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Good morning!
Anyone needing some last-minute Halloween costumes for tomorrow? I’ve done a brainstorm for you, inspired by 2025:
Recalled sunscreen – Make a sign with SPF50+ crossed out, replaced with SPF10.
The CEO from the Coldplay concert – Every time a camera is on you, just turn away and run.
A labubu drinking matcha – Put lots of blush on and every five minutes ask for more lollies because inflation.
Let us know how you go!
I’ve got 10 seconds
Quote of the day
"These groups have a similar culture to multi-player, online gaming culture, and hunt, stalk and draw-in victims from a range of online platforms. Typically, these young girls have low self-esteem, mental health disorders... that may lead them to seek connection online. This can make them more vulnerable to being targeted directly by these networks."
Australian Federal Police Chief Krissy Barrett addressing the National Press Club on the rising issue of young male 'crimefluencers' coercing young women to commit violent acts. The average age of offenders arrested in relation to crimefluencing in Australia, is between 17 to 20-years-old.
Stat of the day
1 in 10
The proportion of Australians who couldn’t afford medical care they needed in 2024, according to a survey of 5,000 respondents by the Consumers Health Forum of Australia (CHF). Nearly half said they hadn't accessed healthcare they required.
TDA reader’s comment of the week
"God forbid someone has a hobby 😩"
A comment on our post about the arrest of two people in connection to a jewel heist at the Louvre.
I’ve got 30 seconds
Some headlines from this morning:
The inflation rate has increased to 3.2%, its highest level in over a year, according to the Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS). It comes less than a week before the Reserve Bank’s next cash rate decision. Figures for the September quarter are up from the 2.1% inflation rate recorded in the June quarter. The ABS attributed the increase to rising housing, recreation and culture, transport and power prices. The trimmed mean for the September quarter was 3%, up from 2.7%. This is often seen as a more accurate figure to understand longer-term changes, as it excludes volatile price changes, such as petrol. Economists are not forecasting the RBA to cut rates after it meets on Tuesday.
A 72-year-old patient has died after a woman allegedly cut off the gas supply to two southern Sydney hospitals. Police received reports of vandalism at Sutherland Hospital and the nearby Kareena Private Hospital in Caringbah on Tuesday morning. A 42-year-old woman has been accused of cutting both the water and gas mains to one hospital, before cutting the gas to the other a short time later. NSW Health Minister Ryan Park confirmed Sutherland Hospital “switched to portable oxygen and air as part of their contingency plans,” after it lost medical gases. However, a male patient at one of the hospitals died within hours. Park described the incident as a “deliberate sabotage” directly impacting patients “who are very, very unwell.” The woman has been charged and refused bail. She’s due in court in December.
Recommendation of the day
Transparency: This is a sponsored section of the newsletter. It's the best way we can keep this newsletter free for you
Today is Canteen's Bandanna Day
2025 marks 40 years of Canteen supporting young Australians aged 12–25 who are impacted by cancer. Bandanna Day is a powerful opportunity to stand with them and show they’re not alone in facing life’s toughest challenges.
Every bandanna sold helps provide free, tailored support – from counselling and peer programs to specialist care – at a time they need it most.
Buy and wear a bandanna today to show your support. Get yours at bandannaday.org.au.
I’ve got 1 minute
Israel has launched new air strikes on Gaza, nearly three weeks after a ceasefire agreement was signed
Israel has carried out new strikes on Gaza, three weeks after a ceasefire agreement with Hamas came into effect.
Israel claims Hamas broke the ceasefire by attacking its soldiers in Gaza, which Hamas denies.
Hamas has accused Israel of breaking the ceasefire with airstrikes on Gaza, killing dozens of Palestinians.
Context
Earlier this month, Israel and Hamas agreed to a U.S-led ceasefire plan after two years of war.
Under the first phase, Hamas released the remaining 20 living hostages, while Israel released nearly 2,000 Palestinian prisoners and detainees.
In the weeks since, both parties have accused each other of breaking the ceasefire.
Latest strikes
On Tuesday, Israel carried out air strikes on Gaza, killing at least 60 Palestinians, according to local health officials.
Israel accused Hamas of attacking its soldiers in Gaza. Israeli media reports one soldier was killed. Hamas has denied any involvement in an attack on soldiers.
Israel has also accused Hamas of not returning the bodies of all deceased hostages.
Hamas has said it needs more time because bodies are thought to be buried beneath the rubble of buildings Israel destroyed in its bombardment of Gaza.
Prior to the ceasefire going into effect, a spokesperson for Israeli PM Benjamin Netanyahu said that if the remains of any hostages could not be located, “an international body” would be formed to find them.
U.S. Vice President JD Vance has claimed the ceasefire in Gaza is still in place, despite the recent strikes.
“The ceasefire is holding,” Vance said. “That doesn’t mean that there aren’t going to be little skirmishes here and there.”
