☕️ TGA cracks down on peptides

The 2026 FIFA World Cup has officially started this morning! Some quick points for you at the water cooler today:

Also, it’s quite a controversial World Cup this year. We explain why on this morning’s podcast – you can listen on Spotify or Apple, or wherever you get your podcasts.

The quote: “I understand for some, it’s been a difficult and challenging process, but their input has provided a valuable base for future action… There is no place for harmful behaviours within our organisation.”
NSW Police Commissioner Mal Lanyon in a statement announcing an independent review had found bullying, harassment and discrimination within the organisation. NSW Police said it would accept all of the review’s recommendations.

The stat: 5.3 million years old. The age of some whale fossils found in the Indian Ocean, part of what is being called the largest whale graveyard, according to new research.

The big question:

Yesterday’s results: 74% of you said you prefer to read fiction, 23% of you said you prefer non-fiction and 3% of you said you don’t read. Thanks for voting - your responses inform TDA's journalism and research. [2,364 votes].

Together with AAP.

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One Nation says it has raised more than $2 million in donations since Wednesday morning.

It comes after Labor urged its supporters to donate to “help fight” One Nation’s rise.

After Prime Minister Anthony Albanese publicly cast doubt on the fundraiser, One Nation told Sky News it will undergo an independent audit.

The next federal election isn’t due until 2028. Why are parties fundraising?

One Nation was founded by Pauline Hanson in 1997. The party has four federal senators, including Hanson. In May, it won its first federal lower house seat at the Farrer by-election.

One Nation’s policies include reducing the number of people allowed to migrate to Australia each year, and walking back commitments to action on climate change.

Multiple recent polls have shown One Nation overtaking Labor on primary votes (who you would rank first on your ballot if an election were held tomorrow).

Amid the recent poll results and following the Farrer by-election, Labor launched a social media campaign asking for donations “to prevent One Nation from turning polling momentum into seats”.

In advertisements seen across social media, Labor urged people to donate $27.22.

When asked about the fundraising drive on Wednesday, Albanese said: “We do ads all the time because we have supporters and... we ask our supporters to provide support for the Labor Party. Nothing unusual about that.”

One Nation launched its own fundraiser, titled ‘FIRE THE LIAR!’ (i.e. Albanese) on Wednesday morning, with a goal to raise $1 million. It said it had reached this goal early Wednesday night.

One Nation leader Pauline Hanson told 6PR Perth on Wednesday: “I think we’re all absolutely blown away by the support that’s coming in”.

Like other political party fundraisers, One Nation hasn’t made the number of donors or the average size of donation publicly accessible on its website.

On Thursday, Albanese publicly questioned the donations, asking “what evidence is there?” that the party had raised the amount it said it had.

When asked if he suspected the website might be fake, Albanese said: “You work it out. I have no idea.”

In response, One Nation told Sky News 28,000 people had donated as of Thursday morning. Pauline Hanson’s chief of staff James Ashby told Sky the donations were “all legitimate”.

“We’re running a campaign saying ‘Fire the Liar’, what good would we be if we were lying ourselves? That just doesn’t make sense.”

Ashby also told Sky he would have the donation website “independently audited”.

Politicians and parties are legally obliged to disclose certain donations they have received from individuals or corporations. There are no limits on how much a person or entity can donate to a political campaign.

Until 1 January 2027, all donations above $17,300 must be disclosed. From next year, the threshold will be lowered to $5,000.

It’s estimated the source of around one-third of Australian political donations is unknown.

The sitting prime minister gets to choose the election date, with the Governor-General’s approval. Terms of Parliament are three years, meaning the next federal election isn’t due until 2028.

Victoria and NSW will hold state elections in November and March, respectively. One Nation is expected to run candidates in both of these elections.

🎧 On today’s TDA podcast, multimedia journalist Elliot and editor-in-chief Billi talk about the controversies around the World Cup. Listen or watch on Apple here, Spotify here, or YouTube here.

🌞 You can sign up to TDA Good News here to make sure all the good news you may have missed over the week is in your inbox every Sunday morning.

💡 Aussies are transforming safety for construction workers using AI. Presien, a physical AI company for heavy industry, used Claude to develop an agentic platform that analyses worksites around the clock – cutting critical safety events by over 70% in three months.

