⏱️This edition of the National Account’s newsletter is a six-minute read.
👋 G’day everyone, Archie here.
Thank you to everyone who has sent in their costume recommendations for a “dynamic duos” costume party I’m going to next weekend.
The best suggestion I’ve been sent from you is Road Runner and Wile E Coyote.
Anyway, let’s crack on with on the news 🗞️
If we can find a way to use renewable energy to create urea instead of gas and oil, that would be more sustainable and drive down the cost as well
🗣️ Why did he say that?
Iran’s blockage of the Strait of Hormuz has halted about 20 percent of the world’s oil, along with other products like the nitrogen fertiliser urea, sending prices soaring.
Yesterday the Gippsland Monitor’s Jacob Wallace appeared on the podcast and explained two-thirds of Australia’s urea comes from the Persian Gulf.
That has real consequence for Aussie farmers.
Jacob said farmers are either skipping fertilising paddocks for a season, hedging their bets that prices will come down by next season to make up for it, or switching to alternatives.
Check out the full interview below:
The ute problem 🛻
Australia didn't stumble into its ute obsession, it was tax-incentivised into it.
There are a few reasons we have so many utes on our roads these days, including luxury car tax carve-outs and the pandemic-era stimulus.
These polices rewarded Australians for buying bigger and pricier vehicles.
Throw in some marketing that hits the male ego on the bullseye, and you have a perfect storm.
But the real cost isn't just at the bowser. It's in blind spots, road safety stats, and a car culture built on identity rather than necessity.
Thanks for catching up with me. If you’ve got any feedback, just hit reply.
I’ll be back on Friday.
Cheers, Archie