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Irish Times
17-05-2025
- Politics
- Irish Times
Scouse Republic: An Alternative History of Liverpool - Missing words of wisdom
Scouse Republic: An Alternative History of Liverpool Author : David Swift ISBN-13 : 978-1408719701 Publisher : Constable Guideline Price : £25 There are few as obsessed with identity as is an anti-identitarian. David Swift – who has previously written two books, the first about how the British left is too performative about identity and the second on how identity is keeping us apart – now considers Scouseness in this clumsy popular history. Swift, who is from Liverpool , finds himself in the bind of disagreeing with identity in general while attempting to anatomise, quite lovingly if testily, Scouseness. (The term Scouse is thought to derive from the Norwegian stew lapskaus , a dish adopted by the city.) He's more comfortable with the anecdote than the argument. This is a symptom of the deeper problem with the book, in that it lacks the requisite level of analysis to make sense of the material. Take, for example, Swift's assertion that 'the importance of Irish immigration to the city can be overstated'. The evidence he provides seems to undermine this position. Approximately three-quarters of Liverpool residents are of Irish descent (while four-quarters of The Beatles had Irish ancestors). TP O'Connor, an Irish nationalist from Athlone, was MP for the Liverpool Scotland constituency between 1885 and his death in 1929; other Irish nationalists sat on the city council. Sectarian tensions, often directly related to Irish issues, led to numerous riots; the city's postwar suburbanisation and the consequent intermixing of Protestants and Catholics is thought to have contributed to normalising things. A growing sense of collective Liverpudlian identity must have helped. READ MORE Swift seems uncomfortable talking for too long about cultural diversity. The Chinese community gets a couple of paragraphs. His coverage of the Toxteth riots in 1981, which started in a largely black district, is cursory and begins, perversely, with sympathy for the police whose brutality during the events is well-documented. The riots were enough to get the attention of Michael Heseltine, whose efforts to embed an entrepreneurial, deregulated culture in the post-riot city have arguably defined contemporary Liverpool (Heseltine is mentioned just once in the book). The Militant tendency, which faced down Thatcher's government in the mid-1980s and lost badly, deserves greater consideration. [ Mark Hennessy: North of England and its discontents: Long shadow left by Hillsborough remains Opens in new window ] One emerges from this book still wondering what sharpened this idea of the city as a place apart. Without Toxteth and Militant, the mutual sense of sharp division between nation and city, which found its ultimate form in the horrors and aftermath of the Hillsborough disaster, can't be properly understood.
Perth Now
15-05-2025
- Health
- Perth Now
Pets pip partners for best company
A majority of pet owners would prefer to spend time with their fluffy friends when they are stressed rather than with their partners, according to new research. A global survey of 30,000 pet owners found that 65 per cent of people would prefer to de-stress in the company of their dog, cat or other household pet – significantly more than those who said their partners (37 per cent), family (24 per cent), children (22 per cent) or friends (21 per cent). More than half of pet owners – 59 per cent – said their pets provided company without the need to talk during stressful times, while nearly a quarter said their pet provided a space for them to express worries or concerns without expecting a response. A majority of pet owners would prefer to spend time with their fluffy friends when stressed rather than their partners or friends, according to new research. NewsWire / David Crosling Credit: News Corp Australia But for most pet owners – 90 per cent of them – the simple presence of their pet is relaxing, offering a sense of calm that doesn't require words or actions. The findings, commissioned by pet care business Mars and mental health company Calm, also revealed how pets can reinforce other good mental health habits, such as encouraging us to step away from screens, spend more time outdoors and take a break from work and chores. Almost eight in 10 said their pet reminds them to pause and take a break from work, chores or tasks, while 77 per cent said their pet encourages them to take a break away from screens. The heartwarming results make it no surprise that nine in 10 Aussies surveyed said their pet had positively impacted their mental wellbeing. More than half of pet owners – 59 per cent – said their pets provided company without the need to talk during stressful times. NewsWire / David Swift Credit: News Corp Australia 'While we love our pets, we often don't realise how much they give back,' Dr Tammie King, a specialist in human-animal interaction and senior research manager at the Waltham Petcare Science Institute said. 'Reframing your pet's daily 'interruptions' as loving reminders to pause, breathe and be present can be a powerful wellness tool. 'Research shows that touch-based pet interactions can boost oxytocin levels in humans. 