There is finally some good news for your grocery bill, with the price of many vegetables expected to drop back to regular prices.
The change comes as growers begin to report that they are back on track with their crops after flooding earlier in the year devastated crops in NSW and Queensland, leaving empty shelves in supermarkets as well as fast food stores such as KFC having to substitute lettuce for cabbage in their burgers.
speaking to the ABCMulgowie Yowie Salads director Shannon Moss said the price of vegetables – such as iceberg lettuce which peaked at around $12 a head at the height of the crisis – have remained high for so long because farmers essentially had to start from scratch.
“You have to remember a seedling in a nursery takes about four to six weeks to grow, then it’s another eight weeks in the ground to grow lettuce,” he said.
“So you’re looking at three to four months to grow any kind of lettuce.”
And while the industry still faces challenges caused by labor shortages, high fuel costs and fertilizer costs, the better weather has at least helped even out supply issues.
Mr Moss says he’s now back in the swing of things, producing about 30,000 cos lettuces a week which get sent out to Sydney, Melbourne and Brisbane.
“We’ve had nice weather where a lot of growers have got stock coming on,” Mr Moss said.
But while price drops are coming, Toowoomba-based greengrocer Bevan Betros warned people not to expect them to come down immediately.
“I don’t think they’ll get much cheaper just for the next week or two,” he told ABC. “They’ll get back down as the warm weather comes on, as we get into spring.
“We should be getting down under $2 again, hopefully in September.”
The boss of Australia’s largest bank has warned that the economy is already declining and that a “short, sharp contraction” is on the way.
Late on Wednesday, the chief executive of the Commonwealth Bank of Australia, Matt Comyn, delivered the company’s annual results.
Although the CBA made an eye-watering $9.6 billion in profit over the last financial year, Mr Comyn warned that tougher times were on the horizon.
He told the Australian Financial Review that he predicted “a short, sharp contraction in the Australian economy.”
“We are definitely expecting a more challenging year ahead than we have seen in the last 12 months,” he added.
However, in some good news, the banking CEO believes a contraction is almost a certainty but a full-blown recession is less likely.
Australia is in the throes of an economic crisis as inflation rose to 6.1 per cent last month, the highest level it’s been for 20 years.
And for the first time in more than a decade, Australia’s central bank has had no choice but to increase the cash rate in a bid to stop rampant inflation.
For the last four consecutive months, the Reserve Bank of Australia has increased interest rates by 1.75 percentage points and Mr Comyn more rate increases will come.
Mr Comyn told the publication his bank predicts the cash rate to increase by another 75 basis points to sit at 2.6 per cent.
The cash rate is currently 1.85 per cent.
Once the cash rate hits 2.6 per cent, Mr Comyn said the economy would experience a contraction of 1.5 per cent.
He said he “hoped” that once the cash rate reached this point it would be enough to curb spending, adding “We need to see a slowdown in demand.”
Speaking to the ABC, Mr Comyn said “We do forecast recessions in the US, UK and Europe. We don’t believe that that’s the likely outcome in Australia.”
Already there are signs that Australians are splashing their cash less.
Mr Comyn said their customer data shows that spending is falling for both debit and credit cards.
This was significantly more for customers who had mortgages.
“It’s quite early post the immediate rate rises, [but] we are already seeing a downturn in spending across our customer base, both from a debt and credit perspective,” he said.
“Of course, that’s more pronounced with customers who have a home loan, and we expect that it will continue throughout the course of the calendar year.”
A group of Melbourne men have been absolutely roasted online after they were snapped all wearing the same, very popular outfit.
It’s no secret that Aussies love a good North Face jacket, with the black puffer jackets coming out any time the temperature drops below 15C.
Australia’s obsession with this jacket is a long-running joke, which is probably why Tahlea Aualiitia couldn’t resist taking a snap when she spotted five men all sporting the clothing item.
“Surely Melbourne has a collective noun for this,” the ABC reporter wrote on Twitter above the image.
