☕️ Wage growth overtakes inflation

Good morning!

Are young Australians the ‘lonely generation’? That’s what we look into on today’s podcast.

According to the latest HILDA (Household, Income and Labour Dynamics in Australia) report, young Australians are more likely to experience loneliness and psychological distress than any other age group.

To help us understand what is causing this, we speak to one of the experts behind the data on today's podcast.

I’ve got 10 seconds

Quote of the day

“I have not been able to see his body for five days, they have not handed it over to me and have not even told me where it is… Let me finally see my son.”
Lyudmila Navalnaya, mother of Russian dissident Alexei Navalny, in a video message recorded outside the prison where he died last week.

Stat of the day

$US66.5 billion ($AU100b)
How much revenue American casinos earned from gambling in 2023.

Today in history

1997
The birth of the first cloned mammal, Dolly the sheep, was announced in Scotland.

I’ve got 30 seconds

Some headlines from this morning:

• Environment Minister Tanya Plibersek has repeated threats to regulate fast fashion. In a speech this week Plibersek re-affirmed the government’s commitment to the proposed Seamless initiative, which hopes to improve clothing recycling and would be funded by a 4 cent levy on garments sold, and said that if retail does not change its practices, the government will intervene. Plibersek said “It’s the responsibility of government and the fashion industry to examine” how to boost sustainability practices and extend the lifespan of clothing.

• Wages in Australia increased by 4.2% in the year to December 2023 according to the latest data from the Australian Bureau of Statistics. It’s the highest wage figure since March 2009. Workers in the healthcare industry saw the biggest increase in wages, while growth was slower over the year in sectors like finance and insurance. The 4.2% increase means rising wages slightly outpaced rising prices for December, with inflation at 4.1%.

I’ve got 1 minute

Medicinal cannabis has been legalised in Ukraine to treat PTSD

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has signed a new law allowing the sale of medicinal cannabis.

The prescription-only treatment will be available to those diagnosed with cancer or post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). It comes nearly two years after Russia began its invasion of Ukraine.

Growers will need formal approval from Ukrainian authorities to legally produce cannabis, which must be done under 24-hour video surveillance accessible to police.

It will remain illegal to use cannabis for recreational purposes in Ukraine.

PTSD

A person who experiences or witnesses a distressing event can develop PTSD. Symptoms include anxiety, flashbacks and nightmares. It is particularly prevalent in regions impacted by war.

A recent study analysed the mental health impacts of Russia’s 2022 invasion of Ukraine. About one-quarter of the study’s 2000 respondents showed symptoms of PTSD. Over a third said they’d lost someone close to them since the war began.

The majority of respondents had lost jobs and said they had witnessed bombing attacks or destruction of local buildings.

Zelenskyy

President Zelenskyy called for cannabis-based medicines to be legalised to support treatments for those impacted by the war.

During an address on Ukraine’s national holiday in June last year, Zelenskyy said: “All the most effective policies... no matter how difficult or unusual they may seem to us, must be applied... so that Ukrainians, all our citizens do not have to endure the pain, stress, and trauma of war.”

Opposition

Draft laws to legalise medicinal cannabis were blocked by Ukraine’s Opposition, led by former Prime Minister Yulia Tymoshenko, last year.

Tymoshenko argued the reforms would lead to increased recreational drug use.

Parliament voted to move forward with the legislation, which eventually passed with support from a majority of lawmakers.

The reforms come into effect in July.

I’ve got 2 minutes

A suspended AFL player is being investigated for drug trafficking

Suspended Melbourne Football Club (Demons) player Joel Smith is being investigated over cocaine trafficking allegations.

Smith was already under investigation for allegedly failing a post-match drug test.

The AFL has confirmed the sport’s anti-doping authority is investigating Smith over new alleged drug violations.

The 27-year-old will continue to be ruled out of play amid the ongoing inquiries.

Joel Smith

Smith has been with the Demons for eight seasons.

Last year, he was handed a provisional suspension after a drug test showed traces of cocaine in his system. This banned him from play and training. Smith had been awaiting the outcome of that ongoing investigation when new charges came to light this week.

The allegations against Smith are led by Sport Integrity Australia (SIA) — the government agency responsible for overseeing anti-doping programs in Australian sport.

Allegations

This week the AFL announced SIA has brought three cocaine trafficking violations against the Demons player in addition to the failed test in 2023.

The AFL defines trafficking as “selling, giving, transporting, sending, delivering or distributing a Prohibited Substance by an Athlete … to any third party”.

The new allegations also include a cocaine possession violation against Smith from the day of the 2022 AFL semi-final.

Next steps

SIA will further investigate all allegations raised against Smith.

Pending its findings, Smith could be ordered to face the AFL’s anti-doping tribunal to determine his future in the game.

If any of the allegations against him are found to be true, Smith could face a years-long suspension from the AFL.

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According to the latest HILDA (Household, Income and Labour Dynamics in Australia) report, young Australians are more likely to experience loneliness and psychological distress than any other age group.

For twenty years, HILDA has been interviewing the same network of 17,000 Australians, every year, to compile results that give us comprehensive insight into the lives of Australians.

To help us understand more about what is causing this loneliness epidemic, we speak to one of the experts behind the data on today's podcast.

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Give me some good news

Rooftop solar panels are expected to generate enough power for 20 million homes by 2054, according to new data.

Research from Green Energy Markets predicts over the next thirty years, solar will produce enough energy to meet 100% of the current demand on the grid.

In the past decade, rooftop solar panel installation has increased by 380%.

TDA tidbit

Russian President Vladimir Putin has reportedly gifted North Korea leader Kim Jong Un a luxury Aurus limousine.

Kim Jong Un apparently fancied the Russian vehicle during his visit in September last year.

The exchange comes with some controversy. (Who would have thought?)

The Washington Post reports its a violation of a United Nations’ resolution that prohibits the supplying of luxury items to North Korea.

TDA asks