Interest rates steady, winter warmth tips & more
Today’s briefing covers stable interest rates for bank customers, cost-effective ways to stay warm during the colder months, and a recent ruling on school safety.
You will see no immediate changes to mortgage or savings rates today, though confidence in the labor market—how secure workers feel about their jobs—has recently declined. While the steady retail rates offer some predictability for your household budget, the drop in labor confidence reflects a tightening economy that may impact wage growth or hiring in the coming months.
You can reduce your winter energy costs by choosing woollen clothing to stay warm inside without turning on the heater. Experts recommend wool because its natural fibers create air pockets that trap body heat more efficiently than other materials, providing a practical way to manage rising power bills during the cold season.
In education news, a teacher has been stripped of their registration following a safety incident involving a slug gun, or air rifle. The teacher, who also made false claims about military service, was removed from the professional register to ensure the safety and integrity of the school environment.
For more on these stories and other local updates, visit the app's News section. You can also read about a mountaineer's survival on Everest, a shark attack survivor's recovery in Sydney, and a $20 million tax fraud investigation in Fiji.