Aussies have no issue complaining about driving 20 minutes across town, but will then cheerfully spend three hours in the car because somebody heard there is a country bakery doing a really good something or other.

No further evidence is required.

The recommendation may have come via social media, word of mouth or the memory of a visit made years ago and often without hesitation and before checking to see if said bakery is closed on a random Thursday or even still exists, the route is entered into the GPS, and an entire day is surrendered to pastry.

A country bakery occupies a special place in the Australian imagination. It promises laminated menus, refrigerated cabinets, brown paper bags and something called an award-winning pie, although the award itself may be difficult to verify. Perhaps it won Best Pie in town 12 years ago; perhaps the certificate was self-printed. Aussies don’t care; there is a gold sticker involved.

The first sign of quality is usually a queue. Australians are deeply suspicious of an empty bakery. If nobody else is buying a sausage roll, there must be a reason. But put eight people outside the door and suddenly we are willing to abandon all previous plans.

A queue carries mysterious authority and we are a committed lot.

The sensible plan is to buy one savoury item and perhaps something small for later, which becomes two pies, a vanilla slice, a jam donut, a loaf of sourdough and six emergency pastries for people at home. Whether or not they requested pastries is irrelevant; failing to buy something 'for later' would be an insult to the journey.

The pie cabinet demands particular concentration. There are familiar options, experimental options and at least one filling described as “gourmet” because it contains red wine. Regional loyalties also come into play. Some travellers pursue pepper steak. Others seek curry pies with the fervour of archaeologists hunting a lost civilisation.

Then there is the scallop pie, a food capable of starting immediate debate. Is it magnificent? Is it confusing? Should seafood ever be concealed beneath a pastry lid? Its supporters do not need these questions answered. They have already ordered two.

Scallop Pie - Devisive or delicious? The scallop pie. Image: istock.

Next comes the vanilla slice, Australia’s least elegant competitive sport.

A good one requires structural engineering. The pastry must be crisp but not so rigid that the custard escapes sideways on first contact. The filling must hold its shape without bouncing. The icing must be sweet enough to trigger nostalgia but not instant regret.

Eating one neatly is impossible. The vanilla slice does not care about your dignity, your clean shirt or the fact that you are sitting in a parked car without a plate. It will deposit custard on your fingers, clothing and possibly the dashboard.

Aussie Vanilla Slice image istock - The classic, vanilla slice. Image: istock

The bee sting offers its own challenge. A towering combination of soft bun, custard, cream, almonds and optimism, it looks manageable until you attempt the first bite. Then it collapses like a badly planned renovation.

None of this diminishes the experience. If anything, the danger is part of the appeal.

Country bakery trips are only partly about food. They are also about the drive, the change of scenery and the collective belief that calories purchased beyond the metropolitan boundary operate under different laws.
There is usually a scenic detour, an antique shop nobody intended to visit and a brief disagreement about whether to take the highway home. Someone will suggest stopping for coffee, someone else will insist they are too full, then begin opening the paper bag containing the emergency bee sting intended for later.

And yes, excellent bakeries exist in cities. We know this. We can buy artisan pastries within delivery distance and eat them without leaving the couch. But that misses the point.

A pastry from nearby is breakfast. A pastry reached after three hours, two wrong turns and an argument about parking is an achievement.

So we will continue to chase whispered recommendations, join unexplained queues and return home with crumbs covering the car. Because a good country bakery does not simply sell lunch.

It gives us somewhere deliciously unnecessary to go.

We’re at the pointy end of the rugby league season and I’ve been thinking of little else but the fairytale rise of the Newcastle Knights, from last year’s wooden spooners to genuine grand final contenders. I’ve been counting down the moments until every finals game and watching them on tenterhooks, willing them to make it through to the next round. Through the week, I watch videos analysing every play, every call, and the reasons why this team has the goods.

But people tell me I shouldn’t get so excited. Not because they don’t believe the Knights will go all the way. But because the Newcastle Knights aren’t my favourite team.

I admit it. I’m a bandwagonner. A fair-weather fan. I’ll turn my attention back to my favourite team, the Parramatta Eels, when the new season starts. But right now? I’m having so much fun.

If anyone has a reason to bandwagon, it’s me. I was born and raised in Newcastle. I became interested in football as a kid in the mid ‘80s and decided to support the Eels because they were successful and my kindergarten crush liked them. Silly reasons in hindsight, but they’ve made me the rugby league fan I am today. The Knights joined the competition a couple of years later but I stayed loyal. I couldn’t abandon the Eels, but I know if I’d found the game later, I’d only have eyes for the home team.

