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Good morning!
Get the tap shoes out because it’s… International Dance Day! Yes, a day entirely dedicated to appreciating the art form of dance.
We hope Ray Gun is somewhere celebrating in style.
I’ve got 10 seconds
Quote of the day
“There was no reason for Putin to be shooting missiles into civilian areas, cities and towns, over the last few days… It makes me think that maybe he doesn’t want to stop the war, he’s just tapping me along."
Donald Trump in a post to Truth Social after his meeting with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy. Trump and Zelenskyy met before Pope Francis' funeral in their first face to face meeting since February.
Stat of the day
20kg
The amount of drugs found in the possession of a Queensland man. Police found 15.9kg of methamphetamines, 2.4kg of cocaine, 1.5kg of heroin, as well as 200 rounds of ammunition and fireworks stored at a property he has access to.
Random fact of the day
The Spanish national anthem, the ‘Marcha Real’, has no words. Though lyrics have been written many times, nothing has ever been formally chosen.
I’ve got 30 seconds
Some headlines from this morning:
An inquest into the Bondi Junction Westfield stabbing attack has begun in the NSW Coroner’s Court. Five weeks of hearings will explore the circumstances surrounding the April 2024 incident, when six people were killed by 40-year-old Joel Cauchi, who was fatally shot by police at the scene. On Monday, the court heard Cauchi, who was diagnosed with schizophrenia as a teenager, was “effectively unmedicated” for nearly five years. Counsel Assisting the Coroner Peggy Dwyer SC said: “No health practitioner held responsibility for his ongoing care”. Dwyer also said searches of Cauchi’s phone indicate he was “preoccupied with weapons, with violence, and with mass killing.” NSW Coroner Teresa O’Sullivan told the victims’ families there were “simply no words,” to “properly convey the magnitude” of their loss. The inquest is expected to continue until 30 May.
Australian officials have worked with police in the Philippines to rescue two children linked to a Queensland child exploitation investigation. A 31-year-old man is accused of 28 offences including drug and child abuse charges. He was arrested in December, when police seized his devices on suspicion of child exploitation material. Investigators said further searches revealed material “featuring a number of unidentified child victims.” Police have since located two child victims in South East Queensland. Local and federal police also worked with the Philippine National Police to rescue an additional two child victims from “abusive environments” overseas. The accused is facing multiple charges including grooming and indecent treatment offences, drug supply, “using the internet to procure children under 16,” and distributing child exploitation material. He’ll face court on Thursday.
Recommendation of the day
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I’ve got 1 minute
The Government will subsidise a ketamine nasal spray for treatment-resistant depression
A nasal spray used to treat depression will be added to the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme (PBS).
The spray, called Spravato, is designed for people with treatment-resistant depression. It contains a form of ketamine.
It’s the first time in 30 years that the Government has subsidised a new medication for depression.
Depression
Treatment-resistant depression is diagnosed when a patient does not respond to at least two forms of conventional treatment, including antidepressant medication and therapy.
According to the Black Dog Institute, one third of patients with depression do not respond to antidepressants.
Ketamine
Ketamine is commonly used in medicine and by vets as an anaesthetic.
It’s a dissociative drug, meaning it acts on brain chemicals, and can stop the brain from receiving pain messages.
Ketamine can be used as treatment to eligible patients who haven’t reacted to antidepressants or other medical advice, as well as people who can’t take medication due to side effects.
Spravato contains esketamine, a form of ketamine.
New treatment
The Government confirmed it would subsidise Spravato in the 2025/26 Budget, beginning on 1 May 2025.
Spravato targets the brain’s chemical messenger, restoring brain connections that relieve depression.
University of Sydney Professor Ian Hickie told the Australian Associated Press the medication “regulates [the] brain circuits that regulate mood in a different way” to other medications.
PBS listing
According to UNSW, Spravato currently costs around $500 to $900 per dose. After its listing on the PBS, it will now cost patients less than $32 per dose.
Health Minister Mark Butler told TDA the listing “will improve the quality of life for thousands of Australians.”
Shadow Health Minister Anne Ruston told TDA: “[The Coalition] welcome[s] new listings on the PBS to ensure Australians have cheaper access to the treatments they need, particularly for mental health conditions.”
Inaccessibility
The Royal Australian College of GPs (RACGP) welcome the listing of Spravato, but raised concerns about its accessibility.
Spravato is only available in certified clinics with the resources to safely dose monitor patients.
“Only a few GPs have experience in prescribing and managing the complexity, and our current Medicare system disincentivises us to offer this treatment,” said Dr Cathy Andronis, RACGP chair of psychological medicine.
Lifeline: 13 11 14
Reporting by Annabel Whitehouse.
I’ve got 2 minutes
Why are politicians talking about Welcome to Country ceremonies?
