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Mum fined for pumping breast milk in the car

A mum from Queensland has received a hefty fine for something she has done many times before. Meagan Schmock and her husband Benjamin were travelling home from their honeymoon on the Gold Coast when Meagan, who is a breastfeeding mum, started to feel unwell. "I was getting quite engorged and it was getting incredibly uncomfortable for me. It's throbbing, it's hot," Mrs Schmock told <a href="https://9now.nine.com.au/a-current-affair/queensland-mum-fined-after-pumping-breast-milk-in-passenger-seat/e2a4be4a-7201-43df-896c-ddbff34acee8" target="_blank" rel="noopener">A Current Affair</a>. Meagan was in the passenger seat while her husband drove, so Meagan was able to pump breast milk for her 10-month-old son Billy. "To have to sit in the car for an hour-and-a-half, maybe two hours, waiting to get home to feed my little one, It just wasn't going to happen," Mrs Schmock said. While pumping, traffic cameras snapped a picture of the mum adjusting herself for a split second, resulting in a fine. "They have captured me taking my seatbelt off, putting it underneath my arm so I can unhook my breast pump," she said. Mrs Schmock said her seatbelt remained fastened the whole time and only slipped under her armpit for a split second. However, the manoeuver has now landed her husband a hefty infringement notice for driving with a passenger who failed to wear their seatbelt correctly. "It was $1161 and four demerit points. I was gob-smacked. I was shocked," Mrs Schmock said. "I saw the money fine first and I was just like, 'what's happened'? And then as I've unfolded the letter, I've seen this photo and then looked closer and been like, 'that's me pumping'." Mrs Schmock said she had no idea you could be fined for readjusting your seat belt, and shared the story of the fine on social media. Other mums chimed in on the incident, saying they were grateful for Meagan’s story. "I felt a lot of support from that - realising that a lot more (mums) didn't know," Mrs Schmock said. Another Queensland mum also learned the same lesson the hard way. The same seatbelt camera also captured her in the passenger seat pumping breast milk and she was fined $413 and three demerit points. "As a breastfeeding mum - and I'm sure any other mums who have breastfeed or who have pumped before know that - you can't just really wait," Mrs Schmock said. Meagan and Benjamin Schmock are now disputing the fine with the Department of Transport and Main Roads, and they are considering exploring the potential for a seat belt exemption due to a medical condition. Image credits: A Current Affair

Legal

Woman slams parking note asking if she was “truly disabled”

A driver has been left fuming after an “entitled” parking note was left on her mother’s car accusing them of misusing a disabled parking spot. Canberra resident Cheyenne took to <a href="https://www.reddit.com/r/canberra/comments/12x8cr9/the_absolute_gall_to_leave_this_on_my_mothers_car/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Reddit</a> to share her horrific experience and a photo of the note left on her mother’s car. “Hi, are you truly disabled,” the note read. “You both walked from your car like athletes. Please follow the rules.” Cheyenne who was left fuming at the situation captioned the post with “The absolute gall to leave this on my mother’s car in Gungahlin shops parking.”. She then explained: “My mother is disabled, her disability isn’t visible. She was legally given a disability parking permit because she is DISABLED! What a moron”. Speaking to <a href="https://au.news.yahoo.com/aussie-woman-slams-entitled-parking-note-how-dare-they-041811992.html" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Yahoo News Australia</a>, Cheyenne said that “it’s frustrating” because her mum doesn’t look like she has a disability, even though she has “multiple”. She also explained that her mum has suffered with a polycystic kidney and liver. After a kidney transplant caused further health issues, she was granted a disability badge. "Because she has all of her limbs and is able-bodied, many people have the wrong idea and get entitled," Cheyenne added. Other Reddit users have shared similar experiences. “I have arthritis in my spine and elsewhere – disabling, yet completely invisible. Have had old women yell at me for parking in the disabled spots, despite having a permit,” one user wrote. “My mother recently had surgery so she’s not able to drive. Ordinarily she has a disabled permit anyway. I picked her up from a doctor's checkup and a woman gave me a serve for parking in the disabled bay as I was picking up my mum. People are so quick to judge,” wrote another. “I’m sorry you found this note on your car. There’s no need to ever justify why you have a disabled ‘sticker’. It’s no-one’s business but your own,” commented a third. Images: Reddit

Caring

The most perfectly pink property to hit the market

Who ever said there was such thing as too much pink? Not this homeowner, who has listed their perfectly pastel property for sale in Canberra. After passing at auction, the charming two-bedroom home in the suburb of <a href="https://www.domain.com.au/10-euroka-street-narrabundah-act-2604-2018451630?utm_source=nine.com.au&utm_medium=cpc&utm_campaign=editorial-content" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Narrabundah</a> is expected to sell for more than $1 million in a private sale. The home, which looks like it has been blessed by Barbie herself, boasts various shades of pink everywhere you look. Everything and the kitchen sink is pink in this house, including the cabinetry, windows, wall paint and tiles all boasting varying shades of blush. After entering through a hot pink door on the pastel pink house, prospective buyers are met with a state of the art kitchen, which has fairy floss pink cabinets in contrast with glossy black appliances. The bathroom a pink-lover's fantasy, showcasing a baby pink basin crafted from onyx from Afghanistan, atop an antique-style set of drawers, encased in banks of lipstick pink subway tiles. The house, which truly embraces the latest "Barbiecore" trend, also has a series of stained-glass windows and bright pink feature walls throughout. While the "proud aesthetic" of this house may not be to everyone's taste, there is sure to be a fuchsia-fanatic who would be tickled pink to call this pastel palace home. Image credits: Domain