I’m loyal, but I’m also a realist. I know the Eels can be terrible. Really terrible. They haven’t won the competition since 1986 and they miss the finals more often than not. And when they make an early exit, having the Knights as a backup option eases the disappointment.

I’ve got plenty of reasons to jump on the Knights’ bandwagon at finals time, but they shouldn’t matter. Why do I feel the need to justify my support? Because I feel the judgement from the purists out there, the people who insist that your favourite team should be your only team, and once they’re out, you’re out. The ones who believe the jubilant feeling of backing the winning team should be reserved for those who’ve suffered through their losses.

But where’s the fun in that?

Ultimately, sport is supposed to be enjoyable. It’s supposed to entertain and make you happy. I can’t feel ashamed of the joy it brings me to see the Knights heading to their first grand final in 25 years. I’d much rather join the celebrations with the Red and Blue Army than lament what went wrong for the Eels this year. If the Knights beat the Sydney Roosters on Sunday, I know I’ll relish the win as much as any ardent supporter.

Next year is another year. I’ll be back behind the Parramatta Eels, my favourite team, the one my kindergarten crush loved, the one that’s given me more heartache than joy. Maybe 2027 will be the year that they turn things around and make it to the finals in September. If they do, I’ll welcome any bandwagon fans who want to cheer along with me.

Browsing through the gig guide, you’d be forgiven for thinking you’d travelled back to the 1990s. Macy Gray and Bush are touring. Boyz II Men and Salt-N-Pepa have sold out venues across Australia. Ben Folds announced a return visit before his current shows began. And Sixpence None the Richer and The Wallflowers are heading to Australia for the first time. Things of Stone and Wood, TISM, and Bachelor Girl are among the local ‘90s bands with shows ahead. Many of these artists haven’t charted for decades, yet music lovers are snapping up tickets. We take a closer look at the nostalgia fuelling the live music scene.

We’ll Never Stop Loving the ‘90s
The ‘90s feels like the last chance we had to slow down. It was a time before smartphones, before social media, before streaming services. We discovered our favourite artists by listening to the radio or watching Rage or Video Hits, rather than being spoon-fed by an algorithm tailored to our tastes. We bought albums with our money and played them in full, getting to know each and every lyric intimately rather than jumping from single to single on Spotify. Those experiences helped us create deep bonds with the music that moved us.

The decade birthed so many different genres that there really was something for everyone. You could rock out to grunge or dance to Eurobeat, trance, or techno. Britpop fused jangly guitar pop with retro rock while nu metal combined elements of heavy metal, hip hop, and funk. America’s West Coast gave us gangsta rap while the East Coast delivered new jack swing. If you liked your music mellow, there was neo-soul and trip hop. And while we’d seen boy bands and girl groups before, pop acts like the Spice Girls, Backstreet Boys, and *NSYNC created the kind of hysteria we hadn’t seen since The Beatles. With so many exciting sounds, it’s little wonder that the ‘90s continues to delight music fans.

Seeing a Much-Loved Favourite Is So Special

Ben Folds - Lauren Katulka

For many concertgoers, ‘90s music is the soundtrack of our teenage years. The decade’s songs can take us back to our first kiss, our first break-up, and our first taste of independence. Because these experiences and the years surrounding them were so emotionally charged, the music we listened to is more deeply embedded in our psyches than modern songs we enjoy. Even for people outside this core demographic, hearing songs they’ve loved for years lights up the brain’s pleasure centres more brightly than the latest chart toppers.

Many of us also built our sense of self around this music. Our favourite artists became confidantes who seemed to know what we were going through. As Rob Pegley explained in his recent article about attending gigs, seeing these performers now connects us to our younger selves. When they play their songs, we’re not just hearing words and melodies; we’re remembering the way they helped us find our feet and feel understood. In a crowd of fellow fans, we can also feel a powerful sense of belonging.

There’s No Better Time For a ‘90s Revival
Many recent ‘90s tour announcements have raised eyebrows as casual listeners question whether there’s really a market for one-hit wonders and performers of the past. But the proof’s in the ticket sales. ‘90s teens like me now have disposable incomes and access to adults-only venues, so we can see the acts we might have missed in their heyday. We’ve also got grown-up responsibilities and pressures, so it’s little wonder that we sometimes want to leave the modern world outside and spend a couple of hours reminiscing with our favourite ‘90s artists and fellow fans.

Read about why gigs hit differently as we get older

I can't remember the last time I learned an album.

I don't mean listened to one. Amazingly I still listen to new music. I mean learned one.

There was a time when I'd buy an album and, within a few weeks, know exactly what song came next. I'd know the opening few seconds of every track, and I’d know it in context of the ending of the previous track. It became a natural segue.

