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Happy hump day!
I hope you’re ready to think…
Today’s riddle: A girl meets a lion and unicorn in the forest. The lion lies every Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday and the other days he speaks the truth. The unicorn lies on Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays, and the other days of the week he speaks the truth. “Yesterday I was lying,” the lion told the girl. “So was I,” said the unicorn. What day is it?
I've got 10 seconds
The quote
“This was not a ‘harmless’ protest ... It was designed to threaten me, my partner and our daughter in our home... Such acts by extremists should be condemned by anyone who respects the law and believes people should be safe to go about their business at home and at work.” – Woodside Energy CEO Meg O’Neill after climate activists allegedly trespassed at her Perth home.
The stat
$450 million
The estimated sale price of Australian self-tan and skincare brand Bondi Sands. The Australian Financial Review reported that Japanese beauty giant Kao (worth $26 billion) purchased the home-grown label.
Today in history
1997: Stuart Diver was rescued from the rubble of the Thredbo landslide. The landslide at the NSW ski resort claimed 18 lives, including Diver’s wife, Sally.
I've got 30 seconds
Some headlines from this morning:
The Reserve Bank of Australia has kept the cash rate at 4.1%, the second month in a row that rates have been maintained. RBA Governor Philip Lowe says inflation is "still too high" but welcomed signs it’s declining. He hasn’t ruled out further rate rises in the coming months.
The U.S. is averaging two mass shootings per day so far this year, with the country on track to meet or surpass the previous record for the most mass shootings in a year. Gun Violence Archive data shows there have been 421 mass shootings in the U.S. so far this year. It defines a mass shooting as when four or more people have been shot.
I've got 1 minute
TW: CHILD SEXUAL ABUSE
A Queensland man has been charged with 1,623 child abuse offences against 91 children.
The man is a former childcare worker. The charges include over 100 counts of rape and the recording of child abuse material.
The Australian Federal Police announced the charges a short time ago. The man has been in custody since last August.
A Queensland man has been charged with 1,623 child abuse offences against 91 children.
The man is a former childcare worker. The charges include over 100 counts of rape and the recording of child abuse material.
The Australian Federal Police announced the charges a short time ago. The man has been in custody since last August.
For a full list of available support services relating to child exploitation, visit www.accce.gov.au
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I've got 2 minutes
Over 130,000 Australians made voluntary HECS payments in the month before their student debts rose by 7.1% in June. This is nearly a 300% increase on the year before.
The figures were given to TDA under Freedom of Information laws.
First, context:
At the start of May, the ATO announced student loans would increase by 7.1% in June – the highest increase in decades. This is because of indexation, which is an annual update to the amount owed to reflect today's rising prices.
Those with student loans have to make repayments if they earn above a certain amount (now $51,550), but they can also make voluntary repayments.
For example, a person's $30,000 student debt would have increased by $2,130 (7.1%) at the start of June.
They could voluntarily pay off some, or all, of their debt in May to limit or avoid paying the extra money triggered by indexation.
Here’s a three-year comparison of voluntary payments:
There were 22,398 voluntary student debt repayments made in May 2021. The incoming indexation rate was 0.6%.
There were 33,543 voluntary student debt repayments made in May 2022. The incoming indexation rate was 3.9%.
There were 130,494 voluntary student debt repayments made in May 2023. The incoming indexation rate was 7.1%.
Give me some good news
More than two million Australians tuned in to watch the Matildas’ 4-0 win over Canada in round three of the group stages at the Women’s World Cup on Monday night.
The game was the most-watched Matildas game of the tournament, and the most-watched Channel 7 broadcast of the year so far.
A message from our sponsor
We're all familiar with the importance of physical activity for a healthy life. However, let's not forget that, just like we nourish our bodies with exercise and good food, social interaction is equally as important for our well-being. According to a survey of 18-25 year olds, 81% admitted they considered their screen time to be "unhealthy."
Alongside VicHealth's Reality Check, we're here to remind you: prioritise those face-to-face moments!
Life can get busy, and sometimes, our social lives can take a hit. So, lock in those regular coffee catch-ups and trivia nights. It may sound simple, but it has a huge impact on your physical and mental well-being!
A TDA tidbit
You don’t know till you ask.
That’s today’s lesson after the BBC announced it will re-broadcast a ‘whodunnit’ play for a listener who missed the ending of it 45 years ago.
Listener Sue Reilly wrote in to the BBC after they asked the audience to suggest programs they’d like to hear again.
“Years ago when I used to listen to the radio under the blankets there was a play on the World Service which I’m sure was called The Gazebo,” Sue wrote.
“Unfortunately just as it was getting to the denouement someone came upstairs and I had to turn the radio off and never heard who dunnit! If you could play it one day that would be really great and then after 45 years I will finally know what happened.”
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Answer: Thursday. The only day they both tell the truth is Sunday; but today can’t be Sunday because the lion also tells the truth on Saturday (yesterday). Going day by day, the only day one of them is lying and one of them is telling the truth with those two statements is Thursday.
The Daily Aus acknowledges the Gadigal peoples of the Eora Nation who are the Traditional Custodians of the land on which we work. We acknowledge and pay respect to the past, present and future Traditional Custodians and Elders of this nation and the continuation of cultural, spiritual and educational practices of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples.