Australia wants to sell its social media ban to the world – but are the measures even working? | Social media ban

When the age assurance technology trial released its final report before Australia’s under-16s social media ban came into effect last year, its first finding was: age assurance can be done privately, efficiently and effectively. Four months since the ban came into effect, we can say that was – to paraphrase Yes Minister – a courageous…

Read More

Anthony Albanese addresses the nation on the Middle East crisis – read the speech in full | Anthony Albanese

My fellow Australians. By nature, we’re an optimistic country. But I understand that right now it’s hard to be positive. The war in the Middle East has caused the biggest spike in petrol and diesel prices in history. Australia is not an active participant in this war. But all Australians are paying higher prices because…

Read More

New Lake District fining powers introduced ahead of Easter break

New powers to fine people involved in anti-social behaviour at beauty spots have been introduced in time for the Easter break. Westmorland and Furness Council has brought in public space protection orders (PSPOs) at a further 12 sites in the Lake District including Ambleside, Ullswater, Haweswater Reservoir and Windermere. Those causing environmental damage by littering,…

Read More

Empty petrol stations and volatile prices: Australia’s fuel crisis in charts | Petrol prices

Hundreds of service stations across Australia have run empty, fuel prices are elevated and oil shipments have been cancelled. Australia is battling a fuel crises as Iran’s closure of the strait of Hormuz continues to bite. The federal government has released fuel reserves, cut fuel excise taxes and rolled out a national fuel security plan….

Read More

Capital gains discount and negative gearing turbocharged property speculation and pushed up prices, analysis finds | Housing

The combination of the capital gains tax discount and negative gearing rules has turbocharged debt-fuelled property speculation over recent decades, according to a new analysis of hundreds of thousands of property investments. The federal budget in three weeks’ time is widely expected to include changes to tax breaks for investors, in an effort to rebalance…

Read More