It was partly because I'd paid good money for the album.

Before streaming, buying music involved commitment. You'd heard a couple of singles, perhaps read a review, and then handed over actual money for ten or 12 songs, most of which you'd never heard.

That was your new music. So you played it. And played it.

Eventually, even the songs you didn't particularly like started to get under your skin.

Whose side are you on?

Albums even had ‘sides’. Some younger readers may wish to Google this.

Just as a single had a B-side - Google that while you're there - an album had Side One and Side Two. And sometimes, subjectively at least, one was considerably better than the other.

I owned This Is Big Audio Dynamite, the first album by Mick Jones's post-Clash. Side One had Medicine Show, Sony, E=MC² and The Bottom Line.

What a side. I played it constantly.

I couldn't tell you what's on Side Two because after about a month I largely stopped turning the record over.

Too much of a good thing

Streaming has changed all this, and mostly for the better. For the price of a monthly subscription, we have access to an amount of music my teenage self couldn't have comprehended. Streaming now accounts for around 70 per cent of global recorded-music revenue.

But perhaps having access to everything has changed how much we commit to anything.

Hear a song you like now and you can add it to a playlist. Spotify or Apple Music will suggest another one. A friend sends you a track. An algorithm discovers one for you.

You can love a song for years without ever hearing the album it came from.

Which makes me wonder what happens to those perennial 100 Greatest Albums of All Time lists.

Will we still be making them in 30 years? And if we are, will they be increasingly populated by records from the pre-streaming era?

Not because people stopped making great music when Spotify arrived. They clearly didn’t. But because the album itself mattered more.

We argued about new albums. Was the second Stone Roses album actually that bad? Was the new U2 better than the last one? Which side was best? Which track should have been the single?

Do people still argue about albums in quite the same way? Or do we talk more about artists, songs and tours?

The economics have changed too.

There was a time when a band toured partly to sell records. Tickets were relatively cheap, you saw the band and perhaps bought the album afterwards.

That relationship has shifted dramatically. Research into musicians' earnings now shows live performance is one of the principal ways many musicians make their living. The recording can increasingly feel like the thing that persuades you to buy the considerably more expensive concert ticket.

But here's the interesting bit alongside that: Vinyl won't die.

Global vinyl revenues rose again in 2025, marking the 19th consecutive year of growth. And it isn't simply middle-aged men replacing records their mothers threw away in 1987. Research in the US has found a substantial proportion of people buying vinyl from independent record shops are under 35.

Taylor Swift does huge business on vinyl, for instance.

Maybe they younger generation have discovered something we knew intrinsically (and yes I know I sound like a grumpy old man). An album is an object. It has artwork. A track order. A beginning and an end.

It even has sides.

You put it on and, unless you physically intervene, the artist rather than an algorithm decides what you're listening to next.
I'm not giving up streaming. It's brilliant. I can hear almost any song I suddenly remember within seconds, discover artists I'd never otherwise encounter and carry thousands of albums around on my phone.

But I wonder whether unlimited choice has made us slightly less willing to sit with music.

Perhaps those old albums mattered so much not because they were necessarily better, but because we gave them more of ourselves.

We learned them.

Maybe the album isn't dying. Maybe we're just going to have to learn how to listen to one again.

As the line between computers and smartphones continues to blur, are we ready to turn our backs on Microsoft Windows in favour of Google’s new laptops that can’t run traditional PC software?

There’s a long history of devices trying to win people away from Microsoft Windows and Apple Mac, but few have made any headway. The desktop / laptop operating system market remains a two-horse race, with Windows and Mac accounting for roughly 65 and 25 per cent a piece.

That final 10 per cent mostly belongs to Linux, which has struggled to make ground despite the passion of its supporters. While Linux dominates the server room, “This year is finally The Year of Linux on the Desktop” has been a running tech joke for decades.

Attempts to upset the status quo over the years have only found success when new devices have been so convenient and/or compelling that people simply stopped comparing them to traditional PCs.

Almost twenty years ago, the very first cheap, lightweight netbooks ran Linux because they lacked the grunt to run Windows XP. Plus, ditching Windows kept down costs by not paying tribute to Microsoft.

Linux netbooks caught the eye of tech enthusiasts, but most people weren’t prepared to abandon their traditional Windows desktop applications. As a result, Linux machines were soon pushed aside by small, cheap Windows laptops jumping on the netbook bandwagon.

The rise of the iPad in 2010, alongside Android tablets like the Samsung Galaxy Tab, carved out a niche between smartphones and compact laptops.