'The findings of this survey will help more people reflect on and acknowledge the little wellbeing moments pets nudge us towards on a daily basis.' The survey marks the launch of a partnership between Mars – which produces pet care brands including Pedigree, Royal Canin and Whiskas – and meditation app Calm. The businesses have joined forces to shine a light on how our furry friends can boost our mental health through a pet-inspired content series. Findings also revealed how pets can reinforce other good mental health habits, including encouraging us to step away from screens and spend more time outdoors. NewsWire / Luis Enrique Ascui Credit: News Corp Australia The content is designed to help users relax, reflect and recharge. In addition to the content series, Mars and Calm have launched a social media campaign to find stories from pet owners of their pets, to explore how they help our mental health. The stories will become inspiration for Calm content later in the year. 'We know that small, intentional moments of calm can have a big impact on our overall wellbeing, and our pets have an incredible way of guiding us there,' Dr Chris Mosunic, chief clinical officer at Calm said. The heartwarming results make it no surprise that nine in 10 Aussies surveyed said their pet had positively impacted their mental wellbeing. NewsWire / Kelly Barnes Credit: News Corp Australia 'A quick dog walk or cat cuddle at our desk when they stroll in front of the screen, can provide a simple moment to reset and recharge. 'We're proud to partner with Mars and bring this data to the forefront to highlight the potential of our bond with pets and help more people discover the wonderful wellbeing benefits our relationship with pets can bring.' For more information on the Mars x Calm partnership, visit:
Perth Now
13-05-2025
- Business
- Perth Now
Airline slashes flight prices in huge sale
A major airline has announced a mammoth one-week sale, giving Aussie travellers the chance to escape the winter chill for a bargain price. Qantas is set to drop prices on return flights to Asian hotspots including Bali, Singapore, and Tokyo to as low as $519, with more than 100,000 discounted seats to be available. A major airline has announced a mammoth one-week sale for popular destinations across Asia. NewsWire / Ben Clark Credit: News Corp Australia The airline says the sale coincides with some of Asia's biggest events and festivals, including the Edogawa, Ōme City and Sumidagawa fireworks festivals in Japan in July. Sightseers can also catch the Hong Kong Wine and Dine Festival and the Halloween Street Party in Lan Kwai Fong throughout late October, or escape the chilly weather by booking a tropical getaway to Bali. Economy return flights from Melbourne to Bali start at just $599, Brisbane to Manila from $829 and Sydney to Hong Kong from $929. There are also flights from Melbourne, Sydney and Brisbane to Bangkok starting at $929 and to Bengaluru from $949, with return flights departing Brisbane, Melbourne and Sydney to Tokyo starting from $949. The sale includes return flights to Japan from just NewsWire / David Swift Credit: News Corp Australia Qantas chief executive officer of international Cam Wallace said the airline was 'excited to be offering some great deals (from Tuesday) across almost our entire Asia network'. 'Whether it's chasing the sun in Bali, exploring the street food scene in Hong Kong or visiting friends and family, there's something here for everyone,' he said. 'These travel dates also line up with some great events and festivals across Asia, making it the perfect time to start planning a getaway.' The sale will run from May 13 to midnight on May 19, and includes checked baggage, meals, beverages and entertainment on flights departing between June 1, 2025 and March 31, 2026.
Perth Now
05-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Perth Now
Lazy Sunday turns into $2.4m windfall
A Sydney father has revealed the moment his lazy Sunday was flipped upside down after realising he had won a massive Lotto prize - admitting it was a 'random' pick of the numbers. The Sydneysider was enjoying the park with his young family, when he learned he had won the $2.4 million in the weekend's Saturday Lotto Draw. 'I didn't expect to win on such a small ticket,' he exclaimed when his win was confirmed. 'At first, I thought I was seeing things, but then I kept checking my ticket. 'I cannot believe it. It's just a random QuickPick. 'Every time I play, I just select random numbers.' The lucky winner said he would now be able to buy his young family a house. NewsWire / David Swift Credit: News Corp Australia The father was ecstatic as he would now be able to enter the property market. 'I'm a little bit excited! This will get us into our own home – our first home,' he said. 'The original plan today was to go to the park and spend time with my wife and daughter. But now I think I need to calm down! 'This is very good news!' The man, from Epping, held one of the two division one winning entries in Saturday Lotto draw 4569 on 3 May 2025. Each division one winning entry scored $2,478,143.82 The winning numbers in Saturday Lotto draw 4569 on 3 May 2025 were 30, 29, 16, 34, 43 and 27, while the supplementary numbers were 40 and 2.