Real Estate

6 things a food poisoning expert would never eat

If you want to know how to avoid food poisoning, you better listen to food poisoning expert and lawyer Bill Marler. He’s a products liability and personal injury attorney specialising in food-borne illnesses as well as the managing partner of Marler Clark, dubbed “The Food Safety Law Firm”. With twenty years in the industry, he’s won more than $600 million in compensation claims for his clients since 1998. In an article posted in the <a href="http://www.foodpoisonjournal.com/food-poisoning-information/six-foods-bill-marler-never-eats/#.VrJ3Kvl96uV" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Food Poisoning Journal</a>, Bill has revealed the six foods he refused to eat. Unpasteurised (“raw”) milk and packaged juices Unpasteurised milk, sometimes called “raw” milk, can be contaminated with bacteria, viruses and parasites. Between 1998 and 2011, there were 148 food poisoning outbreaks linked to raw milk and raw milk products in the US—and keep in mind that comparatively few people in the country ever consume these products, so 148 outbreaks is nothing to ignore. As for unpasteurised packaged juices, one of Marler’s earliest cases was the 1996 E. coli outbreak from unpasteurised Odwalla apple juice. As a result, he won’t go near raw milk or juice. “There’s no benefit big enough to take away the risk of drinking products that can be made safe by pasteurisation,” he says. Raw sprouts Uncooked and lightly cooked sprouts have been linked to more than 30 bacterial outbreaks (mostly of salmonella and E. coli) in the US since mid-1990s. As recently as 2014, salmonella from bean sprouts sent 19 people to the hospital. All types of sprouts - including alfalfa, mung bean, clover and radish sprouts - can spread infection, which is caused by bacterial contamination of their seeds. “There have been too many outbreaks to not pay attention to the risk of sprout contamination,” Marler says. “Those are products that I just don’t eat at all.” He did add that he does eat them if they’re cooked. Meat that isn’t well-done Marler orders his burgers well-done. “The reason ground products are more problematic and need to be cooked more thoroughly is that any bacteria that’s on the surface of the meat can be ground inside of it,” Marler says. “If it’s not cooked thoroughly to 160°F throughout, it can cause poisoning by E. coli and salmonella and other bacterial illnesses.” As for steaks, needle tenderising - a common restaurant practice in which the steak is pierced with needles or sliced with knives to break down the muscle fibres and make it more tender - can also transfer bugs from the surface to the interior of the meat. If a restaurant does this (Marler asks), he orders his steak well-done. If the restaurant doesn’t, he’ll opt for medium-well. Prewashed or precut fruits and vegetables “I avoid these like the plague,” Marler says. Why? The more a food is handled and processed, the more likely it is to become tainted. “We’ve gotten so used to the convenience of mass-produced food - bagged salad and boxed salads and precut this and precut that,” Marler says. “Convenience is great but sometimes I think it isn’t worth the risk.” He buys unwashed, uncut produce in small amounts and eats it within three to four days to reduce the risk for listeria, a deadly bug that grows at refrigerator temps. Raw or undercooked eggs You may remember the salmonella epidemic of the 1980s and early ’90s that was linked mainly to eggs. If you swore off raw eggs back then, you might as well stick with it. The most recent salmonella outbreak from eggs, in 2010, caused roughly 2,000 reported cases of illness. “I think the risk of egg contamination is much lower today than it was 20 years ago for salmonella, but I still eat my eggs well-cooked,” Marler says. Raw oysters and other raw shellfish Marler says that raw shellfish - especially oysters - have been causing more foodborne illness lately. He links this to warming waters, which produce more microbial growth. “Oysters are filter feeders, so they pick up everything that’s in the water,” he explains. “If there’s bacteria in the water it’ll get into their system, and if you eat it you could have trouble. I’ve seen a lot more of that over the last five years than I saw in the last 20 years. It’s simply not worth the risk.” Images: Shutterstock

Food & Wine

URGENT RECALL: Popular almond milk brand linked to severe illness

A popular brand of almond milk is being urgently recalled from stores around New South Wales after the product was linked to a case of botulism. Inside Out almond milk, which is stocked at Woolworths, is being removed from the shelves over fears that bottles may contain botulinum, a neurotoxin that can cause disease. NSW Health has confirmed one case of botulism, a rare but fatal illness caused by toxins attacking the body’s nerves, has been linked to the product. The person suffered “severe symptoms” and was admitted to the hospital. The director of NSW Health’s One Health branch said the illness can be fatal. "Early symptoms of foodborne botulism include weakness, fatigue and vertigo," Glasgow said. "While these symptoms occur commonly due to a number of health conditions, with botulism it is usually followed by blurred vision, dry mouth and difficulty swallowing. Nausea and vomiting may also occur." "These symptoms can progress to paralysis of the arm muscles and continue down the body to the trunk and legs, and paralysis of breathing muscles can be fatal." She added. "We are urging anyone who has consumed this product and experiences these serious symptoms to seek immediate medical attention.” Glasgow warned that “most cases” can recover if treated early. "In foodborne botulism, symptoms may begin from a few hours to several days after consuming the contaminated product," she said. Any affected products have a used-by-date of March 1, 2023. The warning comes just a day after a basketball ring set that was sold at leading sports stores across Australia for over two years was also recalled. In late January, Hyundai had to recall thousands of cars to fix a software glitch interfering with the “fail-safe” driving mode, a fault capable of causing a crash. Image credit: Getty

News

The verdict: Full fat versus low fat milk

The idea of full low milk being healthier for us began circulating in the 1950s. It was shown that saturated fat increased blood cholesterol levels, with certain statistical evidence leading to the assumption it resulted in higher rates of heart disease and obesity. This idea is not totally wrong. Full fat milk does indeed have a high saturated fat content, about 65 percent in fact. <a href="http://www.simoneaustin.com/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Simone Austin</a>, accredited practising dietitian and spokesperson for the <a href="http://daa.asn.au/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Dietitians Association of Australia</a> addresses the claims that saturated fat should be avoided when it comes to weight management. “We are still recommending saturated fat should be kept to a minimum as there is still a link between saturated and plasma cholesterol levels, however full cream milk is only 4% total fat and is therefore not a high fat product, depending on quantity of course.” Health and nutrition coach and whole foods chef, Lee Holmes, believes that low-fat milk is a great option for those trying to lose weight. Even though the fat is skimmed, the milk itself still contains an abundance of calcium and protein, and these are essential to weight loss. “Low-fat milk is better for overall weight control and maintenance as it only contains 0.15% fat as opposed to full-cream milk which contains 3.8% fat” she explains. The New Zealand Ministry of Health recommends enjoying mostly low and reduced fat milk and milk products, as it can reduce the total daily kilojoule intake to aid with weight management. This is generally believed to lead to weight loss and reduced risk of heart disease. However, Simone explains why it is not quite that straight forward. “Fat can give some feeling of satiety. If you are having less milk overall, and it is more filling to have full cream milk, then this might decrease overall volume of food consumed and therefore not be detrimental”. This approach is supported by recent research conducted by <a href="../%20http:/www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/26746178">Swedish researchers</a>, looking at the dairy consumption of a group of middle aged men. If found that those who ate full fat dairy products were less likely to become obese over a period of 12 years, compare with men who rarely ate high- fat diary. This is because the weight-loss effect of reducing saturated fat depends on what replaces it in the diet, which is usually sugar and carbohydrates. Unfortunately, most of us are susceptible to consciously or unconsciously replacing a larger reduction in calories with something else. So, if you drink low-fat varieties of milk in order to reduce calorie intake, you must ensure you are not making up these calories elsewhere for this approach to be effective. However, in your quest for a slimmer waist line, it is important not to overlook other important health factors. Milk is a primary source of nutrients, and according to both Simone and the <a href="http://ro.uow.edu.au/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=2032&context=sspapers" target="_blank" rel="noopener">ABS</a>, most over-60s simply aren’t getting what they need. “In New Zealand the annual per capita consumption of milk has declined by 30% in the last 20 years, and 20% of the New Zealand population has an inadequate intake of calcium”. Simone stresses that simply aiming to meet serves is the priority. “Milk also provides a valuable source of protein and as we age our efficiency at using protein reduces, so we need to have a little more”. Lee Holmes echoes this, stating that ideally, people over 60 years of age should be having two to three glasses of cow’s milk daily to absorb the necessary amounts of calcium. If you don’t want to consume that much milk, are lactose intolerant or prefer to opt for non-cow’s milk (such as almond) you need to make these nutrients up elsewhere. “You may want to consider a quality, natural supplement to ensure you are giving your body all the nutrients it needs." So whether it be low-fat or full-fat, say cheers to milk and manage your weight loss in accordance with other health factors. Image: Getty Images

