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Good morning!
In case you missed it, this week The Daily Aus launched ‘Investigating Ozempic’, an original podcast series examining the complex world of medicated weight loss.
Over three episodes, TDA’s brilliant Features Editor Emma Gillespie explores the soaring popularity of drugs like Ozempic to understand their impact on young Australians.
You can listen to it by searching ‘The Daily Aus’ on your favourite podcast app, or by clicking here.
I’ve got 10 seconds
Quote of the day
“I think the government are just being absolute losers.”
British singer-songwriter Elton John in an interview with the BBC about the UK Government rejecting a proposal to include technology firms in copyright laws, allowing them to freely train artificial intelligence algorithms on others’ work.
Stat of the day
35 days
The number of days it took English man William Goodge to run 3,800km, breaking the record for the fastest run across Australia. TDA’s own Rosa Bowden and Elliot Lawry were there at Bondi Beach to capture the final leg of his run. You can watch the moment here.
Random fact of the day
The game ‘Monopoly’ was a stolen idea. In 1932, a man named Charles Darrow played a similar game with friends before spotting an opportunity to claim it as his own invention. He called it ‘Monopoly’ and made millions. The original idea wasn’t his, however. It was created three decades earlier by a woman named Elizabeth Magie. Her version, The Landlord’s Game, was designed to criticise consumerism and show the dangers of wealth inequality, eventually making its way to Darrow’s friends.
I’ve got 30 seconds
Some headlines from this morning:
Deputy Prime Minister Richard Marles has said the Government is “deeply opposed” to the sentencing of Australian prisoner of war Oscar Jenkins in Russia. Jenkins, aged 32, has been sentenced to 13 years in jail after he was captured by Russian forces while volunteering in Ukraine as a soldier. In December 2024, Alexander Sladkov, a Russian military correspondent for a state broadcaster, posted a video showing Jenkins being interrogated by Russian soldiers, sparking concerns he had been killed. The Government later confirmed he had been taken as a prisoner of war. Speaking to media in Melbourne yesterday, Marles said the Government is “very concerned for Jenkins’ welfare”. In a statement, Foreign Affairs Minister Penny Wong said Jenkins had been subject to a “sham trial” and said she had quote “made clear to Russia that Mr Jenkins must be given the protections afforded to him as a prisoner of war.”
Portugal has held its third election in three years, weeks after Prime Minister Luis Montenegro lost a vote of confidence in the country’s Parliament. Montenegro has been questioned over the integrity of his family’s company, but has denied any wrongdoing. His party, the Democratic Alliance, won 89 seats – more than at the last election in 2024, but still not enough to form a majority government. Opposition party the Socialists have won only 58 seats, down 20 from last year. Its leader Pedro Nuno Santos said he would step down in response. Meanwhile, far-right party Chega improved its number of seats, continuing a trend of increasing its representation at successive elections. Montenegro has refused to negotiate with Chega to form government, however, and it is unclear which parties he will work with in the next term.
Recommendation of the day
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I’ve got 1 minute
A ban on ‘no fault’ evictions is now in effect in NSW
A ban on ‘no fault’ evictions has come into effect in NSW.
It comes several months after the state Parliament passed a law banning the practice, which allowed landlords to end a lease without giving their tenant a reason.
Under the legislation, notice periods for evictions will also be extended, and tenants will have a formal process to apply to keep a pet.
NSW renters
No-grounds or ‘no fault’ evictions mean landlords can end a lease without providing a reason.
From this week, NSW landlords will have to disclose a reason for ending a lease.
This could include plans to sell, renovate, or move into the property, or if a tenant has damaged a property or not paid rent.
No-fault evictions have been banned or limited across most of the country.
Other changes
NSW Government reforms also include extending the minimum notice period for ending leases by 30 days.
Additionally, as of this week, landlords will only be able to deny requests to keep a pet at a property for “specific reasons,” such as it being impossible to keep a pet “humanely”.
Renters will be able to fill out a form to apply for a pet, and if a landlord does not reply within 21 days, the application is granted.
Comments
Housing Minister Rose Jackson said: “For too long, renters have lived with the fear of being kicked out for no reason. That ends today.”
“Renters shouldn’t have to choose between a place to live and keeping their companion animal.”
The Tenants’ Union called the changes “a significant improvement for NSW renters.”
Reporting by Rosa Bowden.
I’ve got 2 minutes
EnergyAustralia has apologised to customers over its ‘carbon neutral’ program
A landmark ‘greenwashing’ case against one of Australia’s largest energy providers has settled out of court, with EnergyAustralia issuing a formal apology.
Environmental activist group Parents for Climate accused the company of misleading customers by offering a ‘carbon neutral’ option to set up gas and electricity at a property.
