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Readers response: What have you had to cut out of your life to cope with cost of living pressures?

As the cost of living continues to rise, many people have had to cut things out of their day to day spending to cope with the financial struggles. We asked our readers what they have had to cut out of their budgets to cope with cost of living pressures, and the response was overwhelming. Here's what they said. Wendy Oliver - We don’t eat out often at all… I spend too much in the supermarket. Christine Brooks - I've cut out steak, good nutritional foods, TV streaming, entertainment, haircuts, new clothes, pets, pool cleaning, and more. Kerrie Dare - I limit steak meals. I've stopped my haircuts to every 4 months. Internet is getting chopped. I can only afford exercise classes twice a week. I don't eat as much fruit as I used too. I only buy groceries when on special. One bottle of wine per fortnight. One slice of sourdough in the morning, which means the loaf lasts a week. I turn on my washing machine around every 10 days & I have quick showers. No eating out or take away. Maybe one cup of coffee per week with a friend. Movies once every 6 weeks as a social group. No concerts or clubs. I drive only locally, so a tank of petrol lasts 1 month. No weekends away. Jane Dawes - No coffees, beauty treatments, hairdresser, eating out, takeouts etc. The trouble is not affording to spend on certain items has a flow on effect for businesses. Everyone is suffering. Lois E. Fisk - Going out to eat or see movies in the cinema or live plays or new clothes. I shop at the least expensive grocery stores as much as possible, and good cuts of meat rarely happen. Janice Stenning - Don't go to the hairdressers as often and don't buy as many clothes. Debra Dugar - Thinking about dropping my extras cover of my insurance. By the time I pay for it, I can't afford the gap you have to pay. Robyn Lee - Living in my own house. I now live with my family. Rhondda Hughes - Well, petrol is expensive so I have to really think if I can afford to visit anyone. I can’t eat meat much and even vegetables can be expensive. We have three chickens so they give us eggs but good quality eggs and healthy chickens require money too. Fortunately I live in Perth so, in comparison to other states, it isn’t as cold however the cost of heating is a significant consideration and therefore I just tend to go to bed. <div style="font-family: inherit;">Felicity Jill Murphy - Stopped going out to shopping centres. That's where I spend money unnecessarily.</div> <div style="font-family: inherit;">Image credits: Shutterstock </div>

Money & Banking

4 ways to cut down on meat when dining out – and still make healthy choices

.<a href="https://theconversation.com/profiles/laura-marchese-1271636">Laura Marchese</a>, <a href="https://theconversation.com/institutions/deakin-university-757">Deakin University</a> and <a href="https://theconversation.com/profiles/katherine-livingstone-324808">Katherine Livingstone</a>, <a href="https://theconversation.com/institutions/deakin-university-757">Deakin University</a> Many of us are looking for ways to eat a healthier and more <a href="https://theconversation.com/how-sustainable-is-your-weekly-grocery-shop-these-small-changes-can-have-big-benefits-234367">sustainable diet</a>. And one way to do this is by reducing the amount of meat we eat. That doesn’t mean you need to become a <a href="https://theconversation.com/why-you-should-eat-a-plant-based-diet-but-that-doesnt-mean-being-a-vegetarian-78470">vegan or vegetarian</a>. Our <a href="https://jn.nutrition.org/article/S0022-3166(24)00333-X/fulltext">recent research</a> shows even small changes to cut down on meat consumption could help improve health and wellbeing. But not all plant-based options are created equal and some are <a href="https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/30744710/">ultra-processed</a>. Navigating what’s available when eating out – including options like tofu and fake meats – can be a challenge. So what are your best options at a cafe or restaurant? Here are some guiding principles to keep in mind when cutting down on meat. <h2>Health benefits to cutting down</h2> Small amounts of lean meat can be part of a healthy, balanced diet. But the majority of Australians <a href="https://cancer.org.au/about-us/policy-and-advocacy/prevention/obesity/related-resources/meat-and-cancer#consumption">still eat more meat</a> than recommended. Only a small percentage of Australians (10%) are vegetarian or vegan. But an <a href="https://www.foodfrontier.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/10/Food-Frontier-Hungry-For-Plant-Based-Australian-Consumer-Insights.pdf">increasing</a> number opt for a <a href="https://theconversation.com/love-meat-too-much-to-be-vegetarian-go-flexitarian-73741">flexitarian</a> diet. <a href="https://theconversation.com/whats-the-difference-between-vegan-and-vegetarian-225275">Flexitarians</a> eat a diet rich in fruits and vegetables, while still enjoying small amounts of meat, dairy, eggs and fish. Our <a href="https://jn.nutrition.org/article/S0022-3166(24)00333-X/fulltext">recent research</a> looked at whether the average Australian diet would improve if we swapped meat and dairy for plant-based alternatives, and the results were promising. The study found health benefits when people halved the amount of meat and dairy they ate and replaced them with healthy plant-based foods, like tofu or <a href="https://www.heartfoundation.org.au/blog/why-you-need-legumes-in-your-life">legumes</a>. On average, their dietary fibre intake – which helps with feeling fuller for longer and digestive health – went up. Saturated fats – which increase our blood cholesterol levels, a risk factor for heart disease – went down. Including more fibre and less saturated fat helps reduce the risk of <a href="https://www.heartfoundation.org.au/healthy-living/healthy-eating/healthy-eating-to-protect-your-heart">heart disease</a>. Achieving these health benefits may be as simple as swapping ham for baked beans in a toastie for lunch, or substituting half of the mince in your bolognese for lentils at dinner. <h2>How it’s made matters</h2> For a long time we’ve known processed meats – such as ham, bacon and sausages – are bad for your health. Eating high amounts of these foods is associated with poor <a href="https://www.heartfoundation.org.au/healthy-living/healthy-eating/protein-and-heart-health">heart health</a> and some forms of <a href="https://cancer.org.au/cancer-information/causes-and-prevention/diet-and-exercise/meat-and-cancer-risk">cancer</a>. But the same can be true of many processed meat alternatives. Plant-based alternatives designed to mimic meat, such as sausages and burgers, have become readily available in supermarkets, cafes and restaurants. These products are ultra-processed and can be <a href="https://theconversation.com/we-looked-at-700-plant-based-foods-to-see-how-healthy-they-really-are-heres-what-we-found-222991">high in salt and saturated fat</a>. Our study found when people replaced meat and dairy with ultra-processed meat alternatives – such as plant-based burgers or sausages – they ate more salt and less calcium, compared to eating meat or healthy plant-based options. So if you’re cutting down on meat for health reasons, it’s important to think about what you’re replacing it with. The <a href="https://www.eatforhealth.gov.au/sites/default/files/2022-09/n55g_adult_brochure.pdf">Australian Dietary Guidelines</a> recommend eggs, legumes/beans, tofu, nuts and seeds. Tofu can be a great option. But we recommend flavouring plain tofu with herbs and spices yourself, as pre-marinated products are often ultra-processed and can be high in salt. <h2>What about when dining out?</h2> When you’re making your own food, it’s easier to adapt recipes or reduce the amount of meat. But when faced with a menu, it can be difficult to work out what is the best option. Here are our four ways to make healthy choices when you eat out: 1. Fill half your plate with vegetables When cutting down on meat, aim for half your plate to be vegetables. Try to also eat <a href="https://theconversation.com/were-told-to-eat-a-rainbow-of-fruit-and-vegetables-heres-what-each-colour-does-in-our-body-191337">a variety of colours</a>, such as leafy green spinach, red capsicum and pumpkin. When you’re out, this might look like choosing a vegetable-based entree, a stir-fry or ordering a side salad to have with your meal. 2. Avoid the deep fryer The Australian Dietary Guidelines <a href="https://www.eatforhealth.gov.au/sites/default/files/files/the_guidelines/n55a_australian_dietary_guidelines_summary_130530.pdf">recommend limiting</a> deep fried foods to once a week or less. When dining out, choose plant-based options that are sautéed, grilled, baked, steamed, boiled or poached – instead of those that are crumbed or battered before deep frying. This could mean choosing vegetarian dumplings that are steamed not fried, or poached eggs at brunch instead of fried. Ordering a side of roast vegetables instead of hot chips is also a great option. 3. Pick wholegrains Scan the menu for wholegrain options such as brown rice, wholemeal pizza or pasta, barley, quinoa or wholemeal burger buns. Not only are they good sources of protein, but they also provide more <a href="https://www.eatforhealth.gov.au/food-essentials/five-food-groups/grain-cereal-foods-mostly-wholegrain-and-or-high-cereal-fibre">dietary fibre</a> than refined grains, which help keep you fuller for longer. 4. If you do pick meat – choose less processed kinds You may not always want, or be able, to make a vegetarian choice when eating out and with other people. If you do opt for meat, it’s better to steer clear of processed options like bacon or sausages. If sharing dishes with other people, you could try adding unprocessed plant-based options into the mix. For example, a curry with lentils or chickpeas, or a vegetable-based pizza instead of one with ham or salami. If that’s not an option, try choose meat that’s a lean cut, such as chicken breast, or options which are grilled rather than fried.<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/236505/count.gif?distributor=republish-lightbox-basic" alt="The Conversation" width="1" height="1" /> <a href="https://theconversation.com/profiles/laura-marchese-1271636">Laura Marchese</a>, PhD candidate at the Institute for Physical Activity and Nutrition, <a href="https://theconversation.com/institutions/deakin-university-757">Deakin University</a> and <a href="https://theconversation.com/profiles/katherine-livingstone-324808">Katherine Livingstone</a>, NHMRC Emerging Leadership Fellow and Senior Research Fellow at the Institute for Physical Activity and Nutrition, <a href="https://theconversation.com/institutions/deakin-university-757">Deakin University</a> Image credits: Shutterstock This article is republished from <a href="https://theconversation.com">The Conversation</a> under a Creative Commons license. Read the <a href="https://theconversation.com/4-ways-to-cut-down-on-meat-when-dining-out-and-still-make-healthy-choices-236505">original article</a>.

