Confusion is growing as schools say children over the age of eight must cover their faces in class until the end of winter but the government still insists it’s not a mask mandate. 

The national electricity market faces a fresh crisis with looming gas shortages in Victoria this winter spurring the Australian Energy Market Operator to warn of a threat to system security. 

Victorian potato growers are warning that the price of the humble spud could jump by at least 30 per cent in the coming weeks in the latest cost of living crunch. 

A shocking new government report has found Australia’s environment is in poor shape and is expected to deteriorate further.

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