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Good morning!
I hope you all enjoy today’s titbit. That is all.
I’ve got 10 seconds
The quote: “I think people are less concerned about the packaging or the box… and more worried about what is on the inside, which is, frankly, where we’ve got to be focused. We’ve got to actually get our policy work done… That’s when we’ll start seeing the dial shift, or people return to us, having abandoned us.”
Liberal Senator Jonno Duniam in response to fellow Liberal Melissa McIntosh suggesting the party should “rebrand,” including possibly changing its name.
The stat: 16 cents. The discount on the fuel excise from today until the end of the month. Typically, the tax is 52.6 cents per litre of fuel.
The big question:
How often do you drink alcohol?
Yesterday’s results: 61% of you don’t have any future travel plans, so won’t be affected by European heatwaves. 26% still want a Eurosummer, while 12% will avoid Europe in future summers. Thanks for voting - your responses inform TDA's journalism and research. [1,400 votes].
I’ve got 30 seconds
Some headlines from this morning:
Police are appealing for information from the public to track down the author of threatening letters sent to high-profile people in the community, including politicians. On Tuesday, Australian Federal Police and NSW Police released excerpts of anonymous letters sent by a person going by the aliases "Scorpio" and "Bullit". Among the clippings is a menacing smiley face with what appear to be impressions left by bullet casings for eyes. Authorities confirmed that a number of the letters constitute threatening or harassing behaviour. The author is believed to be a man of Caucasian appearance, aged in his 60s.
Two men have faced court over allegations they accessed Prime Minister Anthony Albanese's personal bank account. One of the men was a graduate employee at EY, one of the big four accounting firms, as first reported by the Australian Financial Review. The two men, both from Sydney and both in their 20s, were charged on 6 May and granted bail to appear before the Downing Centre Local Court on Tuesday. A spokesperson for EY declined to comment, but confirmed the former employee was no longer working at the firm.
Together with AAP.
From the CommBank Newsroom
Some key financial changes are kicking in today
From tax cuts and the minimum wage to superannuation and government payments, the beginning of the new financial year brings with it a stack of changes that could affect millions of Aussies.
So what’s actually different?
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I’ve got 1 minute
From today, Sue-Anne Hunter officially becomes Australia's first independent National Commissioner for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Children and Young People.
The role is focused on protecting and promoting the rights of First Nations children and young people.
The milestone comes as new legislation takes effect, giving Commissioner Hunter formal powers to operate independently of the Australian Government.
Background
The National Commission was established two years ago to support Australia’s targets under the National Agreement on Closing the Gap.
Closing the Gap is a commitment between federal, state and territory governments and Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander organisations to reduce inequality between First Nations and non-Indigenous Australians.
The push for a dedicated Commissioner followed years of advocacy from around 70 Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander and non-Indigenous organisations across Australia.
Changes
Until now, Commissioner Sue-Anne Hunter held the role but could not exercise its powers independently of government.
From today, she can independently:
Advocate for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children and young people.
Hold governments to account for protecting their rights.
Raise concerns and recommend changes.
Conduct formal inquiries.
Engage directly with First Nations communities, organisations and young people.
Reporting by Elliot Lawry.
Quick hits
🎧 On today’s TDA podcast, Emma and Zara explain everything changing today with the start of the new financial year. Listen or watch on Apple here, Spotify here, or YouTube here.
🏆 The Aussies are at Wimbledon, while the Socceroos are prepping for the knockout stage. It’s all happening over at TDA Sport, landing in your inbox every afternoon.
Good finds
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🎟 Ever left a conversation feeling like your whole worldview just shifted? Festival of Dangerous Ideas, Australia's leading ideas festival, is back 20–30 August. Taking over 14 iconic Sydney venues for 10 days of talks, art, films and excursions tackling the big, difficult and messy questions shaping our world. Grab your multipack tickets while they're hot.
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I’ve got 2 minutes
The Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC) is taking Amazon to court, alleging the tech giant unfairly charged more than one million Prime Video subscribers extra to watch without ads.
The consumer watchdog claims Amazon relied on “unfair contract terms” when it introduced ads to Prime Video in 2024, requiring customers to pay an additional fee to keep watching ad-free.
Amazon has said it is “reviewing the case”.
Background
Amazon was founded as an online bookseller in 1994 before expanding into streaming. It launched a video streaming service in 2006, rebranding it to Prime Video in the 2010s.
In 2018, Amazon Prime arrived in Australia, offering access to Prime Video, free delivery and other member benefits. A subscription costs $9.99 per month or $79 annually.
ACCC
On Tuesday, the ACCC announced it would take Amazon to the Federal Court, alleging its Prime subscription contracts included five unfair terms affecting more than one million annual subscribers.
The watchdog alleges Amazon relied on one of those terms to introduce ads to Prime Video in July 2024. Until then, the service had been almost entirely ad-free.
Subscribers who wanted to keep watching without ads were then required to pay an additional $2.99 a month.
“Consumers who wanted to avoid ads were left with no choice but to pay more to maintain the service they’d initially signed up for,” ACCC Chair Gina Cass-Gottlieb said.
The ACCC also alleges Amazon’s U.S. parent company, Amazon.com Services LLC, was “knowingly concerned” in the Australian arm’s conduct, including drafting the contracts and deciding to introduce ads globally.
The case is one of the first contested matters brought under the watchdog’s new penalty regime for unfair contract terms, which applies to contracts made or renewed from 9 November 2023.
Response
An Amazon Australia spokesperson told TDA the company was “reviewing the case filed by the ACCC in detail”.
“We have cooperated with the ACCC throughout its investigation and remain focused on providing the best experience for our Australian customers,” the spokesperson said.
The Federal Court is yet to announce a hearing date.
Reporting by Emily Donohoe.
A message from The University of Canberra
The next big thing in your life could start with a small step
At the University of Canberra, you'll join a community that backs your ambitions while supporting you every step of the way. It's the kind of place where people know your name, and where the opportunities can take you anywhere.
With flexible online and on campus study options, and recognition of your prior work, study or life experience that could reduce your study time, it's never been easier to invest in yourself and see what's next.
Give me some good news
Photo: Australian Antarctic Program
A rare southern right whale mother and baby have been spotted in Botany Bay and off Bondi Beach in Sydney.
The whales were hunted extensively in the 1800s, and the species has been slow to recover, making sightings of a healthy mum and baby especially exciting for scientists and whale fans. Currently, scientists are monitoring the species as they migrate to the coast to breed and to nurture their newborn calves.
Reporting by Lucy Tassell.
TDA titbit
Photo: Noah Kahan on Instagram and X.
There’s no other way to say this: Someone seems to have pooed their pants at the Noah Kahan concert and left it on the ground for security to find.
After the evidence of the faecal crime went viral, Kahan stood on stage at his next concert and asked his audience to swear not to poo in their pants and put the results on the floor.
I Kahan’t.
Reporting by Lucy Tassell, who regrets ever typing the above.
TDA asks