Android is actually based on Linux, but optimised to run on handheld devices. The fact these consumer Apple and Android tablets didn’t run Windows or Mac was initially seen as a shortcoming, but that soon changed.

With people already starting to take a mobile-first approach to technology, part of a tablet’s appeal was the convenience of running the same software and apps as your mobile phone. More importantly, people began to appreciate that tablets were an entire new product category with its own compelling uses, rather than simply a poor man’s laptop.

The next year, cheap Google Chromebook netbooks arrived only running the Chrome browser. This made sense when people had already started relying on their browser more than other desktop software, but Chromebooks failed to make much headway outside the classroom.

Spooked by the small but growing threat to Windows’ dominance, Microsoft attempted to sell the public on cheap “Windows RT” laptops. They were an unmitigated disaster.

Windows RT laptops relied on mobile-style ARM chips rather than traditional Intel/AMD desktop chips. This required a special ARM-based version of Windows which ran the Microsoft Office suite and Internet Explorer but little else.

Their lack of grunt and very limited support for non-Microsoft desktop applications saw Windows RT doomed to fail. In theory, Windows RT’s ability to run a browser should have stacked up well against Google’s Chromebooks, but the public couldn’t get past the idea that something with “Windows” written on it couldn’t run all of their favourite Windows applications.

Microsoft seems to be having more luck with its new generation of “Copilot+ PCs” which also run an ARM-based version of Windows. They’re more powerful, optimised for AI and offer much better support for third-party Windows applications, but buying one is still a risk if you rely on applications that can’t run natively on ARM chips.

Which brings us to the new Googlebook laptop running Android instead of Windows.

There was a time when the Googlebook would have been shunned, or even mocked, for not running people’s favourite Windows desktop applications. Instead, it will likely be embraced because it will run their favourite Android mobile applications.

Even better, Android owners will enjoy seamless integration between their computer, smartphone and tablet – just like the Apple faithful who own MacBooks, iPads and iPhones.

Rumours that Apple will release a Googlebook-style budget MacBook running iOS iPhone software have been around for years. I’d say Apple is unlikely to cannibalise MacBook sales, not when Apple fans are clearly prepared to spend top dollar on both a MacBook and an iPad. Google naturally doesn’t have this concern when Googlebook sales don’t come at the expense of other Google products.

Realistically, the Googlebook is very unlikely to threaten the dominance of Windows and Mac. Even so, its obvious appeal to millions of Android users should see it flourish – finally bringing up a little closer to the elusive Year of Linux on the Desktop.

Forget wrinkle creams and birthday candles. According to researchers, a single selfie might reveal something far more surprising than how old you look. It could estimate how old your body is actually ageing.

Scientists have developed an artificial intelligence system called FaceAge that analyses an ordinary photograph of your face to estimate your biological age, which is a measure of how your body is ageing rather than the number of birthdays you've celebrated.

It's a discovery that could one day help doctors make better treatment decisions, and it's also raising some fascinating questions about what our faces might be quietly revealing about our health.

Your face tells a story
We've always said that stress, sleepless nights and too much time in the sun eventually show up on our faces. It turns out there might be more truth to that than we realised.

FaceAge was trained using tens of thousands of facial photographs, teaching it to recognise subtle patterns linked to biological ageing. Instead of counting wrinkles or grey hairs, it analyses tiny details across the face that are almost impossible for the human eye to detect.

When researchers tested the system on people with cancer, they found many appeared biologically older than their actual age. Those biological age estimates were also linked to survival outcomes; suggesting the technology may capture important clues about a person's overall health.

A future doctor's tool, not a crystal ball
Before anyone starts uploading selfies to find out how many years they've got left, researchers say that's not what this technology is designed to do.

FaceAge isn't trying to predict exactly how long someone will live, and it certainly can't diagnose disease from a photograph alone. Instead, it's designed to give doctors another piece of information that could help them personalise treatment decisions alongside scans, blood tests and medical history.

The researchers believe that, with further testing, tools like this could eventually help doctors identify patients who may need more intensive care, or reassure others that their bodies are ageing more slowly than expected.

What your next selfie might reveal
For now, FaceAge remains a research tool rather than something you'll find on your phone. But it offers a fascinating glimpse into how artificial intelligence is changing medicine in ways that would have sounded unbelievable just a few years ago.

The next time you snap a selfie, remember that your face may be telling a much bigger story than whether you've found your best angle. Hidden within that image could be tiny clues about how your body is ageing, clues that researchers are only just beginning to understand and interpret.

SOURCES
FaceAge Study
Mass General Brigham Research Summary

There was a brief period in my life when I started making things out of wood, steel and perspex.

