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Quote of the day
“It is true that our challenges are many and our systems remain fragile. It is true our people need greater empowerment in many aspects of their life… I ask you - do not give up on Papua New Guinea. We have always bounced back from our low moments.”
Papua New Guinea Prime Minister James Marape speaking in Federal Parliament yesterday, the first leader of a Pacific nation to do so.

Stat of the day
$US7 million ($AU10.8 million)
The reported cost to broadcast an ad for 30 seconds during next week’s NFL Super Bowl in the U.S.

Today in history
1969
The Boeing 747 “Jumbo Jet” took off for the first time on a test flight. Almost a year later, the 747’s first commercial service flew passengers from New York to London.

Some headlines from this morning:

• The Climate Council says Australians are experiencing “Climate Whiplash” from current wild swings between weather extremes. Its latest report found almost every state has broken extreme weather records this summer after recent floods, bushfires, heavy rainfall, stifling humidity and heatwaves around the country. The Climate Council said these extremes were “signs of a fast-warming planet”, adding that coal, oil, and gas burning were key contributors to climate whiplash.

• Pakistan has suspended mobile phone service across the country during its national election. It’s part of efforts by Pakistani authorities to ease security concerns, after dozens of people were killed in two blasts on Wednesday. Terrorist group Islamic State has claimed responsibility for the bombing attack. It follows recent political unrest and violent protests in the country. Pakistan’s interior ministry said the suspension of phone coverage was temporary.

A draft law to increase paid parental leave (PPL) has passed the Federal House of Representatives.

The legislation will now progress to the Senate for further consideration.

If passed, leave entitlements would increase from 20 to 26 weeks incrementally over the next three years.

PPL was expanded from 18 to 20 weeks last year. Draft legislation to increase it further was introduced in October.

Paid parental leave
About 180,000 families receive PPL every year. Almost all payments are redeemed by female parents.

If the draft law passes the Senate, from 1 July this year, PPL will increase by two weeks per year until it reaches 26 weeks by July 2026.

Eligible parents need to have worked consistent hours before the birth or adoption of their child and meet an income test proving they require the payment.

Further details
The legislation also includes up to four weeks of leave that both parents looking after a child can take at the same time, from 1 July 2025.

The measure is intended to encourage both parents to take leave, and for partners to give more support to the birthing parent.

It is also aimed at increasing female workforce participation by encouraging fathers and partners to independently care for their child.

Next steps
The House of Representatives (the lower house) passed the draft law last night, after voting against Opposition and independent amendments.

The Government has a majority of seats in the House of Representatives, but will need some additional support for the legislation to pass the Senate.

If the Senate makes any changes, the draft will need to go back through the House before it becomes law.

A new report says without significant intervention, Australian governments are at risk of failing to meet the ‘Closing the Gap’ targets.

The Productivity Commission findings called current efforts to improve outcomes for First Nations people “weak”.

The Commission has reviewed a 2020 agreement by the Federal, state, territory, and local governments to introduce measures to close the gap between First Nations people and non-Indigenous Australians.

Closing the Gap
Targets “to overcome the entrenched inequality” faced by First Nations people, “so that their life outcomes are equal to those of all Australians” were first adopted in 2008.

These targets were refreshed in 2020 when the Coalition of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Peak Organisations, with all levels of government, signed a new agreement to address inequalities.

The Productivity Commission was asked to review the agreement’s overall progress every three years. Its first review was published this week.

Findings
Despite “pockets of good practice”, the Commission found overall measures to improve First Nations outcomes have been “slow, uncoordinated and piecemeal”.

The review said lawmakers have “failed to fully grasp” the fundamental changes needed to address inequalities.

It pointed to a lack of strategy from multiple governments to explain how the goals set out in the 2020 agreement will be achieved.

Specific findings
The Closing the Gap review criticised governments for failing to consult with First Nations groups during the design phase of measures to close the gap.

It suggested this approach has slowed progress towards improving First Nations inequality.

The report said First Nations community-controlled organisations deliver better outcomes than governments in many areas.

Recommendations
The report recommended a “fundamental rethink” of systems used to address disadvantage.

This included a need for better consultation with First Nations community groups, and for governments to relinquish some control.

“Most critically, the Agreement requires government decision-makers to accept that they do not know what is best for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people,” it said.

The review said without large-scale changes, governments risked “another broken promise” to First Nations people.

“The agreement can and should be a blueprint for real reform, but governments will need to move beyond business as usual and address the entrenched attitudes, assumptions and ways of working that are preventing progress.”

The recommendations will now be considered by governments.

Response
Minister for Indigenous Australians Linda Burney said action to address First Nations inequality has “not led to the change needed”.

“The entrenched inequality experienced by many Indigenous Australians is completely unacceptable,” she said.

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said the report was “a reminder” that governments “need to do better”.

On Tuesday, the Government will publish its annual Closing the Gap report, showing how individual targets progressed in 2023.

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Bitcoin has dominated the cryptocurrency conversation for years, but do you know who invented it? Did you know it was an Aussie?

The truth is, we actually don’t know that for sure. It’s such a mystery, that a UK court is now trying to get to the bottom of it.

On today's podcast, we dive deeper into the trial of Australian scientist Craig Wright.

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Aussie diver Alysha Koloi has won gold at the World Aquatic Championships in Doha. The 22-year-old placed first in the women’s one-metre Springboard.

Other Aussie medalists include Anabelle Smith and Maddison Keeney, who won silver together in the women’s three-metre synchronised diving event.

Open water swimmer, Chelsea Gubecka, swam five kilometres in 57 minutes and 35 seconds, three seconds behind first place, to take home silver.

Do you hate Valentine’s Day? Got an ex who’s a bit of a cockroach? One zoo in the U.S. has taken a creative approach to mending broken hearts whilst raising funds for conservation.

The San Antonio Zoo’s “Cry me a Cockroach Fundraiser” gives donors the chance to name a cockroach after their ex, before the critter is fed to one of the zoo’s animal residents. All for around $AU15.

If you’ve got an ex who’s more of a rat than a cockroach, you can name a rodent (before it becomes a zoo animal's dinner) for $38.

I’m not really sure how to add to that.