☕️ Why do politicians yell at each other for an hour?

Good morning!

Today is the start of another sitting week in Canberra.

This means that at 2pm every day this week, politicians will meet for Question Time – an hour of debate where some of the biggest moments in Australia’s political history have happened.

Politicians shout at each other and call each other names and it’s all accepted as normal.

On today’s podcast, we dive deeper on what it is, why some independent MPs are calling it a waste of time, and if there’s any appetite to change it.

(I promise it’s more interesting than it sounds.)

I’ve got 10 seconds

Quote of the day

“What the Prime Minister does on his nights off is up to him, of course, and if he wants to see Taylor Swift, that’s cool, but… I just want to say to the PM, come on PM, hand over your Taylor Swift ticket to a real Swiftie; you could change a life.”
Deputy Opposition Leader Sussan Ley on Sunrise about the Prime Minister going to one of Swift’s concerts in Sydney.

Stat of the day

$175.6 million
How much five private schools in Victoria and NSW spent on upgrades in 2021, which is more than state governments spent on over half of the nation’s public schools, according to a report from the Australian Education Union.

Today in history

1976
Surgeon Samuel Kountz performed a kidney transplant live on U.S. TV, sparking thousands of calls from people offering to donate a kidney.

I’ve got 30 seconds

Some headlines from this morning:

• Donald Trump has won the Republican South Carolina primary, beating Nikki Haley in the state she once served as Governor in. Speaking shortly after polls closed, Trump said: "I have never seen the Republican Party so unified as it is right now.” Haley has confirmed she will not drop out of the race to become the Republican nominee, despite the defeat in her home state. (You can watch our video on ‘Who is Nikki Haley?’ here.)

• Australian actor Elizabeth Debicki has won the Screen Actors Guild (SAG) Award for her role in ‘The Crown’. Debicki, who played Princess Diana, won the award for outstanding performance by a female actor in a drama series. At the awards, SAG-AFTRA President Fran Drescher acknowledged the 2023 actor strike, saying in a speech: “Your collective dignity and perseverance to stand up and say, ‘We deserve better because we are better’ resulted in a historic billion-dollar deal.”

I’ve got 1 minute

The search to find the bodies of a Sydney couple allegedly murdered by a NSW police officer remains ongoing

Police are continuing their search for the bodies of a Sydney couple, Jesse Baird and Luke Davies, after a NSW police officer was charged with their murder on Friday.

Beau Lamarre handed himself in to police last Friday.

What we know

On Thursday afternoon, NSW Police announced they were investigating the suspicious disappearance of ex-Channel 10 presenter Jesse Baird, 26, and flight attendant Luke Davies, 29.

The couple had not been seen since Monday (one week ago today). On Wednesday morning, some of their possessions were found in a skip bin in Cronulla. On Wednesday afternoon, police went to Baird’s home in Paddington and immediately established a crime scene.

On Thursday, police executed a search warrant at a home in Balmain in relation to Beau Lamarre, a NSW police officer and the former partner of Baird.

On Friday, Lamarre handed himself in to police in Bondi and was transported to Waverley Police Station.

Within hours, the 28-year-old was charged with two counts of murder.

Police statement

At a press conference on Friday, Homicide Squad Commander Danny Doherty said a “projectile…which had been discharged” was located at the Paddington premise which matched a NSW police firearm.

Police will allege in court that a van was used to dispose of the bodies, which they are still searching for.

“It’s really important that we do locate the bodies, not only for the cause of death, but also for the answers for the family,” Doherty said.

On Sunday, Police Commissioner Karen Webb released a statement saying: “I understand there are many unanswered questions… I can reassure Luke and Jesse’s loved ones, and the people of NSW, that we are working around the clock to find those answers.”

I’ve got 2 minutes

Young people made up nearly half of sign-ups to the new self-exclusion gambling register

BetStop has received 18,000 sign-ups in its first six months, according to the Australian Communications and Media Authority (ACMA).

The government agency launched the national self-exclusion gambling register in August, as part of ongoing efforts to minimise harm caused by online gambling.

ACMA said nearly half of BetStop registrations are from people under 30.

There are concerns about a rise in gambling harm ahead of the 2024 NRL and AFL seasons.

BetStop

Gambling-exclusion register BetStop allows gamblers to ban themselves from opening an account or placing a bet with licensed online and phone betting providers.

Self-imposed bans range from three months to a lifetime.

More than 88% of the people who have signed up to BetStop since August are still registered to the service. Almost half of the service’s users are under 30-years-old.

AMCA said it was “pleased” BetStop is reaching young Australians, an age group where online gambling harm is “more prevalent” than others.

It noted many users re-join BetStop once their self-imposed ban expires.

ACMA also said it was common for users to extend their ban before reaching the end of their initial exclusion window.

Advertising

Recent measures like BetStop follow growing concern about young people’s exposure to gambling messages, such as during sports broadcasts.

Opposition Leader Peter Dutton has called for restrictions on gambling advertising. Dutton proposed banning gambling ads during prime-time “family” viewing slots.

Total ban

The government is considering a total ban on gambling advertising after it was recommended by a Parliamentary inquiry last year.

It would involve a gradual phase-out of gambling marketing, including a ban on gambling sponsorships and logos on players’ uniforms.

Minister for Social Services Amanda Rishworth said: “We know there’s still more to do and we’ll keep working closely with states and territories to create a safer environment for Australians at risk of gambling harm.”

AFL & NRL

The government is considering a total ban on gambling advertising after it was recommended by a Parliamentary inquiry last year.

It would involve a gradual phase-out of gambling marketing, including a ban on gambling sponsorships and logos on players’ uniforms.

Minister for Social Services Amanda Rishworth said: “We know there’s still more to do and we’ll keep working closely with states and territories to create a safer environment for Australians at risk of gambling harm.”

Gambling Helpline: 1800 858 858

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Question Time - there’s huge interest in this hour of debate that happens every day at 2pm during parliamentary sitting weeks.

According to the Parliamentary Education Office, its aim is to hold the government to account. So - does it achieve this? Or is it just an excuse for politicians to yell at each other?

Today on the podcast, we answer all the questions you might have about Question Time, and speak to some people who are in the room when it happens.

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Give me some good news

Qtopia Sydney, the world’s biggest Queer Centre of History and Culture, has opened to the public in the lead up to Mardi Gras.

Qtopia said it aims to empower LGBTQIA+ voices through its exhibitions and community story-telling. The Darlinghurst museum opened on Saturday. Entry will be free on Sundays for the next year. 

TDA tidbit

We have an update on Bobi, the world’s (alleged) oldest dog. 

You might remember that in February last year, Guinness World Records crowned Bobi the world’s oldest canine at the ripe age of 31. 

At the time, the record was met with controversy — vets were questioning if Bobi’s age was valid. And turns out, they were right.

Guinness World Records has revoked the title after going through a review process to check the validity of Bobi’s age.  

It turns out there was an issue with Bobi’s microchip data, and although the owner provided a supporting statement from Bobi’s vet, GWR said: “We’re left with no conclusive evidence which can definitively prove Bobi’s date of birth.

“We simply can’t retain Bobi as the record holder and honestly claim to maintain the high standards we set ourselves.” 

This could mean the title is returned to Bluey, an Aussie cattle dog who died at 29 years and five months in 1939.

TDA asks