I’ve got 2 minutes
The NSW Govt has responded to findings from its 2024 Drug Summit. Some advocates say they feel let down.
The NSW Government has released its response to the recommendations from a state drug summit last year.
Of the 56 recommendations, the Government announced full or in-principle support for 51.
It said it would not support halting the use of drug dogs or strip searches during a year-long pill-testing trial at music festivals, which began earlier this year.
Here’s what to know.
Background
In 2024, the NSW Government announced a Drug Summit, the first of its kind in the state since 1999.
The event was held across four days in Sydney, Lismore, and Griffith.
During the summit, more than 700 community leaders, service providers, and members of Parliament discussed the impact of drugs in NSW.
A five-week online consultation process was also open to the public, which received more than 3,600 submissions.
Summit report
In April, Summit co-chairs Carmel Tebbutt and John Brodgen (both former NSW MPs) released their findings.
The report recommendations included more harm reduction in the regions, and training police officers to use naloxone, a drug that temporarily reverses opioid overdose.
A 12-month pill-testing trial was recommended, along with stopping drug dogs and strip searches during this time.
The Government had six months to respond. It has already begun the trial.
Govt response
The State Government supported increasing eligibility for the Early Drug Diversion Initiative (EDDI), which Attorney General Michael Daley said eases “pressure on our court system”.
EDDI is a diversion program which allows police to fine people caught with small quantities of drugs instead of launching a court case.
Recommendations to increase investment into alcohol and drug services, workforce and education were also supported.
The Government did not support ending the use of drug detection dogs and strip searches during its 12-month drug-checking trial at music festivals.
It noted a recommendation to lift the restriction on supervised injecting centres in NSW, currently limited to one site in Sydney’s Kings Cross.
The Government said it would consider a defence for drivers with a medical cannabis prescription.
It is also looking into ways to divert young people from the justice system.
Support
The Royal Australian College of GPs (RACGP) welcomed the Government’s response, committing to work together for “real and lasting change.”
In particular, it said it supported reform to EDDI and greater education and health promotion.
However, the RACGP identified a need for more supervised injecting centres.
“Having a health-first approach with harm reduction measures at the core of assisting people with alcohol and other drug use will save lives,” it said.
Criticism
Uniting NSW.ACT, which operates the Kings Cross supervised injecting centre, said the Government has “let down the community”.
It said it was “profoundly disappoint[ed]” the Government did not support all 56 recommendations, including around cannabis driving laws.
“This response does not reflect what the community and the experts wanted,” Director of Advocacy and External Relations Emma Maiden said.
Maiden also said First Nations and regional voices “are notably absent”.
Reporting by Elliot Lawry.
A message from Bell Shakespeare
Need plans that aren’t just dinner and drinks?
Bell Shakespeare’s Romeo & Juliet is back – and this isn’t the version you half-remember from high school.
It’s raw, emotional, and totally gripping. Two young lovers caught in the chaos of family drama and bad timing.
From just $45, you can be swept up in the passion, heartbreak and raw emotion of Shakespeare’s greatest love story – live on stage. Peter Evans’ production has been praised as “a joy from start to tear-stained finish” (Time Out Melbourne).
Playing at Sydney Opera House from 19 November – 7 December.
Give me some good news
The 2025 AFL Open – a “national event for footballers with an intellectual disability and wheelchair players” – is entering its fourth and final day, with a series of grand final matches scheduled in Melbourne today.
The AFL Open brought together over 200 players from all states and territories for the competition’s second year. The 2025 program included 60 matches, played over four days at the La Trobe University Sports Park. On Tuesday, players from the Victorian Blind League featured in the AFL’s first-ever blind/low vision exhibition match. Head of AFL Victoria Greg Madigan called the AFL Open, “one of our most exciting events on the calendar,” bringing together wheelchair and inclusion competitions, “creating a truly unique opportunity to showcase these versions of our game.”
Want more good news? Sign up to our weekly Good Newsletter here - we promise it’ll make your week better!
Reporting by Emma Gillespie.
TDA titbit
Australia’s weather agency has been ordered to fix its $4.1 million website after widespread public complaints.
The Bureau of Meteorology is the most used weather prediction system in the country, with many users reliant on their website for current rain radars and forecasts.
The change occurred during last week's east coast heatwave, causing further backlash as users struggled to navigate the new website.
Federal Minister for Environment and Water Murray Watt said in a statement, he had asked the BoM to “adjust the website’s settings as soon as possible.”
Reporting by Rosa Bowden.
Want more from The Daily Aus? Listen to our podcast!
The Federal Government has rejected the visa of a Dutch beach volleyball player due to a conviction of child rape. Steven van de Velde had sought to enter Australia for the world beach volleyball championships in Adelaide, being held in November.
In today’s episode, we explain the context behind the government’s decision, including van de Velde’s crime, his sentencing, and his continued athletic career.
TDA asks
