☕️ Inflation at three-year low

Earlier this month, we told you about our News Year Resolution to achieve 200 new contributors to TDA+U, our program that allows our readers to support TDA.

With a day left in the month, we wanted to let you know: we have hit our goal!

It means we can keep investing in our journalism, and gear up for a huge next few months of election coverage.

But the job, of course, is not done. This year, we want to continue to grow TDA+U to ensure we can remain an independent media company. If you want to help us grow, you can make a voluntary contribution here!

"I have known Bobby my whole life; we grew up together... Bobby preys on the desperation of parents of sick children - vaccinating his own children while building a following by hypocritically discouraging other parents from vaccinating theirs... It is incomprehensible that someone who is willing to exploit their own painful family tragedies for publicity would be in charge of American life-and-death situations."
Caroline Kennedy warning the U.S. Senate of her cousin, Robert F. Kennedy Jr, in a letter regarding his conduct in the lead up to his Senate confirmation hearing for Secretary of Health and Human Services later this week.

$1.6 million
The fine electricity company, Origin Energy, has to pay after they pursued Australians fleeing family violence for debt, sharing their private details without their consent.

2020
The World Health Organisation (WHO) declares COVID-19 a Public Health Emergency of International Concern at a meeting in Geneva.

The annual rate of inflation increased in December to 2.4%, according to new figures from the Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS). This is down from 2.8% in the September quarter.

It is the lowest inflation rate recorded in more than three years.

Here’s what you need to know.

The annual trimmed mean also decreased to 3.2% in the December quarter, down from 3.5% in the September quarter.

The trimmed mean is a measure that excludes volatile prices, such as oil affected by global supply chains, to better understand longer-term changes in prices. It is what the Reserve Bank of Australia (RBA) partly uses to inform its decision about the cash rate.

The RBA’s target range for the trimmed mean is 2-3%. In December, when the RBA kept the cash rate the same, it said the then-rate of 3.5% “remains too high”.

The cash rate is what the RBA charges banks for short-term loans.

We usually refer to changes in the cash rate as the RBA raising interest rates, because the cash rate affects interest rates across the economy, including home loans.

The cash rate has been at 4.35% since November 2023, which is its highest level in about a decade. Higher interest rates make it more expensive to borrow.

The next cash rate announcement is on 18 February.

Under-18s won’t be able to access puberty blockers or hormone treatment in Queensland until the Government completes a review of gender-affirming care in the state.

Health Minister Tim Nicholls said the decision followed an alleged incident at a public hospital in Cairns, where he said some children were prescribed puberty blockers and hormone treatment without proper consultation.

LGBTQ+ advocates have suggested the move will be “catastrophic for young trans people”.

Puberty blockers temporarily stop or delay the hormonal changes that occur during adolescence. They are often the first stage of gender-affirming care.

Puberty blockers pause the body’s production of testosterone or oestrogen. This can prevent changes like menstruation, breast development, voice changes, and facial hair. The medication’s effects are reversible.

The Australian Journal of General Practice says hormone therapy aims to “align physical appearance with gender identity,” by changing the body’s testosterone or oestrogen levels.

Last May, a 12-year-old was allegedly prescribed puberty blockers by Cairns Sexual Health Service without the appropriate level of medical guidance.

National guidelines state adolescents need to receive medical, mental health, and sexual health advice before commencing treatment.

It’s alleged the service gave “unauthorised” gender care to at least 42 children, 17 of whom received either puberty blockers or hormone therapy.

Cairns Sexual Health Service paused gender care for children in November.

The Queensland Government has now temporarily barred new treatments for under-18s while it undertakes a state-wide review of hormone therapies for teenagers.

Existing treatments will continue for around 550 children receiving gender-affirming care.

Nicholls said in a statement the Cairns incident “raised serious concerns” about the prescription of hormone therapies across Queensland.

He pointed to recent restrictions imposed around the world, including a ban on puberty blockers for children in the UK.

Nicholls added an independent review would provide a “robust investigation of best practice in this field”.

The adolescent pause will stay in place until the Government considers the review, which is due by June.

Head of the LGBTQ+ advocacy group Equality Australia, Anna Brown, said the Government’s pause would be “catastrophic for young trans people and their families”.

Brown said a recent review in the state found gender-affirming care practices were “safe and evidence-based”.

An Opposition spokesperson told TDA the measure would impact some of the most vulnerable people in Queensland.

“It should be a medical discussion and decision between an individual and their doctors — not one made by politicians.”

Reporting by Harry Sekulich.

If levelling up your finances was a goal for 2025, there’s someone we’d like you to meet.

Who: Sharesies

What: A long-term investing app for the money you’ve got big plans for.

Who’s it for: With features like auto-invest, round-ups, and AI Search, Sharesies is designed for everyone — whether you’re a beginner or a pro.

How to start: No minimum investment, so you can start investing across US, AU, and NZ shares with any amount you like.

Use the code TDA10 when you sign up, and deposit any amount to get $10 in your Sharesies Wallet, ready to invest.

^{Investing involves risk. Read the relevant disclosure documents before making an investment decision. Promotional terms apply. Visit sharesies.com.au for more information. Image does not represent a real portfolio.}

🍊 Rory McIlroy’s final three golf goals. Here's what he said.
🍊 Afghanistan's women's cricket team take to the field again.
🍊 Australia's newest world champion. It's cold in there.
🗞️ Also in the Sport Newsletter: rugby, a random fact and more…

Bradley joined hundreds of athletes from nearly 50 counties at this month’s International Ice Swimming Association competition in northern Italy.

The Aussie took home three medals, including two silvers and a gold, after her second world champs event. When she’s not competing, the 29-year-old uses the dams on her family’s regional NSW farm as training pools.

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

Reporting by Emma Gillespie.

Beijing is set to host the world’s first half-marathon to feature both human runners and humanoid robots.

Over 12,000 participants and more than 20 national humanoid robot company teams are set to race the 21.1km course, showcasing the fusion of technology and sports. Participating robots must have a humanoid appearance between 0.5 metres and 2 metres high, and be capable of two-legged movement.

It’s part of China’s efforts to develop artificial intelligence and robotics, to gain an edge in the tech rivalry with the U.S.

Reporting by Rosa Bowden.

A Queensland social media influencer accused of poisoning her daughter has been released on bail.

The woman is facing several charges including torture and fraud, after she allegedly posted videos of her child under distress “to entice monetary donations and online followers.”

Today, we’ll talk through what we know about this case, and the role of social media as a tool to potentially exploit and extort.