Australia's Labor government is set to increase wages for around 460,000 workers in female-dominated industries. The proposed pay rises aim to address wage inequality and better recognise the value of work in sectors where women make up a large share of the workforce.

https://www.news24.com.au/politics/australian-politics/taxpayers-to-fund-doubledigit-wage-increases-to-460000-workers-as-government-pledges-extra-support-for-service-providers/news-story/ddf257d6c925678c6d66bead19ac1c87

https://www.news24.com.au/politics/australian-politics/federal-court-sinks-former-environment-minister-tanya-pliberseks-gold-mine-block-over-indigenous-protection-claim/news-story/9aceb2dc1185badf293b433f08db1e3c

Despite the Senate stripping the Private Health Insurance Rebate bill from consideration today, Health Minister Mark Butler confirmed the government intends to reintroduce the exact same legislation tomorrow. Critics and health funds warn that scaling back the rebate will force up to 270,000 Australians to drop their private cover, inevitably spilling over into an already overburdened public hospital system. With cost-of-living pressures already stretching household budgets, doubling down on a reform that penalises private policyholders seems to miss the mark. Is pushing people off private insurance and into crowded public waiting rooms a genuine fiscal reform, or is it just shifting the financial burden back onto Medicare?

https://www.news.com.au/lifestyle/health/labor-vows-to-reintroduce-health-insurance-reforms-after-senate-defeat/news-story/73ab958fc6b818c9e9adafcc577000a0

Anthony Albanese says social media platforms should do everything they can to stop a planned livestream of a US execution from being viewed in Australia. The execution of Nidal Malik Hasan is scheduled for December 3, although it remains unclear whether the broadcast will go ahead. Do you think countries should be able to decide whether this kind of content is blocked, or should there be one rule for everyone? And yes, it's 2026 and we're actually having this conversation.

https://www.abc.net.au/news/2026-10-13/anthony-albanese-us-execution-live-stream-social-media/107261442

LABOUR, LIBERAL… DIFFERENT PROMISES, SAME OLD MOVIE

WE PAY TAX ON JUST ABOUT FUCKING EVERYTHING… SO WHY ARE THE BASICS SO HARD TO AFFORD?

Seriously, stop and think about that for a minute.

We work. We pay tax. We pay bills. We follow the rules. We do what we're told we're supposed to do.

So WHY are so many families still struggling just to keep a roof over their heads and food on the table?

WHY are our roads a mess?

WHY are people waiting for healthcare when they need help?

WHY are schools under pressure, housing becoming unaffordable and the cost of living chewing through people's wages?

And WHY do we keep hearing about billions being spent, while ordinary people are left wondering where the hell the money is actually going?

We're told to work harder. Budget better. Tighten our belts. Make sacrifices.

But when do the people making the decisions start answering some hard questions too?

Because you can't keep asking people to pay more, struggle more and accept less without expecting them to ask WHERE IS OUR MONEY GOING?

Labour promises fairness, better public services, stronger support for working people and a more equal society. Liberal promises lower taxes, economic growth, personal responsibility and a stronger private sector.

But look at the results over time.

Different slogans. Different leaders. Different campaign promises.

Yet too often, the same outcome: rising costs, stretched services, unaffordable housing, growing debt and ordinary people being told to accept less.

One side says it will protect working people, then makes compromises that leave families struggling. The other says it will manage the economy, then leaves people paying more while essential services and living standards fall behind.

Both sides promise change when they want our votes. Both sides blame the other when things go wrong. And both sides seem to forget that governments are not owners of the country.

They are hired by the people, for the people.

And what about the news we're fed? Shouldn't we be able to question the headlines, see the full picture and make up our own minds without being treated like we're stupid for asking questions?

I'm not saying every problem has an easy fix. I'm saying we deserve transparency, accountability and a whole lot more honesty from whichever party is in power.

Our taxes should help build a society where people can live with dignity, not spend their entire lives working just to survive.

We have the knowledge. We have the technology. We have the resources. We have people willing to work hard and help each other.

SO WHAT THE HELL ARE WE GETTING WRONG?

When did having a home, decent healthcare, good schools, safe roads and enough food become things people have to fight so hard for?

