☕️ PM criticised for Qantas upgrades

What a historic day today is. It is officially 30 years since Mariah Carey released one of the greatest songs of all time, “All I Want for Christmas is You”.

Fun fact, it’s broken the record for the most played song on Spotify in a single day four different times.

May the Christmas songs officially start playing (condolences grinches).

“I can be honest and say I don’t like or agree with everything that Donald J. Trump does or says… but you don’t have to love everything about someone in order to love them.”
TV personality Dr Phil endorsing Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump at a rally on Monday.

$15 million
The maximum penalty proposed by NDIS Minister Bill Shorten for providers who are found guilty of harming their clients.

2015
The Chinese Government announced it would end the one-child policy.

Controversial right-wing commentator Candace Owens has been refused entry to Australia.

The American was scheduled to bring her speaking tour to Sydney, Brisbane, Melbourne, Adelaide, and Perth next month.

However, the Department of Immigration has rejected the American’s visa application. Immigration Minister Tony Burke said Owens’ views are best shared “somewhere else.”

The public figure has a combined social media following of over 13 million.

Candace Owens is a far-right influencer and long-time Donald Trump supporter. She has 5.8 million followers on X, 5.4 million on Instagram, and 2.82 million YouTube subscribers.

Owens became a contributor for The Daily Wire in 2021 but left the right-wing media outlet in April after she was accused of antisemitism.

Owens has also been accused of being Islamophobic and anti-trans. A website promoting her live speaking tour described Owens as “unwavering” and “unfiltered”.

In August, Owens announced plans for her first tour of Australia and New Zealand.

Fans were promised an “opportunity to experience firsthand” Owen’s “intellect and fearlessness”. Tickets ranged from $AU95 for general admission, to $AU1,500 for a “pre-show dinner” and “meet and greet” with Owens.

“In a world full of safe spaces, Candace cuts through the fluff, delivering raw and unfiltered commentary on politics, culture, and everyday life,” the website said.

Immigration Minister Tony Burke has now rejected Owens’ visa application, blocking her tour from going ahead.

“From downplaying the impact of the Holocaust.. .to claims that Muslims started slavery,” Burke said Owens has the power to “incite discord in almost every direction.”

“Australia’s national interest is best served when Candace Owens is somewhere else,” he added.

Owens has not commented on the visa decision and ticket-holders are yet to receive an update.

TDA contacted Owens’ tour promoter, Rocksman, but did not receive a response at the time of posting. Tickets to see Candace Owens live in Australia were still available to purchase as of Monday afternoon.

Reporting by Achol Arok.

Red P-platers in Western Australia will be banned from driving with more than one passenger from 1 December.

It follows a mother’s campaign to change the law after her son died in a car crash.

The WA Government has pledged to legislate passenger limits to keep “vulnerable novice drivers safe”. The proposal will pass Parliament and has the support of the Opposition.

Red P-platers will be allowed to travel with extra passengers in some instances, such as with immediate family, or if it's a work requirement.

At present, WA and the NT are the only two jurisdictions without passenger limits for provisional licence drivers (P-platers).

Red P-plates are the next licence after a supervised learner’s licence (L-plates).

In 2021, 15-year-old Tom Saffioti and 17-year-old Mark Bogoni were killed in a car crash in Perth’s south-east.

They were among five passengers in a car being driven by an 18-year-old P-plater

Tom’s mother, Samantha Saffioti, has since lobbied the WA Government to introduce passenger limits for P-platers.

Speaking with ABC Radio Perth, Saffioti called on lawmakers to “step up to the plate and actually protect our kids.”

Over the weekend, the WA Government announced it would bring in “Tom’s Law” by 1 December.

Anyone on their red Ps will only be able to drive with one passenger.

It adds to an existing rule that red P-platers are not allowed to drive between midnight and 5am.

Breaching either rule carries the same penalty: A $200 fine and two demerit points.

Exemptions will exist for driving with immediate family members, or if a passenger has been on their full licence for more than four years.

Red P-platers who need to drive more than one passenger as part of their job will need a letter from their boss.

WA Premier Roger Cook said: “Our least experienced drivers are particularly vulnerable when they get behind the wheel.”

State Opposition Leader Shane Love supported the law, saying it was a “necessary step to improve road safety”.

Reporting by Harry Sekulich.

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Australian duo Anastasia Golubeva and Hektor Giotopoulos Moore won a history-making bronze at the International Skating Union World Cup event in Canada this week.

The pair’s podium finish comes after they narrowly missed out on qualifying for the international event last year.

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

Reporting by Nandini Dhir.

What happens when Timothée Chalamet crashes a Timothée Chalamet look-alike contest full of Timothée Chalamet fans? The crowd goes wild… and police make an arrest.

Over the weekend, the ‘Call Me By Your Name’ actor made a surprise visit to a lookalike contest in New York attended by thousands of people. The event’s organiser, YouTuber Anthony Po, posted flyers and promised the winner a $US50 ($AU76) prize.

Fans showed up dressed as characters from his recent films, including Wonka and Dune.

As crowds grew, police broke up the crowds before issuing organisers a $500 fine for an “unpermitted costume contest.”

Police told local media that at least one contestant was taken away in handcuffs and is awaiting charges.

Reporting by Achol Arok.

In the last week, two major U.S. newspapers have announced they won’t endorse a candidate for the U.S. presidential election.

It’s a huge departure from the way legacy media has traditionally approached elections, and has called into question the billionaire ownership of the LA Times and the Washington Post.

In today's podcast, we discuss what the decision could mean for the media and editorial independence moving forward.