But water expert Dr Erin O’Donnell says it’s much safer to drink water from your tap than from any private well in major Australian cities. “The water that comes out of your tap is monitored stringently to confirm it is safe in major urban centres,” she says. “If you live in a capital city in Australia, drink the tap water.”
Hold your horses
Victoria Police thought it could only be onto a good thing when it issued a media alert inviting the local press corps out to Axedale, east of Bendigo, for a media conference on Thursday to highlight the dastardly crime to befall Rosie, an adored black and white Gypsy cob mare reportedly stolen overnight on Monday.
Cue a cavalcade of outraged media reports.
“Heathcote police are investigating the theft of a much-beloved disability-support horse from Axedale this week,” reported Mirage News.
Therapy horse Rosie was reportedly stolen. But was she really?
“Rosie has helped over 100 children with disabilities as a therapy horse over the past two years. The mild-mannered equestrian is valued at $40,000 but means even more to the young children who ride her.”
“Callous thieves steal Rosie the disability support horse,” The Nightly reported.
Our fellow outlet 9News.com.au also ran a story. But just before midday, came the sheepish police update.
“Please be advised this media opportunity has been cancelled,” wrote the police (emphasis all theirs).
“Investigators have located the horse and further information has come to light revealing it had not been stolen. This is no longer a police incident and we won’t be facilitating further media on the matter. Apologies for any inconvenience.”
As one of our colleagues noted, it looks like someone had a mum look and found Rosie. But how easy is it for a horse to hide?
However, the truth, straight from the horse’s mouth, is even stranger than fiction. Sources say Rosie is a “well-known horse in the area” and subject to a local neighbourhood custody dispute.
Don’t believe the naysayers. Police are now convinced that, rather than being stolen, she is back with her rightful owner.
Senator for something
Next Tuesday, the eyes of the entire political establishment will be laser-focused on Canberra, where Treasurer Jim Chalmers will deliver his pre-election budget.
Senator Ralph Babet. Credit: Oscar Colman
But Clive Palmer’s $110 million Victorian senator, Ralph Babet, won’t be in Parliament House. Instead the senator will be some 400 kilometres away. What could possibly drag him so far from Canberra on the national capital’s night of nights, we hear you ask?
Well, we have an answer for you. Babet will be in Newcastle hosting an event tailored to his and Palmer’s right-wing base. He’ll be MC for the 2025 edition of the Australian Freedom Conference, which prominent US right-wing personality Tucker Carlson will be beaming into. Fellow traveller, political commentator and filmmaker Dinesh D’Souza will also join via stream from the States.
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Last year, Palmer managed to lure Carlson to Australia. This time, he’s hoping a video feed of Tucker, who can be watched free on X, will be enough to get local fans to cough up $45 for events in Newcastle, Melbourne, Brisbane and Perth. He’s even spruiking the events in huge ads in mastheads such as ours.
“It should be a great night. People are ready for change,” Babet said of Tuesday’s event.
He had no worries about missing the Chalmers show, leaving a few minions to endure Canberra in his stead.
“My team will be in budget lock-up and reporting back to me what they find. I expect it will not be great,” Babet told CBD.