Food & Wine

Floods, pandemics, wars and market forces: what’s driving up the price of milk

At the end of 2021, the cost of a litre of home-brand milk in an Australian supermarket <a href="https://www.abc.net.au/news/rural/2021-11-25/dairy-farmers-welcome-woolworths-milk-price-lift/100650118" target="_blank" rel="noopener">was about $1.30</a>. It’s now about $1.60. What will it cost at the end of 2022? That depends on the continued effect of flooding on prime dairy-production regions in New South Wales, Victoria and Tasmania, as well as on global economic conditions. The Australian Bureau of Agricultural and Resource Economics and Science has projected <a href="https://www.agriculture.gov.au/abares/research-topics/agricultural-outlook/dairy" target="_blank" rel="noopener">a 28% increase</a> in the farm-gate milk price in 2022-23 – to 72.5 cents per litre, a record high. With less milk being produced, it could be even more. <hr /> Australia’s dairy regions <figure class="align-center zoomable"><a href="https://images.theconversation.com/files/490779/original/file-20221020-19-64n8np.png?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=1000&fit=clip"><img src="https://images.theconversation.com/files/490779/original/file-20221020-19-64n8np.png?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=754&fit=clip" sizes="(min-width: 1466px) 754px, (max-width: 599px) 100vw, (min-width: 600px) 600px, 237px" srcset="https://images.theconversation.com/files/490779/original/file-20221020-19-64n8np.png?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=600&h=464&fit=crop&dpr=1 600w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/490779/original/file-20221020-19-64n8np.png?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=30&auto=format&w=600&h=464&fit=crop&dpr=2 1200w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/490779/original/file-20221020-19-64n8np.png?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=15&auto=format&w=600&h=464&fit=crop&dpr=3 1800w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/490779/original/file-20221020-19-64n8np.png?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=754&h=583&fit=crop&dpr=1 754w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/490779/original/file-20221020-19-64n8np.png?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=30&auto=format&w=754&h=583&fit=crop&dpr=2 1508w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/490779/original/file-20221020-19-64n8np.png?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=15&auto=format&w=754&h=583&fit=crop&dpr=3 2262w" alt="" /></a><figcaption><a class="source" href="https://www.agriculture.gov.au/abares/research-topics/surveys/dairy#financial-performance" target="_blank" rel="noopener">ABARES</a>, <a class="license" href="http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">CC BY-NC-ND</a></figcaption></figure> <hr /> It’s a case of higher demand and lower supply. Production has been declining since 2014. In the first half of 2022, ABARES says milk production was about 7% lower than the same period in 2021: <blockquote> This was driven by extreme weather events: a drier than average start of the year in southern Victoria and northwest Tasmania, flooding in regions of Queensland and northern New South Wales. Also, with export prices for Australian dairy products increasing substantially at the start of 2022, less milk was available to the domestic market. </blockquote> Obviously, things aren’t all rosy. Some dairy farmers face the devastation of natural disasters. All face the same post-COVID challenges as other primary producers. Russia’s war on Ukraine has help drive up <a href="https://www.austrade.gov.au/news/insights/insight-farm-food-costs-rise-due-to-higher-energy-prices" target="_blank" rel="noopener">costs of inputs</a>, from fertilisers to <a href="https://www.agriculture.gov.au/abares/data/weekly-commodity-price-update/australian-agricultural-prices" target="_blank" rel="noopener">feed</a>. Labour is <a href="https://www.reuters.com/business/australia-needs-workers-million-are-stuck-door-2022-08-31" target="_blank" rel="noopener">hard to find</a>. But for all that, the record high farm-gate price is good news for an industry where the number of farmers has declined by a quarter in the past decade (from <a href="https://www.aph.gov.au/DocumentStore.ashx?id=b16a172f-6300-4ee0-918a-b235cf9da725">about 7,500</a> in 2011 to <a href="https://www.dairy.com.au/our-industry-and-people/our-regions">about 5,700</a> now). Deregulation stirs the pot Until 2000, farm-gate milk prices were regulated. State and territory governments set minimum farm-gate prices that maintained farmer income. This was abandoned in July 2000. With deregulation, farmers, processors and supermarkets were set free to negotiate prices. In economic theory, free trade works fine when you have a large number of buyers and sellers, all with the same amount of information about what is happening in the market. But in the milk industry, thousands of producers sell to a handful of milk processors, who then sell to even fewer retailers. The major supermarkets control almost <a href="https://milkvalue.com.au/australian-dairy-market/sales-trends/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">60% of total milk sales</a>. This is not always such a problem. It is not often you hear fresh producers screaming at supermarkets, in what is a very similar arrangement. But with the dairy industry, as noted in a <a href="https://www.agriculture.gov.au/sites/default/files/documents/review-report-dairy-industry-code.docx" target="_blank" rel="noopener">2021 report</a> from the Department of Agriculture, Waters and the Environment, there is a “perceived market failure”. Why? It has to do with how supermarkets have used their power. Waging the milk price war To give time for the market to find an equilibrium, the Howard government introduced a “Dairy Adjustment Levy” of 11 cents per litre to support farmers through deregulation. This levy remained in place until 2008, when it was abolished by the Rudd government. Then, in 2011, the “milk war” broke out. Coles had the idea of luring shoppers from Woolworths by selling milk <a href="https://www.smh.com.au/business/milk-wars-leave-sour-taste-in-farmers-mouths-20120120-1q9st.html" target="_blank" rel="noopener">at $1 a litre</a>. Woolworths responded. Aldi joined the move. And the war kept prices artificially low for almost a decade. Supermarkets put the squeeze on processors, who had little option but to accept what was offered for crucial supermarket contracts. Processors then put the squeeze on farmers. <hr /> <iframe id="5TukM" class="tc-infographic-datawrapper" style="border: none;" src="https://datawrapper.dwcdn.net/5TukM/1/" width="100%" height="400px" frameborder="0"></iframe> <hr /> Many decided the effort was not worth it, and quit farming. Milk production peaked in 2014 then declined. Supermarkets finally abandoned $1/litre milk in 2019, under considerable public and <a href="https://www.abc.net.au/news/2019-02-23/milk-wars-whats-at-the-heart-of-dairys-battles/10838390" target="_blank" rel="noopener">political pressure</a> to acknowledge that, after eight years with no increase, some rebalancing was needed. During this time, overseas demand for dairy products has also been increasing, especially in Asia. Now <a href="https://www.dairyaustralia.com.au/westvic-dairy/industry-statistics/industry-reports/australian-dairy-industry-in-focus#.YzA0_nZByM9" target="_blank" rel="noopener">about 32%</a> of Australian dairy production is exported – not as fresh milk, but as cheese, butter and other dairy products. (It takes about 10 litres of milk to make <a href="https://www.dairysafe.vic.gov.au/consumers/dairy-foods/cheese" target="_blank" rel="noopener">1 kilogram of cheese</a>, and 20 litres to make <a href="https://www.dairysafe.vic.gov.au/consumers/dairy-foods/butter" target="_blank" rel="noopener">1kg of butter</a>.) On top of that, lately US and European dairy farmers have had a hard time <a href="https://www.agriculture.gov.au/abares/research-topics/agricultural-outlook/dairy#milk-production-to-increase-but-export-volumes-to-fall" target="_blank" rel="noopener">with drought</a>, increasing international prices. The United Nations’ Food and Agriculture Organization’s Dairy Price Index increased by more <a href="https://www.fao.org/3/cc1189en/cc1189en.pdf" target="_blank" rel="noopener">than 17%</a> from 2020 to 2021, and is expected to rise another 15% by the end of this year. <hr /> Australian milk production and farm-gate price <figure class="align-center "><img src="https://images.theconversation.com/files/486429/original/file-20220926-15788-17niif.png?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=754&fit=clip" sizes="(min-width: 1466px) 754px, (max-width: 599px) 100vw, (min-width: 600px) 600px, 237px" srcset="https://images.theconversation.com/files/486429/original/file-20220926-15788-17niif.png?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=600&h=350&fit=crop&dpr=1 600w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/486429/original/file-20220926-15788-17niif.png?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=30&auto=format&w=600&h=350&fit=crop&dpr=2 1200w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/486429/original/file-20220926-15788-17niif.png?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=15&auto=format&w=600&h=350&fit=crop&dpr=3 1800w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/486429/original/file-20220926-15788-17niif.png?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=754&h=440&fit=crop&dpr=1 754w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/486429/original/file-20220926-15788-17niif.png?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=30&auto=format&w=754&h=440&fit=crop&dpr=2 1508w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/486429/original/file-20220926-15788-17niif.png?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=15&auto=format&w=754&h=440&fit=crop&dpr=3 2262w" alt="" /><figcaption><a class="source" href="https://www.agriculture.gov.au/sites/default/files/images/ac-sept-2022-dairy-fig-1-2.png">ABARES; Dairy Australia</a></figcaption></figure> <hr /> The projected 28% rise in farm-gate milk prices in 2022-23 will bring the value of the Australian dairy production to a record <a href="https://www.agriculture.gov.au/abares/research-topics/agricultural-outlook/dairy" target="_blank" rel="noopener">$6.2 billion</a>. Which is good news for the long term sustainability of dairy farming in Australia. You might not appreciate it, but to keep dairy farmers in business, a fair price must be payed for your fresh milk. <img style="border: none !important; box-shadow: none !important; margin: 0 !important; max-height: 1px !important; max-width: 1px !important; min-height: 1px !important; min-width: 1px !important; opacity: 0 !important; outline: none !important; padding: 0 !important;" src="https://counter.theconversation.com/content/191064/count.gif?distributor=republish-lightbox-basic" alt="The Conversation" width="1" height="1" />Writen by Flavio Macau. Republished with permission from <a href="https://theconversation.com/floods-pandemics-wars-and-market-forces-whats-driving-up-the-price-of-milk-191064" target="_blank" rel="noopener">The Conversation</a>. Image: Getty Images

