☕️ Free period products for WA primary schools

Good morning!

There are 99 days until the Olympics.

I hear they have 99 problems, but gender parity ain’t one.

In case you missed it, this year’s Olympics will be the first in history to have an equal number of female and male athletes competing.

The Games start on 26 July. See you then!

I’ve got 10 seconds

Quote of the day

“If you are abusing children, I will find out. I will find you, and I will come with my huge spotlight and shine it on wherever you are.”
Paris Hilton speaking in support of a bill in the U.S. state of California that would strengthen transparency requirements for “troubled teen” facilities - residential programs seeking to control adolescents’ behaviour. Hilton has alleged she was physically abused at one of those programs as a teenager.

Stat of the day

$US175 million ($AU273m)
The amount a Canadian man stole by posing as a psychic for 20 years, sending unsolicited letters to elderly and vulnerable people promising “great wealth and happiness” in exchange for a fee. He’s now been sentenced to 10 years in jail over the scam.

Today in history

1924
The first crossword puzzle book was published by Simon & Schuster.

I’ve got 30 seconds

Some headlines from this morning:

• Westfield in Bondi Junction will open its doors for ‘community reflection’ today after six people were killed in a stabbing over the weekend. Community members are welcome to attend the centre for quiet reflection from 11am to 5pm. Mental health counsellors will be available to provide support and black ribbons will be offered to commemorate the victims. Centre management said retailers will open for trading again from Friday.

• Defence Minister Richard Marles has announced a $50 billion boost to defence spending over the next decade. Marles said efforts would be focused on the Asia-Pacific, keeping “the vast bulk of our effort in our region” so that Australia is “taken seriously”. Part of this increased spending is Australia’s commitment to the AUKUS agreement, which will see nuclear-powered submarines made and sent here.

Recommendation of the day

I’ve got 1 minute

Free period products will be offered at WA primary schools

Free period products will be offered at all public primary schools in Western Australia, the state government has announced.

It will come into effect at the start of Term 3 in July.

The announcement comes after free period products were rolled out at public high schools across WA last year. They are also available at TAFE colleges across the state.

Further details

WA’s Minister for Women’s Interests Sue Ellery said the announcement would help to “ensure that having your period is not a barrier for school participation”.

“We know for some students, periods can arrive before they’re of high school age, that’s why we’re expanding the program into public primary schools.”

Schools can order additional period products for their students once initial supplies are exhausted.

Opposition

WA’s Opposition supports the initiative.

The state’s Shadow Minister for Women’s Interests Mia Davies said “many women and girls” are being forced to go without “expensive” period products amid cost-of-living pressures.

“Attending school is incredibly important and it is vital we continue to remove the barriers that stop girls from accessing education.”

I’ve got 2 minutes

A woman has died from a suspected poisoning at a health retreat in Victoria

A 53-year-old woman has died after a suspected poisoning at a health retreat in Clunes, north of Ballarat, in Victoria.

Two other people fell ill and were sent to hospital for further observation.

It has been widely reported the guests consumed poisonous mushrooms. However, police have not confirmed this.

Details

Victoria Police said the woman consumed a drink at around midday on 13 April before she died.

Police said the retreat is on Fraser Street in Clunes.

The retreat has not issued a statement, but it did cancel a sound healing session earlier this week.

Police said investigations are ongoing and will involve the coroner.

Mushrooms

Earlier this month, Victoria’s Department of Health issued an alert warning people that poisonous mushrooms can grow in the state during the cooler months. It added that consuming ‘death cap’ mushrooms may result in death.

Acting Chief Health Officer Dr Evelyn Wong said: “Unless you are an expert, do not pick and eat wild mushrooms in Victoria.”

Previous poisoning

In July last year, four people in regional Victoria became critically ill after eating a lunch hosted by Erin Patterson, who said it contained dried mushrooms.

Three out of four people died, including Patterson’s former in-laws. The fourth person was in hospital for almost two months before being discharged.

Patterson was charged with murder in November 2023. She is set to appear in court next week.

A message from our sponsor

Are you in charge of bills for your sharehouse, or the one responsible for booking the group holiday with your mates?

KttiPay is the new way to avoid the mental maths and save yourself from sending pay-me-back reminders.

With KttiPay, you and your group preload funds onto a joint account so that you can collect the money upfront, and then use the KttiPay digital visa debit card to pay. Forget the days of chasing people for money.

Download now.

Share The Daily Aus

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: https://www.newsletter.thedailyaus.com.au/subscribe?ref=PLACEHOLDER

Was this newsletter forwarded to you? Sign up here (it’s free!)

Give me some good news

The European Union has announced a €3.5 billion ($AU5.8 billion) investment in ocean protection and sustainability.

At the international ‘Our Ocean’ Conference, EU representatives announced the billions will be split across investments in pollution management, biodiversity and sustainable fishing.

It also increased its funding commitments to the EU climate change service Copernicus.

TDA tidbit

Some restaurants might offer a free glass of wine if it’s an anniversary, or a candle-lit dessert for a birthday.

But this restaurant in Verona, Italy, is offering a free bottle of wine if you can bear to part with your phone.

At Al Condominio Ristorante, customers get a free bottle if they agree to lock their phone in a box at the start of their meal.

Their website calls it a “Digital Detox”.

Want more from The Daily Aus? Listen to our podcast!

This week, Donald Trump has become the first U.S. President to face a criminal trial. It relates to the alleged cover-up of payments used to silence adult film star Stormy Daniels in the lead-up to the 2016 presidential election.

In today's podcast, we speak to Planet America host Chas Licciardello about what the trial means, why it's important, and what happens next for the presidential hopeful.

TDA asks