☕️ NSW Liberal Party threatens legal action

A bit of a different intro this morning – TDA is currently hiring for two positions, and we thought we would let you know here, in case anyone reading is interested.

If either of these roles sound like you, please send a CV and cover letter to [email protected]. Just a heads up - both of these roles are based out of our Sydney office. We can't wait to hear from you!

“Being television’s most axed man, there’s been some terrible times as well, and some times of self-doubt for sure.”
Morning Show presenter Larry Emdur accepting the Gold Logie award at the Logies last night.

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How many people are officially running to be President of Sri Lanka. The country will go to the polls next month. 

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USSR launched Sputnik 5 with two dogs on board, sending the first living beings into space.

New data shows First Nations children are overrepresented in the NSW criminal justice system.

The NSW Bureau of Crime Statistics and Research (BOCSAR) analysed court appearances by young people last year.

Roughly 8% of 10 to 13-year-olds in NSW identify as First Nations. According to BOCSAR, 41% of children under 14 who faced a NSW court in 2023 were First Nations.

BOCSAR data also shows First Nations children are disproportionately represented in youth detention.

The NSW criminal age of responsibility is 10. This is the age at which a child can be charged with, or prosecuted for, an alleged crime.

The latest BOCSAR report found there were 4,662 children aged 10-13 who faced legal proceedings in 2023.

Of those proceedings, 171 children were sent to youth detention.

60% of youth detainees identified as First Nations.

The most common charges faced by young people in court were property offences and robbery — such as damaging buildings and car theft.

The next most common offences were domestic violence and sexual assault.

A majority of children were able to go through “diversion’” rather than appearing in court. That can involve warnings or out-of-court interventions to avoid reoffending.

Reporting by Harry Sekulich.

The Federal Government has proposed excluding menstrual products from the National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS) under draft changes to the service.

In the draft lists published by the Department of Social Services, reproductive services, including surrogacy and IVF, have also been excluded.

Disability advocates fear the changes could exacerbate disadvantages experienced based on both gender and disability.

The NDIS is a government service, established in 2013, which provides support and services for more than 610,000 Australians living with a disability.

Participants of the NDIS are allocated a personal budget, calculated based on

“what is reasonable and necessary” for each person with a disability.

Successive Australian governments have been concerned about the cost of the NDIS. The new reforms are part of its plan to reduce spending on the NDIS by $14.4 billion over the next four years.

In March, potential NDIS reforms were announced after a review found the scheme had seen a declining quality of care alongside increased costs.

The changes intend to redefine what participants can spend NDIS funding on.

Under a draft revision, menstrual products and reproductive services have been reclassified as “lifestyle-related” expenses, meaning they’re no longer covered by NDIS funding. They’re now in the same category as vapes, gaming consoles, and instruments.

NDIS Minister Bill Shorten’s office told TDA the list is still being finalised as the Government continues to speak to experts and participants about which products should be included under NDIS coverage.

The Government will continue to run community consultation sessions with members of the public.

The consultation period has been extended for another week until the end of the month.

NDIS participant Megan Spindler Smith spoke to TDA about their experience accessing menstrual supports and what these proposed changes could mean for them.

Smith has a physical disability that impacts their connective tissues and requires alternative menstrual products. They said standard products like tampons and pads means “fingers or hands will dislocate” when using them.

Without the financial support from the NDIS, Smith is concerned about their ability to afford the alternative products.

Smith said removing financial support for menstrual products from the NDIS is a “deep concern” and removes “accessibility tools and supports”.

“I need to still be able to do my job and still be able to have my life...and I can't do that when I am dealing with products that are not accessible for me to use.”

Reporting by Achol Arok.

Feeling like your weekly grocery shop, dinner out with friends, and everything in between is breaking the bank?

If every food-related purchase feels like a constant "treat yourself" moment, EatClub is here to help lighten the load on your wallet.

EatClub is a free app that gives you exclusive deals and discounts at hundreds of restaurants and bars near you. From cute cafes to bars and restaurants, it’s perfect for date night, a solo mid-week takeaway, or a group dinner on Saturday night.

For those of us in Sydney, one of our current favourites is Madame Nhu - a delicious Vietnamese restaurant. Thanks to EatClub, one of our journalists recently scored a handy 30% off their entire bill (that’s food, drinks, and even a guilt-free side of spring rolls!).

With discounts at over 2,500 places across Australia, EatClub is your key to dining out on a budget. Download EatClub here.

It’s believed the event turned planet earth into a kind of snowball for the period. The freeze was thought to have eroded many geological records from the time.

Now, well-preserved rock layers have been discovered in a remote cluster of islands off Scotland, revealing new details and insights into life on Earth.

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

Reporting by Chloe Christie.

If you were ever thinking about going on holiday to North Korea, you might soon be able to!

North Korea has not been fully open to tourists since it closed its borders due to COVID in 2020.

This month, two tour operators made separate announcements confirming the country will welcome international travellers — but only to one particular city.

The northeastern city of Samjiyon has been re-developed by North Korea to be what senior officials call a “socialist utopia,” filled with brand new apartments, hotels, commercial spaces and a ski resort.

Koryo Tours announced on its website that tourism to Samjiyon will be back at the end of the year. Visits to the rest of the country are still up in the air.

Reporting by Chloe Christie.

3D printing technology is advancing rapidly. New machinery means houses can be built faster, cheaper, and more sustainably.

A neighbourhood of 100 3D printed houses is nearly complete in Texas. Over in Dubai, the Government has plans for a quarter of all buildings to be 3D printed by 2030.

So, could 3D printing be the solution to the housing crisis? In today's podcast we'll get into how it works, where it’s being done, and what it means for Australia.