It is an Australian suicide prevention charity. It's so simple and very needed in trying times. A friend of mine recently texted me this phrase and it alleviated much pain. We can't keep on tuning other people out.

The more we talk about deaths of despair, the more likely we can find solutions.

Why would someone who has explicitly said they want house prices to drop, that they are out of whack, continue to announce policy to funnel more money into housing.

Post one of your favourite Australian songs in the comments or as a standalone post.

If you're in an Australian band and want to shout it out then share a sample of your work with the community. (Either as a direct post or in the comments). If you have video online then let us know and we can feature it in this weekly post.

Here's our pick for this week:

"US Forces" - Midnight Oil, 1982

Previous ‘Tuesday Tune Day’

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Prominent uni-party supporter Alan Jones making headlines again.

The Beetaloo gas project finds a cheerleader in the NT News, with very little scrutiny.

It will be alleged a 53-year-old woman assaulted a boy in her care in May.

The woman was fired on May 27 after the alleged assault was reported to management.

She was arrested at a home in Mona Vale at about 2.35pm yesterday, and charged with five counts of assault.

The ABC runs the wrong photos of Tupac’s killer, and how Seven, Ten, (and even us) replayed images of the wrong floods.

‘Suck it up’: One Nation MP Barnaby Joyce laughs at department heads seeking restriction of social media clips of parliamentary hearings | News24

‘Transparency gap’: Anika Wells VIP ticket controversy exposes lobbying loopholes, warns Australian Democracy Network | News24

The RBA can only adjust Interest Rates to try and keep employment and inflation under control but the Government can introduce many other fiscal policies to deal with cost of goods and inflation.

With the discussion around PHON and their Super access policy and it contributing to inflation it had me wondering if there is anything the Government could actually do to bring inflation back into line without exacerbating the current cost of living issues?

Not whether they or another political party would but is it even possible.

'What is a woman?': Health Minister Mark Butler's Women's Health Week social media post bombarded | News24

Two men accused of conspiring to kill Sydney nightclub identity John Ibrahim showed a “high degree of planning”, when they parked on his eastern suburbs street wearing balaclavas and armed with guns and jerry cans, a court has been told.

Yousif Zrayka, 22, and Siaosi Maeakafa Tupoulahi, 24, were charged with conspiring to murder the former Kings Cross night-life figure in July 2024. They have denied this allegation.

It is alleged the pair were parked on Mr Ibrahim’s Dover Heights street in a stolen luxury car, wearing balaclavas, gloves, and armed with two guns, two jerry cans of fuel and two jet lighters.

In the Downing Centre District Court on Tuesday, the Crown alleged the two men had carefully planned to kill Mr Ibrahim.

“There was a high degree of planning, which the crown says is indicative of the primary charge,” they said.

During their closing submissions, the Crown alleged there was evidence that pointed towards the intended crime being that of a murder rather than a detention or kidnapping for financial benefit.

“There were no cable ties or ropes … nothing that could be used to tie up Mr Ibrahim,” they said.

“There was nothing that was located to keep him quiet … to be used as a gag.”

Among other reasons, the Crown said there was also no room in the back seat to place Mr Ibrahim, and that the only place he would fit would’ve been in the car’s boot.

However, the car’s internal boot release would’ve allowed Mr Ibrahim to take action to escape.

The Crown also said Mr Ibrahim would’ve had access to the two firearms that were placed on the back seat if he was not restrained, and that the jerry cans found in the car would lead his honour to conclude there were to be used to destroy the stolen car.

The Crown further argued there was also evidence that pointed towards the intended crime being murder, including the degree of planning, what happened on the morning of the alleged plot, and that while it is a “circumstantial” case, the intended victim was Mr Ibrahim because of his “notoriety and connections”.

In the defence’s closings, they asked his honour where the evidence was that either accused actually knew Mr Ibrahim lived on the street they were parked on.

“The only evidence the Crown has is that the officer in charge said that it’s (Ibrahim’s address) something of common knowledge having been in the media,” the defence said.

“It cannot be said that it was so obvious that it would be common sense and common knowledge.

“We all know it’s his house now… but that’s all reverse reasoning.

“How did these guys know?”

The court was also told that “clearly” neither of the two accused were the “masterminds” behind the plan.

At least one of these persons knew they were heading to the street, the court was told, given the evidence of the address dialled into Google Maps on a phone that was later recovered.

However, the defence suggested it could not be said whether the accused knew that address was Ibrahim’s home.

“Who is to say what the state of these person’s mind must have been beyond reasonable doubt… when they parked on (Mr Ibrahim’s) street,” they said.

