In case you missed it, earlier this week we published my interview with Australia’s Youth Minister, Dr Anne Aly. You can watch it here or listen to it here.

We covered a wide range of topics, including mental health, voting age and what is exactly a Youth Minister does.

Today, I’m interviewing the Shadow Youth Minister, Angie Bell. I’ll let you know how it goes!

The quote
"He has breached the ministerial code…therefore as Premier I’ve lost confidence in his ability to be a minister in my government." – NSW Premier Chris Minns announcing that Tim Crakanthorp, the NSW Minister for Skills, TAFE and Tertiary Education, was forced to resign after failing to disclose family land holdings.

The stat
$56
The amount the Jobseeker rate will be lifted per fortnight from September, after legislation passed the Senate yesterday.

Today in history
1914: Germany declared war on France in World War I.

Some headlines from this morning:

Double the number of electric vehicles (EVs) were sold in the first half of 2023 compared to the whole of 2022.

A new report by the Electric Vehicle Council called the uptick an "early, positive" sign of a transition towards low-emissions transport, but noted Australia's EV usage is still roughly 50% behind the global average.

The report also rated federal, state and territory governments on their policies to support electric vehicle uptake.

Sales numbers:
There have been 46,624 electric vehicles sold in Australia so far this year.

Just three cars – Tesla's Model Y and Model 3, and the BYD Atto 3 – make up two-thirds of these sales.

The Electric Vehicle Council says the dominance of these cars is due to restrictive policy settings which limit the number of vehicles supplied to the Australian market.

State-by-state:
The Federal Government was scored 7/10 for its electric vehicle policies.

NSW and the ACT topped the list with a score of 9 each, followed by Queensland on 7.

SA and WA received a 6, Victoria scored 5, while Tasmania, and the NT performed equal worst on 4.

The ACT has the largest subsidy for electric vehicle owners, and NSW scored highly for its adoption of electric buses.

Victoria scored poorly after scrapping a subsidy program earlier this year. Tasmania is the only jurisdiction without an electric vehicle strategy, and the NT has a total of three charging stations.

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Pop star Lizzo has been sued by three of her former dancers who allege she oversaw a hostile work environment.

The dancers, Crystal Williams, Arianna Davis, and Noelle Rodriguez, allege Lizzo and her management subjected them to sexual and religious harassment, racism, and fat-shaming.

The lawsuit was filed in Los Angeles and first reported by NBC News.

The details:
The three dancers began working for Lizzo's touring company, Big Grrrl Big Touring (BGBT), in 2021. All three were fired or resigned in 2023.

They allege they experienced psychological distress, physical injuries, and economic damage as a result of their employment.

They make nine specific claims against senior BGBT employees. Not all claims relate directly to Lizzo, but the lawsuit argues Lizzo should be held responsible for all the alleged wrongdoing as the employer.

Religious harassment:
The lawsuit alleges Lizzo's dance captain Shirlene Quigley, who is also being sued, subjected the dancers to religious harassment and inappropriate sexual commentary.

It is alleged Quigley regularly lectured dancers about her Christianity, interrogated Davis about her virginity, and punished Rodriguez for being a "non-believer".

It is also alleged Quigley frequently discussed her personal sexual habits and fantasies at work.

Sexual harassment:
In addition to Quigley's sexual comments, the dancers allege there was a broader "overtly sexual atmosphere" in the workplace, led by Lizzo herself.

The lawsuit alleges that on a night out in Amsterdam, which dancers felt pressure to attend, Lizzo bullied them into touching and interacting with sex workers.

Davis alleges that when she repeatedly declined, Lizzo led a chant to pressure her, then mocked her when she reluctantly agreed.

Racism, fat-shaming:
The dancers allege Lizzo's tour management discriminated against them on the basis of their colour and weight.

The dancers describe themselves in the lawsuit as "full-figured women of colour". They allege the predominantly white managers spoke to them with "racial and fat-phobic animus [hostility]", including suggesting they were lazy and unprofessional.

Davis also alleges Lizzo commented on her weight gain, and that she made "thinly veiled" comments implying her weight gain meant she was not committed to her job.

Economic threats:
The dancers say they were strongly discouraged from taking up additional work with other artists, even though they were not paid a retainer for periods when they were not working with Lizzo.

When they requested a retainer, they allege the response from management was vindictive, including from Lizzo.

Lizzo allegedly repeatedly criticised the dancers and threatened to fire them, at one point allegedly subjecting them to a 12-hour "re-audition" with no breaks. She also accused them of drinking at work, which they denied.

Assault attempt:
Rodriguez alleges Lizzo tried to assault her when she spoke up against the firing of Davis.

The lawsuit alleges Lizzo "aggressively approached Rodriguez, cracking her knuckles, balling her fists, and exclaiming, 'You're lucky. You're so fucking lucky!'"

It alleges Lizzo had to be physically restrained.

The lawsuit argues the work environment "would shock the conscience of anyone".

It does not specify the amount of financial compensation sought.

Lizzo and her management company have not made public comment.

Get all the news you need to know today in your ears on The Daily Aus podcast!

Wild tiger populations have grown in India and Bhutan.

India recorded an average total of 3,682 tigers, up from less than 2000 in the 1970s. The growth has been hailed as a success for tiger conservation.

We're all familiar with the importance of physical activity for a healthy life. However, let's not forget that, just like we nourish our bodies with exercise and good food, social interaction is equally as important for our well-being. According to a survey of 18-25 year olds, 81% admitted they considered their screen time to be "unhealthy."

Alongside VicHealth's Reality Check, we're here to remind you: prioritise those face-to-face moments!

Life can get busy, and sometimes, our social lives can take a hit. So, lock in those regular coffee catch-ups and trivia nights. It may sound simple, but it has a huge impact on your physical and mental well-being!

Well.

A zoo in eastern China has denied suspicions that its bears are actually just people in costumes.

It seems like a ridiculous suggestion but then you see the video and… I get it.

“Some people think I stand like a person,” the Hangzhou Zoo said on social media, writing from the bear’s perspective, according to the Associated Press. “It seems you don’t understand me very well.”

With China’s extreme heat at the moment, you’d sure hope the zoo isn’t getting people to stand in bear costumes all day.