☕️ New housing policies announced

Can you hear that? Yes, that is the sound of Katy Perry singing from space.

In case you missed it, today is the day that the first all-female crew since 1963 will be launched into space, thanks to the space technology company owned by billionaire Jeff Bezos, Blue Origin.

Riding on the spaceflight alongside Katy Perry will be five other women, including journalist Gayle King, and helicopter pilot Lauren Sánchez, who is engaged to Bezos.

The flight is leaving at around midnight tonight (AEST) in West Texas and is due to last about 11-minutes. Make sure you wave to them!

“We have incredible candidates right around the country that I’m so proud to be able to stand beside and to ensure that we can make Australia great again, that we can bring Australia back to its former glory, that we can get Australia back on track.”
Coalition Senator Jacinta Nampijinpa Price at a campaign rally in Perth. If the Coalition wins government, Price will lead a portfolio for Government Efficiency.

$US1.375 billion ($AU2.2 billion)
The amount Prada paid for fellow fashion house Versace. The deal was closed on Thursday last week.

1912
RMS Titanic, the world's largest ocean liner, hit an iceberg at 11.40pm in the middle of the North Atlantic sea, sinking in the early hours of 15 April.

A Brisbane fertility clinic has launched an investigation after a woman gave birth to a baby that wasn’t hers.

It was the result of the incorrect transfer of an embryo at Monash IVF’s Brisbane clinic.

The clinic said an initial assessment found the incident occurred due to “human error”.

Monash IVF has said it is “truly sorry” and is now conducting a full review of its processes.

Monash IVF’s Brisbane clinic was first made aware of the incident in February this year, after a couple requested to transfer their remaining embryos to another IVF provider.

However, instead of finding the expected number of embryos, “an additional embryo remained in storage for the birth parents”.

An investigation later confirmed that an embryo from a different couple had “been incorrectly thawed” and transferred to the birth parents, resulting in the birth of a child.

The clinic said its executive team was alerted within hours, and the regulator later that same week.

In a statement, Monash IVF said an independent investigation is now underway, alongside “full process reviews” of its laboratory safety measures.

The medical group’s CEO, Michael Knaap, said the clinic has apologised to “everyone involved” and that ongoing support will be provided to the parents.

He added that while the clinic is “devastated”, it is confident this was “an isolated incident”.

Reporting by Achol Arok.

Labor has unveiled a plan to allow all first home buyers to put down a 5% deposit on properties, while the Coalition announced a scheme to make mortgage interest repayments tax deductible.

Here’s what you need to know from a busy weekend of policy announcements.

At its campaign launch in Perth yesterday, Labor announced it would expand the existing 'Home Guarantee Scheme' from January 2026, removing eligibility requirements and opening it to all first-time home buyers regardless of income.

Under the scheme, the government acts as a 'guarantor' for the rest of the deposit, typically 15% of the house price, with buyers avoiding Lenders Mortgage Insurance. The 5% deposit would apply to properties under set values - for example, up to $1.5 million in Sydney and $850,000 in Perth.

Labor also pledged $10 billion for an eight-year plan to build 100,000 "affordable" homes, which would only be sold to first home buyers. States and territories would receive $8 billion in no-interest loans, with the federal government providing an additional $2 billion.

Meanwhile, at the Coalition's launch in Western Sydney, Opposition Leader Peter Dutton announced that first home buyers would be able to deduct mortgage interest repayments from their income tax if they win the election.

The Coalition's scheme would apply to interest payments on the first $650,000 of a mortgage for those with a taxable income under $175,000, or $250,000 for couples. The scheme would run for five years, with participants required to live in the home during this period.

According to Coalition estimates, a family on an average income would be $11,000 a year better off under this tax relief. A Coalition spokesperson said the policy will cost about $1.25 billion over four years.

Both parties also announced tax measures, with Labor proposing a new standard tax deduction of $1,000 a year on work-related expenses without requiring evidence, while the Coalition pledged a one-off tax cut of $1,200 in July 2026 for anyone earning between $48,000 and $104,000.

The campaign launches are traditional mid-campaign events where party leaders address supporters and announce major policy initiatives.

Alright, who’s heading overseas this year? 

For those that raised their hands, we know there’s nothing quite like the feeling of experiencing new cities, embracing new cuisines, and the satisfaction of mastering a new phrase or two.

But let’s be real - sometimes, stuff just doesn’t go to plan. That’s where the folks at Travel Insurance Direct (TID) come in.  With their expertise, cover and top-notch service, they can help you stay on track on your travels. TID takes care of the important stuff, so you can focus on the fun. 

Plus, if you’re a sucker for a discount code, they’re offering a 15%* discount on travel insurance to TDA readers with the promo code 15TDA (until May 31 2025). *T&Cs apply.

Ember, an independent global energy thinktank, attributed the result to record growth in the renewables sector last year, particularly across solar energy. In its report, Ember said solar generation has doubled in the last three years, “adding more electricity than any other source over that period.” 2024 was also a record year for solar capacity installations, for example, roof panels on homes and businesses. Ember estimates that “even if electricity demand grows… clean generation growth will be fast enough to keep pace.”

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

Reporting by Anju Dhanushkodi.

An American man used an AI-generated video to represent him in court.

The AI video spoke for a few seconds before the judge asked if the man appearing on her screen was the lawyer for the plaintiff. 

The complainant explained he had generated the video, and “[the AI-man] was not a real person.”

He later apologised to the court, explaining he had hoped the AI lawyer would “provide a more polished argument” than he could if he represented himself, and that he “meant no harm”. 

Reporting by Rosa Bowden.

Last week, the Fair Work Commission ruled against a Melbourne lawyer who was fired after chucking a sickie to attend the AFL Gather Round in Adelaide last year.

The case has sparked a national conversation about sick leave, when it's appropriate to use it, and what rights employers have when they suspect an employee is lying about needing to take a day off.