☕️ Does ASIO think we're safe?

We’re not normally big ice hockey fans (that’s an understatement), but we’ll be putting the USA v Canada final on the office TV when it kicks off today at midday (AEDT).

After President Donald Trump introduced tariffs on Canada (that are currently on hold), and made suggestions Canada should be the 51st state of America, the two teams took out a lot of their geopolitical tension on the ice when they met last week, and crowds booed the other’s anthem.

Ice hockey is not a peaceful sport at the best of times. Throw in a tense relationship between neighbours, and you have yourself some real theatre.

“We cannot assume that we can rely on America in the way we have in the past.”
Former Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull, who was in office during U.S. President Trump’s first term, speaking to the ABC yesterday.

$2.4 billion
The amount of funding the Federal and South Australian governments will spend to keep the Whyalla Steelworks open, after the state government forced it into administration. It produces 75% of Australian structural steel.

SNL50
In case you missed it, Saturday Night Live celebrated five decades on air this week. The iconic sketch show marked the occasion with a cavalcade of stars, former cast members, and new versions of classic sketches (including 2024’s viral hit ‘Domingo’). Perhaps the most viral moment was when Ryan Reynolds was asked how he was. He replied: “Great! Why, what have you heard?” It came as himself and his wife Blake Lively (sitting next to him) have been embroiled in very public lawsuits in recent months.

The Victorian Government has announced plans to cut up to 3,000 public sector jobs as part of efforts to reduce state spending.

State Treasurer Jaclyn Symes has also launched an inquiry into government spending ahead of the next budget in May.

The 2024/25 state budget forecast Victoria’s debt will grow to $188 billion by the end of the decade.

The cuts could see around 5% of public service jobs eliminated.

According to Government data, around 57,000 employees worked in the Victorian Public Service in 2024.

This includes the state’s government departments and administrative offices.

The Government wants to fire around 5% of these workers.

To identify which jobs will be cut, the Treasurer has ordered a review to identify overlaps and inefficiencies in government services and programs, as well as cuts at the executive level.

Premier Jacinta Allan confirmed teachers, police, and nurses and doctors will not be considered.

Symes said there would be “some difficult decisions to make”.

She said the Government is in “a process of collaboration and discussion” with the Community and Public Sector Union (CPSU) to understand the consequences of its potential decisions.

The CPSU accused the Government of spending taxpayer money on a review to “tell them what [government bodies] to merge”.

In a statement to TDA, CPSU Victorian Secretary Karen Batt said the union has pointed out “unnecessary duplications for years.”

“[The public service] has returned over $5 billion in savings from [the] last three budgets and the bone is bare,” Batt said.

Reporting by Achol Arok.

The head of Australia’s spy agency, Mike Burgess, has delivered his annual threat assessment.

Burgess revealed the Australian Security Intelligence Organisation (ASIO) had foiled multiple attempts by foreign actors targeting people in Australia.

He said three countries have been responsible for “plotting to physically harm people living in Australia.”

Here’s what we learned from Burgess’ speech.

Each year, ASIO delivers a ‘threat assessment’, laying out the major risks and challenges to Australia’s national security.

It also includes a general portrait of the risks posed by foreign and domestic actors to Australians.

Since ASIO is a predominantly covert agency, the yearly overview typically contains few specific details, but rather captures an overview of trends.

Burgess described the future national security environment as the most challenging since the height of the Cold War.

He said three countries had been involved in efforts to “physically harm” people in Australia.

Burgess said ASIO held “grave fears” for the targeted person’s life in some cases.

He detailed a foreign actor’s plot to lure a human rights activist overseas, baiting them to a place where an “accident” was set to harm them.

Burgess commented on a recent spate of antisemitic attacks across Australia, which have included spraypainting slurs on buildings, firebombing a synagogue, and setting fire to a kindergarten.

Police are also investigating the circumstances surrounding a caravan filled with explosives found in Sydney’s north-west, which allegedly was intended to target a synagogue.

Burgess said he believed “these attacks have not yet plateaued.”

Australia must hold a federal election by 17 May.

Burgess said there was a threat of foreign interference in the upcoming election, particularly targeting migrant communities.

“If a foreign regime tries to meddle in the election by pressuring diaspora groups, directing foreign language newspapers, spreading disinformation on social media or using any of the other tactics sometimes seen overseas, we will know. And we will act,“ he said.

Reporting by Harry Sekulich.

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Court Dogs are a special type of therapy dog, trained to provide trauma-informed emotional support and comfort “to victims of crime in the court system”. Launched in Melbourne and Hobart in 2023, the program will now be expanded to operate in Sydney, Parramatta and Newcastle.

Samantha O’Keefe from Guide Dogs NSW/ACT said these specially trained dogs “have a positive impact on the wellbeing of people navigating the court system... where they ease stress, reduce anxiety, provide companionship,” and comfort to “those in need,” including witnesses and children.

Want more good news? Sign up to our weekly Good Newsletter here - we promise it’ll make your week better!

Reporting by Emma Gillespie.

A town in the Philippines is offering a cash reward for mosquitoes.

It follows a rapid increase in cases of dengue, a disease transmitted to humans through mosquitoes.

To slow down the number of cases, local authorities in the small Manila suburb of Addition Hills have announced locals can earn one peso (10 Australian cents) for every five mosquitoes they collect.

The bounty applies to both dead and live mosquitoes. Live mosquitoes will be exterminated.

The initiative comes in response to the death of two students in the community from the disease.

Reporting by Annabel Whitehouse.

The head of Australia's spy agency, Mike Burgess, has given his annual threat assessment address. The ASIO boss delivered a wide-ranging speech, which discussed 'foreign actors', sabotage, and 'hostile nation states'. But what do those terms actually mean, and how does ASIO respond to these threats? Jennifer Parker is a defence analyst and security expert with ANU's National Security College. She joins us in today's deep dive to unpack what Burgess said, how it impacts our daily lives, and if we should be concerned.