Tomorrow I’m interviewing the Minister for Youth, Anne Aly.

I would love to hear any question suggestions you have. Just hit reply to this email!

The quote
"Soon we shall bid adieu to the twitter brand and, gradually, all the birds." – Twitter owner Elon Musk announcing the company's logo will soon change to just be an X.

The stat
$2,300
The fine two women received for taking selfies with dingoes on K’gari (Fraser Island). It comes after a woman was attacked by dingoes on the island last Monday.

Today in history
2005: American cyclist Lance Armstrong became the first person to win the Tour de France seven times. He was later stripped of all his titles after it was found he had used performance-enhancing drugs.

Some headlines from this morning:

Filled out your tax return yet? Don't worry, you have until the end of October.

If you are one of the early birds though, you might have been disappointed with the amount you got back. Wondering why you got less money than last year? We can explain.

Quick refresher
Many employees pay taxes across the year. In most cases, employers contribute to tax for you by taking money from your pay.

To ensure you've contributed the right amount, you get a tax return – an annual tally showing what you made and how much tax you paid.

If you've paid too much tax across the year, you'll get money back. If you haven't paid enough tax, you'll have to pay the balance.

Why returns vary
There are many reasons why you might have paid too much or too little tax.

If you made extra money from something like an investment you haven't yet paid tax on, you might owe more. If you only worked half the year, you might get money back.

You may also get a refund for money spent on things like work expenses.

Finally, you may be eligible for a tax 'offset'.

What’s an offset?
A tax offset is a discount applied at the end of the financial year.

Some offsets have special criteria, like the Zone Tax Offset which gives a discount to people in remote areas. Other offsets apply automatically to everyone in a certain income bracket.

This year, one of those offsets was removed – the Low and Middle Income Tax Offset (LMITO), which had previously given millions of Australians a discount.

The LMITO
The LMITO was first introduced in 2018-19.

It gave a tax discount to anybody who earned up to $126k – roughly 10 million people. The maximum refund was $1,080, available to anyone earning $48k-$90k.

The government at the time said it was a "reward" for taxpayers. It was designed to be temporary and was always scheduled to be removed in the 2022-23 financial year.

How do I do tax?
The absence of LMITO might make your tax return a little less exciting this year, but you still have to fill it out.

Struggling? The Australian Tax Office provides a range of answers to common questions on its website. It also offers help to anyone who earns less than $60k.

Alternatively, if you pay for an accountant, you can claim the fee as a tax deduction.

Or copy & paste this link to a friend to get them to sign-up: {{rp_refer_url}}

Read the Terms & Conditions

Australians are feeling less lonely but finding it harder to make ends meet, according to a Government wellbeing report released last week.

It is the first edition of the 'Measuring What Matters' report, which will track national progress on 50 metrics every year.

It will focus on five categories: health, security, sustainability, social cohesion and prosperity.

About the report
Treasurer Jim Chalmers says the report aims to provide a "more comprehensive" picture of Australian wellbeing than traditional economic measures such as employment and GDP.

Similar reports are produced in Scotland, Wales, Canada, New Zealand, and Germany to guide policy.

The report itself does not commit to any new policies and several of the metrics have incomplete or outdated data.

Health
Overall, Australians are living longer, healthier lives than they were in the early 2000s. However, the report notes significant health inequities remain, especially for First Nations people.

Over a similar time period, the proportion of Australians with one or more chronic conditions has increased. Rates of mental illness have remained stable.

In general over the last few years, access to health services and other forms of care such as disability and aged care has worsened.

Security
Australians report feeling safer on the streets than they did previously, but less safe online, and less safe about the world.

Overall, experiences of physical violence are less common today than in 2005, but intimate partner violence rates remain unchanged.

Financial security has deteriorated. Australians are more likely to be in financial difficulty and more likely to be homeless than they were in 2006.

Sustainability
Since the early 2000s, Australia has improved environmental protection and conservation efforts, but biodiversity has deteriorated.

Emissions are somewhat lower and the amount of waste Australians generate has reduced (there is roughly 3% less waste per person than in 2006).

Social cohesion
Australians report feeling less lonely now than they did in 2001.

While time spent on social and community interaction has been steady, rates of volunteering have declined.

Australians are more accepting of diversity and less likely to report experiences of discrimination. Despite this, sense of 'pride and belonging' in Australia is lower than in 2007.

Prosperity
Australians earn more and are somewhat wealthier, but the level of economic inequality has not changed since 2007.

High-school completion rates have improved, however fewer Australians are participating in formal study or training.

Literacy and numeracy and early childhood development outcomes have also improved.

Data gaps
The wellbeing outcomes outlined in the report were complicated by a lack of available data to make consistent comparisons.

For example, the baseline for comparison for some measures was as early as 2001, while for others it was as late as 2019.

In some cases, the latest available data was 3-4 years old. For example, the data on financial security (which showed deterioration), came before recent cost of living pressures, so is likely to be an understatement.

Get all the news you need to know today in your ears on The Daily Aus podcast!

A possible solution for disposing nuclear waste has been discovered by researchers at the University of Houston.

Molecular crystals capable of capturing radioactive pollutants could be used for waste management and other sustainability-related applications.

Feeling the winter social slump? You're not alone. In a recent survey of young adults (18-25), 72% struggle to socially connect in winter. However, it's important to remember that staying socially active is just as crucial as being physically active for a healthy life.

With VicHealth's Reality Check initiative, we're here to remind you (and ourselves at TDA) to prioritise face-to-face moments. Joining a local sports team or scheduling regular dinners with your friends can break up the day-to-day routine and make a real difference. It may sound simple, but you might be surprised by the impact it can have on your overall well-being!

The Good Vibes Festival in Malaysia has been cancelled after the lead singer of The 1975, Matty Healy, attacked the country's leadership over its anti-LGBT laws. Homosexuality is a crime in Malaysia.

Healy said: "I do not see the point of inviting The 1975 to a country and then telling us who we can have sex with." He then kissed bass player Ross MacDonald.

Malaysia’s Communications Minister Fahmi Fadzil tweeted: “There is no compromise against any party that challenges, disparages and violates Malaysian laws.”

The 1975 has since cancelled upcoming shows in Jakarta and Tapei.