I’m not entirely sure what they were - but it didn’t really matter. Somewhere between art and furniture. Bits of wood, steel and perspex put together with LEGO principles and a punk ethic. Upcycling meets improv. I made tables and shelves and strange objects that served no obvious purpose beyond looking interesting in the house.

They were certainly talking points.

Then something dangerous happened. People liked them.

Friends came round and asked where I'd bought them. When I said I'd made them, they suggested I should sell them. So I did. Not many, but enough to briefly entertain the idea that perhaps my mucking about in the shed could become a side hustle.

I sort of wish I hadn't.

The extra money was handy, obviously, but I charged nothing like enough for the hours I'd put into making them. And years later, the money has long since disappeared while I occasionally find myself wishing I'd kept the things I made.
I'd fallen into a particularly modern trap. I'd monetised my hobby.

Monetising Pandora’s Box

We're encouraged to do this with almost everything now. Take nice photographs? Sell them. Bake good cakes? Take orders. Restore furniture? Get yourself on Etsy. Like exercising? Start an Instagram account. Make jewellery? Build a website.
Enjoying something isn't enough anymore.

Apparently, even relaxation has KPIs.

And I understand the attraction. When somebody likes something you've created, it feels good. When they're actually prepared to give you money for it, even better. Suddenly your little hobby has purpose. Validation. Maybe even possibilities.

But somewhere along the way, something can change.

“I might make something this weekend” becomes “I've got three things to finish this weekend.”

There's a customer waiting. A deadline. Someone wants one like the last one, only bigger. And blue. You need more materials. You should probably post something on Instagram. Someone tells you that what you really need is a TikTok account.

Congratulations. You've got another job.

There is some psychology behind this. Researchers have long studied the difference between intrinsic motivation - doing something because we enjoy doing it - and extrinsic motivation, where external rewards such as money become part of the equation. A major review of more than 100 experiments found that expected tangible rewards can, in some circumstances, reduce our intrinsic motivation for activities we already enjoy.

It doesn't mean being paid automatically ruins a hobby. Far from it. Turning something you love into a successful career can be wonderful.

But what if you don't want another career?

Research into leisure also suggests that what makes an activity feel like leisure isn't necessarily how easy it is. Hobbies can be difficult, frustrating and physically demanding. We can spend years getting better at them.

Which suggests an important distinction: The opposite of work isn't effort. It's obligation.

I put plenty of effort into the things I made in that shed. That was part of the fun. Working out how pieces fitted together, changing things, getting them wrong and trying again.

Nobody was waiting.

And perhaps that's something worth protecting.

Enjoy the process, not the end result

We’ve become very good at measuring our lives. Steps walked. Kilometres run. Books read. Personal bests. Followers. Likes. Streaks. Calories. Income.

Even the things we supposedly do to escape performance can end up becoming another form of performance.
Maybe a hobby doesn't need to lead anywhere.

You can play guitar badly for 20 years. Paint terrible watercolours. Grow tomatoes that cost approximately $14 each once you've factored in everything you bought from the garden centre. Take photographs nobody else sees. Write something you never publish.

A hobby can give your life purpose without producing anything useful.

And if one day you realise that making furniture or baking cakes or taking photographs is what you genuinely want to do with your life, fantastic. Go for it. Build the business. Take the orders. Chase the dream.

But if you don't want your hobby to become your day job, perhaps don't accidentally give it a night shift.

I didn't need a side hustle.

I needed a hobby.

In a recent interview with China Media Group (CMG), Elon Musk reiterated his belief that humanity needs robots.

Consistency is one of Musk's trademarks; his narrative rarely changes. Go back and watch an interview with a much younger Musk and his story is the same.

Musk is the one that usually makes it happen.

In this latest interview he is clearly complimenting the Chinese, perhaps hoping to secure approval by authorities for his new Cybercab self-driving taxi.

No doubt both Tesla and SpaceX are outstanding successes, and maybe the Cybercab will also succeed, but what about Optimus, the humanoid robot?

Musk repeated his claim that Optimus is going to be the biggest selling Tesla product and that everyone will want one. "Your own C-3PO" he said.

Musk said he expects there to be millions if not billions of humanoid robots in the future.

The engineering required to make a humanoid robot is not trivial, but Tesla have capable engineers and I imagine that problem will be solved.

But can we solve the moral and ethical problems associated with robotic slaves?

How do we reconcile our moral values, such as never to use another person as a mere means, with the literal use of a humanoid robot as a mere means?

As humans are we able to distinguish between how we treat a robot vs how we treat other humans or is it a slippery slope?

Robots will look like humans, sound like humans and maybe even dress like humans yet we assume it is and will always remain a machine without rights or feelings.

