Australia endures fourth-hottest January as heat and policy headlines collide
Australia logged its fourth-hottest January on record as heatwaves pushed mean temps above average; NSW launched an on-site drug-checking trial at Laneway Festival, while a flood of political and policy news covered Liberal–National leadership chatter, debates over a ban on a provocative phrase, RBA rate expectations, and Melbourne’s Metro Tunnel switch, alongside local stories from Prue Car’s return to work to SA election outlook.