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👋 G’day everyone, Archie here.
Been a busy couple of days, and my efforts to continue exploring Sydney have so far been successful.
Last night I took the Metro to Barangaroo to see Sydney Theatre Company’s production of The Talented Mr. Ripley.
It was my first time at the Roslyn Packer Theatre and it certainly didn't disappoint.
The technical aspects of the production were brilliant, with both set and lighting turning what I feared could've been a dull adaptation into an intriguing show.
Will McDonald's [Tom Ripley] ability to be on stage for the full two hours (with no intermission) while being a combination of captivating, cringe and charismatic is something to be applauded.
My only criticism is that the ending felt a tad subdued and lacked the intensity or suspense of other parts in the play.
A solid 8/10 performance. If you love the film or book (and you’re in Sydney) definitely go see this.
If you, like me, are a bit of a theatre nerd — I’d love to hear about the best production you’ve ever seen. Just reply to this email and I’ll be on the other side!
📭 Elsewhere, I filed a yarn yesterday on Auspost ending some services to the United States, which you can see here.
🧠 Also: did you know nearly every one of Australia's resources ministers since 2001 has gone to work for the fossil fuel industry? I did a breakdown of a new report from Transparency International Australia here.
Anyway, enough about me, onto the news!
The question here is:
When was the last time a new coal-fired power station was built?
Answer: a long, long time ago
🗣️ Why did he say that?
Speaking at the Daily Telegraph’s Bush Summit in Wagga Wagga, Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has responded to questions about the renewable energy rollout in rural areas across Australia.
“I’ve spoken with farmers who benefited substantially from income increases as a result of the renewable energy roll, and I’ve spoken with other farmers who are concerned about the community consultation process,” said Albanese, who defended the government’s energy policy.
“Coal-fired power stations are increasingly unreliable allies… we need to make sure we have a policy which is renewables, backed by gas, backed by storage.
The Prime Minister also acknowledged the energy transition can feel uneven for many in rural and regional parts of the country.
“When you have change, it can also be difficult,” said Albanese. “The question here is: ‘when was the last time a new coal-fired power station was built?’ Answer: a long, long time ago,” he said.
“We acknowledge, of course, that community consultation hasn’t always been as good as it should be.
🛒 Elsewhere, Woolworths has released its annual profits, and it's hardly something the supermarket giant will be stoked about: a 17% drop. I won’t lie, though — I lack sympathy. The company still maintained a $1.39 billion profit — hardly something to scoff at.
At the start of the year, Roy Morgan listed Woolies as the most distrusted brand in Australia (followed closely by Coles).
Still, the supermarket giant blamed a multitude of factors for the dip, including warehouses, strikes, staff wages increasing and Big W underperforming.
Not much mention of public sentiment.
I wonder why…
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’s the stories you might not hear about in the traditional media.
1️⃣ Do you ever look at your local National Park and wish it was a data centre?
Shoutout to Huw Bradshaw at the Northshore Lorikeet for managing to make me laugh in the first five seconds of a video about a data centre.
The story? The proposed development of a data centre, to be built between urban development and Lane Cove National Park in Sydney’s northern suburbs.
The company proposing the centre does plan to plant more trees than it intends to cut down, but environmental groups argue there's more to it than just cutting one tree down and planting another somewhere else.
Read that story by clicking below 👇
2️⃣ Support collapses for Victorian pokie trial
Following on from Friday’s edition of this newsletter, Victoria’s trial of carded poker machine play is only days away but support from gambling reform advocates is already crumbling.
As the Eastern Melburnian’s Matthew Sims reports, the trial will run from September to November across 43 venues in Monash, Greater Dandenong and Ballarat — but key backers like the Alliance for Gambling Reform have pulled its support after learning mandatory loss limits won’t be included.
“It is a complete waste of time to have a trial where the pre-commitment feature that could cap your losses is not mandatory,” chief advocate Tim Costello said.
The government has pitched the trial as an “important first step” in reform, but shifting timelines and a bungled media release have fuelled doubts.
Monash Council has also pulled out of the trial after raising its concerns directly with the state, while a push from Greater Dandenong councillors to withdraw support fell short.
Read that story by clicking below 👇
3️⃣ Lifesaving on the line in NSW
The future of the Coffs Harbour lifeguard service is on the line, with councillors set to decide whether to keep it in-house or outsource the work to Surf Lifesaving NSW.
As the Mid North Coaster’s Ellie Chamberlain reports, the move has drawn sharp criticism from unions and locals, who argue outsourcing could undercut wages and push out career lifeguards who’ve patrolled Coffs beaches for decades.
A petition to keep the service under council control has already attracted more than 2,300 signatures, while councillor Tony Judge will ask colleagues on Thursday night to formally back the lifeguards to stay.
Read that story by clicking below 👇
Victorian manhunt 🚔🚨
Two Victoria police officers have been killed and another injured after a shooting in Porepunkah.
A heavily armed suspect remains at large in regional Victoria, with residents urged to stay indoors as police continue their search.
Here are the basics on what happened.
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