Food & Wine

$280 million lotto winner cuts ties with "greedy" family

Scotland resident Gillian Bayford went from rags to riches in an instant when she won the equivalent of a $278.36 million jackpot in August 2012. Thinking luck was finally on her side, Bayford didn't expect the amount of drama that came with the life-changing prize. It all began just 15 months after her lucky win with then-husband Adrian, who she split with allegedly due to the stress of managing the jackpot. Not long after, she spent $1,324,304 to pay off her family's debt, which included money that her late father Ian McCulloch and her brother Colin owed over a series of failed business ventures according to <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/woman-won-187m-lottery-severed-ties-greedy-family-2023-12" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Business Insider</a>. “My dad and brother built up one company after another and then closed them down,” Bayford said. “I’ve bailed them out of every debt.” She continued to keep her family financially afloat spending a total of $37.31 million on them, and even bought her parents - who were broke and living in a caravan at the time - a $522,388 penthouse apartment in eastern Scotland. But, according to the Mirror, that wasn't enough and her father insisted that she should give her brother around $1.5 million, for a new play-centre business. She obliged, and instead of thanking her, Colin now drives Audis with private plates, owns a $546,000 house and reportedly stopped talking to his sister. He even got married to his girlfriend without inviting Bayford to the wedding. “They have lost touch with where they’ve come from,” Bayford told The Sun. “They’re rubbing people’s noses in it by flashing their cash, which I think is downright nasty.” At one point her father even tried to take control of her winnings and even take a piece of her business. “It’s upsetting and raw,” she told the publication. “The money was supposed to make everybody happy. But it’s made them demanding and greedy.” She added, "they brought our name into disrespect in the village, and we had people threatening to torch the family house.” Bayford said that despite it all she takes pride in herself "because I know I’ve taken them out of a situation.” The lotto winner officially cut ties with her family in 2016 after they called her an embarrassment, while her mum Brenda McCulloch claims she’s heartbroken over the lack of contact with her daughter and grandchildren. “Gillian says that we didn’t try and get in touch with them, but if I’d tried she wouldn’t have let me,” she said. Her mum also claimed that while her daughter was “generous,” the actual amount she gave her family was much lower. “Every word that comes out of their mouths is a lie. I wish them a happy life, but there will be no reconciliation now," Bayford refuted. Image: Getty

Money & Banking

King Charles cuts ties with TV host over affair revelations

King Charles has cut all ties with UK television host Phillip Schofield, after he lied about having an affair. Schofield has been dumped from his hosting gig at This Morning, which he has been the face of for 21 years, after he admitted he had an affair with a much younger man who worked at the ITV network. The 61-year-old resigned from the network after lying about the “consensual on-off relationship", admitting in a statement that the affair was "unwise" but stressed it was "not illegal". He added that he was "deeply sorry" for having lied to his wife and to ITV about his relationship with the man reportedly 30 years his junior and who he first met as a teenager. “Contrary to speculation, whilst I met the man when he was a teenager and was asked to help him to get into television, it was only after he started to work on the show that it became more than just a friendship,” he said in his recent statement. In light of the affair, Schofield has been dropped by The Prince's Trust, after being an ambassador for several years. A spokesperson from the King's charity told <a title="The Telegraph" href="https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2023/05/30/phillip-schofield-dropped-princes-trust-this-morning-affair/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">The Telegraph</a> UK that it was mutually agreed it was "no longer appropriate to work together". "In light of Phillip's recent admissions, we have agreed with him that it is no longer appropriate to work together," a Prince's Trust spokesperson said. All references to Schofield have been removed from the charity's website and also his own page. It previously read, "Outside of work, Phillip is an ambassador for the charity The Prince's Trust, dedicating time to further the work of supporting vulnerable young people in the UK". The Prince's Trust was created in 1976 by then-Prince Charles to help young disadvantaged people in the UK, with the hugely successful charity helping more than one million young people by providing them with business grants, education and training. Following the bombshell revelation of Schofield's affair, ITV said it had investigated the allegations of his affair "several times" from early 2020, but said it didn't find any evidence. It's been a trying time for the ex-presenter with his brother Timothy recently being jailed for 12 years over child sex offences. Image credits: Getty Images

News

Why being married cuts your risk of skin cancer

A new study has found that married couples are less likely to die of skin cancer because they spot warning signs earlier than singles. The study, which observed 50,000 American skin cancer patients, found that 45.7 per cent of those who were married, had stage 1 tumours – which have a 98 per cent survival rate. The chance of catching skin cancer early dropped 32 per cent for singles, 38 per cent for divorcees and 70 per cent for widowers. The researchers from the University of Pennsylvania said they were stunned by the striking difference in diagnoses. The researchers believe these findings should help dermatologists adjust their advice to patients based on their relationship status, suggesting screening at an earlier age for single patients and encouraging home-screen training for those in relationships. Victims of melanoma, the deadliest form of skin cancer, are expected to increase by seven per cent by 2035. For those diagnosed with stage 1 disease, the five-year survival is reportedly 98 per cent. The five-year survival drops to 62 per cent for those diagnosed with stage 3 disease The study, published in the Journal of the American Heart Association, aimed to investigate how lifestyle and relationships could impact patients’ early detection chances. “Spouses likely facilitate early detection of melanomas by assisting in identification of pigmented lesions that may have otherwise gone unnoticed,” said corresponding author Dr Cimarron Sharon, a dermatologist at the Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania. “They may also provide support and encouragement to see a physician for evaluation. “Thus, married patients are likely to receive a better prognosis because of earlier surgical management.” The study also found that married patients were more likely than single, divorced or widowed patients to have a sentinel lymph node biopsy. SLNB is linked to survival as the sentinel lymph node is closest to a tumour and is the first place it would spread. Dr Sharon said this could be “associated with the spouse's role in supporting the patient and engaging in further discussion”. A partner also reduces the difficulty in travelling to and from a hospital and finding a carer post-surgery. This study is the largest of its kind to find the influence of marriage on the detection of melanoma. Dr Sharon said, “These findings support increased consideration of spousal training for partner skin examination and perhaps more frequent screening for unmarried patients. “Marital status should be considered when counselling patients for melanoma procedures and when recommending screening and follow-up to optimize patient care.” Image credit: Shutterstock

Body

Why do I sprain my ankle so often and how can I cut the risk of it happening again?

Are you one of those people who seems to be forever spraining their ankle? To some extent, ankle sprains are <a href="https://meridian.allenpress.com/jat/article/54/6/603/420863/Epidemiology-of-Ankle-Sprains-and-Chronic-Ankle" target="_blank" rel="noopener">part and parcel</a> of being active. But if it’s happening again and again, here’s what may be going on – and how you can reduce your risk of recurrent ankle sprain. <h2>One sprain can lead to another… and another</h2> A large <a href="https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s40279-013-0102-5" target="_blank" rel="noopener">review</a> of ankle sprain studies in the journal <a href="https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s40279-013-0102-5" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Sports Medicine</a> found most people who actively play sport or train can expect to have a fairly low incidence of ankle sprain per 1,000 hours of training time. But it also said: <blockquote> Females were at a higher risk of sustaining an ankle sprain compared with males and children compared with adolescents and adults, with indoor and court sports the highest risk activity. </blockquote> The most frequent type of ankle sprain occurs if the ligaments on the outside of the ankle are stretched or torn when the joint moves beyond the normal range of movement. This is known as an inversion or lateral ankle sprain. Strong evidence from <a href="https://meridian.allenpress.com/jat/article/56/6/578/466668/Lateral-Ankle-Sprain-and-Subsequent-Ankle-Sprain" target="_blank" rel="noopener">studies</a> suggests once people sprain their ankle, they are more likely to re-sprain it. As one <a href="https://meridian.allenpress.com/jat/article/56/6/578/466668/Lateral-Ankle-Sprain-and-Subsequent-Ankle-Sprain" target="_blank" rel="noopener">review</a> of the evidence put it: <blockquote> a history of lateral ankle sprain is known to disrupt the structural integrity of the ligaments and sensorimotor function, likely impairing an individual’s ability to avoid injurious situations. </blockquote> Some ankle sprains might seem to be very minor, with almost no swelling or mobility problems. But some people can end up with what’s known as chronic ankle instability, where they tend to re-sprain their ankle again and again. Another <a href="https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s40279-017-0781-4" target="_blank" rel="noopener">review</a> looking at factors contributing to chronic ankle instability found <blockquote> feelings of instability and recurrent ankle sprain injuries (termed chronic ankle instability, or CAI) have been reported in up to 70% of patients. The subsequent development of CAI has adverse health consequences including reduced quality of life and early-onset osteoarthritis. </blockquote> Once an ankle fracture is excluded, busy hospital emergency departments often send patients home with instructions to ice the ankle and keep off it for a day or two. There’s often no advice to follow up with a physio for rehabilitation. This is unfortunate, as evidence suggests people with a history of ankle sprains will likely: <ul> <li> become progressively <a href="https://meridian.allenpress.com/jat/article/50/7/742/112426/Physical-Activity-Levels-in-College-Students-With" target="_blank" rel="noopener">less active</a> </li> <li> have <a href="https://bjsm.bmj.com/content/50/24/1496.long" target="_blank" rel="noopener">higher</a> body mass indices </li> <li> report more general body <a href="https://bjsm.bmj.com/content/50/24/1496.long" target="_blank" rel="noopener">pain</a> and </li> <li> generally tend to have a lower <a href="https://bjsm.bmj.com/content/50/24/1496.long" target="_blank" rel="noopener">quality of life</a>. </li> </ul> <h2>Even the other ankle may be at risk</h2> Research suggests people who sprain their ankle may be more likely to have <a href="https://meridian.allenpress.com/jat/article/56/6/578/466668/Lateral-Ankle-Sprain-and-Subsequent-Ankle-Sprain" target="_blank" rel="noopener">injuries</a> to other joints on the same leg, or even the opposite leg. A review in the <a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4196323/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">International Journal of Sports Physiotherapy</a> noted “an ankle sprain is linked to both re-injury and subsequent injury to the contralateral side”. Why? It may have something to do with the brain’s tremendous ability to continually adapt. Just as <a href="http://www.ajnr.org/content/36/11/2048" target="_blank" rel="noopener">extended bed rest</a> or prolonged microgravity exposure in <a href="https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-68201-3_3" target="_blank" rel="noopener">astronauts</a> can cause changes in the brain and the way it relates to movement, perhaps our brains subconsciously compensate after an ankle injury. That could be by, for example, via limping or a slight change in the way you walk; perhaps you subconsciously don’t want to challenge the ankle due to fear of re-spraining. This may put other joints or the opposite limb at heightened risk. This neuroplasticity adds new challenges to the assessment or rehabilitation of ankle injury, and to predicting who is likely to be at increased <a href="https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/abs/10.1080/00913847.2020.1780098?journalCode=ipsm20" target="_blank" rel="noopener">risk of subsequent injuries</a>. <h2>What can you do to reduce the risk of re-spraining your ankle?</h2> If you’re getting recurrent ankle sprains, see a physiotherapist. They will be able to teach you how to reduce the risk. Currently the best evidence for reducing the chances of re-spraining your ankle sprain comes down to two main things: 1) Protecting the joint with an ankle brace when active This could mean using a <a href="https://meridian.allenpress.com/jat/article/54/6/650/420871/Prevention-of-Lateral-Ankle-Sprains" target="_blank" rel="noopener">professionally fitted external support brace</a> (not an elastic sleeve). This is a relatively low cost and effective means of risk reduction. 2) Using balancing exercises and ‘proprioceptive training’ Examples of <a href="https://meridian.allenpress.com/jat/article/52/11/1065/112804/Proprioceptive-Training-for-the-Prevention-of" target="_blank" rel="noopener">proprioceptive training</a> include: <ul> <li> balancing on each leg, one at a time, while throwing and catching a ball against a wall </li> <li> balancing on an ankle disc or wobble board for three to five minutes daily. </li> </ul> These exercises can help strengthen the muscles and ligaments in your ankle. As one literature review put it: Proprioceptive training is a cost- and time-effective intervention that can benefit patients who have sustained a previous ankle sprain during physical activity and can subsequently reduce the risk of further complications. This article originally appeared on <a href="https://theconversation.com/why-do-i-sprain-my-ankle-so-often-and-how-can-i-cut-the-risk-of-it-happening-again-190751" target="_blank" rel="noopener">The Conversation</a>. Image: Shutterstock