Musk portrays his robots as being helpful assistants around the house, but one might question what others see in them. Military commanders for example, what would be their use case?

Musk's alternative motivation for the development of Optimus could be their use during the early stages of settlement on Mars. A capable autonomous robot could assist with building infrastructure for future human visits to Mars without putting human lives at risk. This I imagine would be a legitimate use case.

As an early adopter of technology I have been using agentic AI for some time and I often experience situations where an agent starts doing something wrong without having the slightest understanding of why it is doing it.

I can not begin to imagine what a humanoid robot might do if it doesn't understand reason. Will it for example put the baby in the fridge or vacuum-clean granny when she becomes smelly?

Musk also promises a future of abundance, where robots and machines make everything and humans do very little, earning a universal high income.

Frankly I cannot imagine a worse future, a future of complete uselessness for most people.

When scarcity is removed, so too is the need and the want for many products.

There may be a short term opportunity for businesses to profit while prices fall and markets saturate, but it will soon end because no one wants what everyone else has. In some respects I think this is already happening.

My prediction is a return to pencil and paper, people will see novelty in simplicity and it will become chic to have less and do more.

What are your thoughts on the future, would you want a personal robot in the house, and if so what would it do for you?

Use the Write a reply button below to share your views as an article in the next edition. Make sure you introduce the topic so new readers understand what the reply is about. Subject to editorial approval.

Sources
Musk Interview - YouTube

Printing a shopping list is ordinary. Printing a bicycle is impressive. Printing a house sounds impossible.

Except it isn't.

Around the world, giant robotic printers are already constructing the structural walls of homes by laying down specially formulated concrete, one layer at a time. In some projects, the structural walls have been printed in as little as 24 hours.

It's one of the biggest changes the construction industry has seen in decades, and researchers believe it could eventually help make building homes faster, more efficient and less wasteful.

Meet the world's biggest printer
Forget the little printer sitting on your desk.

Construction 3D printers are enormous robotic machines that move around a building site, following a digital blueprint with remarkable precision. As they travel, they squeeze out layers of specially formulated concrete, gradually creating the walls of a home from the ground up.

Once the walls have cured, builders step in to install the roof, windows, plumbing, electrical wiring, insulation and all the finishing touches. The printer doesn't replace every trade. Instead, it dramatically speeds up one of the most labour-intensive parts of the build.

Why everyone's paying attention
Building a home is expensive, time-consuming and often produces large amounts of waste.

Researchers believe 3D printing could help tackle several of those challenges at once. Because the process is automated and highly precise, it has the potential to reduce construction time, minimise material waste and lower some labour costs. Scientists are also developing new printable concrete mixes designed to be stronger, more durable and better suited to different climates.

Around the world, 3D-printed homes are already being built for families, social housing projects and disaster relief, while Australian researchers and companies are beginning to explore how the technology could be used locally.

Is this the future of housing?
Not quite, at least not yet.

Although the walls can sometimes be printed in as little as a day, completing an entire home still takes time. Roofs need to be installed, plumbing and electrical systems fitted, inspections carried out, and interiors completed before anyone can move in.

Even so, the technology is advancing rapidly. As printers become faster, materials improve and building regulations evolve, experts believe 3D printing is likely to become an increasingly common part of the construction industry.

Next time you drive past a building site, imagine replacing rows of bricklayers with a giant robotic printer quietly following a digital blueprint. It might sound like tomorrow's technology, but it's already building homes today.

SOURCE
3D Printed homes
3D Concrete

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Bills Presented in Parliament
We will continue featuring extracts from the Federal and NSW parliaments after there has been a sitting. The bills presented may be of interest to specific reader groups and generate further debate.

Steven Sesselmann
Editor

NSW Parliament sitting week: Tuesday 22 September, Wednesday 23 September, Thursday 24 September

Bills Introduced
Fuel price transparency to protect consumers
Fair Trading Amendment (24-Hour Fuel Price Lock) Bill 2026
Introduced by the NSW Government.
This bill aims to give consumers more predictable fuel pricing by locking in fuel prices for 24 hours.
It requires fuel retailers to hold prices steady for a set period, preventing sudden price spikes.
Motorists across NSW will benefit from more stable fuel costs.

Rules for lobbyists seeking government access
Lobbying of Government Officials Amendment (Access and Influence) Bill 2026
Introduced by the NSW Government.
This bill tightens rules around who can lobby state government officials and how they do it.
It creates new disclosure requirements and access standards for people attempting to influence government decisions.
Anyone lobbying NSW government agencies or ministers will need to comply with the new standards.

