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👋 G’day everyone, Archie here.
Hope you’re all well.
My weekend was filled up with getting my grandad’s old record player running again and I’m happy to say the project was a success. I’m currently listening to Wings’ Red Rose Speedway.
Not too much else to report from the weekend — other than spending too long and too much at Ikea and staying out too late with friends.
(I won’t lie, the early morning, mixed-meat HSP on Oxford Street went exceptionally hard.)
Now let’s crack on with the news 🗞️
In Europe, there is a compensation scheme that is, of course, defrayed across millions of passengers and hundreds of airlines. We've got a much smaller market.
🗣️ Why did she say that?
The Australian Government is introducing national minimum standards for airline passengers, requiring carriers to offer refunds, rebooking, or food and accommodation during delays and cancellations, plus quicker payouts for lost or damaged luggage.
Transport Minister Catherine King said airlines must also be clearer about delays—but unlike Europe, there’ll be no cash compensation.
For my full breakdown check out today’s video:
Around the Grounds 🦘
Across the country, things are happening at a local level that have an impact nationally. Here are the stories you might not hear about in the traditional media.
🐨 Logging paused in NSW Koala capital as National Park boundaries announced
The NSW Government unveiled the proposed boundaries of the Great Koala National Park over the weekend. The Park was a NSW Labor Party election promise and the party has been in power since 2023.
The park will reserve 176,000 hectares of state forest and, including existing parks, will lock in 476,000 hectares of bushland.
As the Mid North Coaster’s Ellie Chamberlain reports, the park is designed to protect more than 12,000 koalas and 100 other threatened species, with
Premier Chris Minns said it’s about reversing the “unthinkable” risk of koalas going extinct in NSW by 2050.
The announcement comes with a temporary halt on logging inside the proposed boundary, affecting around 300 timber jobs across six mills.
The government has pledged JobKeeper-style payments for timber workers as well as retraining, and $6 million for new tourism and small business opportunities, alongside an extra $60 million for the National Parks and Wildlife Service.
Read that story by clicking below 👇
I also covered this if you prefer the news in video format 👉 here.
🐮 The good dirt
Black Angus beef farmer Robert “Macka” McKenzie, from Gloucester in NSW, has been managing his soil health since 2017.
Even after the drought in 2019-20, his soil now retains 160,000 litres per hectare of moisture.
Zara Cuthbertson at the West Vic Brolga caught up with Macka after his presentation at the Farming Forever Summit in Canberra to hear more about how making the change to improve his soil health has benefitted his farming operation.
Read that story by clicking below 👇
🎭 The cost of culture
More than a decade after a funding scandal toppled the council of NSW coastal town Port Macquarie, the Glasshouse entertainment hub is back in the spotlight — this time over its $2.5 million annual operating cost.
As the Mid North Coaster’s Ellie Chamberlain reports, a new financial report shows ratepayers chipped in the equivalent of $31 per resident last year to keep the two-theatre, gallery and exhibition space running.
Some councillors call it an unsustainable “loss,” while others argue culture is a public service that can’t be reduced to profit and loss.
With a strategic review underway and audited results due in November, councillors are weighing whether the Glasshouse is a community investment worth the price tag — or a drain on funds.
Read that story by clicking below 👇
And finally, in case you missed it. A Victorian judge sentenced mushroom murderer Erin Patterson to life in prison with a non-parole period of 33 years.
@gippslandmonitor Supreme Court Judge, Justice Christopher Beale has sentenced Erin Patterson to life in prison with a non-parole period of 33 years.
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 Wednesday.
Cheers, Archie
Thumbnail: AAP Image/Dean Lewins