Money & Banking

"The time for lip service is over": Dylan Alcott serves it up to Centrelink

During his appearance at the Jobs and Skills summit in Canberra, Aussie tennis legend Dylan Alcott delivered an impassioned speech on behalf of all people with disabilities, demanding they be allowed to work more hours without losing their Centrelink benefits. His plea comes as the nation suffers through what's been widely characterised as an extreme labour shortage – with Alcott's rallying cry to change the current rules surrounding employment and the disability pension powerfully underlined by his parting shot that "the time for lip service is over". <blockquote class="twitter-tweet"> "My whole life it hasn't changed": Australian of the Year Dylan Alcott has called for an increase in workplace participation for Australians living with a disability during the government's jobs and skills summit in Canberra. Read more on the jobs summit: <a href="https://t.co/iyFrzKUT9l">https://t.co/iyFrzKUT9l</a> <a href="https://t.co/MFdrsEoADy">pic.twitter.com/MFdrsEoADy</a> — SBS News (@SBSNews) <a href="https://twitter.com/SBSNews/status/1565218388716261377?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">September 1, 2022</a></blockquote> The Australian of the Year suggested that people with disabilities should have the advantage of picking up more work without losing Centrelink payments. Presenting the moving speech to 140 attendees, he spoke passionately about the current state of affairs for people with disabilities in the workforce. “Nearly 4.5 million people in this country have some form of physical or non-physical disability, visible or invisible, and only 54% of them are enrolled in the workforce,” he said “I'm 31 years old, that participation rate hasn't changed in 28 years. My whole life. It hasn't changed. “And to be honest, that's not fair. That really isn't fair. Because people with a disability are ready to have the choice if they want to work, just like anybody else.” “The time for lip service is over to be honest, because we've been getting that for a long time.” Australia's unemployment rate currently sits at 3.4% – however, the unemployment rate of people with disabilities is almost triple that. Alcott suggests the best solution to combat the problem is to allow those on disability support payments to work more hours without losing their benefits. Currently someone on that payment loses 50c in every dollar they earn over $190 a fortnight, putting them off working extra hours. “There are so many opportunities to get out there and work at the moment, yet it's not really translating into people with disabilities getting that chance,” Alcott said. “We need to have the opportunity to get out there and have a crack.” Image: Getty

Money & Banking

Canberra airport shooting: gunman arrested

A 63-year-old man has been arrested after he allegedly fired several shots inside Canberra airport on Sunday. His rampage caused several bullet holes in terminal windows, and the evacuation of the airport. ACT police said one person was taken into custody and a firearm was recovered after the shooting, with no reported injuries from the scene. On Monday morning, ACT police confirmed the man has been charged with firearm offences and will remain in police custody. Police will allege the man arrived at the airport about 1.20pm on Sunday when he sat near the southern check-in desks on the first floor. Around 1.25pm, the man allegedly withdrew a firearm and fired a number of shots into the windows of the building. The man has been charged with discharging a firearm at a building, unlawful possession of a firearm and discharging a firearm near a person causing alarm, police said. He will face ACT magistrates court on Monday. All planes were grounded during the shooting, while some parts of the airport were evacuated while others were locked down. Frightened travellers documented their experience during the shooting online, with some witnesses saying they heard "8 to 10 gunshots". <blockquote class="twitter-tweet"> More than a dozen police cars and an ambulance at Canberra airport, after reports of gunshots fired inside the terminal this afternoon. One witness told me they heard “8 to 10 shots”. Hundreds of people outside after the airport was evacuated <a href="https://t.co/wJQ8rsdRv7">pic.twitter.com/wJQ8rsdRv7</a> — Josh Butler (@JoshButler) <a href="https://twitter.com/JoshButler/status/1558670417443037184?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">August 14, 2022</a></blockquote> <blockquote class="twitter-tweet"> From Facebook: “Fun times at Canberra Airport. All evacuated due to gunman. None hurt from what I understand. Suspect apprehended by AFP.” <a href="https://t.co/ErnNj9KHlB">pic.twitter.com/ErnNj9KHlB</a> — ayden dawkins (@AydenDawkins) <a href="https://twitter.com/AydenDawkins/status/1558666478882549760?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">August 14, 2022</a></blockquote> ABC reporter Dan Bourchier was on the tarmac at the time and said the plane was held as police did a “security sweep”. Another man, who declined to give his name, said, “They told us ‘run, run’. It was very scary.” Image credits: Getty Images