Removing interim climate targets
Climate Change (Net Zero Future) Amendment (Removal of Interim Climate Targets) Bill 2026
Introduced by the NSW Government.
This bill removes interim climate reduction targets from NSW legislation.
It streamlines climate policy by eliminating step-by-step targets and focusing on the net zero endpoint.
NSW households and businesses currently operating under interim climate obligations will be affected.

Fire-fighting fleet improvements
Rural Fires Amendment (Fire Fighting Fleet) Bill 2026
Introduced by the NSW Government.
This bill modernises NSW's rural fire-fighting capabilities by updating fleet management rules.
It reforms how the NSW Rural Fire Service manages and deploys fire-fighting vehicles.
Rural communities and regional NSW residents relying on fire services will see updated emergency response capacity.

Coroners' law naming next of kin
Coroners Amendment (Senior Next of Kin) Bill 2026 (Legislative Assembly) and Coroners Amendment (Caitlin's Law) Bill 2026 (Legislative Council)
Introduced by the NSW Government (both houses).
These complementary bills change how coroners identify and work with the senior next of kin in investigations.
They update coroner procedures to clarify which family member should be the primary contact in coronial inquiries.
Families involved in coronial investigations will experience clearer communication pathways.

Bills Debated or Passed
Protection of school and community safety
Education Amendment (School Community Safety) Bill 2026
Introduced by the NSW Government; passed in the Legislative Assembly.
This bill strengthens safety protocols in NSW schools and surrounding communities.
It introduces new requirements for school safety planning and emergency response procedures.
School staff, parents and students across NSW will operate under enhanced safety frameworks.

Emergency services coordination reform
Emergency Services Legislation Amendment Bill 2026
Introduced by the NSW Government; passed in the Legislative Assembly.
This bill streamlines how emergency service agencies coordinate during incidents and disasters.
It updates legislation governing NSW Fire and Rescue, ambulance services and other emergency responders.
Firefighters, paramedics and emergency service workers, and the communities they serve, are affected.

Justice system updates and corrections
Justice Legislation Amendment (Miscellaneous) Bill (No 2) 2026
Introduced by the NSW Government; passed in the Legislative Assembly.
This bill makes targeted updates to NSW criminal justice laws and court procedures.
It amends multiple justice-related Acts to improve legal processes and penalties.
People using NSW courts and the criminal justice system will see procedural updates.

Retail tenancy dispute protections
Retail Leases Amendment (Review) Bill 2025
Introduced by the NSW Government; passed in the Legislative Assembly.
This bill strengthens protections for small business owners renting retail premises.
It reforms lease negotiation rules and dispute resolution processes between landlords and retail tenants.
Small business owners and shopping centre landlords will operate under updated lease standards.

Tenancy reforms protecting renter privacy
Residential Tenancies Amendment (Protection of Personal Information) Bill 2025
Introduced by the NSW Government; passed in the Legislative Council.
This bill restricts how landlords and real estate agents can collect and use tenant personal data.
It creates privacy standards for residential tenancy records and sets penalties for misuse of tenant information.
Renters across NSW will have stronger legal protection over their personal information.

Local hiring requirements for government contracts
Local Jobs First Bill 2026
Introduced by the NSW Government; passed in the Legislative Council.
This bill requires government agencies to prioritise local workers when awarding contracts.
It sets standards for how state-funded projects must demonstrate local employment and skills development.
NSW workers and local businesses bidding for government contracts will see new opportunity pathways.

Medical cannabis and driving penalties
Road Transport Legislation Amendment (Medical Cannabis and Driving Offences) Bill 2026
Introduced by the NSW Government; debated in the Legislative Assembly.
This bill clarifies how medical cannabis use relates to driving offences and impairment testing.
It updates road transport laws to distinguish between medical cannabis users and drug-driving offences.
Drivers using prescribed medical cannabis and NSW police will need to understand the revised legal framework.

Crown land management updates
Crown Land Management Amendment (Statutory Review) Bill 2026
Introduced by the NSW Government; debated in the Legislative Assembly.
This bill refreshes rules around how the NSW Government manages publicly owned land.
It updates statutory requirements for crown land use, leasing and public access.
NSW residents using public land and councils managing crown land assets will see updated management standards.

Sydney parklands expansion
Greater Sydney Parklands Trust Amendment (Review) Bill 2026
Introduced by the NSW Government; debated in the Legislative Assembly.
This bill reviews and expands the powers of the Greater Sydney Parklands Trust.
It updates the trust's charter to manage additional parkland across the Sydney region.
Sydney residents accessing public parks and green spaces will see expanded parkland management.

