Good afternoon. Australians are being continuously overcharged, resulting in higher inflation and intensifying cost-of-living pressures, according to findings of a price gouging inquiry. A major part of the problem is the lack of competition in key markets, such as banks, supermarkets and airlines.
The report is in keeping with Guardian Australia analysis that found the major supermarkets increased their profit margins even as living costs surged.
Here are some of the strategies deployed by supermarkets and others that are designed to make you pay more.
Top news
Right to disconnect from work laws close to passing parliament | Labor’s so-called “closing loopholes” bill is almost certain to pass after a deal with the Greens that includes a right to disconnect from work for employees. The Greens leader, Adam Bandt, said the changes mean “when you clock off, you’ll be able to switch off”. “Unless you are getting paid for it … you should be able to ignore those calls and those messages that come in.”
Queensland’s African diaspora ‘a community under siege’ | The fatal stabbing of 70-year-old Vyleen White in a shopping centre car park has stirred visceral reactions and in some cases vitriol directed at people of African descent. The Queensland premier, Steven Miles, has condemned racist responses to the incident, while advocates say communities should not be blamed over the alleged actions of individuals.
Labor MPs play down UNRWA funding pause | Labor backbenchers have told concerned constituents that core funding of $20m to the UN agency providing relief and social services to Palestinian refugees had “already been disbursed” for this year. The freeze is likely to affect a $6m top-up announced last month. Separately, about 100 pro-Palestine protesters gathered outside parliament in Canberra to demand a ceasefire. Inside the building, the Labor and Coalition voted down Greens motions in both houses to debate Australia’s support for Israel. And the New South Wales premier, Chris Minns, has warned politicians against using antisemitic tropes after a state Greens MP apologised for Jewish lobby comments.
Influencers promoting flavoured nicotine pouches | Australian social media influencers are promoting highly controversial and probably harmful flavoured nicotine pouches in viral videos, claiming they are an effective tool to quit vaping. Public health experts warn the increasingly popular products could become the next youth epidemic.
Police officer to face trial over death of 95-year-old Clare Nowland | Kristian White, 33, appeared before Cooma local court. His solicitor indicated the senior constable would plead not guilty to manslaughter. White is accused of fatally tasering Nowland at an aged care home in May 2023.
Parklea private prison in spotlight after suspected suicide | A second inmate has died in a suspected suicide at Sydney’s Parklea correctional centre in as many months, adding to pressure on the New South Wales government as it considers returning the private-run prison to public hands.
Myanmar airstrike on school kills four children | The victims, all boys aged 12 to 14, were students at the school in Myanmar’s south-eastern Karenni state. Since seizing power in a coup in February 2021, Myanmar’s military has struggled to subdue opposition to its rule and has relied on airstrikes and scorched-earth tactics to push back against opposition.
Trump’s fraud trial rattled by witness’s possible perjury deal | A potential deal between ex-Trump executive, Allen Weisselberg, and the office of the Manhattan district attorney, Alvin Bragg, could shake up the verdict in Trump’s $370m New York fraud trial. If he takes the deal, Weisselberg would admit to committing perjury during his October testimony in the fraud trial. In exchange, he would not have to be a witness against Trump in the hush-money trial, which is scheduled for March.
Taylor Swift threatens legal action over private jet tracking | Attorneys for the pop star are threatening legal action against Jack Sweeney, a college student who monitors the carbon footprint of public figures and is tracking Swift’s jet use via social media. Some Swifties – members of Swift’s fanbase – have decried the legal action as unnecessary.
In video
Protesters boo government officials at anniversary vigil for Turkey quake
It’s been a year since a 7.8-magnitude earthquake killed more than 40,000 people in Turkey and Syria. Hundreds of thousands of people remain displaced, many living in container cities, while the rest of the country waits in fear for the next big shake. Click here to watch the video.
What they said …
***
“I was terrified to sleep … I lost count of the number of spots I was in where you’d wake up and someone was dead.” – Jason Russell, a former firefighter who slept rough in Sydney and Melbourne over a period spanning 25 years
The federal housing minister, Julie Collins, has described hundreds of premature homelessness deaths as “completely unacceptable” after a Guardian Australia investigation this week revealed the average life expectancy of homeless Australians was 44.
In numbers
“The trend is a result of population growth outpacing the speed at which new housing is being developed,” PropTrack economist Anne Flaherty says.
Before bed read
Household dust – what’s in it and how to get rid of it?
“Dust has a lot of components. It contains things that are possibly irritating to our skin and airways, but don’t pose major health risks, such as dead skin cells, hair, pet dander, bacteria and microscopic mites … But dust also contains chemical contaminants with more concerning health implications.” Read the full piece.
Daily word game
Today’s starter word is: LOAD. You have five goes to get the longest word including the starter word. Play Wordiply.
Sign up
If you would like to receive this Afternoon Update to your email inbox every weekday, sign up here. And start your day with a curated breakdown of the key stories you need to know. Sign up for our Morning Mail newsletter here.