News

Udderly ridiculous: Price of milk next in line for huge hike

With the cost of living soaring, we can now add home-brand milk to the long list of products being hit by significant price hikes. In yet another hit to household budgets, Coles and Woolies will start charging more for the grocery staple, in a move that's being chalked up to rising prices at the farm gate – which in turn are being passed on to consumers. Both supermarkets will charge $1.60 for a litre of homebranded milk, $3.10 for two litres and $4.50 for a family-sized three litre. That's a steep increase of 25c on the one litre, 50c for two litres and a whopping 60c jump on three-litre bottles. Coles will also increase the cost of its long-life UHT milk from $1.35 to $1.60. “The farmgate prices paid to dairy farmers have risen significantly this season, and as a result we’re paying our own brand suppliers more for milk,” a spokesperson for Woolworths said. Coles chief commercial officer Leah Weckert said the company was aware of increased cost of living pressures and remained committed to delivering value to its customers. "Raising prices is never something we do lightly, however, the increased supply chain costs we are seeing, including higher payments to dairy farmers and processors, have necessitated these increases on Coles brand milk products,” she said. Coles started paying its dairy farmers more for their product from the beginning of this month and has also agreed to higher costs asked by processors who source the milk themselves to supply the company. Image: Getty

Money & Banking

Man's very own retro milk bar brings '50s shops back to life

An Aussie man has impressed thousands with an incredible replica of an old school milk bar that he created in his home. Sharing his project to the <a href="https://www.facebook.com/groups/504232366322711/posts/5471834082895823/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Old Shops Australia</a> Facebook page, Anthony Launer said he was inspired by his wonderful memories as a child to create his very own vintage store. Anthony built the store at his home in Thailand by bringing over the memorabilia from his native Australia, saying it "really feels like home now". "When you love the memories of the Old Shops so much as a child that you need to create one at home. A mix of wonderful memories all in the one room," the '50s-fan said. The retro room is decked out with vintage signs, advertisements, gas cans, photos, trinkets and even food and drinks. The nostalgic replica store shows how times have changed over the years with Milo being advertised as a 'tonic', cigarette signs a-plenty and displays for long-gone brands such as Bex medicines, Leed Lemonade, and Monkey Brand soap. Anthony's incredible collection awoke memories for many other group members, with the post racking up hundreds of comments. One woman said, "This is where i would sit for my morning coffee for sure, I love it." Another was so impressed they wanted to visit, asking Anthony, "What are your opening hours?!" Image credits: Facebook

Food & Wine

James Cromwell glues hand to Starbucks counter in support of animal rights

Babe actor James Cromwell caused quite a stir in a Starbucks after gluing his hand to the counter in support of animal rights. The popular coffee chain recently announced an extra charge for plant based milk which has infuriated the Best Supporting Actor Oscar. Activist group People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals organised the protest, with Cromwell taking the lead and gluing himself to the counter, calling for the surcharge to be removed. “Non-dairy products all over the world…France, they give these things away. There’s no charge for it. Here, there’s an exorbitant charge,” he said. “Why, when it’s so important now to address climate change and to understand the violence to animals to go on to make dairy products that are served here? There’s no reason for it except greed.” Police were called to the Starbucks asking the protestors to leave which they did with no arrests made. In a statement, Starbucks explained how customers are also slugged a surcharge when ordering other non-dairy milk with their orders. "Customers can customise any beverage on the menu with a non-dairy milk, including soy milk, coconut milk, almond milk, and oat milk for an additional cost (similar to other beverage customisations such as an additional espresso shot or syrup)," the statement read. "Pricing varies market by market." Police were eventually called to the Starbucks and asked the protestors to leave with no arrests made. Watch the video <a href="https://www.facebook.com/official.peta/videos/2237669893078098" target="_blank" rel="noopener">here</a>. Images: Twitter

Travel Trouble

OAK adds two new flavours to iconic line-up

After over 50,000 entries, OAK have unveiled two new flavours dreamt up by everyday Aussies, as part of their OAK Flavour Generator competition. The two flavours are: Dan’s Cherry on Choc and Erin’s Mum’s Caramel Slice. They’re set to have already hit the shelves, having been launched on the 25th of April. Dairy fanatics everywhere are now called to buy, taste and cast their vote online to decide which will become a permanent OAK offering. Dan’s Choc on Cherry combo is described as “so coconuts”, while Erin’s Mum’s Caramel Slice flavour was inspired by her mum’s caramel slice recipe. The result is the “luscious caramel-choc milk of your dreams, fresh baked to perfection”. Both flavours are already on shelves at Coles for Aussies to try, and will be available at Woolworths from May the 16th. It’ll also roll out at independent grocery stores, convenience stores and petrol stations between the 25th of April and 2nd of May. Voting is open until June the 30th. Either Dan or Erin will take home $10,000 prize money if their flavour takes the crown. Have you tried the new flavours? Let us know what you think. Image: News.com.au

Food & Wine

RECALLED: Popular Coconut Milk pulled from Coles

This popular dairy-free milk alternative has been pulled from Coles supermarket shelves after the major retailer released a batch had been contaminated. The 1L carton of Coles Organic Unsweetened Coconut Milk with the best before date of March the 31st, 2023 has been recalled because it had an undetected presence of milk. The product was for sale in Coles supermarkets, Coles Local and online in Victoria as well as Coles Lavington, Deniliquin and Albury stores in NSW. Food Standards Australia issue the recall on Friday, advising people of the contamination. “The recall is due to the presence of an undeclared allergen – milk,” it said. “The label also incorrectly advises the product is suitable for vegans. “Any consumers who have a (milk) allergy or intolerance may have a reaction if the product is consumed. “Consumers who have a (milk) allergy or intolerance should not consume this product and should return the product.” As written on the packaging, the Coles Organic Unsweetened Coconut Milk is dairy and lactose free and made from just five ingredients. “Our organic plant-based milk as a healthy, delicious alternative. It’s made with natural ingredients and for you to enjoy everyday,” it reads. Image: Coles

Food & Wine

McDonald’s announces arrival of Cadbury Dairy Milk McFlurry

McDonald’s Australia has announced the arrival of an all-new dessert item - the McFlurry with Cadbury Dairy Milk. Macca’s and Cadbury have teamed up to offer the exciting menu addition for a limited time. Featuring soft serve mixed with dairy milk chocolate flakes and sauce, the new McFlurry has been described as “the ultimate treat worth melting for”. The sweet creation will be available exclusively via UberEats from March 30th for one week. It will then land in Macca’s restaurants nationwide on April 6th. McDonald’s Australia Senior Brand Manager Liz Whitbread said the fast food giant was excited to offer the new dessert to Macca’s fans. “There’s nothing quite like the iconic Macca’s soft serve and the smooth and creamy taste of Cadbury chocolate,” she said. “With Cadbury celebrating 100 years in Australia, we are excited to bring together two iconic brands to create the perfect dessert or afternoon treat”. Images: Getty