Body

Bono reveals why Michael Hutchence cut ties with him

Bono has shared the details that led to the end of his friendship with late INXS frontman Michael Hutchence. In his new book titled, Surrender: 40 Songs, One Story, the U2 frontman reflects on his tumultuous friendship with Hutchence and partner Paula Yates in the early 90s. Bono recalled the early days of Hutchence’s relationship with Yates, which started in 1994, while Yates was still married to Bono’s close friend, Bob Geldof. “Paula worshipped Michael at a time when he needed all the adoration he could get, things not going well on- and offstage for INXS,” Bono writes. Bono also says he and his wife of 40 years, Ali, had an immediate sense that the relationship was “going to go wrong, and that this intensity could not last a lifetime”. And soon enough, Bono writes, the couple were in “free fall – spiralling down the vortex of a recreational drug use that had become hard work for everyone, especially their family, especially the younger ones”. “As their behaviour changed, our friendship became strained, and we grew uncomfortable during their visits.” Paula and Michael had one child together in 1996: a daughter named Heavenly Hiraani Tiger Lily. Bono and his wife were asked to be her godparents, to which they refused, as they were too “wigged out” by the couple’s rampant drug use. They hoped their rejection of such a meaningful offer would make the new parents think twice about the path they were on. True friendship, Bono writes, “meant being truthful. Friendship is not a sentimental business.” But instead, their refusal only further pushed the two couples from each other further, as Bono says, “It only made them think again about us.” “That we can half live with our conscience is no substitute for the fact that we can’t live at all with our friends. They are gone.” Michael Hutchence committed suicide aged 37 in a Sydney hotel room in November 1997, while Yates died of a drug overdose in September 2000, aged 41, leaving four children behind. “Neither of us dreamed they’d both end up dead so soon,” writes Bono. “Even now, I can’t believe I’ve just written that.” Image credits: Getty Images

Music

The fastest way to cut fruit and veggies

Whether you cook a little or a lot, after any time spent in the kitchen, you’ve probably wondered if there’s an easier way to cut fruit and vegetables. The answer is yes: there is. 1. The onion The onion is the bane of all preppers’ existence. They’re hard to hold, they make you cry, and many of us would be lying if we said we’ve never cut our fingers in the process. So the fastest way to cut an onion? Half the onion, lengthwise. Cut off the onion’s ends and peel off its skin. With each half’s flat-side down, dice the onion. No tears necessary. 2. Cherry tomatoes This method is pretty ingenious. Place the tomatoes on a plate and top with another plate, holding the tomatoes in between: firmly, but not so firmly that you squish them. Using a sharp knife, cut in between the two plates from one end to the other. Your tomatoes will be cut in half and you didn’t even have to look at them while you did it. It’s almost magic. 3. Kiwi fruit Cut each end off of the kiwi fruit and use a spoon to peel the kiwi’s flesh off, circling around the fruit. Then place the kiwi on its side and slice into disks! 4. Capsicum Capsicums couldn’t be easier. Cut the top and bottom off the capsicum and, using your hand, pull out its insides. Cut the pepper in half lengthwise. Rinse off any remaining seeds and slice into strips. 5. Mangoes If you’ve never seen a mango cut before, odds are your first attempt is going to be wrong. Mangoes have a long pit down their centre. Cut the cheeks off along either side of this vertical pit. In each cheek half, cut a grid into the mango (lines going up and lines going down, creating squares) then push from the peel side to pop the cubes so they’re standing up. Cut off the remaining delicious mango flesh that is around the pit. And that’s how it’s done! Image: Getty Images

Food & Wine

To make our wardrobes sustainable, we must cut how many new clothes we buy by 75%

If things don’t change fast, the fashion industry <a href="https://www.stockholmresilience.org/download/18.66e0efc517643c2b8103605/1617805679501/Sustainable%20Textiles%20Synthesis%20Report.pdf">could</a> use a quarter of the world’s remaining global carbon budget to keep warming under 2℃ by 2050, and use 35% more land to produce fibres by 2030. While this seems incredible, it’s not. Over the past 15 years, clothing production <a href="https://archive.ellenmacarthurfoundation.org/explore/fashion-and-the-circular-economy">has doubled</a> while the length of time we actually wear these clothes has fallen by nearly 40%. In the EU, falling prices have seen people buying <a href="https://www.eea.europa.eu/publications/textiles-in-europes-circular-economy">more clothing</a> than ever before while spending less money in the process. This is not sustainable. Something has to give. In our <a href="https://eeb.org/library/wellbeing-wardrobe-a-wellbeing-economy-for-the-fashion-and-textile-sector-summary">recent report</a>, we propose the idea of a wellbeing wardrobe, a new way forward for fashion in which we favour human and environmental wellbeing over ever-growing consumption of throwaway fast-fashion. What would that look like? It would mean each of us cutting how many new clothes we buy by as much as <a href="https://katefletcher.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/10/Earth-Logic-plan-FINAL.pdf">75%</a>, buying clothes designed to last, and recycling clothes at the end of their lifetime. For the sector, it would mean tackling low incomes for the people who make the clothes, as well as support measures for workers who could lose jobs during a transition to a more sustainable industry. <h2>Sustainability efforts by industry are simply not enough</h2> Fashion is accelerating. Fast fashion is being replaced by <a href="https://amp.theguardian.com/fashion/2021/dec/21/how-shein-beat-amazon-at-its-own-game-and-reinvented-fast-fashion">ultra-fast fashion</a>, releasing unprecedented volumes of new clothes into the market. Since the start of the year, fast fashion giants H&M and Zara have launched <a href="https://www.businessoffashion.com/articles/retail/why-shein-might-be-worth-100-billion-in-four-charts">around 11,000 new styles</a> combined. Over the same time, ultra-fast fashion brand Shein has released a staggering 314,877 styles. Shein is currently the <a href="https://www.abc.net.au/news/2022-04-05/shein-is-the-new-darling-of-china-s-fast-fashion-industry-but-at/100964524">most popular shopping app in Australia</a>. As you’d expect, this acceleration is producing a tremendous amount of waste. In response, the fashion industry has devised a raft of plans to tackle the issue. The problem is many sustainability initiatives still place economic opportunity and growth before environmental concerns. Efforts such as switching to more sustainable fibres and textiles and offering ethically-conscious options are commendable. Unfortunately, they do very little to actually confront the sector’s rapidly increasing consumption of resources and waste generation. On top of this, <a href="https://cleanclothes.org/news">labour rights abuses</a> of workers in the supply chain are rife. Over the past five years, the industry’s issues of child labour, discrimination and forced labour have worsened globally. Major garment manufacturing countries including Myanmar, Cambodia, Bangladesh and Vietnam are considered an <a href="https://www.maplecroft.com/insights/analysis/worldwide-decline-in-labour-rights-strikes-at-heart-of-global-supply-chains/">“extreme risk”</a> for modern slavery. Here’s what we can do to tackle the situation. <h2>1. Limit resource use and consumption</h2> We need to have serious conversations between industry, consumers and governments about limiting resource use in the fashion industry. As a society, we need to talk about how much clothing <a href="https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2214629620304564?via%3Dihub">is enough</a> to live well. On an individual level, it means buying fewer new clothes, as well as reconsidering where we get our clothes from. Buying secondhand clothes or using rental services are ways of changing your wardrobe with lower impact. <h2>2. Expand the slow fashion movement</h2> The growing <a href="https://slowfashion.global/">slow fashion movement</a> focuses on the quality of garments over quantity, and favours classic styles over fleeting trends. We must give renewed attention to repairing and caring for clothes we already own to extend their lifespan, such as by reviving sewing, mending and other long-lost skills. <h2>3. New systems of exchange</h2> The wellbeing wardrobe would mean shifting away from existing fashion business models and embracing new systems of exchange, such as collaborative consumption models, co-operatives, not-for-profit social enterprises and <a href="https://www.bcorporation.net/en-us/certification">B-corps</a>. What are these? Collaborative consumption models involve sharing or renting clothing, while social enterprises and B-corps are businesses with purposes beyond making a profit, such as ensuring living wages for workers and minimising or eliminating environmental impacts. There are also methods that don’t rely on money, such as swapping or borrowing clothes with friends and altering or redesigning clothes in repair cafes and sewing circles. <h2>4. Diversity in clothing cultures</h2> Finally, as consumers we must nurture a diversity of clothing cultures, including incorporating the knowledge of <a href="https://www.russh.com/creator-of-australian-indigenous-fashion-yatu-widders-hunt-on-telling-stories-and-the-future-of-fashion/">Indigenous fashion design</a>, which has respect for the environment at its core. Communities of exchange should be encouraged to recognise the cultural value of clothing, and to rebuild emotional connections with garments and support long-term use and care. <h2>What now?</h2> Shifting fashion from a perpetual growth model to a sustainable approach will not be easy. Moving to a post-growth fashion industry would require policymakers and the industry to bring in a wide range of reforms, and re-imagine roles and responsibilities in society. You might think this is too hard. But the status quo of constant growth cannot last. It’s better we act to shape the future of fashion and work towards a wardrobe good for people and planet – rather than let a tidal wave of wasted clothing soak up resources, energy and our very limited carbon budget. Image credits: Getty Images This article originally appeared on <a href="https://theconversation.com/to-make-our-wardrobes-sustainable-we-must-cut-how-many-new-clothes-we-buy-by-75-179569" target="_blank" rel="noopener">The Conversation</a>.

