☕️ New gambling reform introduced

What’s the craziest engagement story you’ve heard?

Overnight, two people were taken into custody for scaling the Empire State Building in New York, where it appears they got engaged.

It took emergency service workers four ladders to reach the pair, who later posted photos of their high-flying engagement to Instagram.

The quote: “No one would have begrudged him a retreat into privacy. But that is not what Richard chose. Instead, he took us all into his confidence, he shared his triumphs and his setbacks, he shared the joy he took in every extra day, he was granted, and his profound gratitude to everyone around him.”
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese speaking in Parliament in honour of 2024 Australian of the Year Dr Richard Scolyer, who died of brain cancer last month. Scolyer’s wife and children were in Parliament to watch speeches by Albanese and Opposition Leader Angus Taylor.

The stat: $AU2 billion. How much U.S. ‌President Donald Trump earnt from crypto in 2025. Trump's latest financial disclosures ‌to the U.S. Office of Government ​Ethics2024 show he received more than $723 million from World Liberty Financial, a crypto venture he co-founded with his sons, and $918 million from the sale of his $TRUMP meme ⁠coins.

The big question:

Yesterday’s results: Drinking habits varied across the audience, with most of you drinking on special occasions, every few days, or once a week. Thanks for voting - your responses inform TDA's journalism and research. [2,800 votes].

Together with AAP.

No HBDs. No ugly photos. No regifted candles.

Moonpig surveyed Aussies on their biggest birthday icks - turns out we've all probably been victims. Over 1 in 3 of us have copped last-minute cancellations, unapproved Insta posts and regifted presents. Skip the cringe this year - get 50% off Moonpig's personalised cards and gifts with code BDAY50, ends 31 August.

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Changes to gambling advertising including time restrictions and a ban of celebrity endorsement are being introduced to Parliament this week.

The Coalition and Greens have raised concerns about the Government’s bill, while an anti-gambling advocate called it “disgusting”.

In June 2023, a Parliamentary committee released the final report from its inquiry into the impacts of online gambling. The committee was chaired by Labor MP Peta Murphy, who died in December of that year.

It recommended the Government completely ban ads for online gambling, create a new gambling warning label, and introduce identity verification for online gambling.

The Government responded to the inquiry in May 2026. It noted all 31 recommendations made by the inquiry, and deferred some legislative responsibility to state and territory governments.

It is now set to introduce a bill with these changes:

Liberal Senator Sarah Henderson told TDA the Coalition “have concerns” about the reforms, and wants to “deliver meaningful and workable reform” because “gambling addiction is taking an enormous toll on so many Australian families.”

Senator David Pocock has already planned to table six amendments, including a full ban on gambling ads

Greens Senator Sarah Hanson-Young told TDA “we sent this bill straight to inquiry,” calling it a “band-aid fix”.

On Wednesday, Alliance for Gambling Reform Lived Experience Advocate Mark Kempster told TDA the reforms are a “real slap in the face... to anyone who gave evidence at that inquiry.”

Kempster noted that the “gambling ad ban” is “one of the main” changes he would like to see, as well as the banning of inducements, such as bonus bets, cash backs and deposit matches.

Reporting by Emily Donohoe.

🎧 On today’s TDA podcast, copyeditor Lucy explains the legal case against Amazon Prime Video. Listen or watch on Apple here, Spotify here, or YouTube here.

🎭 Major Australian theatre productions are being cancelled or closing early. Read TDA Culture at 5pm today to find out why.

🔬 Claude, the AI for scientific discovery. Garvan Institute researchers are partnering with Claude to better understand and cure rare diseases. Read the report.

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A parliamentary inquiry has called for sweeping changes to how election campaigns operate at polling booths after finding aggressive behaviour left some voters feeling “harassed and threatened”.

The interim report into the conduct of the 2025 Federal Election heard one participant describe their polling booth experience as “more like a war zone than it was a polling booth”.

Coalition members have criticised the inquiry as a “hyperpartisan witch hunt”.

After each election, a parliamentary committee reviews how it was conducted. The committee examines evidence from the Australian Electoral Commission (AEC), political parties, candidates, experts and members of the public about issues that arose during the campaign and voting process.

It then makes recommendations to the Government on changes that could improve future elections.

The interim report into last year’s Federal Election was released this week. It draws on 360 submissions and 12 public hearings. Key findings include:

Antisocial behaviour
The inquiry heard evidence of yelling, verbal abuse, harassment and intimidation at polling booths. The AEC received more than 550 complaints about voter harassment and intimidation, along with 59 complaints involving threats against staff.

Third parties’ influence
The inquiry heard evidence linking third-party campaigners to much of the alleged antisocial behaviour, including claims voters felt intimidated and candidates and volunteers were blocked or harassed.

AEC powers
The AEC’s powers are largely limited to a six-metre exclusion zone around polling places, with the inquiry hearing officials have little ability to manage aggressive behaviour beyond it.

Accessibility
Some voters with disability struggled to access polling places, while long queues were the biggest accessibility complaint.

The inquiry has made 14 recommendations, including:

The Coalition rejected the findings, describing the report as “less inquiry, more hyperpartisan witch hunt”.

It accused the committee of unfairly targeting the Plymouth Brethren Christian Church, whose members generally do not vote but have been active in election campaigning for the Liberal Party.

The Coalition cited the church’s submission, which said it was prompted to contribute to the inquiry after what it described as an “unprecedented assault” by MPs.

The Coalition also called for tighter disclosure rules requiring online influencers to reveal when they are paid to produce political content.

The inquiry remains open, with further public hearings planned before the final report is due in November.

Reporting by Emily Donohoe.

You don't have to have it all figured out – and you won't be doing it alone

Whether you're choosing your first degree, changing direction, or taking the next step in your career, it's normal not to have all the answers. The University of Canberra meets you where you're at, with a supportive community and learning designed for real people and real life.

Through hands-on projects, placements, and industry connections, you'll build confidence, experience, and skills to prepare you for what's next – wherever that takes you.

The facial tumours are a type of transmissible cancer first detected in the mid-1990s. Since then, Tassie Devil numbers have fallen by about 80%. However, the University of Tasmania and U.S. biosciences company Colossal have teamed up in the hopes of developing a treatment. Professor Andrew Files said researchers are investigating a mutated gene that might make the carnivorous marsupial more susceptible to cancers. If they can make that link, the gene could be “edited out” with targeted treatment. Local conservation groups have backed the research, saying “anything that gives our devils a real path back deserves our full support.” Work is advancing on a vaccine, with trials expected to start by the end of the year. 

Reporting by Emma Gillespie.

Welp. This titbit sucks to write, but here goes. 

A new survey by data collection platform SOAX shows what Australians consider the most attractive and least attractive professions. Coming in on the hottest end of the scale were doctors and teachers, with scores of 8.77 and 8.71 out of 10, respectively.

On the less attractive end of the ranking? Politicians, dentists and… journalists. 

To the people responsible for this survey: My mum says you’re WRONG!

Reporting by Elliot Lawry.