Newsletter: Why do we still have them?

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.

As Sydney sweltered through 40-degree days, tradies, delivery riders and a landscaper told Huw Bradshaw of the North Shore Lorikeet how tough it is to work in extreme heat.

Construction workers said productivity slows while the effort feels harder, and some delivery drivers stop shifts altogether without extra pay.

Unions are now calling for national heat standards, as research shows productivity drops 2-3% for every degree above 20C.

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In Melbourne’s eastern suburbs, a 400-kilogram bronze statue of Mahatma Gandhi was taken from a charity centre last month.

The Eastern Melburnian has received footage showing the three unknown offenders police are seeking in relation to the alleged theft.

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As Australia’s renewable energy grid expands, critics claim new transmission lines put firefighters and communities at risk. But veteran firefighter and former NSW Fire Commissioner Greg Mullins says the argument doesn’t stack up.

With more than 50 years on the fireground, he says crews have safely worked around power lines for decades, and the real danger isn’t infrastructure, but worsening extreme fire weather driven by climate change.

Read that story by clicking below 👇