Self-defence law clarification
Crimes Amendment (Use of Force Against Intruders) Bill 2026
Introduced by the NSW Government; debated in the Legislative Council.
This bill clarifies when NSW residents can legally use force against intruders.
It updates self-defence law to better protect homeowners acting against break-ins and trespassing.
Homeowners across NSW will have clearer legal protection for defending their property.

Music venue and industry support
Contemporary Music Bill 2026
Introduced by the NSW Government; passed in the Legislative Assembly.
This bill supports NSW's contemporary music sector through new funding and venue protections.
It creates frameworks for music venue operation and industry development across the state.
Musicians, venue operators and music fans across NSW will see new industry supports.

Health system minor updates
Health Legislation Amendment (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2026
Introduced by the NSW Government; passed in the Legislative Assembly.
This bill makes targeted updates to NSW health legislation and procedures.
It amends health-related Acts to improve service delivery and administrative processes.
Patients and health workers across NSW will experience updated health system procedures.

Sydney Olympic Park modernisation
Sydney Olympic Park Authority Amendment (Millennium Parklands) Bill 2026
Introduced by the NSW Government; received Royal Assent.
This bill updates how the Sydney Olympic Park Authority manages the Millennium Parklands precinct.
It expands the authority's powers to develop and maintain parkland infrastructure.
Visitors to Olympic Park and surrounding residents will see updated parkland facilities and management.

Organised crime penalties expansion
Crimes and Other Legislation Amendment (Further Organised Crimes Reforms) Bill 2026
Introduced by the NSW Government; debated in the Legislative Council.
This bill strengthens penalties and investigation powers targeting organised criminal activity.
It updates crime legislation to impose tougher sentences and improve police investigative tools.
Communities affected by organised crime and NSW police will see expanded enforcement powers.

Worth Watching
The medical cannabis and driving bill remains in debate and will likely generate discussion about how impairment testing works for drivers using prescribed medication — an emerging legal grey area as medical cannabis access expands.

The self-defence law clarification in the Legislative Council could prompt broader debate about homeowner protections and where the line sits between lawful self-defence and excessive force.

The climate targets removal bill signals a significant policy shift away from interim stepped targets; watch for environmental groups to respond as it moves toward passage.

The local jobs bill now passed could reshape how government spending drives local employment, with councils and contractors needing to adjust hiring practices.

Weekly NSW Parliament Briefing — sourced from NSW Parliament Hansard API. Parliamentary material Copyright NSW Parliament. This is a summary only.

Chapter 5e

Earlier Chapters:
Synopsis
Chapter 1
Chapter 2
Chapter 3
Chapter 4


Miller and I collected the four Agency arrivals from a private charter jet that was given clearance to land at the RAAF base at Darwin Airport around midday the following Monday.

Michael Hayden followed his three-man technical team off the aircraft and was soon in close-quarter conversation with Miller.

I held back, watching as the older and probably more senior member of the technical team took charge of the three suitcases of equipment that was offloaded from the jet’s undercarriage and made sure they were loaded carefully into the army van that we had been permitted to drive onto the tarmac.

Eventually Miller introduced me to his director.

‘So this is what you Aussies call the Top End?’ Hayden remarked with an expansive grin, and an even more expansive hand gesture.

‘Congratulations on your appointment, sir,’ I replied. ‘You must pay us a more official visit once the dust settles.’

He nodded, tacitly acknowledging that I would not be reporting his presence in Darwin to my superiors, then we piled into the army van.’

The short trip to Robertson Barracks was relatively quiet, with Miller describing some of the more colourful aspects of greater Darwin. He started with what he called the ‘killer crocs that the locals call ‘salties’, moved on to ‘those barramundi and threadfin beauties measuring a full yard in length’ then finished by comparing the Territory’s indigenous inhabitants with ‘our American Indian population except the locals use a thing called a boomerang instead of bows and arrows’.

We helped the tech team offload its luggage into one of the Barracks apartments then Miller, Hayden and I met with the Commanding Officer who appeared to be well-known to the new CIA Director.

The CO eyed me closely.

‘So you’re the man I come to see if a Bali bomber decides to pay us a visit?’ he asked.

I gave him my official business card.

‘I could be your new best friend commander,’ I smiled, ‘depending on the nature of the threat you face.’

We shook hands before he and Hayden made a b-line for an impressive building which I assumed to be the CO’s office. At the doorway they were greeted by a uniformed young woman.

I turned in Miller’s direction.

‘Is there something happening at this place that I should know about?’ I asked.

‘Just keep an eye on your illegal suspects,’ he replied. ‘If any one of them starts taking an interest in this establishment and its occupants, then I need to know about it.’

continued..