Beauty & Style

How to find a hairstyle that best suits your face shape

Booking in a hair appointment can bring on both feelings of excitement as well as anxiousness. Joy in the hope of getting the best haircut of your life. Anxiety surrounds the daunting task of entrusting your locks over to someone else and not being able to articulate what you’re after. More often than not, though, getting adequate time in the chair to chat through your current hairstyle concerns, what options will bring out your best features and what style you want to go with, is a luxury that doesn’t get the time it deserves. The result of this situation? You leave the salon with a mediocre cut you don’t love. Before your next haircut, spend time thinking about what suits your face shape. To help you make a considered choice, Over60 spoke to two hairdressers about how to make your locks best complement your bone structure. Aleks Abadia, co-founder and hair director at <a href="http://esstudio.com.au/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Esstudio Galleria</a> along with hairstylist, educator and <a href="http://www.philips.com.au/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Phillips</a> HairCare ambassador, Lizzie Liros, offer their advice on what hairstyle will work best for you. Round face Both Aleks and Lizzie agree that in order to give more dimension to a round face, it’s all about creating layers and texture. Aleks suggests, “A side part or fringe gradually longer at the sides will help your face appear slender”. Lizzie, on the other hand, suggests a slightly more daring cut. “A short, pixie cut helps soften the roundness of the face and draws attention to facial features or the hairstyle itself, rather than the face shape. Or, a long bob that sits at the collarbone is another beautiful style for round faces, helping lengthen the face”. Whatever style you choose, be sure to work in texture or even colour variation in the form of highlights. Square or heart-shaped face For those with a square or heart-shaped face, it’s important to balance out your strong bone structure. Aleks says “layering at the front adds texture. A centre part and longer sides will also help to soften the face shape”. Lizzie’s ideal haircut for square-shaped faces is a mid-length, layered bob. “This style will help move attention away from the jawline, to the cheekbones. If you want to wear your hair longer, just ensure you add in lots of layers (or soft curls) to soften the sharper angles of a square face shape”. Oval face For those lucky oval-shaped beauties out there, we have good news. Aleks refers to this as “The perfect head” because “almost any style will suit and a sweeping bang will always add something a little extra to your style!” If you want to draw attention away from your “long face”, Lizzie says that any soft fringe with movement helps shorten the face and draws attention to features such as the eyes. “Layers, soft waves or curls on either long or mid-length styles help frame an oval face making the face appear more rounded. An all-in-one length would draw attention to the long facial shape.” Oblong face An oblong face shape is longer than an oval shape, so you can get away with heavy, dramatic fringes. Aleks warns about controlling the style though. “If hair is kept at one length, this will make the face appear longer. Layers, texture and volume is the way to go.” Lizzie agrees, explaining that “The body and wave will help soften the long, straight lines of the oblong face shape and create a really pretty overall finish”. Diamond face Lizzie explains, “With a diamond face shape we want to draw attention away from the wearers narrow chin, minimize the wide cheek-bones and shorten the face length”. According to Aleks, there are a few ways to do this. “They can do both short structured bold cuts or long cuts with lots of layers and movement.” What really works for diamond-face shapes is long sweeping layers, pulled back styles, deep side parts and soft fringes around the forehead. Just be sure to avoid too much volume at the crown or around the sides of the face. Triangular face For triangular faces, Aleks swears by “A blunt bob, with a face-framing bang”. This will soften the face with very subtle layers to add soft movement. However, Lizzie disagrees, arguing that you want to avoid styles that draw attention to your jawline, so blunt bobs are out! She instead suggests “long, soft layers styled with waves, a short pixie cut (fringe cut very short) or textured mid length styles with a soft layered fringe are all gorgeous styles for this face shape.” Image credits: Getty Images

Beauty & Style

News of Bali bomb-maker's sentence cut short sparks fury

The bomb-maker behind the devastating 2002 Bali bombings has been released early from Indonesian prison only days after his sentence was reduced by a further five months. Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has declared this decision will add trauma to the victims’ families and says his diplomats are lobbying the Indonesian government regarding the reduction. This decision means that Umar Patek, the man who made the explosives that killed 200 people, including 2 kiwis and 88 Aussies in 2002, will have served only half of his original 20-year sentence. Indonesian authorities insist he has been ‘deradicalised’ but Mr Abanese has described him as ‘abhorrent’. The sentence had already been reduced by 18 months on a previous occasion, meaning his total reduction is now one year and 11 months. He would have been eligible for parole in January 2023 after serving two thirds of his sentence. Patek admitted making the suicide vests that went off at Sari Club and Paddy's Pub in Kuta but claimed he did not know what they would be used for. After nine years on the run in the Philippines and Pakistan, he was caught in 2011 and spared the death sentence after co-operating with police and apologising to victims' families. This coming October marks the 20th anniversary of the bombings. Images: Australian National Museum / Getty

Legal

Why the "just one drink a day" excuse no longer cuts it

According to a new study, those who have one standard drink a day are putting themselves at risk of permanent brain damage. The study of almost 21,000 people, published in the PLOS Medicine journal, found that consumption of seven or more units of alcohol per week is associated with higher iron levels in the brain. More iron in the brain is also linked to Alzheimer's and Parkinson's disease and is a potential mechanism for alcohol-related cognitive decline. The participants reported their own alcohol consumption, and their brains were scanned using magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). Of those participants, 7,000 of them also had MRIs on their livers imaged to see the levels of systemic iron. They were also required to complete a few tasks to assess their cognitive and motor function. The participants' average age was 55 years old and 48.6 per cent were female. Anya Topiwala of the University of Oxford, United Kingdom, and her colleagues found that alcohol consumption above seven units per week led to higher iron levels in basal ganglia - the part of the brain that helps with movement. “Markers of higher basal ganglia iron associated with slower executive function, lower fluid intelligence, and slower reaction times,” the study reported. “Iron accumulation in some brain regions was associated with worse cognitive function.” They concluded that moderate alcohol consumption is associated with higher iron levels in the brain. Image: Shutterstock

Caring

Crop that! Kate cut from royal family

A hilarious series of suggestions have surfaced following speculation that Princess Eugenie deliberately cropped Duchess Kate out of a batch of Platinum Jubilee photos she shared online. It is this Instagram post shared on Eugenie's official account that has sparked the furore: <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/Cegi8pUoenU/?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/Cegi8pUoenU/?utm_source=ig_embed&utm_campaign=loading" target="_blank" rel="noopener">A post shared by Princess Eugenie (@princesseugenie)</a> </div> </blockquote> The first photo in the series features Her Majesty waving to onlookers from the balcony of Buckingham Palace. The second shows the Queen on the balcony with Prince Charles standing to one side and Prince William, Prince George and Princess Charlotte on the other. Camilla, the Duchess of Cornwall, and Kate, the Duchess of Cambridge, simply don't make it into the photo, although enough of their sleeves have been left in so viewers can see that the photo has been cropped. Princess Eugenie is not a senior working royal and so wasn't on the balcony for the Jubilee events, but she shared the photos along with the caption: "Thank you, Your Majesty, Grannie, for 70 years of service, selflessness and dedication. You are such a shining light for us all. "Just a final roundup of some epic moments of the most special weekend that I was so honoured to be a part of." Several followers then accused Eugenie of purposefully cropping Kate and Camilla out of the photo. "Why did you take Kate and Camilla out of the second picture?" asks one. "Lovely photos but why would you cut out the next two Queens, Camilla and Catherine? Very petty my dear," adds another. "Nice photos but why cut Kate and Camila, they are also hardworking, brave and powerful women, do not exclude your gender," one person asks. It could be that Instagram chose default sizing when Eugenie was loading the photos to share on social media. Princess Eugenie, Princess Beatrice and the Duke and Duchess of Sussex viewed Trooping the Colour from inside Buckingham Palace and were seated behind senior working royals at the Queen's thanksgiving service at St Paul's. Princess Eugenie and her family reside in Frogmore Cottage on the grounds of Windsor Castle. This is the former residence of the Duke and Duchess of Sussex. Eugenie and cousin, Prince Harry have always been close, with Eugenie and Meghan reportedly forming a friendship during their pregnancies. Image: Getty