Food & Wine

Canberra takes out bronze in worldwide healthy city rankings

The world’s healthiest cities have been crowned for 2022, with Australia’s capital claiming bronze. A <a href="https://www.money.co.uk/mortgages/healthiest-places" target="_blank" rel="noopener">new study</a> from Money.co.uk has ranked Canberra in third place, two places higher than last year’s rankings. <blockquote class="instagram-media" style="background: #FFF; border: 0; border-radius: 3px; box-shadow: 0 0 1px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.5),0 1px 10px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.15); margin: 1px; max-width: 540px; min-width: 326px; padding: 0; width: calc(100% - 2px);" data-instgrm-captioned="" data-instgrm-permalink="https://www.instagram.com/p/CaOaNydoLR5/?utm_source=ig_embed&utm_campaign=loading" data-instgrm-version="14"> <div style="padding: 16px;"> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: row; align-items: center;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; flex-grow: 0; height: 40px; margin-right: 14px; width: 40px;"> </div> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: column; flex-grow: 1; justify-content: center;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; margin-bottom: 6px; width: 100px;"> </div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; width: 60px;"> </div> </div> </div> <div style="padding: 19% 0;"> </div> <div style="display: block; height: 50px; margin: 0 auto 12px; width: 50px;"> </div> <div style="padding-top: 8px;"> <div style="color: #3897f0; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: 550; line-height: 18px;">View this post on Instagram</div> </div> <div style="padding: 12.5% 0;"> </div> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: row; margin-bottom: 14px; align-items: center;"> <div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; height: 12.5px; width: 12.5px; transform: translateX(0px) translateY(7px);"> </div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; height: 12.5px; transform: rotate(-45deg) translateX(3px) translateY(1px); width: 12.5px; flex-grow: 0; margin-right: 14px; margin-left: 2px;"> </div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; height: 12.5px; width: 12.5px; transform: translateX(9px) translateY(-18px);"> </div> </div> <div style="margin-left: 8px;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; flex-grow: 0; height: 20px; width: 20px;"> </div> <div style="width: 0; height: 0; border-top: 2px solid transparent; border-left: 6px solid #f4f4f4; border-bottom: 2px solid transparent; transform: translateX(16px) translateY(-4px) rotate(30deg);"> </div> </div> <div style="margin-left: auto;"> <div style="width: 0px; border-top: 8px solid #F4F4F4; border-right: 8px solid transparent; transform: translateY(16px);"> </div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; flex-grow: 0; height: 12px; width: 16px; transform: translateY(-4px);"> </div> <div style="width: 0; height: 0; border-top: 8px solid #F4F4F4; border-left: 8px solid transparent; transform: translateY(-4px) translateX(8px);"> </div> </div> </div> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: column; flex-grow: 1; justify-content: center; margin-bottom: 24px;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; margin-bottom: 6px; width: 224px;"> </div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; width: 144px;"> </div> </div> <p style="color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 17px; margin-bottom: 0; margin-top: 8px; overflow: hidden; padding: 8px 0 7px; text-align: center; text-overflow: ellipsis; white-space: nowrap;"><a style="color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 17px; text-decoration: none;" href="https://www.instagram.com/p/CaOaNydoLR5/?utm_source=ig_embed&utm_campaign=loading" target="_blank" rel="noopener">A post shared by Visit Canberra (@visitcanberra)</a> </div> </blockquote> The study analysed a range of factors, including obesity levels, life expectancy, air pollution, the number of sunlight hours, and safety, along with some related to the pandemic such as healthcare accessibility and the number of healthcare professionals in each country. Though the study ranked Japan as the healthiest country to live in, the top two healthiest cities were both in Spain, with Valencia retaining the top position for another year. Australia also cracked the healthiest countries list, coming in 16th place. <blockquote class="instagram-media" style="background: #FFF; border: 0; border-radius: 3px; box-shadow: 0 0 1px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.5),0 1px 10px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.15); margin: 1px; max-width: 540px; min-width: 326px; padding: 0; width: calc(100% - 2px);" data-instgrm-captioned="" data-instgrm-permalink="https://www.instagram.com/p/Cagbx_5qF8I/?utm_source=ig_embed&utm_campaign=loading" data-instgrm-version="14"> <div style="padding: 16px;"> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: row; align-items: center;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; flex-grow: 0; height: 40px; margin-right: 14px; width: 40px;"> </div> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: column; flex-grow: 1; justify-content: center;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; margin-bottom: 6px; width: 100px;"> </div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; width: 60px;"> </div> </div> </div> <div style="padding: 19% 0;"> </div> <div style="display: block; height: 50px; margin: 0 auto 12px; width: 50px;"> </div> <div style="padding-top: 8px;"> <div style="color: #3897f0; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: 550; line-height: 18px;">View this post on Instagram</div> </div> <div style="padding: 12.5% 0;"> </div> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: row; margin-bottom: 14px; align-items: center;"> <div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; height: 12.5px; width: 12.5px; transform: translateX(0px) translateY(7px);"> </div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; height: 12.5px; transform: rotate(-45deg) translateX(3px) translateY(1px); width: 12.5px; flex-grow: 0; margin-right: 14px; margin-left: 2px;"> </div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; height: 12.5px; width: 12.5px; transform: translateX(9px) translateY(-18px);"> </div> </div> <div style="margin-left: 8px;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; flex-grow: 0; height: 20px; width: 20px;"> </div> <div style="width: 0; height: 0; border-top: 2px solid transparent; border-left: 6px solid #f4f4f4; border-bottom: 2px solid transparent; transform: translateX(16px) translateY(-4px) rotate(30deg);"> </div> </div> <div style="margin-left: auto;"> <div style="width: 0px; border-top: 8px solid #F4F4F4; border-right: 8px solid transparent; transform: translateY(16px);"> </div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; flex-grow: 0; height: 12px; width: 16px; transform: translateY(-4px);"> </div> <div style="width: 0; height: 0; border-top: 8px solid #F4F4F4; border-left: 8px solid transparent; transform: translateY(-4px) translateX(8px);"> </div> </div> </div> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: column; flex-grow: 1; justify-content: center; margin-bottom: 24px;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; margin-bottom: 6px; width: 224px;"> </div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; width: 144px;"> </div> </div> <p style="color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 17px; margin-bottom: 0; margin-top: 8px; overflow: hidden; padding: 8px 0 7px; text-align: center; text-overflow: ellipsis; white-space: nowrap;"><a style="color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 17px; text-decoration: none;" href="https://www.instagram.com/p/Cagbx_5qF8I/?utm_source=ig_embed&utm_campaign=loading" target="_blank" rel="noopener">A post shared by Visit Canberra (@visitcanberra)</a> </div> </blockquote> According to the study, Canberra significantly improved from 2021 to 2022. It is one of the safest cities in the world, has a high average life expectancy at 82.9 years, and experiences a whopping 2,813.7 hours of sunlight each year. In fact, the capital city ranked second when it came to cities with the cleanest air, followed by Wellington. Other Australian cities that made the list include Adelaide in 9th place and Brisbane in 16th place. Image: @visitcanberra (Instagram)

Domestic Travel

Drones are now delivering groceries in Canberra – how does it work?

