⏱️This edition of the National Account’s newsletter is a six minute read.
👋 G’day everyone, Archie here.
If you’re in the southern states, I hope you have plans to keep cool and safe over this weekend.
If you’re further north in Queensland, I hope you’re staying dry and safe. According to the Bureau of Meteorology, it’s looking like a cyclone will cross the North Queensland Coast on Saturday night.
Let’s crack on with the news as I’ve got something new and exciting for you 📺
The companies are paying for prizes, or they're providing free educational materials. Those things aren't done purely out of corporate goodwill. It comes along with a whole lot of pretty skewed education.
🗣️ Why did she say that?
The ACT is the first jurisdiction in the country to ban the fossil fuel industry’s involvement in its schools.
The fossil fuel industry is now included in the territory’s prohibited sponsors list, among other pillars of the community, like gambling and tobacco.
This means that these industries are no longer allowed to provide goods or services to schools in exchange for the ability to access or market to students.
According to ACT Greens Deputy Leader Jo Clay, this will remove the industry’s influence from the classroom, including the science education materials created by fossil fuel giants that downplay their effects on the warming planet.
For my full rundown 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.
🩺 The doctor’s heat warning
As parts of the country brace for 40°C+ temperatures, emergency doctors say extreme heat is already killing more Australians than any other climate risk.
Many heat-related deaths go unrecorded, often listed instead as heart failure or stroke, despite clear links to soaring temperatures.
Read that story by clicking below 👇
🚃 Is public transport ready for extreme heat?
As heatwaves intensify, experts warn Victoria’s rail and tram networks are struggling to cope, from non-air-conditioned trams to heat-related train delays.
With billions still flowing into new roads, advocates say climate-resilient public transport is being left behind, locking cities into car dependence just as extreme heat becomes more dangerous.
Read that story by clicking below 👇
🏕️ The hidden waste problem at music festivals
Abandoned tents, chairs and camp gear make up the bulk of festival waste in Australia, with campsites responsible for around 80 percent of rubbish left behind.
A single one-person tent can contain as much plastic as thousands of straws, and most is dumped after just one weekend.
Groups like B-Alternative are trying to change that by rescuing and reusing gear, but cheap, disposable camping equipment remains a major challenge.
Read that story by clicking below 👇
The NSW election pokie play
Could NSW Libs Wedge the Labor Party on Gambling Reform?
In our first long-form video, I chat to the North Shore Lorikeet’s Huw Bradshaw about both proposed and actioned reforms to poker machine laws in NSW.
Huw told me that in the upcoming election, the NSW Liberals would be stupid not to press the Labor Party on the issue.
Watch the full chat 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 Monday.
Cheers, Archie