The picture shows everyone in the group wearing a black North Face jacket, black or navy pants and RM Williams boots.
The tweet has received more than 10,000 likes and almost 800 retweets.
“Always the boots … Australians cosplaying as farmers,” one Twitter user wrote.
Another person said: “I’ve got one of these coats myself. I thought it was great until I went to Melbourne wearing it and discovered that it seems to be part of a uniform there.”
The post was also also shared to the Reddit group r/Melbourne, with the poster suggesting a “puff of people” could be a good name for the phenomenon.
This prompted a long list of hilarious suggestions from users, including Kathmandudes, a Clusterpuff, Puff Daddies and a MacPack.
“The classic black puffer jacket and RM Williams combo,” one user wrote.
“RM Williams, for all that rugged outdoorsy stuff you do in your day to day life in the inner city. Like climbing in and out of the drivers seat of your Prado before hiking the 10 meters from your driveway to the front door,” another added.
One person said: “Ah yes the common Melbourne male. He can be seen with a latte in one hand as he obnoxiously takes up the whole footpath with his work colleagues. ”
While others were ridiculing the group for their matching fashion, one Reddit user was quick to jump to their defense.
“Look, it gets bloody cold in Melbourne and there isn’t anything warmer, lighter and functional than a down-filled jacket. Puffer jackets are a necessity not a fashion choice – they are a very intelligent addition to a winter wardrobe in Melbourne,” they wrote.
“The problem (it isn’t a problem) is lack of choice. Every store has puffer jackets but the styles and colors available are extremely limited. So you buy a black one that will go with anything. What looks good with a black jacket? Black jean. So you wear it with black jeans.
“Interstate visitors often mention the ‘Melbourne uniform’ (because we wear a lot of black). We don’t choose to wear black, black chooses us. I’m ignoring the black and brown Chelsea boots, because they are an Australia-wide plague.”
The North Face jacket obsession is so widespread, that a British expat dedicated a whole TikTok to mocking Aussies over it.
Daniel Olaniran, known as @olantekkers, is originally from the UK but has lived in Australia for over two years.
The former professional footballer is clearly no stranger to chilly English training sessions, which is probably why he thinks Australia’s obsession with mountain wear brands North Face and Kathmandu as soon as it gets cold is a bit rich.
“Australians in the winter man, you lot are funny man,” he said.
“You guys can’t wait to bring out the North Face jackets… I’m seeing big puffy North Face jackets looking Arsène Wenger, you know what I mean.”
One video captioned “mornings in Bondi” showed dozens of Sydneysiders in huge puffer jackets with the sun out.
He said he’s noticed the amount of Aussies in “North Face drip from head to toe, including the hat and gloves, like what is this man”.
“It’s not even that cold man, all you need is a light jumper and you’re ready to roll bruv.”
“In Sydney I really don’t think it gets too cold… it gets chilly but not on the level of a winter in London,” he said via the Daily Mail.
“I think most Aussies struggle because they’re obviously so used to the sun.”
John Saxon Tingle, the father of high-profile ABC journalist Laura Tingle and founder of the Shooters Party, has died.
Tingle announced the 90-year-old’s death on Twitter on Saturday saying: “Love you Dadda.”
On Instagram, she added: “Isn’t Saxon just the best name?”, registering her “profound gratitude and luck in having him in my life.”
Born in the eastern-Sydney suburb of Edgecliff in November 1931, Mr Tingle founded the Shooters Party in 1992. He was also its vice-chairman until 1995.
His career started in journalism, where he worked as a broadcaster and news editor for 2QN Deniliquin from 1949 until 1951.
John Tingle was born November 2, 1931.(Instagram: @laura.tingle)
He later joined the ABC, where he stayed until 1968, returning in 1977 to present Friday Night Forum.
Throughout the 1970s he worked in radio for a number of networks including 2SM and 2GB in Sydney.
From 1992 to 1995 he was director of current affairs at radio 2CH.
