# The National Account > Fair, independent reporting and common sense news. This file provides information about The National Account to help large language models understand and reference this publication's content. ## Posts - [Why is the government spending $2.5 billion on an aluminium smelter?](https://www.nationalaccount.com.au/p/why-is-the-government-spending-2-5-billion-on-an-aluminium-smelter): Tomago was going to close when its coal electricity contract expired in 2028. The new deal will see the plant powered by wind and solar at a guaranteed price. - [Why power companies build new powerlines instead of paying you for your battery](https://www.nationalaccount.com.au/p/why-power-companies-build-new-powerlines-instead-of-paying-you-for-your-battery): Aussies who share their battery with the grid earn as little as $100 a year. In Britain, the same deal pays four to five times as much. - [Four states gave pokie operators $1.4bn in tax breaks while Australians lose $13bn having a slap](https://www.nationalaccount.com.au/p/four-states-gave-pokie-operators-1-4bn-in-tax-breaks-while-australians-lose-13bn-having-a-slap): In NSW, half the money went to the top 6 percent of clubs, pulling in more than $20 million from the machines. - [Australia's first political assassination: The death of John Newman](https://www.nationalaccount.com.au/p/australia-s-first-political-assassination-the-death-of-john-newman): The man who was convicted for the hit says he didn't do it, and the evidence that put him away is murkier than most people know. - [Newsletter: Hit job](https://www.nationalaccount.com.au/p/national-account-newsletter-john-newman-virtual-power-plant): Plus: Why aren't we making the most of our batteries? - [Why does the government fund private schools while public schools fall short?](https://www.nationalaccount.com.au/p/private-school-funding-australia-public-money): Only 1.3% of public schools are funded to the government's own standard. For private schools, it's 98%. - [Newsletter: Write off](https://www.nationalaccount.com.au/p/national-account-newsletter-pokies-tax-discounts): The $1.4 billion given to the pokies. - [Is this Australia's deadliest hospital?](https://www.nationalaccount.com.au/p/chelmsford-deep-sleep-therapy-scandal): The disturbing story of Chelmsford and the "therapy" that killed - [Why rent to locals when Airbnb pays double?](https://www.nationalaccount.com.au/p/why-rent-to-locals-when-airbnb-pays-double): In Byron Bay, one in six properties is listed on Airbnb. The maths of short-term rentals means landlords have little reason to change. - [Newsletter: Deep sleep](https://www.nationalaccount.com.au/p/national-account-newsletter-chelmsford-deep-sleep-tolls-airbnbs): Plus: Why rent to locals when Airbnb pays double? - [The solar discount households have had since 2011 is about to open up to big business](https://www.nationalaccount.com.au/p/the-solar-discount-households-have-had-since-2011-is-about-to-open-up-to-big-business): Businesses have installed only a quarter of the rooftop solar that homes have. That's about to change. - [How did private companies end up owning our roads?](https://www.nationalaccount.com.au/p/how-did-private-companies-end-up-owning-our-roads): NSW sold the WestConnex to Transurban for $20 billion. By 2060, drivers will have paid $64 billion in tolls on that road alone. - [Energy Minister plans to force data centre energy laws "even if some states have different ideas"](https://www.nationalaccount.com.au/p/energy-minister-plans-to-force-data-centre-energy-laws-even-if-some-states-have-different-ideas): A majority of the states think data centres should pay for their own renewable power. Two don’t. - [The "bomb" strapped to a Sydney schoolgirl's neck for 10 hours](https://www.nationalaccount.com.au/p/what-was-the-mosman-bomb-hoax): The man behind the Mosman bomb hoax was arrested on the other side of the planet How did that happen? - [Newsletter: Diggin for gold](https://www.nationalaccount.com.au/p/national-account-newsletter-gold-solar-bomb-collar): Plus: The Mosman collar bomb incident - [This bloke has panned $60,000 worth of gold to buy a 4WD. Does he have to pay tax on it?](https://www.nationalaccount.com.au/p/this-bloke-has-panned-60-000-worth-of-gold-to-buy-a-4wd-does-he-have-to-pay-tax-on-it): The ATO says prospecting is a hobby, until it isn't. And the reason you're doing it might matter more than how much you find. - [Newsletter: QLD says no (again)](https://www.nationalaccount.com.au/p/national-account-newsletter-data-centres-queensland-neil-the-seal): Plus: How much does Neil the Seal cost? - [Newsletter: Better man](https://www.nationalaccount.com.au/p/new-post-1049): Plus: Should we have a shark cull? - [Pliberseck: Dads can save their sons from the manosphere](https://www.nationalaccount.com.au/p/pliberseck-dads-can-save-their-sons-from-the-manosphere): Tanya Pliberseck says men "need to talk about the complexity of their lives, in their own words." - [Some politicians want a shark cull – researchers say that misses the point](https://www.nationalaccount.com.au/p/some-politicians-want-a-shark-cull-researchers-say-that-misses-the-point): Tony Abbot and Bob Katter are among those calling for the mass killings of sharks, experts say it could lead to beaches being more dangerous. - [Pro-nuclear group runs “affordable energy” campaign through domain registered to National Party think tank](https://www.nationalaccount.com.au/p/pro-nuclear-group-runs-affordable-energy-campaign-through-domain-registered-to-national-party-think): Affordable Energy Australia's website was originally registered to the Page Research Centre, before being sold on to the Coalition for Conservation. - [Productivity Commission says Australia needs a "build mindset"](https://www.nationalaccount.com.au/p/productivity-commission-says-australia-needs-a-build-mindset): The commission's draft report says over-regulation could be adding up to $300,000 to the cost of a new home.