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🗞️ Chalk and cheese
As a record-breaking heatwave bakes France, shops are selling out of crushed chalk as people paint their windows with it to keep their homes cool.
Pick & Scroll News
June 30, 2026
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Good morning. As a record-breaking heatwave bakes France, shops are selling out of crushed chalk as people paint their windows with it to keep their homes cool.
Known as Blanc de Meudon, the chalky coating reflects heat while still letting some light through, and there's real science behind it.
With temperatures topping 40°C and air conditioning only making the broader problem worse, wait til they hear about Australia’s dark roof problem.
All the headlines and more below...
MERCER FINED $10.3M FOR LEAVING 34,000 MEMBERS IN HIGH-FEE SUPER PRODUCTS
Mercer Superannuation copped a $10.3M Federal Court penalty after ASIC found it failed to move members out of expensive legacy products into cheaper modern options - even when the new products delivered similar or better returns.
34,000 members overpaid between 0.5% and 1% in annual fees for five years.
The breaches ran from 2014 to 2019. Mercer identified the issue internally in 2015 but didn't act until regulators circled. ASIC called the failures "systemic" - governance collapse, not a one-off error.
Mercer has since paid $16.2M in remediation and manages over $60B for 800,000 Australians. One of the largest penalties under the best financial interests duty, which legally requires super funds to prioritise member outcomes over trustee convenience.
AUSTRALIAN NEWS
Farmers and food suppliers have accused Woolworths and Coles of using tough price negotiations that squeeze margins, while nearly half of 947 survey responses described talks as challenging. LINK
ASIC has warned that superannuation platform trustees are not adequately monitoring harmful advice fees, unusual charges and high-risk investment switching, as it released a 29-page safeguarding report. LINK
The ASX 200 index has closed 0.7% higher at 8823 as US futures rose on signs of US-Iran stability, while the Australian dollar edged up to US$0.6899. LINK
The federal government has confirmed that Australian businesses will gain access to the Digital ID system as accredited private providers join AGDIS from 1 December 2026, while businesses using myID will start paying operating charges from 1 January 2027. LINK
ANZ EXEC SACKED WEEKS AFTER BULLYING COMPLAINT SUES FOR $420K
Stephen O'Reilly, 65, lodged a Comcare claim (a worker’s comp claim) for psychological injury in November. By January, his role was "selected for redundancy" under CEO Nuno Matos' 4,500-job cull.
He's claiming $380K in lost salary and $50K for depression and anxiety.
O'Reilly alleges COO Megan Anderson told him "life's too short to waste time in the workplace", threatened to sack him repeatedly, raised bogus performance concerns that killed his bonus and spoke in an "aggressive manner". After his second HR complaint, in which he said Anderson tried to "justify her unreasonable behaviour", he filed the Comcare claim. Two months later, he received a redundancy letter. ANZ says it will defend the claim.
The bank is already managing a $250M regulatory fine across four misconduct cases and a 173,000-plaintiff class action in New Zealand.
COMPANY NEWS
TEG launched a major restructuring and cost-cutting drive under new CEO Cameron Hoy after losing 2 major ticketing contracts and market share. LINK
Sky News Australia is rebranding its broadcast channels, streaming products and digital assets as News24 on 27 July, which chief executive Paul Whittaker says marks a new era. LINK
Woolworths has launched an upgraded AI chatbot Olive and new app features to create meal plans, suggest smart money-saving swaps and streamline shopping. LINK
VietJet Air has applied to the Civil Aviation Safety Authority for an air operator certificate to launch a locally incorporated Australian carrier with 10 Boeing 737 aircraft as it rapidly expands. LINK
2026 AUSCORP SALARY SURVEY
Since late 2022, your employer can no longer stop you discussing your pay. But most people still have no idea what the person next to them earns. We're trying to fix that.
This is our biggest survey yet and the more people who contribute, the harder it gets for anyone to be underpaid without knowing it. Anonymous, takes 2 minutes, and the results go straight back to the community.
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ONE MORE SCROLL
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TRIVIA
Canada advanced to the round of 16 at the Fifa World Cup yesterday for the first time in their history.
We ask you all things Canadian today:
What percentage of Canadians speak French, 19% or 29%
Taking a size of larger than 10 hectares, who has more lakes, Canada OR the rest of the world combined
Canada is in the top 3 countries for total Olympic Winter medals
True or False, Canada is wider than Australia
What percentage of the worlds maple syrup is made in Canada; 50%, 75% or 90%
Answers below
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