Relationships

Doing these 9 things can cut your risk of dementia by 35 per cent – here’s why

Is dementia actually preventable? Forgetfulness might seem like an unavoidable part of ageing, but you aren’t destined to dementia. In fact, there’s actually a lot you can do to prevent dementia. A Lancet Commissions report from 24 leading dementia researchers says 35 per cent of dementia comes from preventable causes. Follow these steps and you could ward off a condition affecting about 47 million people worldwide. Keep learning Adults who don’t have at least a secondary school degree are at higher risk for developing dementia, according to the report. This could be because more education usually means a higher socioeconomic status, but it could have to do with learning itself. “Cognitive resilience in later life is likely to be enhanced by building brain reserve earlier in life through education and other intellectual stimulation,” write the study authors. Check your hearing After age 55, hearing loss is associated with higher risk of dementia. It’s probably not a cause – older adults are already at generally higher risk for both dementia and hearing loss – but fixing hearing could make cognitive loss easier. For one thing, dementia might be even more stressful for people who can’t hear. Plus, people might disengage socially when they have a hard time hearing, which could speed up any cognitive decline, say the researchers. Hearing loss is sometimes associated with Alzheimer’s as well, though generally, the causes of the two diseases are different. Get your blood pressure down Without a healthy heart, it could be hard for your body to balance out the harmful free radicals in your body. In turn, that could cause oxidative stress and inflammation, which could damage your neurons. Manage your diabetes Having diabetes raises the risk of dementia, though researchers aren’t sure why. The theory is that when you can’t control your blood sugar, more goes to your brain. In turn, that can cause damage that leads to loss of cognitive function. Lose some weight Obesity raises your risk of dementia – possibly because it puts you at risk for high blood pressure and type 2 diabetes. By keeping to a healthy weight, you can cut your risk for all three. Go for a walk This isn’t just about keeping at a healthy weight; a workout itself could cut down your risk. Older adults who exercise are less likely to develop dementia than those who don’t work out. Quit smoking If lung cancer wasn’t enough to make you kick your cigarette addiction, maybe this will: smokers are at higher risk of dementia. Researchers think that a couple things could be at play. For one thing, smoking isn’t healthy for your heart, and cardiovascular problems are linked with dementia. For another, the chemicals in the smoke could be toxic to your brain. What you put in your body has a huge impact on how it performs, especially later in life. Schedule a mental health visit There’s a link between depression and dementia, but researchers aren’t sure which causes the other. Depression might be an early sign in people who already have dementia, but it could also be a separate risk factor. Because depression affects stress hormones, brain neurons and the hippocampus (the part of the brain that deals with emotions and memory), it could increase dementia risk. Some antidepressants decrease the production of amyloid, which are proteins that can build up into plaque. Set up a coffee date Social isolation is associated with dementia. Like depression, though, researchers aren’t sure which one comes first. Either way, spending time with loved ones is a fun way to keep your brain active and raise your spirits – both of which can protect against cognitive decline. Expanding your social circle is another habit that reduces your risk of dementia. Image credits: Getty Images This article originally appeared on <a href="https://www.readersdigest.com.au/healthsmart/doing-these-9-things-can-cut-your-risk-of-dementia-by-35-per-cent-heres-why" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Reader's Digest</a>.

Mind

Giving ex-prisoners public housing cuts crime and re-incarceration – and saves money

“Going home” is a classic metaphor for exiting prison. But most people exiting prison in Australia either expect to be homeless, or don’t know where they will be staying when released. Our <a href="https://www.ahuri.edu.au/research/final-reports/361">recent research for AHURI</a> (the Australian Housing and Urban Research Institute) shows post-release housing assistance is a potentially powerful lever in arresting the imprisonment–homelessness cycle. We found ex-prisoners who get public housing have significantly better criminal justice outcomes than those who receive private rental assistance only. The benefit, in dollars terms, of public housing outweighs the cost. <h2>The imprisonment-homelessness connection</h2> There is strong evidence linking imprisonment and homelessness. Post-release homelessness and unstable housing is a <a href="https://www.ahuri.edu.au/research/final-reports/46">predictor of reincarceration</a>. And prior imprisonment is a <a href="https://melbourneinstitute.unimelb.edu.au/__data/assets/pdf_file/0007/2202865/Scutella_et_al_Journeys_Home_Research_Report_W6.pdf">known predictor of homelessness</a>. It is a vicious cycle. People in prison often contend with: <ul> <li>mental health conditions (40%)</li> <li>cognitive disability (33%)</li> <li>problematic alcohol or other drug use (up to 66%) and </li> <li>past homelessness (33%). </li> </ul> People with such complex support needs are often deemed “too difficult” for community-based support services and so end up entangled in the criminal justice system. Also, prisons are themselves places of stress and suffering. So people leaving prison a high-needs group for housing assistance and support. There are about 43,000 people in <a href="https://www.abs.gov.au/statistics/people/crime-and-justice/prisoners-australia/latest-release">prison in Australia</a>. Over the year there will be even more prison releases (because some people exit and enter multiple times). According to the <a href="https://www.aihw.gov.au/reports/prisoners/health-australia-prisoners-2018/summary">latest published data</a>: <ul> <li>only 46% of releasees expect to go to their own home (owned or rented) on release</li> <li>more expect to be in short-term or emergency accommodation (44%) or sleeping rough (2%), or </li> <li>they don’t know where they will stay. </li> </ul> Ex-prisoners are the fastest growing client group for Australia’s <a href="https://www.aihw.gov.au/reports/australias-welfare/homelessness-and-homelessness-services">Specialist Homelessness Services</a>. Over the past decade, <a href="https://www.abs.gov.au/statistics/people/crime-and-justice/prisoners-australia/latest-release">imprisonment rates in Australia</a> have been rising. Meanwhile, <a href="https://www.pc.gov.au/research/ongoing/report-on-government-services/2021/housing-and-homelessness/housing">funding for social housing</a> – public housing provided by state governments, and the community housing provided by non-profit community organisations – has been declining in real terms. We must turn both those trends around. <h2>The difference public housing makes</h2> In our research, we investigated the effect of public housing on post-release pathways. We analysed data about a sample of people with complex support needs who had been in prison in NSW. The de-identified data show peoples’ contacts before and after prison with various NSW government agencies, including criminal justice institutions and DCJ Housing, the state public housing provider. We compared 623 people who received a public housing tenancy at some point after prison with a similar number of people who were eligible for public housing but received private rental assistance only (such as bond money). On a range of measures, the public housing group had better criminal justice outcomes. The charts below compare the number of police incidents for each group. The first chart shows recorded police incidents for the private rental assistance group, which gradually rose over the period for which we have data. The second chart shows police incidents for the public housing group: they also had a rising trend, until they received public housing (year 0 on the x-axis), after which police incidents went down 8.9% per year. For the housed group: <ul> <li>court appearances were down 7.6% per year</li> <li>proven offences (being found guilty of something at trial) were down 7.6% per year</li> <li>time in custody was down 11.2% per year</li> <li>time on supervised orders (court orders served in the community, including parole) initially increased, then went down 7.8% per year</li> <li>justice costs per person, following an initial decrease of A$4,996, went down a further $2,040 per year per person.</li> </ul> When we put a dollar value on these benefits, providing a public housing tenancy is less costly than paying Rent Assistance in private rental (net benefit $5,000) or assisting through Specialist Homelessness Services (net benefit $35,000). Unfortunately, public housing is in very short supply. For our public housing group, the average time between release and public housing was five years. Others are never housed. <h2>Post-release pathways are fraught</h2> We interviewed corrections officers, reintegration support workers, housing workers, and people who had been in prison, across three states. They were unanimous: there is a dearth of housing options for people exiting prison. A Tasmanian ex-prisoner, who lived in a roof-top tent on his car on release, said, "You basically get kicked out the door and kicked in the guts and they say, ‘Go do whatever you need to do, see ya’." Planning for release is often last-minute. A NSW reintegration support worker told us, "It’s not coordinated. We’ll get a prison ringing up on the day of release saying, ‘Can you pick this woman up?’ on the day of release, when they knew it was coming months in advance. There’s no planning." A housing worker in Victoria described those next steps as a series of unstable, short-term arrangements, beset by pitfalls, "They could easily be waiting a couple of years, realistically. And for them that’s a long time, and so far off in the distance it’s difficult to conceive of. And a long time in which for things could go wrong in their lives – to be homeless or back in prison, all sorts of things … What they do in the meantime: they couch surf, stay with family, stay in motels, stay in cars/stolen cars, stay with friends, sleep rough, all those things." A Tasmanian corrections officer told us, "People want to come back to custody because they’ve then got a roof over their head. They don’t have to worry; they’re getting fed, they can stay warm." <h2>It’s not just about housing support</h2> Community sector organisations specialising in supporting people in contact with the criminal justice system, such as the <a href="https://www.crcnsw.org.au/">Community Restorative Centre (CRC)</a> in NSW, do extraordinary work providing services and support that aim to break entrenched cycles of disadvantage and imprisonment. However, this sector’s funding has been turbulent, marked by short-term programs. In <a href="https://www.crcnsw.org.au/wp-content/uploads/2021/11/CRC-AOD-Evaluation-final-report-1Dec21.pdf">another project</a> by some members of this research team, we saw the difference CRC made to 275 of its clients over a number of years. This evaluation found supported clients had 63% fewer custody episodes than a comparison group – a net cost saving to government of $10-16 million. These support services would be even more effective if clients had more stable housing. As it is, specialist alcohol and other drug case workers are often spending their time dealing with clients’ housing crises. Secure, affordable public housing is an anchor for people exiting prison as they work to build lives outside of the criminal justice system. It is also a stable base from which to receive and engage with support services. It pays to invest in both. Image credits: Getty Images This article originally appeared on <a href="https://theconversation.com/giving-ex-prisoners-public-housing-cuts-crime-and-re-incarceration-and-saves-money-180027" target="_blank" rel="noopener">The Conversation</a>.