Both Anthony Albanese and Peter Dutton have been asked about Welcome to Country ceremonies in recent days. It comes after an Indigenous Elder was booed at an Anzac Day dawn service.
Both leaders condemned the booing, which was later confirmed to have been led by a neo-Nazi in the crowd.
In the following days, both have been questioned about the frequency of Welcome to Country ceremonies, and a planned ceremony at a Melbourne NRL match that was cancelled.
Welcome to Country
Welcome to Country ceremonies are performed by a local Indigenous person, usually an Elder, who welcomes visitors to their traditional lands.
The ceremony is considered a sign of respect for First Nations people. It can be accompanied by song, dance, and smoking ceremonies.
It is different to an Acknowledgement of Country, which is a recognition of the Traditional Owners of a particular site and can be performed by anyone.
Anzac Day
At an Anzac Day dawn service in Melbourne on Friday, Bunurong and Gunditjmara man Uncle Mark Brown, an Elder, delivered a Welcome to Country.
Brown was interrupted by hecklers in the crowd, who were then drowned out by applause.
Victorian Premier Jacinta Allan later confirmed a neo-Nazi led the booing.
The man has been interviewed by police.
Allan described the incident as “appalling”, while RSL Victoria President Dr Robert Webster called it “disrespectful to the Aboriginal community, veterans, and the spirit of Anzac Day.”
Speaking on Saturday, Prime Minister Anthony Albanese called it “completely unacceptable,” and Opposition Leader Peter Dutton said Australians “should condemn those bad actions”.
Leaders’ debate
During the final leaders’ debate the following day, Dutton said Welcome to Country ceremonies can be “overdone”.
“For the opening of Parliament, fair enough, it’s respectful to do,” Dutton said during the debate on Sunday.
“But for the start of every meeting at work or the start of a football game, I think a lot of Australians think it’s overdone, and it cheapens the significance of what it was meant to do. It divides the country.”
The Coalition has previously said it would review funding for Welcome to Country ceremonies at official government events.
During the same debate, Prime Minister Albanese said a Welcome to Country is “a matter of respect”.
“It’s also... up to the organisations that are hosting an event of whether they have a Welcome to Country or not.”
There is no legal requirement for organisations to facilitate a Welcome to Country in Australia.
Monday
At a press conference on Monday, Dutton said it was not appropriate to hold a Welcome to Country during the Anzac Day dawn service.
He said he had spoken to veterans after the event who had a “majority view that they don’t want it on that day.”
Approximately 1,000 First Nations Australians served in WWI.
Reporting by Harry Sekulich.
A message from our Besties at Betty’s Burgers
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What: To celebrate Betty's Bestie Day, for one day only Betty's is offering you and your ride or die 2 for 1 burgers with six burgers to choose from. PLUS get a free soft drink when you order through the Beach Club Rewards app!
When: Thursday, May 1st. T&CS apply.
Head to a Betty's Restaurant this Thursday for 2-for-1 Burgers!
🍊 Nichols and Robinson complete an Aussie double at Bells. Details here.
🍊 Liverpool wins a record-tying title at home. Read more.
🍊 Japan’s Saigo wins five-way playoff at the Chevron Championship.
🗞️ Also in the Sport Newsletter: NRL, AFL, and more…
Give me some good news
Thousands of flowers will be planted at a U.S. landfill site to create a “pollinator haven” for bees, butterflies and insects.
New York’s Staten Island was home to one of the world’s largest landfill sites, before it was shut down and converted to parkland in 2021. At its peak in the 1980s, Freshkills Park received millions of kilos of waste every day. Now, a community organisation is leading an initiative to plant 50,000 native violets at the site.
The Freshkills Park Alliance’s President Mark Murphy said, “planting these violets is incredibly important to the ecosystem within Freshkills and also the region”. He hopes the mission will turn “what was once a terrible thing for Staten Island,” into “an incredible place of beauty, acceptance and reclamation.”
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 tidbit
Last Sunday, 180 men took part in Germany’s 64th annual finger-wrestling competition.
Finger wrestling, or ‘fingerhakeln’, is a competitive sport in the Bavarian Alps.
According to the sport’s website, finger-wrestling “represents a serious yet entertaining way of preserving a tradition.”
The goal of finger-wrestling is to successfully pull your opponent across the table with one finger. It can be dangerous, with many competitors breaking or dislocating their fingers in the process.
Reporting by Annabel Whitehouse.
Want more from The Daily Aus? Listen to our podcast!
The election is very close. But there's still more explaining for us to do!
Yesterday, we took you through the major parties. Today, we're looking at who the minor parties are! We take a look at the Greens, One Nation, the Trumpet of Patriots and more. Plus, who are the key independents? We explain in today's podcast.
TDA asks
