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Good morning!
And welcome to the shorter week. I had two conversations over the weekend with people who didn’t realise this weekend is the Easter long weekend, so consider this a PSA for you all!
This Friday and the following Monday are national public holidays.
I’ve got 10 seconds
The quote: “I think this was a huge miscalculation… Iran has been able to pretty much hold the whole world economy to ransom.”
Shadow Industry Minister Andrew Hastie speaking to ABC’s Insiders on the U.S. and Israel’s war with Iran.
The stat: 395,000. The number of people who experienced physical assault in the last 12 months, according to crime victimisation data from the Australian Bureau of Statistics. This means that more than 1,000 incidents occur every day.
The big question:
Do you think there's still stigma around mental health in Australia?
Friday’s results: 37% of you said you would not buy a home in an area you didn’t want to live in, even if you could afford it. [2,461 votes].
I’ve got 30 seconds
Some headlines from this morning:
The White House is preparing for weeks of ground operations in Iran, the Washington Post has reported, as the conflict stretches into its fifth week. According to the Post, citing U.S. officials, the plans could involve raids by Special Operations and conventional infantry troops, but would not be a full-scale invasion. The Trump administration has already deployed roughly 4,000 Marines and is planning to send thousands more to the region. Secretary of State Marco Rubio said the U.S. expected to conclude the new military operations within weeks. Meanwhile, Iran struck a Saudi air base over the weekend, wounding 12 U.S. military personnel, and Yemen's Houthi group launched two missile attacks on Israel, marking their first involvement in this current conflict. Brent crude oil is now up more than 50% since the war began.
Victoria and Tasmania have made public transport free as part of cost-of-living relief during Australia's ongoing fuel crisis, driven by oil supply disruptions from the Iran war. Victorian Premier Jacinta Allan announced train, tram and bus travel will be free for the month of April - a move expected to cost the state $71 million in lost revenue - with a regular daily commuter saving up to $220 over the month. Tasmanian Transport Minister Kerry Vincent said bus and ferry travel will be free from Monday until July 1, with a daily commuter from Dodges Ferry into Hobart saving $88 a week. "Families are feeling the pinch, and this important cost-of-living measure will deliver real savings," Vincent said. Other states haven't followed suit - NSW Transport Minister John Graham said the state needed to "keep our powder dry" to be able to assist the broader economy if the state enters a recession, the ACT parliament voted down a motion for 50-cent fares, and WA and Queensland have no plans to change their existing low-fare policies.
Together with AAP.
Recommendation of the day
It’s time to make your savings work harder
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Disclaimer: Offer ends 7 April 2026 at 11:59pm (Sydney/Melbourne time). Available for single accounts only; joint accounts are not eligible. Available to customers aged between 18-35 years old opening their first CommBank NetBank Saver account. Rates subject to change. NetBank Saver is issued by the Commonwealth Bank of Australia ABN 48 123 123 124 AFSL 234945. Consider if this product is appropriate for you. TMD available on the CommBank website.
I’ve got 1 minute
Opposition Leader Angus Taylor has called on the Government to halve the fuel excise to lower petrol prices for Australians.
The price of petrol has increased significantly over the past month due to the U.S-Israel war with Iran, which has impacted global supply of oil.
So, what is the fuel excise?
Fuel excise
The fuel excise is effectively a tax on petrol. It has existed since 1901. Currently, consumers pay 52.6 cents per litre in tax on petrol and diesel.
(Note: The fuel excise is technically paid by the manufacturers, but they ‘pass it on’ to the customer.)
Many countries have an equivalent tax. For example, it’s £0.53 ($AU1) in the UK, and around 14 cents per litre in the U.S. (20 Australian cents).
Cut
In March 2022, the then-Coalition Government halved the fuel excise for six months as a cost-of-living measure. At the time, the excise was 44.2 cents, so the discount lowered it to 22.1 cents.
Labor supported the decision when it was in Opposition.
After Labor won the 2022 election, Treasurer Jim Chalmers said it would be “too expensive” for the Government to continue the discount for more than the intended six months.
Opposition calls
On Friday, Opposition Leader Angus Taylor called on the Government to halve the fuel excise again.
“That will mean 26 cents a litre off at the bowser... We have proposed a fully-funded package that will not put pressure on inflation,” Taylor said.
When asked about Taylor’s proposal last week, Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said: “My Government has always been strong on cost-of-living measures... We do so in a responsible way in the context of our budget considerations.”
New measures
Today, the Government will propose new measures in federal parliament to allow public funds to underwrite private companies' purchases of additional petrol or diesel.
Underwriting could mean the Government would pay part of the fuel bill directly, guarantee a loan so a company can borrow the money to buy fuel, or reimburse companies after they've already purchased it to make it more attractive.
"This is about risk mitigation for (private companies) to add to supply, and it will give suppliers the confidence to secure additional and discretionary cargoes used to service uncontracted demand, including for regional and independent fuel suppliers," Albanese told reporters on Saturday.
Reporting by Lucy Tassell.
