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Good morning!
Did you also wake up very excited about the new show ‘Company Retreat’ being released by Prime Video today?
This is the sequel to ‘Jury Duty’, which was the show about a court case where everyone involved was an actor except for one person, who thought the trial was real. It was so good I watched it twice. And now there’s a new one. At a company retreat.
(No, this is not sponsored. But the last time I recommended ‘Jury Duty’, Prime Video sent me milk chocolate bullets – my favourite. So, yes, I am hoping someone from Prime is reading this.)
I’ve got 10 seconds
The quote: “I’m focused on heading off very shortly to a really important national cabinet meeting… not anonymous gossip that could be from a few scallywags out there that might need a bit of a cuddle.”
Victorian Premier Jacinta Allan at a press conference on Thursday rejecting rumours of a Labor leadership spill. Victoria's next state election is due in November.
The stat: 14. The number of places Australia fell in the Global Terrorism Index 2026, dropping to a worst ever ranking of 31st.
The big question:
Yesterday’s results: 55% of you said you wouldn’t retire before you turn 65. [2,532 votes].
I’ve got 30 seconds
Some headlines from this morning:
Tropical Cyclone Narelle, which is a category five cyclone, is heading towards far north Queensland and expected to make landfall around 10am AEST on Friday in a remote community north of Cairns. It would mark the first category five system to hit the Cape York region since Cyclone Mahina in 1899, which killed more than 300 people. It will be the fourth category five cyclone to cross the Queensland coast in the past 50 years, Queensland Premier David Crisafulli said.
The Australian stock market has fallen significantly today amid the continued conflict in the Middle East, with the ASX200 falling by 1.53%. The ASX200 is the biggest 200 companies on the Australian stock market. The losses left the ASX200 at its lowest level since late November and down 2.5% since the start of the year. Overnight, Iran attacked an industrial complex in Qatar, while Israel struck Iran’s South Pars gas field, in what are believed to be some of the most significant attacks on energy sites since the war began.
Together with AAP.
Recommendation of the day
Eat out for less this weekend
Brunch spots, date night dinners, late-night bites – EatClub gets you up to 50% off the total bill (yes, including drinks) at restaurants across your city. New to EatClub? Use code TDA15 for $15 off your first redemption (expires 15 April).
And heads up: we're giving away 10 x $100 EatClub Dining Credits on our IG page – competition closes next week.
I’ve got 1 minute
Australia’s unemployment rate rose to 4.3% in February, according to the Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS).
The unemployment rate is the percentage of people who were looking for work but couldn’t find any.
The seasonally adjusted figure is 0.2% higher than the unemployment rate in January.
Seasonal adjustment means the ABS has removed the effects of calendar-specific patterns from the data, such as fruit-picking in summer or Christmas casuals in retail in December.
New figures
According to the ABS, 35,000 people became unemployed in February.
The number of people in full-time work decreased by 30,000 last month, while 79,000 people entered part-time employment.
Employment Minister Amanda Rishworth wrote on Instagram the unemployment rate “remains low by historical standards”.
Shadow Employment Minister Jane Hume said the new data shows Australians “are working harder than ever” but “are only going backwards.”
Reporting by Annabel Whitehouse.
Quick hits
🎧 On today’s TDA podcast, Billi explains France’s attempts to ban Shein.
🌞 Need some good news? You can sign up to TDA’s dedicated Good News newsletter here, and wake up to silver linings in your inbox on Sunday morning.
Good finds
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I’ve got 2 minutes
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese announced a new fuel supply taskforce.
Following a National Cabinet meeting on Thursday, Albanese said each state and territory will be represented in the taskforce, which will coordinate “fuel security and supply chain resilience.”
Its creation comes after Iran closed the Strait of Hormuz, the world’s busiest oil shipping channel, in response to U.S. and Israeli strikes.
Strait of Hormuz
Amid the escalating conflict in the region, Iran closed access to the Strait of Hormuz, a 33-kilometre-wide shipping lane off its southern border.
The strait usually sees around 20-25% of the world’s supply of oil and liquefied natural gas (used to heat homes and generate electricity) every day.
