertainment), he surely has an…


Payouts for Australian Navy Recruits Denied Trade Certificates

Naval recruits who challenged themselves to obtain a trade qualification have been awarded as much as $125,000 (US$85,900) each after a long-running legal dispute over the qualifications they were promised but did not obtain.  The final sums will be subject to negotiation, taking into account lost interest as well as income tax. New South Wales…


Lismore Mayor Slams Rollout of Flood Buybacks

The rollout of a home buyback scheme in the New South Wales’ (NSW’s) flood-prone Northern Rivers is creating additional trauma for victims, Lismore Mayor Steve Krieg says. Concern for those on the ground has been completely lacking from the program, which last week released mapping significantly reducing the number of homes expected to be initially…


Profit Upgrade Electrifies AGL Energy, Power Bills Soar

AGL Energy has issued a massive profit upgrade as it prepares to slug customers with bill increases of up to 30 percent, igniting the share price. Shares in Australia’s largest electricity generator surged 11.3 percent or $1.09 (US$0.75) to $10.75 (US$7.4) in afternoon trade as the top performing stock on June 16. As Australia’s largest…


Push to Stop ‘Arms Race’ in Australian Federal Election Spending

Influential donors with deep pockets are having an effect on Australian politics as a report finds election spending has reached record highs. Analysis by the Centre for Public Integrity, an independent think tank, found election spending had increased by almost 85 percent in the past two decades. In 2022, spending reached a record high of…


Crown Casino Lands $20M Fine After Tax Claims and Cover-Ups

Gaming giant Crown has been slapped with a $20 million (US$13.8 million) fine for failing to pay its fair share of Victoria’s casino tax and trying to cover up the scheme. The state’s royal commission into Crown’s Melbourne operations found the casino giant wrongly claimed tax deductions by including the costs of certain promotional activities as…