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Illegal tobacco is messing up economic data. That won’t stop until it’s managed like alcohol

Illegal tobacco is messing up economic data. That won’t stop until it’s managed like alcohol

Darling Downs Public Health UnitMost Australians have probably noticed the proliferation of tobacconists and “convenience stores” in the last few years. These stores aren’t making much from the limited offerings on public display. Rather, their profitability comes from under-the-counter sales of untaxed tobacco and illegal vapes. The growth of
NZ needs more entrepreneurs. Will its new tertiary strategy reward real risk takers?

NZ needs more entrepreneurs. Will its new tertiary strategy reward real risk takers?

Getty ImagesThe government’s recently released Tertiary Education Strategy 2025–2030 signals a shift towards harnessing the sector to address New Zealand’s long-standing productivity issues. But the strategy and its goals aren’t necessarily aligned. Universities and polytechnics are now expected to promote innovation, accelerate commercialisation and ...
The ‘hobbits’ mysteriously disappeared 50,000 years ago. Our new study reveals what happened to their home

The ‘hobbits’ mysteriously disappeared 50,000 years ago. Our new study reveals what happened to their home

_Homo floresiensis_ skull. Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SAAbout 50,000 years ago, humanity lost one of its last surviving hominin cousins, Homo floresiensis (also known as “the hobbit” thanks to its small stature). The cause of its disappearance, after more than a million years living on the isolated volcanic island of Flores,
Australia has new laws to protect nature. Do they signal an end to native forest logging?

Australia has new laws to protect nature. Do they signal an end to native forest logging?

Reforms to Australia’s nature laws have passed federal parliament. A longstanding exemption that meant federal environment laws did not apply to native logging has finally been removed from the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act. Native forest logging will now be subject to national environmental standards – legally binding rules

Illegal tobacco is messing up economic data. That won’t stop until it’s managed like alcohol

Illegal tobacco is messing up economic data. That won’t stop until it’s managed like alcohol
Darling Downs Public Health UnitMost Australians have probably noticed the proliferation of tobacconists and “convenience stores” in the last few years. These stores aren’t making much from the limited offerings on public display. Rather, their profitability comes from under-the-counter sales of untaxed tobacco and illegal vapes. The growth of

NZ needs more entrepreneurs. Will its new tertiary strategy reward real risk takers?

NZ needs more entrepreneurs. Will its new tertiary strategy reward real risk takers?
Getty ImagesThe government’s recently released Tertiary Education Strategy 2025–2030 signals a shift towards harnessing the sector to address New Zealand’s long-standing productivity issues. But the strategy and its goals aren’t necessarily aligned. Universities and polytechnics are now expected to promote innovation, accelerate commercialisation and ...

The ‘hobbits’ mysteriously disappeared 50,000 years ago. Our new study reveals what happened to their home

The ‘hobbits’ mysteriously disappeared 50,000 years ago. Our new study reveals what happened to their home
_Homo floresiensis_ skull. Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SAAbout 50,000 years ago, humanity lost one of its last surviving hominin cousins, Homo floresiensis (also known as “the hobbit” thanks to its small stature). The cause of its disappearance, after more than a million years living on the isolated volcanic island of Flores,

Australia has new laws to protect nature. Do they signal an end to native forest logging?

Australia has new laws to protect nature. Do they signal an end to native forest logging?
Reforms to Australia’s nature laws have passed federal parliament. A longstanding exemption that meant federal environment laws did not apply to native logging has finally been removed from the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act. Native forest logging will now be subject to national environmental standards – legally binding rules