AU Brief — Wednesday 9 September 2026
Wednesday 9 September 2026
This morning: renewed Russian strikes on Kyiv leave five dead, aged care algorithm errors come under scrutiny, and debate intensifies over Australia's tobacco excise and its links to crime.
Culture
Parents Describe Emotional Toll of Empty Nesting
Several Australian parents shared their experiences of children leaving home, describing feelings of grief, loss of identity and adjustment to changed family life. Contributors included single fathers, an adoptive mother and a father in Adelaide, who spoke about missing daily routines and reconsidering future plans. The reflections followed an earlier story on how empty-nesters cope with the transition.
Sources: ABC News
Politics
Smithsonian Secretary Bunch Announces Retirement After Seven Years
Lonnie G Bunch III, 73, the Smithsonian's first Black secretary, has announced he will step down at the end of the year after seven years leading the institution. He told the New York Times the decision was his own timing rather than a response to the Trump administration's pressure campaign over how the museum presents US history, though he acknowledged the role had been stressful. Republicans including Senator Josh Hawley and Representative Brandon Gill welcomed his departure, while Democrats such as Senator Catherine Cortez Masto and Representative Terri Sewell praised his leadership.
Sources: Guardian Australia
World
Russia strikes Kyiv again, killing five after brief lull
Russia resumed drone and missile strikes on Kyiv and the Odesa region, killing five people and injuring close to 30 after pausing attacks during a visit by US envoys. Officials reported damage to more than 50 sites, including apartment buildings, schools and a TV channel building. Separately, Presidents Trump and Putin held a call in which Putin denied Russia had aggressive intentions towards Europe, amid discussions on ending the war and a possible Zelenskyy-Trump meeting around September 20.
Sources: ABC News
Culture
Alice Zaslavsky shares charred cabbage and satay chicken recipe
A recipe column presents a dish combining oven-roasted cabbage wedges with a peanut-based satay butter sauce and lemongrass chicken mince, serving four. The method uses a kettle-blanching technique, pouring boiled water over cabbage in a colander to soften it before charring in a pan and finishing in the oven. The piece also explains how modern cabbage varieties require less cooking than older, more bitter types.
Sources: Guardian Australia
Culture
Family finds community through suburban weekend sport in Melbourne
A family who moved to Melbourne's south-east initially found their new suburb quiet compared to city life. They discovered local ovals were filled with football and soccer matches on weekend mornings, drawing families from across the area. The family's two older sons later joined a local soccer club under a volunteer coach, developing an interest in the sport over subsequent weeks.
Sources: Guardian Australia
Health
Toilet flushes release airborne pathogens, study finds
A Flinders University review of 22 studies found that flushing toilets releases microbial aerosols into the air people breathe, with particles remaining suspended for at least 20 seconds. Researchers found more turbulent flushes and higher microbe levels in water produced more aerosols, though the impact of closing the lid or bathroom ventilation was unclear. Lead author Lira Adiyani still recommends closing the lid as a precaution, while co-author Harriet Whiley said healthy people at home need not worry, though immunocompromised individuals face greater risk.
Sources: Guardian Australia
Culture
The L Word's enduring influence on queer culture, decades later
The L Word, which premiered in 2004 and ran for six seasons until 2009, continues to be referenced in modern lesbian culture and discourse. Created by Ilene Chaiken, the show followed queer women in Los Angeles and was seen as a response to Sex and the City. The article notes both its lasting appeal and criticised aspects, including its treatment of trans character Max and a predominantly white cast.
Sources: Guardian Australia
Economy
Solar sharer plan could cut EV charging costs
New IEEFA modelling suggests households with one electric vehicle could save as much as $800 annually on the government's solar sharer plan, rising to around $1900 for homes with two EVs, if charging is done during the free midday power period. Analyst Jay Gordon says households with electric hot water systems could also save $400 to $800 by running heating during that window, though homes with solar and battery storage may see mixed or no benefit. Experts note solar sharer isn't always the cheapest option and encourage comparing plans via government websites.
Sources: Guardian Australia
Politics
Debate grows over Australia's tobacco excise and crime links
Australian smoking rates have fallen to record lows, but illicit tobacco trade now reportedly accounts for about 80% of the market. Some argue the same excise taxes that reduced smoking are now funding organised crime. One Nation and the Coalition have suggested cutting the tobacco excise as a way to address the issue, amid reported efforts by the tobacco lobby to shape the debate.
Sources: Guardian Australia
Health
States logged aged care algorithm errors after rollout
Freedom of information documents show health officials in several states and territories tracked hundreds of cases where a new federal aged-care assessment algorithm, the Integrated Assessment Tool, appeared to under-assess older Australians' needs after its November launch. WA Health's director general warned the federal department of possible catastrophic outcomes once assessors lost the ability to override the tool's decisions. Similar concerns were raised by health staff in Victoria, the Northern Territory, Queensland and NSW, citing delayed care, distressed clients and risks to hospital discharge processes.
Sources: Guardian Australia
Culture
Chefs weigh in on deseeding tomatoes debate
Culinary experts say whether to deseed tomatoes depends on the variety and the dish being prepared. Seedier Sicilian tomatoes benefit from sieving, while meaty vesuvio tomatoes need little preparation for salads. Chefs also note that tomato skins can affect texture, with peeling methods including blanching or using a food mill.
Sources: Guardian Australia
Culture
New film revisits weather forecast behind D-day
The film Pressure, opening in UK and Irish cinemas from 9 September, dramatises how meteorologist Gp Capt James Stagg advised Gen Eisenhower on weather conditions ahead of the planned D-day landings on 5 June 1944. Experts from the University of Reading and the Met Office describe the challenges of forecasting beyond 24 hours at the time, and how a shifting forecast led to the invasion being postponed and eventually launched on 6 June 1944, affecting 160,000 Allied troops.
Sources: Guardian Australia
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