Major Australian supermarket Coles yesterday announced <a href="https://www.canberratimes.com.au/story/7641084/supermarket-to-offer-drone-delivery-for-grocery-items-in-canberra/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener" data-type="URL" data-id="https://www.canberratimes.com.au/story/7641084/supermarket-to-offer-drone-delivery-for-grocery-items-in-canberra/">the launch of its partnership</a> with drone delivery service <a href="https://wing.com/en_au/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener" data-type="URL" data-id="https://wing.com/en_au/">Wing</a> to bring drone-delivered groceries to customers in Canberra. The battery-powered <a href="https://cosmosmagazine.com/technology/robotics/drones-for-good/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener" data-type="URL" data-id="https://cosmosmagazine.com/technology/robotics/drones-for-good/">drones</a> have a one-metre wingspan, weigh about 4.8 kilograms, and are equipped with both fixed wings and hover propellers, allowing them to behave as miniature versions of both aeroplanes and helicopters. They can travel at speeds of more than 110 km/h and carry packages of up to 1.2 kilograms. According to Simon Rossi, General Manager at Wing Australia, the drones typically require less energy to make a delivery than a kettle does to boil. So how does drone delivery work? Products can be ordered using the Wing app. Coles is currently offering delivery of more than 250 of its most popular grocery items, including bread, fresh produce, healthcare items, and toilet paper. When the order is received, the products are packed and loaded onto a drone, which ascends to its flying altitude of about 45 metres above ground and sets off for the delivery location. The drone will follow a route planned by Wing’s unmanned traffic management (UTM) software. “The aircraft automatically monitors its systems to make sure it is safe to fly and will prevent take-off or automatically take contingency actions if a problem is detected,” Rossi explains. “Our trained remote aircraft pilots oversee everything to make sure the system is operating smoothly.” Once arrived, the drone descends to its delivery height of about seven metres above ground and hovers as it lowers the package to the ground on a tether. The package is automatically released, and the drone returns to the delivery facility. Customers can track the progress of their delivery on the Wing app. According to Wing, the company’s fastest delivery time to date is two minutes and 47 seconds from order to delivery. <figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-video is-provider-youtube wp-block-embed-youtube wp-embed-aspect-16-9 wp-has-aspect-ratio"> <div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper"> <div class="entry-content-asset"> <div class="embed-wrapper"> <div class="inner"><iframe title="Wing's drone delivery service in action in Australia" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/4xrCuPACmq8?feature=oembed" width="500" height="281" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen"></iframe></div> </div> </div> </div> </figure> Is drone delivery catching on? Wing has existing drone delivery partnerships with several businesses in both Canberra and Logan, Queensland. The service also has a presence in the US and Finland. According to Rossi, the company completed more than 100,000 drone deliveries in Australia in 2021, and 30,000 in the first two months of 2022. Early feedback from customers on the partnership with Coles in Canberra has been positive, he says. “Customers are ordering a range of items including pantry staples like bread, eggs, and milk, fresh produce and convenience meals, as well as health care items like over-the-counter cough medicine and bandages.” Are there any risks to drone delivery? Adding large numbers of unmanned flying machines to the air would seem to have the potential to be disruptive. <div class="newsletter-box"> <div id="wpcf7-f6-p183733-o1" class="wpcf7" dir="ltr" lang="en-US" role="form"> <form class="wpcf7-form mailchimp-ext-0.5.56 resetting spai-bg-prepared" action="/technology/robotics/drone-delivery-groceries-canberra/#wpcf7-f6-p183733-o1" method="post" novalidate="novalidate" data-status="resetting"> <input class="wpcf7-form-control wpcf7-text referer-page spai-bg-prepared" name="referer-page" type="hidden" value="https://cosmosmagazine.com/technology/robotics/drone-delivery-groceries-canberra/" data-value="https://cosmosmagazine.com/technology/robotics/drone-delivery-groceries-canberra/" aria-invalid="false" /> </form> </div> </div> “Perhaps Wing’s most interesting feature is its airspace integration and deconfliction,” says Pauline Pounds, an associate professor in information technology and electrical engineering at the University of Queensland. “Balancing the needs of CASA [the Civil Aviation Safety Authority], commercial aviation operators and other drone operators requires some care.” Because they fly in a zone between ‘ground clutter’ and manned aviation traffic, the drones are likely to remain comparatively safe. This also helps explain why flying drones are increasingly integrated into our everyday lives, while driverless cars languish on the sidelines. “It’s far easier to build a robot to fly in clear air where obstacles are rare, rather than on roads where pedestrians and human drivers may behave erratically,” says Pounds. However, the drones’ airspace won’t be completely risk-free. “A collision between a drone and a bird is unlikely to be a pleasant experience for either,” Pounds admits. Is drone delivery the future of grocery shopping? Unfortunately, a drone can’t yet do your entire weekly grocery shop for you, and Rossi emphasises that this isn’t the service’s intention. “Rather, it is to enable customers to quickly order small grocery and convenience items, coffees, and snacks which they may need in a hurry,” he says. But could it be done one day? “Scaling drones to carry heavier payloads is a fundamental challenge: the more the drone carries, the shorter its flight will be,” says Pounds. “Drones are optimised for specific payload-range characteristics. Improving performance requires more energy-dense batteries, more efficient propulsion systems; the same limitations that hold back flying cars. “However, a distributed network of mini-aerodromes allowing packages to make many short hops – like a drone ‘Pony Express’ – could allow these systems to scale without limit, much like mobile phone base station cells.” Coles frames the new partnership with Wing as part of its strategy to become Australia’s most sustainable supermarket, as drone delivery options could reduce the need for cars and trucks. Wing also emphasise their green credentials, describing drone delivery as “one of the fastest, safest and most environmentally friendly modes of delivering goods when compared to a truck or car”. But with the drones only able to carry a kilo or two, would environmentally-conscious supermarkets be better off investing in electric cars and trucks instead? “Flying is innately energy-intensive and will always be more demanding than a comparable electric vehicle rolling the same distance, but drones fly directly point to point and do not require detours or stop at traffic lights,” says Pounds. “However, both drones and wheeled electric vehicles also have differing manufacturing, maintenance and disposal costs; whether autonomous cars or drones turn out to be more energy efficient over their lifetimes has yet to be seen.”  <img id="cosmos-post-tracker" style="opacity: 0; height: 1px!important; width: 1px!important; border: 0!important; position: absolute!important; z-index: -1!important;" src="https://syndication.cosmosmagazine.com/?id=183733&title=Drones+are+now+delivering+groceries+in+Canberra+%E2%80%93+how+does+it+work%3F" width="1" height="1" data-spai-target="src" data-spai-orig="" data-spai-exclude="nocdn" />  <div id="contributors"> <a href="https://cosmosmagazine.com/technology/robotics/drone-delivery-groceries-canberra/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">This article</a> was originally published on <a href="https://cosmosmagazine.com" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Cosmos Magazine</a> and was written by <a href="https://cosmosmagazine.com/contributor/matilda-handlsey-davis" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Matilda Handsley-Davis</a>. Matilda is a science writer at Cosmos. She holds a Bachelor of Arts and a Bachelor of Science (Honours) from the University of Adelaide. Image: Wing (Facebook) </div>

