If you were forwarded this email (hi! welcome!), you can sign up to the newsletter here.
Good morning!
Thanks to everyone who sent in riddles last week. Honorary Riddle Queen Billi was very happy, and looks forward to sharing them with you all.
For today, here’s a riddle from TDA reader Wendy: If a flea likes to sleep on a leaf, and a hornet likes to sit on a throne, a horse likes to gallop along a what?
Answer in the tidbit!
P.S. We just closed our Melbourne Cup poll and the results were fascinating. Of the 11,700 respondents, 21% said the Melbourne Cup is an important part of Australian culture. Just 12% said they’d place a bet on the race, and 61% said they’re less interested in the Cup than they were five years ago.
I've got 10 seconds
The quote
"People were saying that we had a handsome boy coming from Australia." - Chinese Premier Li Qiang, describing social media posts about Australian PM Anthony Albanese's visit to China. When asked later by journalists what he thought of the characterisation, Albanese said “I think I’ll let that one go through to the keeper.”
The stat
$AU1.3 billion
The amount an Italian judge has ordered authorities to seize from Airbnb, following claims of tax evasion in Europe.
Today in history
2016: Donald Trump was elected as the 45th President of the United States, beating Democrat Hilary Clinton. Trump is considered by many experts as the frontrunner to win the nomination to represent the Republican Party at next year's presidential election.
I've got 30 seconds
Some headlines from this morning:
Millions of Optus customers are unable to make calls or use cellular data this morning after a major outage hit the network. In a short statement released on the ‘Optus Help’ Facebook page, the telco said: “We're aware of an issue impacting Optus mobile and nbn services and are working to restore services as quickly as possible. We understand connectivity is important and apologise for any inconvenience caused.”
The death toll from the ongoing conflict between Israel and Hamas has reportedly exceeded 10,000 in Gaza, and at least 1,400 in Israel. It comes one month after Hamas launched its attack on Israel. The United Nations has said 1.5 million people have been displaced in Gaza due to the conflict. While the UN has repeatedly called for a ceasefire, Israeli Benjamin Netanyahu has said there will be "no ceasefire until hostages are returned".
I've got 1 minute
The Reserve Bank of Australia has increased the cash rate by 0.25% to 4.35% — the highest it's been since 2011.
It's the first time since April that the Reserve Bank has raised the cash rate and the first rise under new RBA Governor Michele Bullock.
In a statement on Tuesday, Bullock said that continual inflation (rising prices) drove the Reserve Bank to increase the cash rate.
The context:
The cash rate is what the RBA charges commercial banks for short-term loans. It flows through to other interest rates across the economy, so it's often referred to as 'increasing interest rates'.
There were 10 consecutive rate rises from May 2022 to March 2023, as the RBA moved to combat inflation (rising prices) by discouraging spending.
There were four consecutive pauses to the rate before Tuesday.
Fighting inflation:
The Reserve Bank uses the cash rate to fight inflation (rising prices). Inflation peaked in December last year, when prices rose by 8.4% over the previous 12 months.
However, inflation has remained a persistent problem in the Australian economy. Prices were 5.4% higher in the 12 months to September 2023, a figure higher than what the Reserve Bank wanted.
Inflation figures were a key consideration in the Reserve Bank's decision.
Why the raise?
Bullock said the declining of inflation had become "slower than earlier expected", and that an increase would help ensure that inflation would fall within a "reasonable timeframe".
The Reserve Bank wants inflation to fall to 2-3%.
They will meet to determine the cash rate for the final time this year in December. Any reduction to the cash rate isn't expected until next year or 2025.
Enjoying the newsletter?
If you want your friends to wake up with us too, refer them!
We’ll even sweeten the deal for you…
You currently have {{rp_num_referrals}} referrals.
1 referral gets you a digital copy of the first chapter of our new book, No Silly Questions.
At 3 referrals, you get a free scoop of delicious Messina Gelato 🤤
You’re only {{rp_num_referrals_until_next_milestone}} away from your next reward!
Or send them your unique link: {{rp_refer_url}}
Your friends will get a confirmation email that they need to click before your referrals are successful and you get your rewards.
Enjoyed the newsletter?
