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Finally, Australia has a plan to reserve some of its gas for domestic users.
Described as a “structural shift” in the east coast gas market, the federal government’s new policy will require export giants to hold back 20% of gas for domestic use from mid-2026.
This will bar export companies from the often-lucrative global spot market until they have met domestic requirements.
As Kevin Morrison explains, manufacturers are happy, saying affordable gas is essential for investment. The gas industry is predictably displeased, saying the change is “not justifiable”. And environmentalists are still fuming that the government has ruled out a 25% tax on gas exports.
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Miki Perkins
Environment & Energy Editor
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Kevin Morrison, University of Technology Sydney
The long-awaited gas reservation plan is expected to lead to a 'modest' oversupply in the east coast gas market.
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Chris Ogden, University of Auckland, Waipapa Taumata Rau
Iranian tariffs in the Strait of Hormuz may change how oil is traded and priced, with implications for currencies, alliances and global economic power.
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Michelle Grattan, University of Canberra
Willy willies, those small tornado-like dust storms often seen in the outback, will pop up all over the political landscape in the next week. Watch out for spin.
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Donovan Castelyn, University of Tasmania
More than 1.8 million Australians earn money from trusts, which can be legally used to reduce people’s tax bills. There may be changes coming in Tuesday’s budget.
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Craig Dalton, University of Newcastle
Is hantavirus being transmitted from person to person? Here’s what investigators need to consider before making that call.
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Jon Richardson, Australian National University
Putin is under growing pressure at home as Ukraine continues to strike far inside Russia and more critics are voicing discontent with the war.
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Tania Leach, University of Southern Queensland
The choice about high school can be fraught. Here are some questions to ask a potential new school.
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Euan Ritchie, Deakin University
David Attenborough has captured and told the stories of nature to millions of people, and inspired scientists and conservationists the world over.
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Politics + Society
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Lain Dare, University of Canberra; Mark Evans, Charles Sturt University; Max Halupka, University of Canberra; Michelle Grattan, University of Canberra
In Australia’s regional heartland, something unusual is happening. It’s no longer predictable, but listening to voters might give some clues.
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Kate Lycett, Deakin University; Georgie Frykberg, Deakin University; Warwick Smith, The University of Melbourne
Results from a new national survey show Australians feel worse about many things than they did during COVID. Governments need to use the data to do better.
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Peter Thompson, Te Herenga Waka — Victoria University of Wellington
Scrapping the Broadcasting Standards Authority raises big questions about industry self-regulation and media accountability in the digital age.
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Health + Medicine
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Stacey Savin, University of Adelaide
An international study examined how heat and humidity may affect pregnancy. A reproductive health expert unpacks its key findings.
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Business + Economy
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Chris Murphy, Australian National University
Up to 14% of what renters paid for housing in the past decade could have been due to taxes that don’t apply to owner-occupied homes, new estimates show.
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Environment + Energy
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Euan Ritchie, Deakin University
David Attenborough has captured and told the stories of nature to millions of people, and inspired scientists and conservationists the world over.
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Science + Technology
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Sandra Garrido, University of Sydney
While 432Hz might sound soothing to some ears, it’s not a shortcut to cosmic alignment.
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Julian Koplin, Monash University; The University of Melbourne; Megan Frances Moss, Monash University
There are good reasons why we see AI chatbots as more than what they truly are.
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Arts + Culture
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Marc C-Scott, Victoria University
Apps like Stremio are cheaper and easier to navigate than streaming services. In many ways, they solve the very problems streaming initially promised to fix.
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Bianca Williams, La Trobe University; The University of Melbourne
Megan Wilding’s Game. Set. Match., now playing at Malthouse, is both a powerful reckoning with colonial violence and a love letter to self.
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Books + Ideas
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Laura Kotevska, University of Sydney
The soul- and body-splitting event of childbirth – and the profound experience of becoming a mother – have been sidelined by philosophy for centuries.
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Erik D Reichle, Macquarie University; Lili Yu, Macquarie University
Reading is arguably the most difficult task one must learn. To understand why it is difficult, one must understand the physiology of reading.
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Show some spine
“I agree with Stuart Kennedy [Your Say, May 7] regarding Albanese's poor-spirited leadership. His heart is in the right place; his moral compass is good, but where is his drive, a strength so necessary for a leader? The Labor Party far outweighs any opposition potential, so please Mr Prime Minister, show some spine.”
Jennie Clarke, Lindisfarne TAS
Don’t cut what works
“As a psychologist who sees clients through the NDIS, I have clients with mental health disorders who have previously been helped enormously by attending equine therapy. Horses are known to be able to respond to human emotions, particularly distress, and many people have been supported through access to horses, even to the point of saving their lives. Now they do not have this type of therapy. I realise there are many calls on financial aspects of our life in Australia, and that there has been financial immorality in terms of rorting. But the positive supports for genuine clients has now been reduced for a large number of people. I would like to request that this be
considered, and perhaps changed.”
Lesley Adamson
Careful what you wish for
“The Trump government promotes a 'might is right' stance.Trump himself has urged Americans to 'take back their country', while Pete Hegseth prays for 'overwhelming violence of action against those who deserve no mercy'. After the recent incident at the White House Correspondents' Association dinner, maybe the Trump administration should be more careful what they wish for.”
Merv Robbins, Coburg 
We'd love to hear from you. You can email us with your thoughts on our stories and each day we'll publish an edited selection.
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