Real Estate

Want to cut your chance of catching COVID on a plane? Wear a mask and avoid business class

A Florida court recently <a href="https://www.abc.net.au/news/2022-04-19/florida-judge-voids-us-mask-mandate-for-planes-other-travel/100998116">overturned mask mandates</a> on planes in the United States, saying the directive was unlawful. That decision is now <a href="https://www.9news.com.au/world/covid19-masks-on-us-flights-justice-department-appeals-easing-of-rules/a960d39c-dff4-4198-935c-c5b5c5b40551">under appeal</a>. Before that, Australian comedian Celeste Barber <a href="https://twitter.com/djokaymegamixer/status/1514836909620572162">told her social media followers</a> a passenger sitting next to her on a recent flight took off her mask to sneeze. So wearing masks on planes to limit the spread of COVID is clearly a hot-button issue. As we return to the skies more than two years into the pandemic, what is the risk of catching COVID on a plane? And does it really matter where on the plane you are? <h2>So many variables</h2> It’s impossible to give a precise answer about your risk of catching COVID on a plane as there are so many variables. For instance, not all countries and <a href="https://twitter.com/British_Airways/status/1503729049050353665">airlines</a> require passengers to wear masks or <a href="https://www.nationalworld.com/lifestyle/travel/where-can-i-travel-without-a-vaccine-countries-that-allow-unvaccinated-passengers-and-entry-requirements-3528913">be vaccinated</a>. Some countries and airlines require a negative COVID test within a certain timeframe before flying, others have <a href="https://www.homeaffairs.gov.au/covid19/vaccinated-travellers/temporary-visa-holders/leaving-australia">scrapped that requirement</a> entirely. Then there are different rules that may apply if you’re flying domestically or internationally, or <a href="https://www.health.gov.au/health-alerts/covid-19/international-travel/proof-of-vaccination">leaving or entering</a> a country. That’s before we start talking about the virus itself. We know more recent variants have emerged (Omicron and the sub-variant BA.2, for example), that are <a href="https://aci.health.nsw.gov.au/covid-19/critical-intelligence-unit/sars-cov-2-variants">much more easily transmitted</a> than the original virus or the Delta variant. We don’t know how transmissible future variants or sub-variants will be. So we can only talk in general terms about the risk of catching COVID on a plane. All up, your risk <a href="https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1477893921001745">is very low</a>, but the measures airlines put in place help achieve that. You can also reduce your personal risk further in a number of ways. <h2>Air flow and HEPA filters</h2> Air flow is designed to largely <a href="https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1477893920304117">travel vertically</a>, from the ceiling to the floor, to reduce the potential spread of contaminated air through the plane. The height of the seats acts as a <a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC8013760/">partial barrier</a> to air movement from rows in front and behind you. Cabin air is also replaced <a href="https://cdn1.sph.harvard.edu/wp-content/uploads/sites/2443/2020/10/HSPH-APHI-Phase-One-Report.pdf">every two to three minutes</a> with a half-half mix of recycled and fresh air. To see <a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC7588538/">how this works in real life</a>, researchers looked at how the virus spread on a long-haul flight when an infected person (the index case) sat in business class. Twelve of 16 people who were infected on the plane sat within a few rows of this person; another was a flight attendant. This suggests limited spread of contaminated air through the rest of the plane. Recycled air is also filtered through high-efficiency particulate air (or HEPA) filters. These remove <a href="https://cdn1.sph.harvard.edu/wp-content/uploads/sites/2443/2020/10/HSPH-APHI-Phase-One-Report.pdf">more than 99%</a> of viral particles, further reducing the risk of droplet or airborne transmission. <h2>Masks</h2> Well fitted masks or respirators (worn properly) can reduce your risk of contracting COVID on a flight. That’s why many airlines say wearing a mask is a condition of flying. For example, <a href="https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/ina.12979">modelling</a> of several known transmission events on planes demonstrates an advantage if both the infected person and others around them wear masks. <h2>Vaccination</h2> Some countries, such as Australia, require entering travellers to be <a href="https://www.health.gov.au/health-alerts/covid-19/international-travel/proof-of-vaccination">fully vaccinated</a>. This <a href="https://www.thelancet.com/journals/laninf/article/PIIS1473-3099(21)00648-4/fulltext">lowers the risk</a> of someone becoming sick with COVID. <h2>Pre-flight COVID testing</h2> Not all flights require a negative COVID test before boarding. For those that do, the time frame before a flight varies, as does the type of test required. However, we know tests do not detect every single COVID case. A range of factors can influence test sensitivity (ability to detect COVID). These include the type and <a href="https://www.tga.gov.au/covid-19-rapid-antigen-self-tests-are-approved-australia">brand</a> of test you take, whether you have <a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC8761676/">symptoms</a>, your <a href="https://ebm.bmj.com/content/early/2022/01/04/bmjebm-2021-111828">age</a>, and the <a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC8761676/">viral variant</a>. You can also still test negative two days before a flight and catch COVID in the meantime. <h2>Sanitisation</h2> Airlines may do additional cleaning of high-touch areas, and overnight disinfection, to reduce the spread of COVID through touching contaminated surfaces. However, the risk of transmission by this route is <a href="https://cdn1.sph.harvard.edu/wp-content/uploads/sites/2443/2020/10/HSPH-APHI-Phase-One-Report.pdf">low</a> compared to the risk of catching COVID through breathing in infectious droplets and aerosols. <h2>When and where are you most at risk?</h2> The closer you are to the infected person Most transmission occurs within <a href="https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1477893920304117">two to three rows</a> of an infected person. If you sit next to someone who is coughing or has other symptoms you might ask to <a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC7665738/">move seats</a> if spare seats are available. <a href="https://cdn1.sph.harvard.edu/wp-content/uploads/sites/2443/2020/10/HSPH-APHI-Phase-One-Report.pdf">Distance</a> yourself from others if you can, particularly when getting on and off the plane. You might also avoid sitting close to the toilets as passengers will hang about in the aisles waiting to use them, particularly on long flights. The longer the flight The risk increases with long- versus <a href="https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/33650201/">short- or medium-haul</a>flights. During long-haul flights passengers are also more likely to <a href="https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/ina.12979">recline their seats</a>. This somewhat reduces the <a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC8013760/">protection upright seats</a> provide in reducing air movement between rows. If you or others are not wearing a mask or wearing it properly You can breathe infectious particles in and out via your nose as well as your mouth, so don’t wear your mask under your chin or nose. The risk also increases when everyone takes off their masks during food service. You might choose not to eat or drink on short flights to avoid this. Alternatively you might bring a snack to eat before food service begins, or <a href="https://cdn1.sph.harvard.edu/wp-content/uploads/sites/2443/2020/10/HSPH-APHI-Phase-One-Report.pdf">eat after</a> those around you. If you contaminate your food or your face You can catch COVID through touching your food or face with contaminated fingers. Sanitise your hands regularly and <a href="https://ieeexplore.ieee.org/document/9176589">train yourself</a> to not touch your face. If you are in business class Based on limited reports, the transmission risk appears higher in business class. This is possibly because of <a href="https://globalizationandhealth.biomedcentral.com/articles/10.1186/s12992-021-00749-6">more interruptions to mask wearing</a> due to greater service of food and drinks. Image credits: Getty Images This article originally appeared in <a href="https://theconversation.com/want-to-cut-your-chance-of-catching-covid-on-a-plane-wear-a-mask-and-avoid-business-class-180333" target="_blank" rel="noopener">The Conversation</a>.