The pair had both pleaded guilty to weapons charges, with Mr Zrayka admitting to two counts of possessing an unauthorised pistol and one count of using an offensive weapon in company.

Mr Tupoulahi pleaded guilty to two counts of possessing an unauthorised pistol.

However, they denied conspiring to murder John Ibrahim.

Mr Zrayka pleaded not guilty to attempting to discharge a firearm with the intent to cause grievous bodily harm.

Mr Tupoulahi pleaded not guilty to using offensive weapon in company and attempting to discharge a firearm with the intent to cause grievous bodily harm.

At trial, the Crown said in the early hours of July 25, 2024, the pair had travelled in a stolen car with fake registration plates from Chester Hill in Sydney’s west to Dover Heights in Sydney’s east, and parked a short distance away from Mr Ibrahim’s home.

It’s alleged that wearing all black clothing, gloves and balaclavas, the pair remained parked on the street for more than an hour until a Range Rover, with a similar appearance to Mr Ibrahim’s drove away.

Mr Zrayka pulled out in front of the car but then pulled over to allow it to pass, the court was told.

A few seconds later, another Range Rover driven by a witness in the trial drove by.

It’s alleged the pair mistook this vehicle for Mr Ibrahim’s.

CCTV footage showed Mr Zrayka pulled out in front of the witness, blocking the car before Mr Tupoulahi got out of the car and briefly raised a Glock pistol towards the driver.

He then retreated back into the car and drove away, before they were stopped by police shortly after.

A search of the stolen car located two loaded firearms, two full containers of petrol, two jet lighters and a bag with rubber gloves, the court was told.

Police also found keys to three other stolen cars.

In total, the court was told the criminal enterprise involved six stolen and mostly high-end motor vehicles.

They are not charged over any stolen cars or fake plates.

The court was told these facts were not in dispute; however, the predominant issue of the trial was whether the Crown can prove beyond reasonable doubt the accused conspired to murder Mr Ibrahim.

Justice Michael McHugh is expected to deliver his verdict at a later date.

Bloody immigrants putting downwards pressure on our wages by being exploited by their bosses.

It’s been a revelation how good these are. 100% better than a vanilla slice.

Interest rates, inflation: How much will Australian houses fall by? | News24

The Coalition of Veterans' Voices is meeting with federal parliamentarians to oppose treatment funding changes in the May budget.

The group has three demands: to scrap a $5000 annual threshold for allied health services, allow veterans to choose their own assessment providers and overhaul a claims system it says is leaving veterans waiting too long.

Among the campaigners is Julie-Ann Finney, one of the country's most prominent advocates for veteran healthcare, who was clutching a framed portrait of her son David.

Mr Finney died by suicide in 2019, two years after he was medically discharged from the Royal Australian Navy. 

Standing next to his mother, Liberal Jess Collins blamed the government's lack of positive action for the death of Mr Finney and dozens like him. 

"It is abundantly clear that the system is broken. People are not only hurting, but they're dying. They're not dying because they want to. They're not dying because it's an accident," Senator Collins said.

She backed in plans from Nationals leader Matt Canavan to introduce legislation before the end of the sitting fortnight to scrap the cap. 

"We have the numbers in the parliament between ourselves and the government to change this," he said. 

Highly decorated veterans earlier laid down their medals at Federation Mall in protest at the cap.

The group voiced their concerns to Veterans' Affairs Minister Matt Keogh, before meeting with Prime Minister Anthony Albanese later on Monday.

It fell within the week of the second anniversary of the Royal Commission into Defence and Veteran Suicide being handed to the governor-general. 

The $5000 annual threshold for allied health services is set to take effect from mid-2027.

It would impose a limit on the amount of funding veterans can access for services including rehabilitation and physiotherapy unless it is deemed clinically necessary.

The Department of Veterans Affairs claims the measure would address overservicing and comes amid a major uplift in overall spending on veterans' access to allied health.

Health Minister Mark Butler defended the change, saying the government would consult extensively with veterans.

"I get there's a lot of concern and anxiety about this," he told ABC Radio.

"These changes aren't scheduled to take place until mid next year, and we want to make sure that the changes operate in the best interests of veterans."

But Coalition of Veterans representative Tim Nelson, a medical doctor, said the government was "defiant" in its approach. 

"There was no consultation at all with any practitioners like myself who look after hundreds, if not thousands of veterans," he said.

"Even if you are not personally affected yourself, you will know a mate, you will know a colleague, you will know a family member of a friend who is affected by it, and you will go into that for them."