⏱️This edition of the National Account’s newsletter is a five-minute read.
👋 G’day everyone, Archie here.
In today’s newsletter we’re taking a look at what’s believed to be the country’s first political assassination: the murder of John Newman.
Then, we’ll look at how Australians are missing out on being paid for the energy their own home batteries store. Why? because the energy companies aren’t being incentivised.
Let’s dive into it 🗞️
What can they do to me except kill me? And in this place I'm already dead
🗣️ Why did he say that?
In 1994, NSW state MP John Newman was shot on his doorstep in Cabramatta. It's believed to be Australia's first political assassination.
The man convicted of organising the killing, Phuong Ngo, is now serving a life sentence with no parole in Goulburn's Supermax prison.
Did he do it? The evidence is circumstantial, the conviction came after two aborted trials, and the journalist who has covered the case most closely says she genuinely doesn't know.
Today, I have a look at what happened, how Ngo was convicted, and why serious questions remain.
For my full rundown check out today’s video:
Power to the people 🔋
Nearly 500,000 home batteries have been installed across the country. Grouped together, they can operate as a single power plant and sell electricity back to the grid.
But power companies earn more money buying expensive external grid equipment than paying to use batteries already sitting in Australian garages, and the laws don't give them a reason to change that.
Watch my rundown below:
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 Friday.
Cheers, Archie