International Travel

Three simple ways to cut cancer risk for over-70s

Over-70s could cut their cancer risk by up to 61 percent through a combination of high-dose vitamin D, omega-3s, and a home strength exercise program, according to new research. The study, published in <a href="https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fragi.2022.852643/full" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Frontiers in Ageing</a>, tested the effect of high daily doses of vitamin D3 (a form of vitamin D used in supplements), daily omega-3 supplements, and at-home exercise when combined with each other and in isolation over three years. 2,157 healthy participants over the age of 70 were given either a combination of the supplements and exercise, single supplements, or a placebo between December 2012 and 2017, with the researchers then assessing the impact of the supplements on the risk of invasive cancers. Though each supplement was found to have a slight benefit when taken alone, the team found the combination of exercise and supplements had a significant effect. “This is the first randomised controlled trial to show that the combination of daily vitamin D3, supplemental marine omega-3s, and a simple home exercise program may be effective in the prevention of invasive cancer among generally healthy and active adults aged 70 and older,” Dr Heike Bischoff-Ferrari of the University Hospital Zurich, and the study’s first author, <a href="https://www.scimex.org/newsfeed/over-70-vitamin-d,-omega-3s,-and-exercise-could-cut-your-cancer-risk-by-61" target="_blank" rel="noopener">said</a>. “Our results, although based on multiple comparisons and requiring replication, may prove to be beneficial for reducing the burden of cancer.” But Dr Bischoff-Ferrari and her team didn’t pick these supplements by chance. In fact, previous studies have shown that vitamin D stops cancer cells from growing, while omega-3 may prevent normal cells from becoming cancerous. Even exercise has been found to reduce inflammation and improve immune function, which could also help prevent cancer, according to <a href="https://www.eurekalert.org/news-releases/950364" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Eureka Alert!</a>. But, there have been few robust clinical studies proving that using these three treatments can prevent cancer - which is why Dr Bischoff-Ferrari and her team came in. With their findings, Dr Bischoff-Ferrari said future studies should try to replicate their findings and continue following up with patients for more than three years to determine how long-term these benefits are. Image: Getty Images

Body

Fire management in Australia has reached a crossroads and ‘business as usual’ won’t cut it

The current wet conditions delivered by <a href="http://www.bom.gov.au/climate/enso/">La Niña</a> may have caused widespread flooding, but they’ve also provided a reprieve from the threat of bushfires in southeastern Australia. This is an ideal time to consider how we prepare for the next bushfire season. Dry conditions will eventually return, as will fire. So, two years on from the catastrophic Black Summer fires, is Australia better equipped for a future of extreme fire seasons? In our recent <a href="https://doi.org/10.3390/fire4040097">synthesis</a> on the Black Summer fires, we argue climate change is exceeding the capacity of our ecological and social systems to adapt. The paper is based on a series of <a href="https://www.bushfirehub.org/publications/?work_package_filter=all-work-packages&category_filter=nsw_bushfire_inquiry_2020">reports</a> we, and other experts from the NSW Bushfire Risk Management Research Hub, were commissioned to produce for the NSW government’s bushfire inquiry. Fire management in Australia has reached a crossroads, and “business as usual” won’t cut it. In this era of mega-fires, diverse strategies are urgently needed so we can safely live with fire. <img src="https://images.theconversation.com/files/440578/original/file-20220113-13-xa4qd3.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=754&fit=clip" alt="firefighter holds head while lying down" /> In the age of mega fires, new strategies are needed. David Mariuz <h2>Does prescribed burning work?</h2> Various government inquiries following the Black Summer fires of 2019-20 produced wide-ranging recommendations for how to prepare and respond to bushfires. Similar inquiries have been held since 1939 after previous bushfires. Typically, <a href="https://doi.org/10.1080/00049158.2005.10674950">these inquiries</a> led to major changes to policy and funding. But almost universally, this was followed by a gradual complacency and failure to put policies into practice. If any fire season can provide the catalyst for sustained changes to fire management, it is Black Summer. So, what have we learnt from that disaster and are we now better prepared? To answer the first question, we turn to our <a href="https://www.bushfirehub.org/nsw-bushfire-inquiry-2020/">analyses</a> for the <a href="https://www.nsw.gov.au/nsw-government/projects-and-initiatives/nsw-bushfire-inquiry#toc-published-submissions">NSW Bushfire Inquiry</a>. Following the Black Summer fires, debate emerged about whether hazard reduction burning by fire authorities ahead of the fire season had been sufficient, or whether excessive “fuel loads” – such as dead leaves, bark and shrubs – had been allowed to accumulate. We found no evidence the fires were driven by above-average fuel loads stemming from a lack of planned burning. In fact, hazard reduction burns conducted in the years leading up to the Black Summer fires effectively reduced the probability of high severity fire, and reduced the number of houses destroyed by fire. <img src="https://images.theconversation.com/files/440583/original/file-20220113-19-8i5dnj.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=754&fit=clip" alt="remains of homes destroyed by fire" /> Prescribed burning reduced the numbers of homes affected by fire. James Gourley/AAP Instead, we found the fires were primarily driven by record-breaking fuel dryness and extreme weather conditions. These conditions were due to natural climate variability, but made worse by <a href="https://doi.org/10.1038/s43247-020-00065-8">climate change</a>. Most fires were sparked by lightning, and very few were thought to be the result of arson. These extreme weather conditions meant the effectiveness of prescribed burns was reduced – particularly when an area had not burned for more than five years. All this means that hazard reduction burning in NSW is generally effective, however in the face of worsening climate change new policy responses are needed. <h2>Diverse and unexpected impacts</h2> As the Black Summer fires raged, loss of life and property most commonly occurred in regional areas while metropolitan areas were heavily affected by smoke. Smoke exposure from the disaster led to an estimated <a href="https://www.nature.com/articles/s41893-020-00610-5">429 deaths</a>. Socially disadvantaged and Indigenous populations were disproportionately affected by the fires, including by loss of income, homes and infrastructure, as well as <a href="https://theconversation.com/strength-from-perpetual-grief-how-aboriginal-people-experience-the-bushfire-crisis-129448">emotional trauma</a>. Our <a href="https://www.bushfirehub.org/resources/demographic-characteristics-nsw-inquiry-impacts-on-people-and-property-report/">analyses</a> found 38% of fire-affected areas were among the most disadvantaged, while just 10% were among the least disadvantaged. We also found some areas with relatively large <a href="https://theconversation.com/1-in-10-children-affected-by-bushfires-is-indigenous-weve-been-ignoring-them-for-too-long-135212">Indigenous populations</a> were fire-affected. For example, four fire-affected areas had Indigenous populations greater than 20% including the Grafton, Eurobodalla Hinterland, Armidale and Kempsey regions. <img src="https://images.theconversation.com/files/440370/original/file-20220112-17-wxfm5.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=754&fit=clip" alt="Two maps illustrating (a) the index of relative social disadvantage, and (b) the proportion of affected population that was Indigenous (2016 Census)" /> Demographic characteristics of fire-affected communities in NSW. https://doi.org/10.3390/fire4040097 The Black Summer fires burnt an <a href="https://doi.org/10.1038/s41558-020-0716-1">unprecedentedly large area</a> – half of all wet sclerophyll forests and over a third of rainforest vegetation types in <a href="https://doi.org/10.3390/fire4040097">NSW</a>. Importantly, for <a href="https://doi.org/10.1111/ddi.13265">257 plant species</a>, the historical intervals between fires across their range were likely too short to allow effective regeneration. Similarly, many vegetation communities were left vulnerable to too-frequent fire, which may result in biodiversity decline, particularly as the climate changes. <img src="https://images.theconversation.com/files/440585/original/file-20220113-27-yqcxil.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=754&fit=clip" alt="green shoot sprouting from burnt trunk" /> Not all plant species can regenerate after too-frequent fire. Darren England/AAP <h2>Looking to the future</h2> So following Black Summer, how do we ensure Australia is better equipped for a future of extreme fire seasons? As a first step, we must act on both the knowledge gained from government inquiries into the disaster, and the recommendations handed down. Importantly, long-term funding commitments are required to support bushfire management, research and innovation. Governments have already increased investment in fire-suppression resources such as <a href="https://www.news.com.au/technology/environment/new-weapon-to-fight-aussie-bushfires-kicks-off-service-in-wa/news-story/fa66e567e336164723cae8b98bb3ba8d">water-bombing aircraft</a>. There’s also been increased investment in fire management such as <a href="https://www.rfs.nsw.gov.au/news-and-media/ministerial-media-releases/further-$268.2-million-responding-to-nsw-bushfire-inquiry-recommendations">improving fire trails</a> and employing additional hazard reduction crews, as well as <a href="https://www.minister.industry.gov.au/ministers/porter/media-releases/world-class-natural-hazards-research-centre">new allocations</a> for research funding. But alongside this, we also need investment in community-led solutions and involvement in bushfire planning and operations. This includes strong engagement between fire authorities and residents in developing strategies for hazard reduction burning, and providing greater support for people to manage fuels on private land. Support should also be available to people who decide to relocate away from high bushfire risk areas. The Black Summer fires led to significant interest in a revival of Indigenous <a href="https://www.abc.net.au/news/2021-06-26/cultural-burning-to-protect-from-catastrophic-bushfires/100241046">cultural burning</a> – a practice that brings multiple benefits to people and environment. However, non-Indigenous land managers should not treat cultural burning as simply another hazard reduction technique, but part of a broader practice of Aboriginal-led cultural land management. <img src="https://images.theconversation.com/files/440593/original/file-20220113-21-fo43aj.jpeg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=754&fit=clip" alt="three figures in smoke-filled forest" /> Indigenous burning is part of a broader practice of Aboriginal-led land management. Josh Whittaker This requires structural and procedural changes in non-Indigenous land management, as well as secure, adequate and ongoing funding opportunities. Greater engagement and partnership with Aboriginal communities at all levels of fire and land management is also needed. Under climate change, living with fire will require a multitude of new solutions and approaches. If we want to be prepared for the next major fire season, we must keep planning and investing in fire management and research – even during wet years such as this one. <hr /> Ross Bradstock, Owen Price, David Bowman, Vanessa Cavanagh, David Keith, Matthias Boer, Hamish Clarke, Trent Penman, Josh Whittaker and many others contributed to the research upon which this article is based.<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; text-shadow: none !important;" src="https://counter.theconversation.com/content/174696/count.gif?distributor=republish-lightbox-basic" alt="The Conversation" width="1" height="1" /> <a href="https://theconversation.com/profiles/rachael-helene-nolan-179005">Rachael Helene Nolan</a>, Senior research fellow, <a href="https://theconversation.com/institutions/western-sydney-university-1092">Western Sydney University</a>; <a href="https://theconversation.com/profiles/grant-williamson-109967">Grant Williamson</a>, Research Fellow in Environmental Science, <a href="https://theconversation.com/institutions/university-of-tasmania-888">University of Tasmania</a>; <a href="https://theconversation.com/profiles/katharine-haynes-4467">Katharine Haynes</a>, Honorary Senior Research Fellow, <a href="https://theconversation.com/institutions/university-of-wollongong-711">University of Wollongong</a>, and <a href="https://theconversation.com/profiles/mark-ooi-1218431">Mark Ooi</a>, Senior Research Fellow, <a href="https://theconversation.com/institutions/unsw-1414">UNSW</a> This article is republished from <a href="https://theconversation.com">The Conversation</a> under a Creative Commons license. Read the <a href="https://theconversation.com/fire-management-in-australia-has-reached-a-crossroads-and-business-as-usual-wont-cut-it-174696">original article</a>. Image: Darren England/AAP