Now, it has acknowledged that “carbon offsetting is not the most effective way to assist customers to reduce their emissions”.
Carbon credits
When fossil fuels (coal, gas, and oil) are burned, carbon dioxide (CO₂) is released into the atmosphere, causing warmer temperatures on earth.
In Australia, businesses and industries responsible for large carbon emissions can buy ‘carbon credits’.
This is designed to compensate for their emissions by doing things that could store more carbon on earth, like planting a tree.
EnergyAustralia is the third largest corporate emitter in Australia, according to the latest emissions data.
‘Go Neutral’
EnergyAustralia rolled out a program called ‘Go Neutral’ in 2016.
It was a free opt-in for anyone using EnergyAustralia to link up electricity and gas to their home.
Under the program, EnergyAustralia claimed it would cancel out all carbon emissions from the customer’s energy usage by buying carbon credits.
On its website, EnergyAustralia claimed it was a 100% carbon neutral scheme.
Lawsuit
Activist group Parents for Climate brought a claim against EnergyAustralia in August 2023.
The group, led by Nic Seton, alleged EnergyAustralia’s claims were “misleading or deceptive”, in breach of Australian consumer law.
It argued the projects on which EnergyAustralia spent its carbon credits do not “undo the impacts” of its energy emissions, because they didn’t involve taking any carbon out of the atmosphere.
Settlement
The case was meant to begin in the Federal Court last week, but the parties have now settled.
As part of the settlement, EnergyAustralia acknowledged that “offsets do not prevent or undo the harms caused by burning fossil fuels”.
“Even with carbon offsetting, the emissions released from burning fossil fuels for a customer’s energy use still contribute to climate change.”
It also apologised to customers who signed up for ‘Go Neutral’, and confirmed “their electricity or gas use was still sourced predominantly from fossil fuels.”
EnergyAustralia said it has “now shifted its focus to direct emissions reductions.”
Response
Parents for Climate CEO Nic Seton welcomed the result, saying it “will set a new standard for the way carbon offset products are used by corporations and sold to consumers.”
“This isn’t just about EnergyAustralia — it’s about holding companies to a higher standard across the board. Greenwashing isn’t harmless. It’s costing families money, delaying climate action, and eroding trust.”
EnergyAustralia said it will “continue to engage constructively with Parents for Climate and other community groups as it navigates the energy transition.”
Reporting by Annabel Whitehouse and Harry Sekulich.
A message from Australian Made
It’s Australian Made Week (May 19–25), so here’s your friendly reminder to back the green and gold next time you shop.
When you choose products with the Aussie Made kangaroo logo, you’re supporting local makers, creating jobs, boosting the economy, and backing our communities.
How to spot an Aussie made product: Look for the iconic kangaroo logo - it’s the only registered country of origin mark in Australia, so it’s your best bet for buying local that’s actually local.
No matter what you’re buying, when you buy Australian Made we all win!
🍊 Scottie Sheffler has secured his third major win.
🍊 Max Verstappen sped into his fourth consecutive Italian Open win.
🍊 Calls for a mental health round follow Adam Selwood’s death.
🗞️ Also in the Sport Newsletter: rugby, soccer, and more…
Give me some good news
New research has found that chimpanzees help each other with both first aid and self care.
Scientists observed two chimpanzee communities in Uganda over eight months and reviewed decades of data, finding the chimps took care of each other’s wounds by chewing medicinal leaves to apply as a paste. The chimps also took care of each other’s children, and helped members of their group get free of traps. The scientists said their research showed “chimpanzees are capable not only of recognizing and tending to their own wounds, but also to the wounds of [others] within their community”.
Want more good news? Sign up to our weekly Good Newsletter here - we promise it’ll make your week better!
Reporting by Annabel Whitehouse.
TDA titbit
A reality show where immigrants ‘compete’ for fast-tracked American citizenship has been pitched to the U.S. Department of Homeland Security.
Producer Rob Worsoff, who also produced hunting family reality show Duck Dynasty, described his idea as “a celebration of what it means to be… well… American.”
Worsoff added that he had been working with people at the Department on the show since Barack Obama was President.
Worsoff suggested each contestant would have to compete in “fun loud American challenges,” helped by people “in every state”.
The department denied having approved the project, saying it receives “hundreds of television show pitches a year”.
Reporting by Rosa Bowden.
Want more from The Daily Aus? Listen to our podcast!
In a new three-part series, TDA is investigating the complex world of medicated weight-loss.
In part two, we explore Ozempic's telehealth boom to understand how virtual clinics are reshaping prescribing practices.
We'll hear first-hand accounts from patients and practitioners as we take a closer look at the country's most popular online provider in this space.
TDA asks
