☕️ China's Premier visits for the first time in 7 years

Two music juggernauts, Alicia Keys and Jay-Z, released a teaser over the weekend alluding to the imminent launch of a new song they’re releasing together.

The last time these two got together on a track was ‘Empire State of Mind’ - one of New York’s greatest anthems. Let’s see what they’ve been cooking up for us now, 15 years later!

“I am obviously disappointed… but this has never been about me… my focus remains on the community of North Sydney.”
Federal MP Kylea Tink on the news that her electorate may not exist at the next election, as boundaries are redrawn to better reflect the population. Tink, a ‘teal’ independent, came to power at the 2022 election.

1.3 million
How many snus pouches have been confiscated by the Australian Border Force since the beginning of the year. This is a significant increase compared to previous years. About 140,000 pouches were seized in the 14 months to December 2023.

1994
O.J. Simpson led police on a slow-speed pursuit during an infamous car chase in a white Bronco. The chase ended when Simpson was arrested at his home.

First Nations communities living in remote areas will be provided with free menstrual products under a new Federal Government initiative.

The community-led program will help an estimated 12,500 women and girls each year.

The Government says it will help “address period poverty and reduce cost of living pressure” in remote communities.

The program will be run by the National Aboriginal Community Controlled Health Organisation (NACCHO), who will work with local communities to distribute products.

Communities will have access to products including pads, tampons, menstrual cups and period underwear.

The Government says making products more accessible will “improve physical and mental health, boost education and employment outcomes.”

A packet of pads can cost on average $15–$25 in remote areas, compared to an average of $10–$15 in metropolitan areas.

Assistant Health Minister Ged Kearney said: “No one should have to choose between paying for menstrual products instead of food, fuel or rent, and no one should have to miss out on daily activities because they have their period.”

The announcement follows similar initiatives in other states in an effort to improve school attendance and engagement with community activities.

The WA Government will begin providing all public primary schools free period products from July. A similar program was rolled out in public high schools in WA last year.

Victoria and the ACT provide pads and tampons in public places, such as courts and libraries.

A Senate inquiry has recommended major changes to the way the Federal Government uses consulting firms.

Its final report said these firms have been operating in a “grey area“, costing taxpayers billions of dollars.

The inquiry was set up following reports a senior leader at PwC had used secret government information to help multinational companies avoid tax.

It’s recommended naming and shaming all PwC staff involved in the scandal.

PwC is one of the biggest accounting firms in the world. The company made $US53 billion ($AU80b) in gross revenue last year and has nine offices in Australia.

In 2013, then-head of International Tax, Peter Collins, started advising the government on how to stop big multinational companies from dodging tax. The work required him to sign a confidentiality agreement.

He later leaked the secret information to help some of his clients avoid paying tax in Australia.

After tax authorities investigated Collins’ behaviour, he was deregistered as a tax agent in December 2022 for two years.

When this became public a month later, Treasurer Jim Chalmers said he was “furious” at the revelations.

In March 2023, the Senate set up an inquiry into the integrity of consulting services used by the Federal Government.

The inquiry found the Federal Government has been increasingly reliant on consultancy services, awarding billions of dollars in contracts to Australia’s big four firms: PwC, KPMG, Deloitte, and EY.

The firms have carried out roles such as policy advice, strategy, planning, and research across government departments like social services and the treasury. Many of these roles were once filled by public sector staff.

The final report stated: “Australia's spending on consultancies is greater than that of any other country by population.”

The inquiry found there had been serious questions about consultants’ accountability, transparency, and conflicts of interest when they were hired to perform work for the government.

The report said: “It has also

resulted in enormous costs to the [public service] for work that is often opaque and, in some instances, raised genuine questions regarding value for money.“

It made 12 recommendations for improving transparency and reforming the public sector.

The key recommendation was for PwC to reveal the names and details of at least six overseas partners and employees who had been involved in the company’s tax leak information scandal.

PwC has declined to provide further details of these employees.

Government contracts were also in the spotlight, as the inquiry suggested the Government change the way it outsources work to consulting firms.

This would include adding a clause in contracts requiring consultants to work in the “public interest”.

It also suggested AusTender, the website listing companies hired to work for the Government, should publish more details about public contracts.

Public Service Minister Katy Gallagher has previously referred to the large volume of outsourced consultants as a “shadow workforce”.

She said the Government has taken action, telling TDA: “More than 8,800 public servants are now performing work that had previously been outsourced”, adding it would consider the report’s recommendations.

Liberal Senator Richard Colbeck, who led the inquiry, said he hoped the government would accept all 12 recommendations, saying “decisive action is required”.

Greens Senator Barbara Pocock, who was on the committee, said the final report only goes “10% of the way towards fixing this problem.”

Pocock is calling for a ban on political donations from consulting firms and harsher penalties on PwC for its tax leaks scandal. She said “only Peter Collins has paid a price as the PwC ‘bad apple’” and the company hasn’t “come clean” about other employees involved.

In a statement to TDA, a PwC spokesperson said the company is taking “significant steps” to improve its practices and “rebuild trust and confidence with our stakeholders”.

Are you wearing sunscreen right now?

If you said no, there are many reasons you should make it a priority in your daily routine. Not only is suncare the most important step in protecting yourself against skin cancer but it can also prevent hyperpigmentation.

According to dermatologist, Dr. Michelle Rodrigues there are more than 45 causes of pigmentation on the face alone. By applying a broad-spectrum face sunscreen with an SPF of 30 or higher you’re protecting your skin against both UVA and UVB rays. Combine this with a targeted serum like Mela B3 Niacinamide Serum, and you can both treat and help prevent sun damage and pigmentation.

Add it to your skincare routine by applying the serum right after you cleanse your face, and applying sunscreen right after you moisturise (before makeup).

Prioritise protecting your skin by wearing SPF every day.

Cameron McEvoy will become the first Australian man to swim at four Olympics. 23 of the 41-member squad will be attending their first Games, and sixteen have previously won an Olympic medal. The Paralympic squad will be made up of 30 athletes, including Grant “Scooter” Patterson, who is heading to his fourth Paralympics, and 15-year-old Holly Warn, the squad’s youngest member.

Want more sport news? Subscribe to TDA’s sport newsletter for free here.

Have you heard of Joey Chestnut? He is the world record-holder for the most amount of hot dogs eaten in 10 minutes — a whopping 76. Including the buns.

But now, he is beefing (sorry, I had to) with the organisation behind Nathan’s Famous Hot Dog Eating Contest, which is the world’s most prestigious event for competitive eating (yes, it’s a sport).

Major League Eating, the governing body for competitive eating, has ruled that Chestnut is not allowed to compete at the next event in July because… he signed a brand deal with a vegan hot dog company.

But Chestnut seems to be the real weiner, after it was announced he has signed a deal with Netflix for a special called ‘Chestnut vs. Kobayashi: Unfinished Beef’. Takeru Kobayashi is Chestnut’s main competitor in the sport.

South Australia could soon become one of the first places in the world to ban political donations in state elections.

The announcement from the state government last week has reignited a national debate about how our political parties are funded, what donors want from their donations, and how else we could model the system.

In today’s podcast, we’ll look at what the South Australian Premier is proposing, but also how things work in the political donation hall of fame - the United States.