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👋 G’day everyone, Archie here.
Unlike my Victorian colleagues, I’ve been hard at work today, not enjoying a public holiday. As you can tell, I’m not jealous and have no issue with it.
Weekend prediction is a QLD wipeout, with the Lions to win back-to-back flags in the AFL, and the Broncos to take out the Panthers in the rugby league.
Anyway, we’ve got a lot to get into today, and I’ve got Friday beers ready to drink.
Let’s crack on with the news 🗞️
On Wednesday, I forgot to include the first instalment of a series we’re doing at the National Account: Who owns this?
For the first video, I take a look at 7 West Media, who own Channel 7 and the West Australian newspaper. More notably, I look at its owner, billionaire Kerry Stokes.
It’s frankly terrifying, what our national security agencies are telling us is coming, and the government is not acting…We’re woefully underprepared for what’s coming.
🗣️ Why did he say that?
Last week I brought you quite a few stories from the National Climate Risk Assessment.
That report looks into things like:
How many Aussies will be living in places that will experience flooding from rising sea levels.
How much longer heat waves will last for.
How many more heat-related deaths we’ll see.
But did you know there’s another report that shows what climate change means for Australia's national security on a global scale?
A report so intense Senator David Pocock called it “terrifying”, pointing out how unprepared Australia is for the future.
For my full breakdown, check out today’s video:
🚜 Yesterday: I filed another story from my trip to Bungendore, NSW, a couple of week ago, where I caught up with fifth-generation farmer Luke Osbourne.
Osbourne runs 1000 head of cattle as well as 27 wind turbines on his property.
Luke explained to me what having a renewable energy project means for the long term succession planning of the farm. That story here.
Around the Grounds 🦘
Across the country, things are happening at a local level that have an impact nationally. Here’s the stories you might not hear about in the traditional media.
🪖 Hard chat
For veterans and first responders in Western Victoria, PTSD and burnout can be invisible struggles — but the impacts are real.
Vietnam veteran David George, who lives with PTSD, has spent decades navigating life after trauma and now works to support others facing similar battles.
He urges those struggling to reach out, even when it feels impossible. “We can say ‘get help’ many, many times, but it is up to them,” he says.
As the West Vic Brolga’s Zara Cuthbertson reports, these struggles are why mental health is the focus of an expo in Ballarat, which will bring together support services for veterans and first responders.
Read that story by clicking below 👇
🔥 Victoria braces for an early bushfire season
The swing between wetter years and drier spells is creating fuel for more intense fires.
As the Gippsland Monitor’s Jacob Wallace reports, Mayor John Schelling says the region has entered a drier-than-usual season.
Record low rainfall in parts of Victoria over the past 18 months is heightening concern.
Professor David Bowman warns that climate “whiplash” — alternating wet and dry spells — is priming landscapes to burn again.
Areas scorched in 2019–20 haven’t fully recovered, but heavy regrowth means dry fuel loads are building fast.
With fire season likely to start earlier, authorities say the situation demands more planning and proactive measures — not just reactive ones.
Read that story by clicking below 👇
🎰 On the ground: Does the North Shore like pokies?
The North Shore Lorikeet’s Huw Bradshaw was out in the field this week, gauging what locals think.
Watch that story by clicking below 👇
Black market “explosion“ 🚬
Australia’s Health Minister has admitted black market tobacco has exploded across the country.
Speaking on South Australian radio on Friday, Mark Butler said the country had seen big increases in tobacco tax over the last decade .
Butler didn’t let the government’s tax on cigarettes take the full blame for the black market explosion, telling FIVE AA Radio organised crime has more recently taken a “stranglehold” over illegal tobacco.
The Health Minister claimed the underworld surge started in Melbourne before spreading throughout Australia – adding it leads to violence and arson while bankrolling sex and drug trafficking.
Butler said black market tobacco is “now the biggest threat to our most important public health program.”
The senior government MP said the real challenge is enforcement.
He applauded South Australia’s enforcement efforts, including holding landlords and stores selling illegal cigs to account.
Thanks for catching up with me. I hope you enjoyed this issue, and I’d love to hear your thoughts. Just reply to this email and I’ll be on the other side 👋
I’ll be back on Monday.