the "mega bucks" spilt-milk stimulus

the national court case that could decide our planet's future

the federal court is in hearing for a case against the government's approval of a gas project that would release an estimated 4 billion tonnes worth of carbon emissions.

the australian conservation foundation is taking the government to court in melbourne this week. they're arguing that the extension of woodside's north west shelf project in wa was approved unlawfully. the site sits right next to a million pieces of ancient indigenous rock art, and even the government's own experts admit the pollution could damage this 50,000-year-old heritage.

this isn't just about a plant in wa; it's about whether our laws actually have the teeth to stop massive fossil fuel projects. the emissions from this one site alone are equal to 10 years of australia's total current output. how this court case lands will likely change how your investment and super funds view the 'risk' of holding onto big gas companies.

is it smart money management? or is it just a lack of financial awareness?

a recent survey reveals that a third of young aussies believe they would be unable to manage their finances without BNPL (buy-now-pay-later) services such as afterpay or paypal's pay in four. It also revealed that over 56% of gen z aussies are against the idea of using credit cards.

it is not just for shoes anymore. nearly 60% of gen z and millennials have used a buy-now-pay-later service in the last six months, with many ditching credit cards because they find them predatory or confusing. what started as a way to smooth out a big purchase has shifted into a structural part of the weekly budget for millions of us.

while the interest-free pitch is the big draw, the safety net is thinning for those who miss a beat. even though fewer people are missing payments overall, the ones who do are getting hit harder. the average amount paid in late fees has climbed to a record high of $119 as the market grows toward a predicted $22 billion.