Labor’s first extinction
For a bureaucratic document, the advice was startling in its direct conclusions: the “primary threat” to the skate was “habitat degradation from sustained reduction of dissolved oxygen” and that “the most important anthropogenic contributor to the oxygen debt in Macquarie Harbour is salmonid aquaculture”. (“Salmonid” refers to ocean trout as well as salmon, also farmed at Macquarie Harbour in the same way as salmon with the same effects. The term “salmon farming” is generally taken to include both.) The report recommended to Minister Plibersek that her first and most urgent priority before the summer of 2023/24 was to “eliminate or significantly reduce the impacts of salmonid aquaculture on dissolved oxygen concentrations. The fastest and simplest way to achieve this is by significantly reducing fish biomass and feeding rates.”
Plibersek did nothing.
‘A punch in the guts’: live sheep export trade to end
The export of live sheep by sea from Australia will be banned from May 2028, enraging farmers who describe the four-year timeline as a “punch in the guts”. Agriculture Minister Murray Watt said the legislation would be enacted in this term of parliament, delivering one of Labor’s election commitments. Senator Watt also confirmed a $107 million transition package, saying it would give certainty to a “declining” industry.
I can’t afford olive oil. What else can I use?
If you buy your olive oil in bulk, you’ve likely been in for a shock in recent weeks. Major supermarkets have been selling olive oil for up to A$65 for a four-litre tin, and up to $26 for a 750 millilitre bottle. We’ve been hearing about the health benefits of olive oil for years. And many of us are adding it to salads, or baking and frying with it. But during a cost-of-living crisis, these high prices can put olive oil out of reach. Let’s take a look at why olive oil is in demand, why it’s so expensive right now, and what to do until prices come down.
A rare find in ancient Timorese mud may rewrite the history of human settlement in Australasia
Humans arrived in Australia at least 65,000 years ago, according to archaeological evidence. These pioneers were part of an early wave of people travelling eastwards from Africa, through Eurasia, and ultimately into Australia and New Guinea. But this was only one of many waves of migration in the story of the human colonisation of the globe. These waves were probably driven by climate change and the ability of groups to adapt to a wide range of environments.
Cost of living: if you can’t afford as much fresh produce, are canned veggies or frozen fruit just as good?
The cost of living crisis is affecting how we spend our money. For many people, this means tightening the budget on the weekly supermarket shop. One victim may be fresh fruit and vegetables. Data from the Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS) suggests Australians were consuming fewer fruit and vegetables in 2022–23 than the year before. The cost of living is likely compounding a problem that exists already – on the whole, Australians don’t eat enough fruit and vegetables. Australian dietary guidelines recommend people aged nine and older should consume two serves of fruit and five serves of vegetables each day for optimal health. But in 2022 the ABS reported only 4% of Australians met the recommendations for both fruit and vegetable consumption.
How do I keep my fruit, veggies and herbs fresh longer? Are there any ‘hacks’?
We all know fresh produce is good for us, but fruit, vegetables and herbs have a tendency to perish quickly if left uneaten. This is because even after harvesting, produce from living plants tends to continue its biological processes. This includes respiration: producing energy from stored carbohydrates, proteins and fats while releasing carbon dioxide and water vapour. (Ever found a sprouting potato in your pantry?) On top of that, fresh produce also spoils easily thanks to various microbes – both harmless and ones that can cause disease, called pathogens. Simply chucking things in the fridge won’t solve the problem, as different types of plants will react differently to how they’re stored. So, how can you combat food waste and keep produce fresh for longer? Fortunately, there are some helpful tips.
We gave 60,000 food products a ‘planetary health’ star rating – see how your favourites stack up
If every Australian swapped higher-emission products for very similar but lower-emission products, total emissions from household groceries would fall by a quarter (26%). Taking this a step further, consistently switching to the “less similar” lower-emission option – such as swapping to a different type of bread – would cut emissions from household groceries by a whopping 71%.
Dollars and scents: how the right smells can encourage shoppers to buy healthier foods
The mere act of smelling or imagining a herbal scent stimulates memories of cooking and eating home-cooked meals prepared from fresh ingredients. We found the association with home-cooking then stimulates a desire to choose and purchase related wholefoods rather than more processed foods.