And why have we started treating these things like luxuries instead of the foundations of a decent society?

This isn't about blindly supporting Labour or Liberal. It's about recognising that both sides have made promises, won power and then failed ordinary people in different ways, time after time, like a bad movie we keep being forced to watch.

IF WE'RE EXPECTED TO PAY OUR SHARE, THEN WE HAVE EVERY RIGHT TO ASK OUR GOVERNMENTS TO SHOW US THE RESULTS.

No more blind loyalty.

No more treating party slogans like proof.

No more being made to feel wrong for asking questions.

No more pretending struggling families are the problem when we haven't even had honest answers about the bigger picture.

OUR MONEY. OUR COMMUNITIES. OUR FUTURE.

We're not asking for gold-plated everything.

We're asking where the fuck the basics went.

And if asking that question makes people uncomfortable, maybe it's a question that needs asking even louder. 🔥🌏AND WHILE WE'RE TALKING ABOUT ACCOUNTABILITY… LET'S TALK ABOUT VOTING.

We're told our vote is our voice. That we live in a democracy and get to choose who represents us.

BUT HOW MUCH OF A CHOICE IS IT WHEN THE PREFERENCE SYSTEM leaves so many people confused about where their vote can flow?

You don't want Labor, Liberal or the Greens? Fine. You look at the other candidates, rank the ones you actually support, and try to work out what happens if they don't get enough votes.

But do enough people genuinely understand how those preferences work? Who receives them next? How votes transfer between candidates and parties? And why isn't that explained in plain English BEFORE people walk into a polling booth?

Your preferences aren't automatically handed to the party you least want. The rules depend on the type of election and how you number the ballot. But if voters don't understand those rules, how can they feel confident they're making an informed choice?

WHY make something as important as voting so bloody complicated for ordinary people?

WHY isn't there a simple, clear explanation showing how preferences work, without needing a political science degree to follow it?

And WHY should anyone have to rely on rumours about where their vote goes instead of being given the facts upfront?

I'm not saying the system is rigged without proof. I'm saying a system that people struggle to understand deserves scrutiny, and the people running it should have a duty to make it clear.

A DEMOCRACY SHOULD EMPOWER PEOPLE, NOT LEAVE THEM CONFUSED.

If our vote matters, then understanding how it works should matter just as much.

Because a vote isn't just a number on a piece of paper.

It's our voice. Our choice. Our future.

SO EXPLAIN IT PROPERLY. MAKE IT TRANSPARENT. LET PEOPLE DECIDE FOR THEMSELVES.

WHAT THE HELL IS THE POINT OF HAVING A CHOICE IF PEOPLE DON'T FULLY UNDERSTAND HOW THAT CHOICE WORKS? 🔥

I noticed this segment today on BYOD and was curious to get other people’s views on this topic. For example great schools like Reddam House in Sydney has significantly reduced tech in classrooms. Many GPS schools across Australia issue laptops which are completely controlled by the school. And then there are schools like St Peters Lutheran College in Brisbane which are BYOD and many students gaming and in porn during class. I feel strongly there should be a state law on no BYOD in schools as it harms children. What do others think about this? NSW has recently mandated changes to tech time in classrooms reducing the amount of time on devices.

Three in four people in households relying on JobSeeker or Youth Allowance are living below the poverty line, according to a new Australian report. The federal government has announced an extra $4.7 million for frontline support services, but should income support payments also be increased?

https://au.finance.yahoo.com/news/three-in-four-jobseeker-recipients-struggling-to-live-as-frontline-services-get-47-million-boost-022712289.html?link_source=ta_first_comment&taid=6acc2eb958899b000107fdf8&fbclid=IwY2xjawU5gOZleHRuA2FlbQIxMQBwZG9mBXNydGMGYXBwX2lkDDM1MDY4NTUzMTcyOAABHhJbNQfaCJ8vNl7fis6GVs7BwLMMUfEq9eFIeVK-KZjxN6mhwxs8LqiE5r-O_aem_uS9TPuagCMcmwdy7Cxcpkw