Perth Now
28-04-2025
- Business
- Perth Now
Election housing promises revealed
Underpinning this cost-of-living-centric election is the issue of housing. The states and territories have a big responsibility to play, but the federal government has more money at its disposal and the major, overarching levers to pull. In the latest federal budget, Labor beefed up its shared equity scheme, taking the program to $6.3bn over the next four years. The government will pay for and take a stake in a first homebuyer's house. The Labor government has also set an 'ambitious national target' to build 1.2 million new homes over the next five years, including 55,000 social and affordable properties, all at a cost of $21bn. This figure includes $4.5bn to the states and territories to unclog planning and infrastructure backlogs. The latest estimates forecast the country will fall 400,000 homes short of Labor's 1.2 million home target. If the Coalition is elected, they say their plans for big cuts to immigration will fit hand in glove with measures to reduce power bills, and allowing people to pull from their superannuation, to help more people buy themselves a house. What the major parties agree on: Foreign buyer ban: Both Labor and the Coalition will ban foreign investors and temporary residents from buying existing homes for two years. The policy does not stop this cohort investing in newly built homes. No changes to negative gearing: Both major parties have ruled out changes to negative gearing and capital gains tax. Negative gearing allows an investor to offset income from an investment property against any losses from maintaining it, giving them a potential tax deduction. Capital gains tax is a 50 per cent concession on any profit made from the sale of assets, including a house, after owning it for at least 12 months. Dour sentiment around housing will be central in this election. NewsWire / David Swift Credit: News Corp Australia Labor: New home builds: Labor will expand its Homes for Australia plan to build an extra 100,000 homes specifically for first-time buyers. The party has also vowed $54 million to boost construction of prefabricated and modular homes. Help to Buy: The government committed another $800m in the 2025 federal budget to lift property price and income caps on its Help to Buy scheme, which contributes equity of up to 40 per cent to support eligible homebuyers. Home Guarantee Scheme: All first homebuyers to be eligible for 5 per cent deposits, without needing to pay mortgage insurance. Tradies: In a bid to boost supply, the government is offering construction apprentices a $10,000 cash bonus, while employers of various key trades can get $5000 under the Priority Hiring Incentive. Tradies can also get means-tested concessional loans to help with living expenses, learning a trade and doing an apprenticeship. Infrastructure boost: Labor has pledged a $1.5 billion fund to fast-track roads, sewage and water connections, aimed to speed up construction of new housing. Rental investment: Investors will receive tax breaks as part of the build-to-rent program, which is estimated to deliver an extra 80,000 units over the next 10 years. Neither of the major parties will reform negative gearing and capital gains tax discounts; key mechanisms economists say could alleviate housing pressure. NewsWire / Andrew Henshaw Credit: News Corp Australia The Coalition Superannuation for housing: A Coalition government would allow first homebuyers to take 40 per cent of their superannuation, up to $50,000, for a home deposit. When the home is sold, the money would be repaid into superannuation. Mortgage tax break: The Coalition will allow first homebuyers of new properties to claim the interest paid on the first $650,000 of a mortgage as a tax deduction, which is expected to cost $1.2 billion over four years. Home Guarantee Scheme: The Coalition has also vowed to maintain the Home Guarantee Scheme program, which includes a 5 per cent deposit program for up to 35,000 first homebuyers, and another 10,000 specifically for those buying in a regional area, as well as a 2 per cent deposit scheme for 5000 single parents or eligible single legal guardians with at least one dependent. Infrastructure boost: A $5 billion fund would help speed up development of new homes, fast tracking necessary infrastructure like roads, sewage and water. Population: The Coalition would slash immigration numbers, which it says are a major contributor to the housing crisis. A Liberal National government would reduce permanent migration from 185,000 to 140,000 for two years, and then 150,000 in year three and 160,000 in year four). The refugee and humanitarian program intake would be cut from 20,000 to 13,750. Backlog: Opposition Leader Peter Dutton has pledged to clear the backlog of housing projects waiting for environmental approvals, estimated to be more than 100, within his first 12 months if elected.