If you want your friends to wake up with us too, forward this email to them or send them your unique link: {{rp_refer_url}}
Was this newsletter forwarded to you? Sign up here (it’s free!)
I've got 2 minutes
A Senate committee has reported major flaws in how attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is being treated in Australia.
In its final report, the committee found Australians with ADHD were facing disadvantages in schools, workplaces, and when seeking medical help.
The report's 15 recommendations include overhauling ADHD services to make them more affordable and accessible for the estimated one million Australians with ADHD.
ADHD in Australia:
ADHD, a neurodevelopmental disorder, impacts around 1 in 20 Australians. It can make it difficult to concentrate or control impulses.
ADHD usually begins in childhood and is more commonly diagnosed in boys.
Diagnosis requires a thorough behavioural assessment. In most cases, medication is only prescribed by psychiatrists or paediatricians (who specialise in children's medicine).
Senate Committee:
The committee was tasked with investigating ADHD support services in March. Before handing down its final report on Monday, it received over 700 submissions detailing the experiences of Australians with ADHD.
The committee found unnecessary barriers were limiting people with ADHD from accessing an assessment or adequate healthcare services. This included the out-of-pocket costs associated with ADHD diagnosis and treatment.
Recommendations:
The committee recommended the Government increase Medicare subsidies for ADHD support and improve access to treatment.
This included suggesting the Government add more ADHD medications to the PBS — a Federal Government scheme that subsidises some medicines.
It also recommended the Government work with advocacy groups and people with lived experience to develop a national ADHD framework.
What else did it suggest?
The committee heard that misunderstandings of ADHD in the community "added to the trauma experienced by people with ADHD".
It recommended several measures to reduce stigma, including a public health campaign to improve national awareness about ADHD.
It also said more work was needed to understand the impacts of ADHD stigma in the healthcare and education industries.
ADHD at school and work:
The committee suggested classrooms and workplaces adopt improvements to better accommodate people with ADHD.
This included more flexible learning and working options, for example, or specialised strategies to help concentration, focus and memory.
Minimum standards of neurodiversity training for educators and employers was also floated.
The response:
Coalition Senators gave initial support to the report's recommendations. However, they raised additional concerns, including access to ADHD treatment in regional Australia.
Greens Senators proposed 12 extra recommendations to strengthen the report’s proposals. This included appointing a Disability Minister to coordinate issues of disability, and ADHD training programs for educators.
The Government has three months to respond to the report.
Give me some good news
A newly approved drug in England could prevent around 2,000 cases of breast cancer, after trials were found to reduce breast cancer incidence by almost 50% in post-menopausal women.
Anastrozole, a cancer treatment drug, was approved this week.
A message from our sponsor
Coco Gauff is leading the new generation of tennis superstars - those emerging from the shadows of Serena and Venus Williams, Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal. On the back of winning the U.S. Open this year, it’s easy to see why the world has fallen in love with the 19-year-old American on the court - she’s strategic and passionate. But tennis isn’t the only thing Coco Gauff cares about.
See, according to her, tennis has given her a platform - and she uses it. From speaking up after the murder of George Floyd in 2020 about why Black Lives Matter, to throwing support behind the push for the women’s U.S. Soccer team in their fight for equal pay, Gauff is ready to take on the world - whether she’s holding a tennis racquet or a microphone. We took a deep dive into Coco Gauff - the tennis player and the human - ahead of the Australian Open 2024.
A TDA tidbit
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese had a packed agenda for his visit to China this week: smoothing the rocky relationship with our biggest trade partner, inviting President Xi Jinping to Australia, and… keeping two giant pandas in Adelaide?
The Adelaide Zoo has been the home of pandas Wang Wang and Fu Ni since 2009 thanks to a million-dollar-per-year loan from China - but their lease is set to expire next year.
It remains to be seen if Albanese can thaw frosty relations with China enough to secure Wang Wang and Fu Ni for another lease.
“Let me just say this about pandas: I'm pro-panda. Let's be very clear. Pandas are wonderful animals,” Albanese told media in Shanghai this weekend.
“I would like to see pandas maintain a presence in Australia.”
*
*
*
*
Answer: Shore - it’s an anagram!
Want to get in front of young Australians?
What a coincidence! That’s exactly who The Daily Aus reaches. Get in touch with us to see how we can work together.