AU Brief — Monday 28 September 2026
Monday 28 September 2026
Good morning: we look at the squeeze facing millennial parents, a growing university divide over AI marking, shifting political language under Trump, and lighter fare including Chartreuse's global revival and a spin through Melbourne's art scene by e-bike.
Culture
Millennial parents describe relentless time and money pressures
A Sydney mother's attempt to use ChatGPT to solve her scheduling struggles highlights broader pressures facing millennial parents, particularly mothers. New research from The Parenthood found raising two or more children now costs Australian families at least $36,500 annually, with family costs rising 134% over two decades while incomes grew only 102%. Separate data shows single mothers of children under 15 are the most time-stressed group, with 56% reporting they are often or always rushed.
Sources: Guardian Australia
Culture
Melbourne writer tours seven art openings by e-bike
A Melbourne art lover used a free calendar compiled by Charles Lai to visit seven independent gallery openings across the city's inner north in one Friday night, covering about 15km by e-bike. Stops included MOM Gallery in Thornbury, OK Violet in East Brunswick, Cafe Gallery in Abbotsford, Jacky Winter Gallery and Everfresh Studio in Collingwood, and Outré Gallery in Fitzroy. Each venue featured different artists and shows, from ceramics and tufted rugs to street art and Americana-inspired paintings.
Sources: Guardian Australia
Science & Tech
Universities Split Over AI Use In Marking Assignments
Some Australian universities, including Western Sydney, Newcastle, Deakin, RMIT and Adelaide, allow academic staff to use generative AI to assist with marking and feedback, while UNSW, Melbourne and Sydney do not permit it. Western Sydney University academic Armin Alimardani warns that reliance on AI marking could erode trust in degrees and lead to a 'slop-cycle' where AI-generated work is assessed by AI. Other institutions, such as Monash, Queensland and QUT, say they are still developing policies on the issue.
Sources: Guardian Australia
Culture
Coastguard pilots delight toddler with low pass at LA beach
An Australian woman visiting Los Angeles with her three-year-old son and her sister, who lives in Ukraine, described a coastguard helicopter flying low and circling twice near them at the beach, with the two pilots waving and mouthing greetings to the boy. She said the moment moved onlookers to film it and left her sister in tears, calling it a highlight of their reunion after five years apart.
Sources: Guardian Australia
Culture
Columnist recounts role reversal on family trip to Japan
Guardian columnist Emma Beddington describes a family holiday to Japan with her husband, adult sons and one son's girlfriend, noting that after two decades of parents being in charge, their now 22- and 24-year-old sons took the lead on navigation and logistics. She recounts struggling with train barriers, QR code menus and Airbnb entry systems, plus mishaps including an underwhelming Airbnb, food poisoning at a glamping site, and a poorly planned road trip that left the group without food for hours. Despite the difficulties, she describes the holiday overall as enjoyable.
Sources: Guardian Australia
Culture
Guardian shares gluten-free cornbread recipe with variations
A Guardian masterclass outlines a cornbread recipe serving six, using coarse or stoneground cornmeal, buttermilk, eggs and bacon grease or butter. The method involves toasting and soaking cornmeal, preparing a batter, and baking at 220C for about 20-25 minutes in a frying pan or tin. The recipe notes the dish is gluten-free and suggests optional additions such as cheese, jalapeño, bacon, beans or vegetables.
Sources: Guardian Australia
Politics
Trump's public swearing marks shift in US political language
Analysts say Donald Trump has normalised profanity in American political discourse, using expletives in public remarks and social media posts about Iran, Israel and Venezuela during his second term. Experts note earlier presidents like Nixon and Johnson swore mainly in private, while Trump's approach has coincided with other politicians, including JD Vance, Pete Hegseth, Jacob Frey and Tammy Duckworth, also using coarse language publicly. Academics link the trend to declining public trust in politicians and a search for perceived authenticity.
Sources: Guardian Australia
Health
Essay explores link between avoiding pain and lasting happiness
An opinion piece argues that habitually avoiding discomfort, rejection or risk tends to increase long-term unhappiness rather than prevent it, citing research on rejection sensitivity, counterfactual thinking and emotional suppression. It suggests that accepting or naming negative emotions, rather than distracting from them, is linked to faster emotional recovery. The author illustrates the idea with examples including a psychological study on risk-taking and a personal anecdote about his father's wartime experience.
Sources: Guardian Australia
Culture
Chartreuse liqueur sees renewed global popularity amid scarcity
A herbal liqueur made by Carthusian monks since the 1600s, Chartreuse, has become increasingly popular in bars in Paris, London and elsewhere, particularly among younger drinkers since the pandemic. Supply is limited after the monks capped production in 2021 to focus on monastic life, with allocations to bottle shops restricted to small annual quantities. The brand exports roughly half its output to countries including the US, Japan and Australia, with global production thought to be just over a million bottles.
Sources: Guardian Australia
Culture
Weight-loss drug maker's Vogue sponsorship sparks criticism
Eli Lilly, maker of weight-loss drugs Mounjaro and Foundayo, was listed as a sponsor of the Milan Vogue World event overseen by Anna Wintour. Eating disorder charities and academics, including Beat's Tom Quinn and psychology professor Charlotte Markey, said the pairing of fashion events with a weight-loss pharmaceutical company risks normalising medical body change as a lifestyle choice. Eli Lilly said the sponsorship marks its 150th anniversary and aims to shift conversation about weight from aesthetics to health.
Sources: Guardian Australia
Culture
Writer explores stuffed vegetable traditions from 'dolma belt'
A food writer reflects on British 1970s-style stuffed peppers, contrasting them with stuffed vegetable dishes from regions spanning the Balkans, Turkiye, Palestine and Iran. The piece describes experiments with stuffed peppers, squash and aubergines using meat, bulgur and spiced fillings, drawing on Palestinian and Kurdish cookbooks including Pary Baban's Nandên. The writer notes such dishes are time-consuming but suited to longer evenings as summer ends.
Sources: Guardian Australia
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