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Good morning!
Here is today’s trivia question: In which decade was David Jones founded? Answer is in the titbit!
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I’ve got 10 seconds
The quote: “No.”
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese answering a journalist who asked if he ever loses his cool.
The stat: 1,016. The number of days that will have passed since Charlie Kirk was assassinated when his alleged killer’s trial begins. A Utah judge has set a date of 21 June 2028.
The big question:
When is it ok to put up Christmas decorations?
Yesterday’s results: 75% of you drink coffee daily, 9% occasionally, and 16% never. Thanks for voting - your responses inform TDA's journalism and research. [4,054 votes].
I’ve got 30 seconds
Some headlines from this morning:
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has announced the findings of a review into an OpenAI agent’s infiltration of a Medicare statistics website. The review made 18 recommendations, including making it mandatory for AI companies to report cyber incidents or potential criminal law breaches. It also called for federal agencies to consider options to reform criminal laws in order to improve AI safety. The review suggested the introduction of a standalone offence for AI companies that fail to prevent harmful uses of the technology or if the organisations don’t take reasonable steps to mitigate the harm.
Todd Russell, one of the survivors of the 2006 Beaconsfield mine collapse, has died at 54 after an illness. Russell and his colleague Brant Webb made international headlines for surviving the collapse of the Tasmanian mine where they worked on Anzac Day in 2006. A third miner, Larry Knight, died, and at first it was presumed the duo, in an open-top cage, had also died until they were found five days later. Rescuers were eventually able to free them on 9 May.
Together with AAP.
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I’ve got 1 minute
Black Friday season is underway, bringing deals but also the risk of misleading claims, according to Australia’s consumer watchdog.
The Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC) has issued its annual warning to shoppers, highlighting sales tactics used by retailers in previous years.
These include “sitewide” sales that don’t actually apply to all items sold on a website.
This year, the ACCC has warned retailers it will be monitoring potentially misleading claims across emails, websites and social media.
Background
Black Friday is a major shopping event that originated in the U.S. It takes place the day after Thanksgiving, falling on Friday 27 November this year.
It has since become a major shopping event in Australia, with many retailers extending their sales beyond a single day.
The ACCC conducted Black Friday advertising sweeps in 2024 and 2025, identifying several concerning practices.
Black Friday sales tactics to watch out for:
“Sitewide” or “storewide” sales that exclude products.
Countdown timers and limited-time offers that continue even after the advertised deadline has passed.
Pressure tactics, including misleading testimonials and false claims about low stock.
Discounts compared with prices the item was never, or has not recently been, sold at.
Penalties
This year’s sweep is the first to examine advertising across websites, emails and social media.
ACCC Deputy Chair Catriona Lowe said retailers risk enforcement action if they misrepresent the size, scope or duration of a sale.
“Consumers should be aware that a ‘sale’ sign doesn’t always mean it’s a good deal,” she said.
Several retailers have previously faced penalties over Black Friday sales, including Michael Hill, My House, Hairhouse Warehouse, James Lane and Vuly.
Reporting by Elliot Lawry.
Quick hits
🎧 On today’s TDA podcast, copyeditor Lucy explains how a tech CEO got wrapped up with a suspected spy. Listen or watch on Apple here, Spotify here, or YouTube here.
🎾 Sandpapergate is back again. Sign up to TDA Sport here for a full run-down in your inbox at 4.30pm.
Good Finds
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I’ve got 2 minutes
The Australian Institute of Health and Welfare (AIHW) has released new data on First Nations people’s interactions with the healthcare system before dying by suicide.
Its analysis of 11 years of statistics showed nine in 10 First Nations Australians who eventually died by suicide accessed healthcare in the last year of their lives.
Many accessed mental health services in the month before their death.
Here’s what you need to know.
Background
The rate of deaths by suicide is three times higher for First Nations people than non-Indigenous people, according to the Australian Bureau of Statistics.
In 2024, suicide was the fifth leading cause of death for First Nations people.
This week, the AIHW released a report into how First Nations people who died by suicide from 2010 to 2021 engaged with healthcare services in the 12 months before their deaths.
It did not have data from Western Australia or the Northern Territory, both of which have significant Indigenous populations.
Findings
Of the 1,273 First Nations people whose deaths were recorded as suicide from 2010 to 2021, 1,145 were known to have used a health service before their death:
More than half of First Nations people who died by suicide accessed mental health services in the year before their death.
Younger people were less likely to use health services than older age groups.
Of those who did not use any services in the last year of their life, 71% were under 35.
Around a third of First Nations people who died by suicide used a mental health service in the month before they died.
Many of these people presented to emergency departments or were admitted to hospital that month.
Access gaps
The AIHW noted that as of 2023, the number of psychiatrists per 100,000 people ranged from 19 in the major cities, to six in outer regional and remote areas, to two in very remote areas.
Around a third of First Nations people live in outer regional, remote, and very remote areas.
The AIHW raised concerns about cultural barriers and a lack of culturally appropriate care, using the example of fly-in, fly-out mental health services, which “communities are often not receptive to... as they visit for short periods, lack local knowledge and do not build relationships with the community.”
Looking ahead
The AIHW pointed to areas where more research could support intervention, including location and age-based studies.
It noted the complexities of suicide interventions, highlighting alcohol as a “known catalyst for suicidal acts,” requiring “interventions that go beyond hospitals and the health system.”
The institute also said “access to culturally safe and relevant health services” is “crucial” to adequately treat “First Nations people at risk of suicide.”
13 YARN: 13 92 76 | Lifeline: 13 11 14
Reporting by Emily Donohoe.
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Give me some good news
An English author has been named the oldest-ever recipient of the prestigious Booker Prize, one of the highest honours in literature.
M John Harrison won for his post-apocalyptic novel The End of Everything, set in England in a version of the future where aliens have overtaken the country. It is the first sci-fi novel to win the prize. Booker committee chair Mary Beard said Harrison’s win was “recognition of what some people would see as the blindingly obvious, that you find great books in every genre.”
Reporting by Lucy Tassell.
TDA titbit
Heated Rivalry fans, you have days to hop on a flight to Canada. Why? Because Canadian cinemas are screening the last two episodes of the first season in 4DX.
For those unfamiliar, 4DX is a cinematic experience where you may be jostled, bounced, smell aromas, or have water sprayed in your face.
Viewers will be coming to the cottage.
Reporting by Lucy Tassell.
Trivia answer: The 1830s. David Jones is the oldest department store in the world still trading under its original name.
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