There’s a good explainer article here: https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2025/mar/22/us-pharma-trump-australia-pbs-explainer

It all came up in the tariff negotiations - the PBS in Australia means US drug companies don’t make enough money and/or US citizens are paying more for drugs than Australians.

Big pharma in the US claims Australians aren’t paying enough for medicines, considering the billions they pour into research and development, and there are too many delays in getting drug approvals.

PhRMA has asked the Trump administration to put Australia on a “watch list” and wants it to push for change, saying Australia has set the bar too high on cost effectiveness. Australia’s price reductions and “restrictive subsidy caps” meant prices were too low to support investment in innovation, it claims. There are also too many delays in approval processes, it says, adding that the PBS continues to list generic products without the patent owner’s consent.

I was just reading a science fiction novel where algal blooms are one of the things that precede the societal collapse. Fun times. The book was called Timescape.

Best of luck to him! Hope this goes far and wide.

Kmart would probably be the cheapest. I still use my Kmart microwave and blender 5 years on. If you’re looking for bigger appliances I’ve always had good service and delivery from Appliances Online.

Was just thinking… you know how like some ludicrous % of insect species have died out, maybe it’s bacteria as well. So maybe our gut biomes are deficient in strains that used to be abundant. 🧐

Yeah ham when I grew up was the processed stuff formed into logs. Devon? Lovely on a sandwich with tomato sauce but I have no idea what was in it!

Good choice. She’s always come across as calm and level headed. Hopeful they can do some good climate relevant negotiations with Labor.

I think anyone not knee deep in the Greens membership would prefer Larissa Waters.

Even if wages rise, we’re still leaving everyone on Jobseeker or DSP behind.

Isn’t that how Scomo got elected? If it’s worked in the past for them…

Yes it was a very tinkering around the edges budget. There’s no appetite for major tax reform, welfare increases or actual housing policy (negative gearing, capital gains discount). Seems like Australians like middle of the road government.