Today, Tingle attributed her choice in career and success to her father.
“Apart from all else of course he was my greatest urger-on, fan and critic in my professional life and so proud I had followed him into journalism,” she wrote on Instagram.
“He taught me at 15 what was the most important question to ask, cheered me on to tackle the small and mean people in politics, and to not be afraid to celebrate the transformative people and moments it sometimes gives us.
“And to always report what you believe to be true.”
Mr Tingle worked for a number of media outlets including the ABC.(Twitter: Laura Tingle)
In 2019, Mr Tingle, a resident of Wauchope in the NSW Mid North Coast, called himself an “accidental politician” in an interview with the Illawarra Mercury.
“I was 63 looking to retire to Port Macquarie, I had a block of land and without telling me they put me at the top of the ballot and I got elected,” he said.
“It was a party that was never intended to be with someone elected who didn’t know he was standing for parliament.”
Conservative political adviser Alyssa Farah Griffin is rumored to be the newest co-host of ABC’s “The View.”
The move has allegedly already caused a rift among the show’s longtime hosts.
Griffin, 33, would be joining Sara Haines, Whoopi Goldberg, Joy Behar and Sunny Hostin for the daytime talk show’s 26th season, which begins in September.
In 2020, Griffin acted as White House director of strategic communications and assistant to the president in the Trump administration. In 2021, she joined CNN as a political commentator.
Her permanent seat at the talk show’s table isn’t official until Thursday when the show said its new member will be revealed. However, “The View” fans — as well as MSNBC’s Tiffany Cross and comedian Wanda Sykes — have already slammed the network for reportedly hiring Griffin.
Who is Alyssa FarahGriffin?
Born in Los Angeles on June 15, 1989, Griffin is the daughter of two journalists. Her father, Joseph Farah, was the executive news editor at the Los Angeles Herald Examiner, then an editor at Northern California’s the Sacramento Union.
Her father is of Syrian and Lebanese descent. In 1997, Joseph founded the far-right conspiracy website WorldNetDaily, known for espousing conspiracy theories — including doubts about President Barack Obama’s US citizenship.
Griffin worked for her father as the “special Washington correspondent” during and after she pursued her bachelor’s degree in journalism and public policy at Patrick Henry College.
Then-White House communications director Alyssa Farah talks to reporters following an interview with FOX outside the West Wing on Oct. 9, 2020.Getty Images
Her mom, Judy — who’s of Ukrainian descent — has worked for HuffPost, the Associated Press and Comstock’s.
Griffin married Justin Griffin, a current MBA candidate at the Stern School of Business at New York University, in Florida in November 2021. He is the grandson of real estate developer and Republican Party activist Samuel A. Tamposi.
While acting as a guest host on “The View” in February, Griffin revealed that her father and stepmother did not attend the couple’s wedding after she publicly spoke up against President Donald Trump.
What jobs has Griffin had?
Griffin started her journalism career writing for World Daily Net. In 2010, she accepted a media internship with Congressman Tom McClintock and had a yearlong stint as an associate producer on “The Laura Ingraham Show.”
During the 2012 presidential election cycle, she traveled across the country as a spokesperson for the College Republican National Committee, speaking on the youth vote.
Two years later, she became Congressman Mark Meadows’ press secretary, then his communications director.
Under Meadows and Jim Jordan, she then became the communications director for the Freedom Caucus in the House of Representatives.
In September 2017, Griffin became Vice President Mike Pence’s special assistant to the president and press secretary.
Two years later, she was appointed as press secretary for the US Department of Defense after the position was vacant for nearly a year. She also served as the director of media affairs during this time.
Alyssa Farah Griffin walks beside then-Vice President Mike Pence. Official White House Photo
She joined the Trump administration as the controversial president’s chief of staff in 2020 and became a White House press secretary that April — a job she later regretted.
Griffin resigned as press secretary on Dec. 3, 2020, which was effective the following day.