Technology

Ben Fordham unleashes on Canberra's "most toxic politician"

Talk show host Ben Fordham has described Senato Lidia Thorpe as the "most toxic politician in Canberra" after she blasted Scott Morrison for his Stolen Generations speech in parliament. When the Prime Minister said "the hardest [word] is I forgive you" when referring to the national apology to the Stolen Generations, Senator Thorpe said Scott Morrison had shown "outright disrespect" to the Indigenous children who were removed from their families. Writing on Twitter, the Greens senator said, "This is outright disrespect to all those effected by Stolen Generations in this country. How dare you ask for forgiveness when you still perpetrate racist policies and systems that continue to steal our babies." In response to Lidia's statement, Fordham labelled her a "lunatic", saying "she doesn't belong" in parliament. He said, "Senator Thorpe is possibly the most toxic politician in Canberra, and that's saying something." "Her conduct is embarrassing. She entered office in 2020 and ever since she's had an appetite for destruction." Fordham went on to call Senator Thorpe a "fruit cake" and "unhinged" over previous instances of political passion in the Senate. The PM's "apology" was condemned by Indigenous Australians, as The First Peoples' Assembly of Victoria slammed the speech, releasing an official response containing only the four words: "Get in the bin." Image credits: Twitter @ben_fordham9 @senatorthorpe

News

A supermarket in Britain has removed use-by dates in favour of the 'sniff test'

Image: Getty Grocery chain ‘Morrisons’ is being slammed after announcing a decision to scrap “use-by” dates on milk, instead asking customers to use a “sniff test” to determine if the milk has gone bad. The supermarket will switch to using “best before” dates on 90% of its home brand milk packaging from the end of January, The Sun reports. The date will remain the same but Morrisons is asking customers to not automatically assume the milk is off, but instead sniff to see whether it has expired first. Best before dates indicate that a product will have a better quality if consumed before that day, but use by means food might not be safe to eat after that point and runs the risk of making the customer sick. Morrisons said the move is intended to reduce food wastage, as millions of litres of milk are thrown away each year. It is estimated that 48 million litres of milk are wasted due to customers following “use-by” labels. Research shows milk is often fine to be used days after the use-by date the supermarket said. So yes, customers are being encouraged to smell their milk to check if it has actually gone bad before throwing it away. A sour aroma or curdled consistency are both signs milk has been spoiled. Shoppers took to Twitter to complain about the decision, with many asking how they can smell the milk while in store. However, Morrisons said that won’t be necessary because it won’t sell milk that is near the best before date. One customer said: “So, Morrisons – can we open the bottle in order to sniff it before purchase? Or do we have to go home, sniff it, then bring it back if it’s off?” Another added: “I can open the milk whilst still in Morrisons to check then I guess?” Others pointed out that one of the main symptoms of Covid is losing your sense of smell. “Generations before us have always used the sniff test – and I believe we can too” According to Ian Goode, senior milk buyer at Morrisons.

Food & Wine

Grandmother of missing baby speaks out

The heartbroken grandmother of a missing child has spoken to the media for the first time, telling A Current Affair, “I don't know if he's died or alive”. Hoang Vinh Le was <a rel="noopener" href="https://oversixty.com.au/news/news/police-searching-for-baby-who-was-left-at-a-coffee-shop" target="_blank">last seen</a> in Canberra in April, when his parents took him from his grandmother’s care. The parents claim that around May 19, they gave a woman they met at a coffee shop $200 to care for the child, but have not seen him since. Vinh had been the subject of a bitter custody dispute between his maternal grandmother, Kim Huong Tran, and his parents. Despite several police searches and appeals to the public for more information, Vinh has yet to be found. In addition, his parents have been accused of withholding information. Vinh was born in June last year, and six weeks later, he and his mother Lyn Kim Do, Ms Tran’s daughter, moved to Canberra so that Ms Tran could help with childcare, as Lyn has an intellectual disability. But in February, Lyn reconciled with Vinh’s father, Hoang Thanh Le, and left Vinh with her mum. The parents eventually wanted him back, and in March a court order was made for Vinh to live with his father. Thanh has previously been found guilty of assault, stalking, and other offences unrelated to Vinh. Ms Tran was worried about Vinh’s welfare, so she didn’t hand him over to police. On April 9, the parents received a tip off about Vinh’s whereabouts, and they made a move. Ms Tran said, "He snatched the baby from the doctor room when I take Vinh to the doctor for the check up.” She claims the parents came to the doctors with five people in the car, and that Thanh jumped in to grab Vinh before running out the door with him. She continued, "He hold the baby in his arm and he slipped on the floor with the baby … he's on the floor and then he get up to run, quick to the car. The car just on the street waiting.” That was the last day she saw her grandson. The parents returned to New South Wales, where police conducted a welfare check. Thanh can be heard on an audio recording made during this visit telling police, "I've got the order from the federal court saying that the child's to live with me until 18, or else I wouldn't be snatching the kid off". 10 days later, a judge granted Ms Tran custody, and the parents were ordered to hand Vinh back, but they failed to do so. On May 12, Thanh posted on Facebook, "just informing everyone that myself and my partner and our son Hoang Vinh Le is safe. I don't know why we are listed as missing people." Attached were the last photos ever seen of Vinh. On May 20, the parents were arrested. They claimed to have given Vinh to a person named Kathy Nguyen who they’d met at a coffee shop and paid $200 to take care of their son. Police have been unable to confirm whether such a person exists. The AFP issued an urgent call for help locating Vinh in November, after several searches failed to locate him. A recovery order remains in place to find Vinh, with a judge noting he’s extremely vulnerable and possibly at significant risk of harm or even death. Thanh posted on Facebook that he’d rather a stranger care for Vinh than Ms Tran, and added that because they were in custody, they did not know where Kathy Nguyen was. Ms Tran appealed to the public during her appearance on A Current Affair, saying, "Please if anyone sees a baby that look a bit like Vinh, when you see the photo on the news can you please contact the crime stoppers. “I want him to be safe home with me and I can care for him for the rest of my life, till I die." Image: Nine

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Our Partners

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Newspaper

Contests

Entertainment

Travel

Health

Lifestyle

Finance

Property

Compare

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Information

Keep up to date

Search

Mum fined for pumping breast milk in the car

Woman slams parking note asking if she was “truly disabled”

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URGENT RECALL: Popular almond milk brand linked to severe illness

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Canberra airport shooting: gunman arrested

Udderly ridiculous: Price of milk next in line for huge hike

Man's very own retro milk bar brings '50s shops back to life

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Ben Fordham unleashes on Canberra's "most toxic politician"

A supermarket in Britain has removed use-by dates in favour of the 'sniff test'

Grandmother of missing baby speaks out

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