Home Hints & Tips

The Singapore-inspired idea for using super for housing that could cut costs 50%

During the past four decades in which home ownership among Australians aged 25-34 has sunk from around <a href="https://www.aihw.gov.au/reports/australias-welfare/home-ownership-and-housing-tenure">60% to 45%</a>, home ownership among the same age group in Singapore has climbed from around <a href="https://tablebuilder.singstat.gov.sg/table/TS/M810401">60% to 88%</a>. There’s a good chance that’s because Singapore is doing something right. What Singapore has that Australia does not is a public housing developer, the <a href="https://www.hdb.gov.sg/cs/infoweb/homepage">Housing Development Board</a>, which puts new dwellings on public and reclaimed land, provides mortgages, and allows buyers to use their compulsory retirement savings (what Australians call superannuation) for both a deposit and repayments. There’s more to it than that. It limits eligibility by income and age, requires owners to hang on to the property for five years, and limits their resale to only other eligible buyers. Eight in ten of all the dwellings in Singapore today were built over the past half century by the Housing Development Board. In a new paper released this month I suggest an Australian version called <a href="https://osf.io/nxq2u/">HouseMate</a>, that could halve the cost of buying a home. <h2>Introducing HouseMate</h2> <ul> <li> Housemate would build on underutilised crown, council, and federal land, land acquired by compulsory acquisition, or land purchased at market prices, and by tenders from private developers </li> <li> HouseMate would sell the dwellings at a discounted price (A$300,000 on average) to Australian citizens aged over 24 and in a de facto or married relationship and to single citizens aged over 28 and over, where no household member owns property </li> <li> HouseMate would offer loans underwritten by the federal government for up to 95% of the purchase price, charged at one percentage point above the cash rate, which at the moment would be 1.1% </li> <li> HouseMate buyers would be permitted to use their superannuation savings and contributions for both the deposit and ongoing repayments </li> <li> HouseMate buyers would be required to occupy the home, with limits on leasing and resale for seven years. They will own the home freehold, paying council rates, insurances, and having responsibility for maintenance and body corporate representation </li> <li> HouseMate owners could sell after seven years. But if they sell to the private market instead of another eligible HouseMate buyer, that would trigger a waiting period of seven years before the seller became eligible for another HouseMate home, and a fee of 15% of the sale price </li> </ul> <h2>Homes for half price</h2> <a href="https://images.theconversation.com/files/440816/original/file-20220114-25-qr9hwk.png?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=1000&fit=clip"><img src="https://images.theconversation.com/files/440816/original/file-20220114-25-qr9hwk.png?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=237&fit=clip" alt="" /></a> <a href="https://gameofmates.files.wordpress.com/2022/01/housemate_jan2022_vpublish.pdf" class="source">HouseMate, a proposed national institution to build new homes and sell them cheap to any citizen who does not own a home</a> My calculations suggest building these homes on land that would cost little (perhaps A$50,000 averaged across all types) would by itself cut the price 20-35%. The lower interest rate, and the use of superannuation savings for both the deposit and repayments would cut the “after super” cost saved by as much again, cutting the “after super” cost savings 50-70%. The use of superannuation savings where available makes sense. Home ownership does more for security in retirement than does super. Because the use of super would be quarantined to new HouseMate homes, it would be unlikely to push up the price of existing homes. No other housing policy change would do anything like as much to make homeownership cheaper, or to free up income for families at the times they need it most. The changes to tax arrangements often talked about, including changes to capital gains tax and negative gearing, might on my estimate at most cut prices by as much as 10% - enough to reverse only <a href="https://www.corelogic.com.au/news/housing-values-end-year-221-higher-pace-gains-continuing-soften-multi-speed-conditions-emerge">six months</a> of the past year’s price growth. <h2>There would be critics</h2> Because HouseMate would divert first home buyers away from private markets, private sellers would find reasons to argue it would be bad for the people it helps and somehow financially reckless or unsustainable. Banks would argue the same thing. But because the non-land cost of HouseMate dwellings would be mostly covered by the purchase price (and 15% of private resale prices) and the other costs would mostly be covered by the interest margin, the budget cost would be low - on my estimate peaking at A$1.7 billion after seven years and shrinking to $640 million after 20 years. The $1 billion or so per year would provide 30,000 affordable houses per year. Compared to the A$100 billion spent on the COVID JobKeeper scheme, that cost is a rounding error. Australia spends $125 billion per year on healthcare. Each year about <a href="https://www.fresheconomicthinking.com/2016/06/the-great-australian-town-planning-give.html">$11 billion</a> is given to private landowners through rezoning decisions. Taxing those value gains could fund HouseMate ten times over. <h2>We have got the land</h2> <a href="https://images.theconversation.com/files/440817/original/file-20220114-27-1sf1klu.png?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=1000&fit=clip"><img src="https://images.theconversation.com/files/440817/original/file-20220114-27-1sf1klu.png?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=237&fit=clip" alt="" /></a> The Australian Capital Territory has developed land for decades. Google Maps The New South Wales Land and Housing Corporation has four times the net assets of Singapore’s Housing Development Board at <a href="https://www.hdb.gov.sg/-/media/doc/CCG/HDB-Financial-Statements-for-the-year-ended-31st-March-2021.pdf">$54 billion</a>. Queensland’s Housing and Public Works has <a href="https://www.hpw.qld.gov.au/__data/assets/pdf_file/0013/6160/15financialstatements.pdf">$10 billion</a> in land assets. Victoria’s Department of Families, Fairness and Housing has <a href="https://www.dffh.vic.gov.au/sites/default/files/documents/202110/DFFH%20annual%20report%202020-21.pdf">$17 billion</a>. We could start by upgrading and selling existing public housing to its tenants under HouseMate rules. The Australian Capital Territory has operated this way for decades, developing low or zero cost rural land for housing and selling the homes at cost, although in recent decades it has acted more like a private developer, maximising revenue at the expense of putting people into homes. <h2>To start with, there would be bottlenecks</h2> HouseMate would be overwhelmed at first. I have suggested lotteries to allocate homes until the system ramps up. Just as Medicare didn’t displace but operated alongside the private health system, HouseMate would operate parallel to the private market, adding to overall supply rather than increasing demand in the private market. I’ll finish with a story. I met a Singaporean resident recently who moved to Australia to study social work. She said they don’t really have homeless people in Singapore because the Housing Development Board provided an option for almost everyone. To find homeless people required moving to Australia. I think we ought to try it. What’s the worst that could happen?<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; text-shadow: none !important;" src="https://counter.theconversation.com/content/174401/count.gif?distributor=republish-lightbox-basic" alt="The Conversation" width="1" height="1" /> <a href="https://theconversation.com/profiles/cameron-murray-172480">Cameron Murray</a>, Research Fellow - Henry Halloran Trust, <a href="https://theconversation.com/institutions/university-of-sydney-841">University of Sydney</a> This article is republished from <a href="https://theconversation.com">The Conversation</a> under a Creative Commons license. Read the <a href="https://theconversation.com/the-singapore-inspired-idea-for-using-super-for-housing-that-could-cut-costs-50-174401">original article</a>. Image: Shutterstock

Real Estate

Djokovic makes the cut while Barty draws dead

After a last-minute delay, Novak Djokovic’s future in the Australian Open seems to be confirmed following the announcement of the draw on Thursday afternoon. The announcement was pushed until after an update from Prime Minister Scott Morrison, with many expecting a comment on Djokovic’s fate. Though Minister Alex Hawke still holds the ability to cancel the tennis champion’s visa for a second time, organisers of the Australian Open are treating Djokovic as if he is still going to play. <blockquote class="twitter-tweet"> Top seed and nine-time <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/AusOpen?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#AusOpen</a> champion 🇷🇸 <a href="https://twitter.com/DjokerNole?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@DjokerNole</a> begins his title defence against Miomir Kecmanovic.<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/AO2022?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#AO2022</a> <a href="https://t.co/96MAlHNElG">pic.twitter.com/96MAlHNElG</a> — #AusOpen (@AustralianOpen) <a href="https://twitter.com/AustralianOpen/status/1481500590681198592?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 13, 2022</a></blockquote> The World No. 1 has been drawn against fellow Serbian and World No. 78 Miromir Kecmanovic. Organisers also announced the draw for the women’s singles, with Ash Barty to begin her Australian Open campaign against a qualifier - meaning she will need to win a pre-tournament competition in order to secure her spot. <blockquote class="twitter-tweet"> Barty Party in Melbourne 🎊 Top seed 🇦🇺 <a href="https://twitter.com/ashbarty?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@ashbarty</a> starts her <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/AusOpen?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#AusOpen</a> campaign against a qualifier.<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/AO2022?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#AO2022</a> <a href="https://t.co/hMDkESm9No">pic.twitter.com/hMDkESm9No</a> — #AusOpen (@AustralianOpen) <a href="https://twitter.com/AustralianOpen/status/1481497862840012806?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 13, 2022</a></blockquote> The announcement comes while Djokovic’s future in the country hangs in the balance, with a decision from Minister Hawke expected on Thursday. When asked about the star’s fate at his press conference, Mr Morrison refused to comment. "I refer to Minister Hawke's most recent statement and that position hasn't changed," he told reporters on Thursday afternoon. "These are personal ministerial powers able to be exercised by Minister Hawke and I don't propose to make any further comment at this time." Image: @djokernole (Instagram)

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Djokovic makes the cut while Barty draws dead