Quick hits
🎧 On today’s TDA podcast, Emma and Zara give you the latest on Kyle Sandilands’ legal battle, as the former radio host made his first appearance in court on Friday.
⚽ Missing Drive to Survive? You can sign up to TDA Sport here to make sure you get your weekly F1 fix.
Good finds
🎭 Sold out before it even opened in 2025, SISTREN is back at Griffin Theatre Company – and the five-star reviews it's collected since mean tickets won't hang around. Written and performed by Iolanthe (seven methods of killing Kylie Jenner) alongside her real-life best friend Janet Anderson, it follows two inseparable schoolgirls navigating identity, friendship and a world pulling them apart. Grab your tickets now before it sells out again.
*Transparency: This is a sponsored part of the newsletter - the best way to keep the newsletter free for you.
I’ve got 2 minutes
The International Olympic Committee (IOC) announced on Thursday that transgender women will be banned from competing in female category events at the Olympic Games. This will take effect at the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics.
The first and only transgender woman to compete at the Olympics was New Zealand weightlifter Laurel Hubbard at the 2021 Tokyo Games.
The policy
All athletes who want to compete in a female category event at an IOC event must now pass a one-time SRY gene screening.
The SRY gene is a segment of DNA typically found on the Y chromosome that is usually present in males. If the gene is present, an athlete is ineligible for the female category. If it is absent, they are permanently cleared and will never need to be tested again. The test is conducted via saliva, cheek swab, or blood sample. There are narrow exceptions for athletes with certain medical conditions affecting sex development.
The IOC has encouraged governing bodies for Olympic sports to adopt the policy.
The policy does not apply to grassroots or recreational sport.
IOC decision
IOC president Kirsty Coventry, who took over in June last year, oversaw a review of scientific, medical, and legal developments that concluded this month.
The review drew on experts across sports science, endocrinology (hormones), transgender medicine, and ethics. It concluded that male puberty “provides a performance advantage across all sports relying on strength, power, and endurance.”
Coventry said: “At the Olympic Games, even the smallest margins can be the difference between victory and defeat. So it’s absolutely clear that it would not be fair for biological males to compete in the female category.”
Several major federations had already implemented their own similar policies before the IOC, including World Rugby in 2020, World Aquatics in 2022, and World Athletics in 2023.
Concerns
Pride Cup, an Australian organisation that promotes LGBTQIA+ inclusion in sport, has criticised the announcement. CEO Hayley Conway said: “There is no scientific standard for defining ‘biological sex’, it cannot be reduced to a single marker. The proposed tests are completely arbitrary”.
The International Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Trans and Intersex Association (ILGA World), which represents more than 2,000 organisations globally, said the policy would put all women at risk.
Executive Director Julia Ehrt said: “Invasive policing of women’s bodies should concern everyone as it reinforces harmful stereotypes and exposes all women and LGBTI athletes to further harassment and scrutiny.”
Reporting by George Finlayson.
A message from CommBank
In 2026, many young Aussies are planning for the future while still living in the moment.
In a recent TDA Instagram poll, housing emerged as the number one money priority – from saving for a first home to managing rent and mortgages. Travel and big life moments weren’t far behind.
The challenge? Balancing long-term savings goals with the everyday cost of living and not sacrificing too much fun.
That’s where a CommBank NetBank Saver account could help. For a limited time only, you can get a 5.10% p.a. variable intro rate for the first 5 months if you’re aged between 18–35 years old and opening your first NetBank Saver account.
Set clear goals and track your progress as you go, watching your savings grow and work for you. You can work towards your goal without feeling like you have to press pause on life right now.
Disclaimer: Offer ends 7 April 2026 at 11:59pm (Sydney/Melbourne time). Available for single accounts only; joint accounts are not eligible. Available to customers aged between 18-35 years old opening their first CommBank NetBank Saver account. Rates subject to change. NetBank Saver is issued by the Commonwealth Bank of Australia ABN 48 123 123 124 AFSL 234945. Consider if this product is appropriate for you. TMD available on the CommBank website.
Give me some good news
Marine biologists have captured the first video of a sperm whale calf being born, revealing that the species shares a complex social cohesion.
Around 10 sperm whales can be seen assisting a female as she gives birth in waters off the coast of Dominica. Then, the group takes turns lifting the newborn calf to the surface to breathe over several hours, as the young whale learns to swim on its own. The gathering includes a mix of sperm whales, some related to the mother and calf and others from a completely different line. The behaviour, published in the journal Science, suggests that sperm whales have a cooperative instinct, previously thought to exist only between kin.
Reporting by Emma Gillespie.
TDA titbit
Credit: Douyin via CNN
Seven dogs stole the internet’s heart last week. But the tale behind them did not survive a fact check.
CNN reported the video was filmed in rural China on 15 March and posted with a claim that the dogs had escaped from a transport truck. It quickly racked up more than 90 million views and sparked theories about stolen pets, injured pack members, and a heroic corgi leading the way.
But it turns out that’s not true. Their owners told Chinese state media the dogs often roam freely, and all seven have since returned home.
Reporting by Pavitra Ravi.
TDA asks
