🔵 Gas, Griffins and Groceries
Plus: A loophole in new gambling ad restrictions
Huw Bradshaw
May 06, 2026
⏱️ The 101st edition of our newsletter is a four-minute read.
Morning all,
I’m writing this newsletter sitting outside North Sydney Oval. I was planning on filming an update on the Perth Bears and foolishly assumed the grounds would be open to the public.
Now I’m stewing on a way to get inside. Make nice with the groundskeeper? Climb the old fig tree? Mount the cricket nets and risk breaking something?
I suppose you’ll find out when we publish the video later today.
🗞️ For now though, here’s all the happenings across the North Shore.
HEARD THIS WEEK👂
⬜️ The Frank Lloyd Wright of the North Shore?
I was fortunate enough this week to be allowed into a true gem of North Shore architecture: Fishwick House in Castlecrag. Built in 1929, the property is one of the most well-preserved works of Walter Burley and Marion Mahony Griffin.
Watch the full video below.
⛽️ North Shore MPs pushed for a gas tax the PM says won't work. Who's right?
The views of northside MPs Zali Steggall and Nicolette Boele on a 25 percent “gas tax” have been brushed aside by PM Anthony Albanese, who said on Wednesday any such tax was dead in the water.
Was it ever possible, though, or just a pipe dream held by MPs with little power to influence policy?
Read our full breakdown below.
🥬 The ultimate guide to cheap grocery shopping on the North Shore
We’ve put together a list of local independent grocers with produce that’s often cheaper than major supermarkets, and regular specials.
Reckon we’ve missed your favourite spot? Send us an email via [email protected].
LOOKING NATIONALLY 👀
Are the government’s new gambling ad restrictions as impressive as they’re hyped up to be?
It seems there’s a potentially major flaw in the blueprint to a gambling-ad-free future.
The new laws, which take effect next year, include restricting gambling advertising on broadcast TV to no more than three ads each hour between 6am and 8.30pm, with a complete ban during live sport broadcasts within those hours.
So what happens after 8:30pm? Well, the restrictions will be lifted and gambling ads can run rampant.
What’s stopping the sporting codes, bookmakers and broadcasters from just pushing game times to 8:31pm to get around the ban? Sure, it might be a later kickoff, but the codes, broadcasters and clubs make hundreds of millions from their betting affiliations. Would they be willing to so readily give that away?
The National Account’s Archie Milligan asked Anika Wells, the minister responsible for the reforms, about this. A spokesperson from her office told him the 6:00am - 8:30pm is the peak time for children to be watching and these are the toughest restrictions in Australian history.
“We expect all parties to engage with the spirit of what we're doing,” said the statement.
Hear Archie’s full breakdown in the video below:
That’ll be all from me today.
As always, if you have a hot tip, an idea for a story or think there’s something I should be covering, hit reply to this email or reach out at [email protected].
Cheers,
Huw