She denounced Trump over the Jan. 6 insurrection and joined CNN as a political commentator near the end of 2021.
“At no point in my entire life was my goal to be on TV and be a talking head. I know I for sure said to my husband multiple times, ‘I want to stay off TV because I don’t want to forever be seen as a Trump spokesperson,’ ” she told Vanity Fair about the gig.
“Famous last words,” Griffin added.
What did Griffin do for the Trump administration?
Griffin was an important piece of the president’s coronavirus response, the Washington Post reported.
She reinforced that report during an appearance on “The View,” telling the hosts, “My duty was to serve the American public and to serve the country, and I did my best to do that.
“We were dealing with unprecedented crises in this country, hearing we were going to have a ‘Pearl Harbor a day’ of loss of life,” Griffin explained about accepting the job during the pandemic.
“And I thought if there’s anything [I can do] to help, I couldn’t say no.”
However, Griffin said she would not support another Trump presidency, adding, “We got to move on from this era.”
Alyssa Farah Griffin as a guest co-host on “The View” on May 24.ABC via Getty Images
What are Griffin’s political beliefs?
Griffin is a Conservative.
Although she worked for the Trump administration, she has spoken out against him, saying she quit a month after he lost the 2020 election because she “saw where this [the Republican Party] was heading.”
During the Jan. 6 insurrection, she tweeted, “Condemn this now, @realDonaldTrump… You are the only one they will listen to. For our country!
“There were cases of fraud that should be investigated,” she continued later that day. “But the legitimate margins of victory for Biden are far too wide to change the outcome. … We must accept these results.”
Although her Twitter still regularly leans to the right, Griffin doubled down on her Jan. 6 words while also bashing former White House Deputy Press Secretary Sarah Matthews in July.
She [Matthews] believed in him [Trump] like millions of Americans. On 1/6 he let her de ella & our entire country down, ” Griffin wrote in a tweet.
There were cases of fraud that should be investigated. But the legitimate margins of victory for Biden are far too wide to change the outcome. You need to know that.
I’m proud of many policy accomplishments the Trump Admin had. But we must accept these results.
Alyssa Farah Griffin has made multiple appearances on “The View.”The View / YouTube
Has she been a guest on ‘The View’ before?
Yes, Griffin has made multiple appearances on the ABC primetime talk show after the show’s Conservative host Meghan McCain departed in 2021. Ostensibly on the hunt for someone to replace her, “The View” launched a sort of “public audition,” the Hollywood Reporter has speculated, featuring a number of prominent Conservative pundits.
Griffin oftentimes sits at the Hot Topics table, including the memorable moment she revealed her dad and stepmom did not attend her wedding due to political differences on Feb. 11, as previously mentioned.
Griffin also faced tough questions from the permanent hosts on the Oct. 4, 2021, episode while discussing how some Trump employees bought into the narrative that the election was stolen.
“I got plenty of tea to spill, ladies,” she laughed on the episode. “Here today and tomorrow,” she quipped.
Mask mandates, skipping a wedding and heading straight to a honeymoon and Andrew Cuomo are among other topics Griffin has discussed on the show.
Alyssa Farah Griffin on “The View” on May 24.ABC via Getty Images
Who else was considered for the co-hosting gig?
Stephanie Grisham, Tara Setmayer, Michele Tafoya, Ana Navarro and others were candidates for the empty seat at “The View’s” table, PrimeTimer reported.
Since McCain’s departure, producers have also recruited Mia Love, Gretchen Carlson and Eboni K. Williams, among others to temporarily fill in, but it sounds like Griffin will outweigh them all.
But she won’t be the only familiar face come Thursday. Longtime co-host and God-fearing Republican Elisabeth Hasselbeck returned to the show on Wednesday after being fired in 2013 when producers wanted to shake up the cast. However, they subsequently spent years trying and failing to bring in a Conservative who captivated audiences in the same way that she did.
“The View” will make its official co-host announcement on Thursday at 11 am EST.