Oil is bought and sold all over the world, which means prices are set globally. A disruption in one part of the world can affect prices everywhere.
Price impact
Before the current conflict, oil was sitting at around $US67 ($AU94) a barrel (159 litres).
On Wednesday (U.S. time), the price of a barrel was around $US109 ($AU156).
Last week, the International Energy Agency (IEA) said oil export volume through the Strait was “at less than 10% of pre-conflict levels.”
Nationally, the average retail price for petrol last week was 219.5 cents per litre, compared to 166.6 cents one month ago. Diesel sat at 245.6 cents per litre, up from 180.5 cents last month.
Some regional and rural areas have experienced fuel shortages, blamed on reduced supply to retailers and panic buying.
In response, the Government released 20% of its emergency stockpile for regional communities, and reduced fuel standards to increase local supply.
Opposition Leader Angus Taylor told Sky News that he believes Ampol’s Queensland refinery should always sell its fuel in Australia rather than exporting it.
Taylor said the Government “failed to do its bit” and that Energy Minister Chris Bowen is “out of his depth”.
Taskforce
Following a National Cabinet meeting in Hobart on Thursday, Albanese announced a new Fuel Supply Taskforce aimed at making Australia “overprepared” for future crises.
Anthea Harris has been appointed as the Taskforce Coordinator. Harris has previously led the Australian Energy Regulator and the Energy Security Board.
Energy Minister Chris Bowen called Harris “eminently qualified,” saying her appointment is “the next step in preparing and responding to the supply chain challenges coming from overseas.”
States and territories are responsible for their distribution of fuel, while the Federal Government ensures its supply and security. The taskforce will include representatives from each jurisdiction.
The taskforce is designed to coordinate between both levels of government on:
Fuel security;
Fuel supply planning; and
Prioritising in-demand regions.
Albanese said governments would work together, “ensuring fuel supply remains resilient... looking after each other and facing problems together."
Response
Opposition Leader Angus Taylor said the Government had shifted from “claiming fuel supplies were secure to scrambling to appoint a ‘fuel tsar’ in a national crisis.”
Taylor claimed the taskforce is a result of Bowen’s “failure to do his job and ensure Australia’s fuel security in the first place.”
“Unless it delivers urgent, practical action to secure fuel and close gaps in Australia’s supply, it will be nothing more than window dressing,” he added.
ACCC
Separately, the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission announced it will investigate “reports of alleged anti-competitive behaviour” affecting diesel supply in regional and rural Australia.
The consumer watchdog will investigate Ampol, BP, Mobil (which retails to 7-Eleven), and Viva Energy Australia, which retails to Shell, Reddy Express, and Liberty.
Chair Gina Cass-Gottlieb acknowledged “concerns held by consumers, businesses and farmers about fuel pricing and supply issues”.
Reporting by Emily Donohoe.
A message from Dare
Mocha lovers, this one's for you
Dare – Australia's favourite iced coffee brand – has taken its number-one flavour and given it a serious upgrade. The new Dare Protein Mocha delivers 30g of protein in a 500ml bottle, with no added sugar and the same smooth cocoa taste you already know. No compromises, no flavour swap required. Available now in Coles and selected retailers.
Give me some good news
The annual World Happiness report has found that Finland is the happiest country in the world for the ninth year in a row.
The report said Finland and the other Northern European countries' steady ranking on top is related to a combination of equal wealth distribution, having a welfare state that protects people from the risks of recessions, and a healthy life expectancy. A new entry to the top five on the list is Costa Rica, which climbed to fourth place this year after rising through the ranks from 23rd place in 2023. Country rankings were based on answers given by around 100,000 people in 140 countries and territories who were asked to rate their own lives.
Reporting by Billi FitzSimons.
TDA titbit
A hospital in the U.S. state of Florida is suing a former patient who hasn’t left their room despite being discharged five months ago.
Tallahassee Memorial Healthcare asked a judge earlier this month to provide an injunction (a warning) to mandate the patient leave the hospital room.
The hospital has not explained how the patient has been able to stay in the room since October last year.
TDA asks
