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22 April 2026

☀️ Smelter jobs on edge

Workers get three weeks' pay, but what happens next remains unclear ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏

Morning Post

Melbourne

Thursday, 23 April 2026  •  Issue #661

☀️26°/13°
Sunny skies with pleasant autumn conditions
☀️ UV 3.9  •  🌅 Sunset 5:43 PM
 

Good morning! Smelter workers receive a short-term lifeline while their future hangs in the balance, and we explore whether you tackle your tax return solo or hand it to the professionals.

— Nathan, Editor

At a Glance

📰 Smelter employees receive temporary pay guarantee amid uncertain future

📍 Melbourne Friends Plant Sale + 5 more events

💰 Money Matters: Understanding the Senior Australians Tax Offset

🕰️ On this day in 1967: Soviet cosmonaut Vladimir Komarov died when Soyuz 1 crashed on...

Today's Melbourne

Smelter employees receive temporary pay guarantee amid uncertain future

Liberty Bell Bay workers have been promised wages for the next three weeks, though no buyer has been secured for the facility.

via ABC Melbourne

Moonee Ponds attacker handed 11-year prison term

A man who carried out a random stabbing attack has received an 11-year sentence after failing to attend his Victorian County Court hearing today.

via 9News Melbourne

Charges laid after showgrounds fatality during comic convention

A 33-year-old learner driver from Werribee faces serious charges including dangerous driving causing death following an incident at the Melbourne Showgrounds Supanova event.

via The Guardian Melbourne

Around Australia

Former rugby star criticises watered-down betting restrictions

ACT senator David Pocock says the Prime Minister's gambling reform package falls short and urges politicians to prioritise public interest over industry lobbying.

via ABC News

States failed to deliver promised river infrastructure improvements

NSW and Queensland severely underdelivered on $160 million worth of commitments to enhance water flows to parched wetlands, an independent review has found.

via The Guardian Australia

Around the World

Hormuz Strait tensions persist despite Trump ceasefire extension — US and Iran remain locked in blockade standoff as Pakistan attempts diplomatic intervention in the volatile waterway.

via BBC World

UK woman killed in Ghana while pursuing scam recovery — Inquest hears Janet Fordham died in crash after travelling to meet someone claiming to help recoup £1m losses.

via The Guardian World

What’s On: Markets & Dining 🛒

This week: ANZAC Day — Dawn services, remembrance. Respectful and solemn tone. Lest we forget.

This weekend

Melbourne Friends Plant Sale

3 May

Browse plants for your garden at this community sale, perfect for green thumbs seeking quality specimens.

FreeDaytimeSenior friendly

Secret Cellar Market: Artists, Makers and Small-batch Finds

3 May

Discover handcrafted treasures from local artists and makers in this unique underground market setting.

FreeDaytime

Monthly favourites

South Melbourne Market, Cecil St

South Melbourne Market

South Melbourne Market, Cecil St · Wed, Fri, Sat, Sun 8am–4pm

Melbourne's beloved 158-year-old market with fresh produce, artisan food, dim sims and weekend atmosphere.

Senior friendlyDaytimeFamily
Station St car park, Camberwell

Camberwell Sunday Market

Station St car park, Camberwell · Every Sunday 7am–12:30pm

Celebrating 50 years of secondhand treasures with vintage fashion, antiques and collectibles for charity.

Senior friendlyDaytime

Food festivals ahead

Melbourne Convention and Exhibition Centre

Good Food & Wine Show Melbourne

Melbourne Convention and Exhibition Centre · 2026-05-29 to 2026-05-31

Major food and wine expo with celebrity chefs, tastings and hundreds of exhibitors from across Australia.

Senior friendlyDaytimeBooking required
Macedon Ranges (day trip from Melbourne)

Macedon Ranges Autumn Festival

Macedon Ranges (day trip from Melbourne) · 2026-04-01 to 2026-04-30

Month-long celebration with autumn gardens, food and wine trails, markets and workshops across the ranges.

Senior friendlyDaytime

Got an event to share? Let us know →

🍴 New to the Table

Freshly opened in Melbourne

French-Asian Bistro

Little Rose

Fitzroy

Acclaimed chef Rosheen Kaul reimagines French classics through an Asian lens, with bookings opening today for May launch.

via concreteplayground.com →

Money Matters

Every Thursday we share a practical money tip.

Understanding the Senior Australians Tax Offset

If you're over Age Pension age, you may be entitled to the Seniors and Pensioners Tax Offset (SAPTO), which can reduce your tax bill or increase your tax-free threshold to over $32,000. It's automatically applied when you lodge your tax return, but it's worth understanding how it works, especially if you have part-time work or investment income. Check the ATO website for eligibility and how it affects your circumstances.

Source: Australian Taxation Office

📊 Today's Poll

Do your own tax return or use an accountant?

DIYAccountant

📊 Yesterday's Poll

Phone call or face-to-face — how do you prefer to catch up?

Face-to-face led with 73% (59 votes)

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Daily Brainteaser

🧩

The day before yesterday I was 21. Next year I'll be 24. When is my birthday?

Answer revealed at the bottom of today's edition.

Daily Games

✏️ Today's Featured Game

Crossword

10 clues · ~3 min

1 Across Device to hold things firmly together
6 Across Tag showing contents or price
7 Across Follow or comply with rules
Play Crossword →

Yesterday: 🧠 63 played  ·  💡 48 played  ·  ✏️ 40 played

🧠 Trivia · Food & Drink · 7 Qs→
What name is given to the small individual servings of Spanish tapas...
💡 Word Ladder · 2 steps→
LAST → ??? → PEST

On This Day

Anniversary of

• Soviet cosmonaut Vladimir Komarov died when Soyuz 1 crashed on re-entry, becoming the first human spaceflight fatality. (1967)

• A Japanese tour group was attacked by a saltwater crocodile at Kakadu National Park, sparking debate about tourist safety. (1988)

• The first video was uploaded to YouTube by co-founder Jawed Karim. (2005)

• Australian runner John Landy broke the four-minute mile barrier in Turku, Finland, just 46 days after Roger Bannister's historic feat. (1954)

🎂 Born on this day: English playwright and poet William Shakespeare (1564), Australian actress Judy Davis (1955), and American child star Shirley Temple (1928).

Brainteaser Answer
31 December — and today is 1 January. Yesterday (31 Dec) you turned 22, so the day before yesterday you were still 21. This year you'll turn 23, next year 24.

One Last Smile

One Last Smile illustration

Chapel Street on a Thursday: where window shopping is an Olympic sport and buying is optional.

Send this to a friend who’d laugh

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