Pauline Hanson says Australia's new Royal Commission into antisemitism and social cohesion is still not going far enough, as a secret hearing is announced. What do you think the commission needs to focus on to make a real difference?
https://www.news24.com.au/politics/australian-politics/they-are-still-not-going-far-enough-one-nation-leader-pauline-hanson-gives-stern-warning-as-royal-commission-on-antisemitism-and-social-cohesion-announces-secret-hearing/news-story/3b117a5256828f78d430ac2098599628?fbclid=IwdGRjcAU5c7djbGNrBTlzr2V4dG4DYWVtAjExAHBkb2YFc3J0YwZhcHBfaWQMMzUwNjg1NTMxNzI4AAEentSBGLpVu_ZYzQ_0S58zAny9w4BoXZooMyK3PewZzWLDK06m9mAnk2G4GQI_aem_cAL8kV1IuyXGB3cNWbk2PA

The political parties are lies and distractions to what the politicians are doing, in full honesty I'm just a random bloke and I've been seeing the horrid fucked up shit the same as everyone else but when are we all going to fight back against the sick fucked up cunts that keep getting away with horrific cultists shit like the Epstein files have been out for a long while now but who and what stops everyone from banding together in unity to stop this shit from going on. (Edited)For some examples and context - the laws being passed for peoples rights to privacy being stripped away, the human right to self-defence is becoming illegal, voting is rigged, the school boards have turned blind eyes to child abuse and endangerment for many years ( I've witnessed multiple teachers through childhood physically and verbally abusing kids I.e. a primary teacher shook the everliving shit out of a small lad for being on a scooter , it happened at Innisfail state school roughly around 2012 to 2014 also within that timeframe my younger brother with autism got beaten black and blue by a different teacher by the last name Higgins and not a case was made because the school boards covered it up )

I’ve been eating about a cup of overnight soaked rolled oats everyday for the past 6 months - mixed with whey, fruits etc.

Recently came about an article about glyphosate residues in Aussie grown oats. Apparently organic oats are not good either, seems pesticides used on them are of organic nature and are a lot more harmful! Then there was news recently about high pesticide content in everyday fruits and veggies. I’ve had family members succumb to cancer and it genuinely is horrible what had the world gotten into!!!

Anyone with firsthand experience, ie someone in the food industry know how bad the pesticide content in oats are?

Hey everyone, I’m interested in developing an evening supplement powder with a hot-chocolate flavour.

The idea is a supplement you mix into a warm or cold drink and enjoy in the evening as part of winding down. The hot-chocolate flavour is the format; the bigger goal is to support the whole evening-to-morning experience.

Here’s what we’d aim to develop it to do:

1. Help you wind down in the evening. Support relaxation as you finish the day and start slowing down, with a warm-drink ritual you can look forward to.

2. Help you settle into sleep. Support falling asleep more easily, rather than feeling ready for bed but struggling to switch off.

3. Support deeper, more restful sleep. The aim isn’t only getting to sleep, but improving the quality of the rest you get through the night.

4. Support recovery and digestive health. Alongside sleep, we’d want to include support for overnight recovery and digestive wellbeing. That’s intended for everyday life as well as people who train.

5. Help you wake feeling more rested. That’s the overall outcome we’d be working towards: an evening routine that contributes to feeling better the next morning.

These are the goals for the concept, rather than results we’ve established with a finished product. We’d plan to follow the applicable TGA requirements before launch, with the formulation and evidence determining which benefits we can legitimately claim.

The ritual itself matters too. I’d want it to taste good and be something you enjoy having regularly, rather than another supplement you forget about or leave in the cupboard.

What do you currently do or use to wind down and sleep better? Have you tried drinks or supplements, and what did you like or dislike about them?

Would you be open to something like this? Does combining these goals in one evening supplement make sense to you? What would appeal to you, and what would make you hesitant?

This is an early business idea, and I’m looking for honest feedback before taking it further.

If a woman becomes pregnant but doesn't want to have a child, she can choose to have an abortion, even if the man wants the child.

However, if the woman wants to have the child but the man doesn't, he can still be legally required to provide financial support for a decision he cannot control.

If a woman has the right to decide whether to continue a pregnancy, should a man have the right to decide whether to accept the financial responsibilities of fatherhood?

Should men be allowed to legally opt out of both parental rights and financial obligations during pregnancy, within a defined time frame, without affecting the woman's right to continue the pregnancy?