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Australia’s medical regulator, the Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA), has announced it will increase its regulation of “unapproved” peptides. The drugs have surged in popularity, with influencers promising claimed benefits like muscle growth, weight loss and collagen production.

Head of TGA Professor Anthony Lawler said the growing availability of unregulated peptides has also led to increasing evidence of potential risk to consumers.

So, what are peptides and why is the TGA cracking down on them?

Peptides are short chains of amino acids, which are the building blocks of protein. In simple terms, peptides are smaller versions of proteins that help regulate a range of bodily processes, including tissue growth and repair.

Some peptides occur naturally in the body, including insulin and endorphins. Synthetic peptides have been used in medicine for around a century, with insulin among the first developed to treat type 1 diabetes.

The TGA has repeatedly cautioned consumers about peptides promoted on social media despite not being evaluated for safety, quality or effectiveness. The regulator says unapproved peptides can carry risks including contamination, incorrect dosing and allergic reactions. It has also raised concerns that many of the claimed benefits remain unproven.

In March, University of Queensland senior research fellow Dr Tim Piątkowski told TDA many unregulated peptides were essentially "Chinese research chemicals" being marketed directly to consumers.

Examples of peptides:

GLP-1 meds: Includes prescription-only weight loss drugs Ozempic and Mounjaro, as well as retatrutide (which is illegal in Australia).

Collagen supplements and skincare: Some topical products can be bought over the counter (e.g. from The Ordinary). Others, such as GHK‑Cu, are unapproved or illicit.

Muscle growth and recovery: Ibutamoren can be prescribed, but some, including TB-500, are illegal.

Melanotan: An illicit peptide that increases melanin production so users seem more tanned.

On Wednesday, the TGA announced unapproved peptides would become a "priority focus area". That means the regulator will dedicate more resources to consumer education, monitoring imports, seizing products and issuing penalties. This enforcement could target both suppliers and advertisers.

In a statement, the TGA pointed to a joint Australian Border Force and Victoria Police operation in April, which resulted in the seizure of around $2 million worth of steroids and peptides.

“Australians should be very cautious about buying unapproved peptide products online, particularly from overseas websites or through online platforms or social media,” said TGA head Professor Anthony Lawler.

Reporting by Emily Donohoe.

You already know where the week went. Now get a little of it back.

An Uber here. A Chemist Warehouse run there. That Amazon order that felt very necessary in the moment. It adds up.

If you open your first CommBank Everyday account you could get some of it back. Here's how it works: spend $10 at Amazon, Chemist Warehouse, Uber Eats and Uber Rides and you'll get $10 cashback at each merchant. That's up to $40 cashback, just for your everyday spend.

^{Disclaimer: Open your first CommBank Everyday account by 30 June 2026. Eligibility criteria & offer T&C’s apply. $10 min spend for $10 cashback per merchant for up to $40 cashback in total. Consider if appropriate for you. TMD on the CBA website.}

The red and white socks are made from a fabric that prevents slipping, evaporates moisture quickly, and provides special cushioning to limit cramping. Redwings Horse Sanctuary, Britain’s largest horse welfare charity, cares for around 1,000 donkeys and horses. Staff at the sanctuary received dozens of pairs of the specialised footless socks from Arsenal in April, quickly finding them ideal for protecting animals’ legs from fly bites and rubbing wounds, securing bandages, and even holding back the hair on their legs during hoof trimming. Redwings called the socks “one of the more unusual donations” they’ve ever received, but said they were “being put to good use at our Horse Hospital in Norfolk”.

Reporting by Emma Gillespie.

You didn’t think we’d finish today’s newsletter without mentioning the Knicks, did you?

Six years ago, high school student Evan Pfeufer wrote in his yearbook “Knicks in 6. 2026 NBA Finals”. Pfeufer put the prediction in a spot normally reserved for accolades and achievements. Well, it’s 2026, and the NBA team the New York Knicks are on the verge of breaking their five-decade dry spell by winning their first championship since 1973.

NBA finals series are played in a best-of-seven format, meaning Pfeufer had predicted the Knicks would take six games to win the required four times.

On Thursday, they made history with the largest comeback ever achieved in the NBA Finals, initially being 29 points down but eventually winning the game 107-106 against the San Antonio Spurs, giving them a 3-1 series lead. They next play the Spurs on Sunday. Winning that game will secure the championship.

Turns out Evan just has a knick for knowing these kinds of things.