Since The Post hit the ground running in April, we’ve gone beyond the headlines to give you the nitty-gritty on how the big decisions and policies affect you. As we say goodbye to the whirlwind that was 2023, we take a look back at the year’s most memorable moments.
Whether it’s submarines, stealthing or the rental crisis, The Post has been here to break down what it all means for the daily lives of South Australians. So join us as we relive 2023’s most buzzworthy moments – the stories that kept us scrolling, thinking, and talking!
April
Mobile phone ban in schools
The mobile phone ban for SA’s public high schools was a big deal this year. It was a move designed to reduce distraction, stress and cyberbullying for students. We explored the debate around the phone ban – including looking at the research into how smartphones impact learning – and wrote about the six benefits of a digital detox.
Events all year round
On a lighter note, The Post went beyond Mad March and into Amazing April to look at how South Australia is now the events state all year round – especially with new sporting fixtures like AFL Gather Round and LIV Golf in 2023. For the footy fans, we looked back at seven of the greatest SA football moments, and for the less sporty types, we gave you a non-golfer’s guide to LIV Golf.
May
Stealthing now illegal
We explained the new laws to outlaw stealthing – the act of deliberately removing a condom before or during sex without the other person’s consent. The Post talked to experts about how stealthing can harm a victim’s physical and mental health, and where to go for help.
Vaping ban
With a government ban on e-cigarettes on its way, we asked just how bad vapes are for our health.
Turns out that beyond the bright colours and fun flavours, vaping has become a damaging epidemic – especially among young South Australians. We went behind the headlines and explored one 22-year-old’s tough road to giving up e-cigarettes, offering some tips for quitting and the assistance available.
June
Rent bidding banned
SA’s rental market was basically a battlefield in 2023, with a vacancy rate of less than one per cent – so of course it was a hot topic at The Post. This was a month with some rare good news, as the State Government announced its ban on rent bidding. We explained how rent bidding worked, talked to a renter who’d fallen victim to the dodgy tactic, and gave you the info about your rights as a renter. We also gave you the lowdown on what else the State Government was doing to help renters, including its Private Rental Assistance Program, which offers financial support to struggling South Australians.
Coercive control
Coercive controlling behaviours are common within relationships across Australia, but what it is and what it looks like are not widely understood. We explained what coercive control is and how to identify it, as well as exploring its worrying links to men killing current or former partners. The Post also dived into the reasons why criminalising coercive control is so complex, and the support available to help victims.
The rise of NOLO
The global industry of NOLO wine is booming, with SA now home to the world’s first NOLO wine trial-scale research facility. The Post answered all your questions, including the obvious one: What’s NOLO? NOLO stands for no-and-low-alcohol wine, and it’s an industry that’s booming as young people increasingly seek alternatives to traditional alcoholic beverages (and the resulting hangovers!).
July
SA’s hydrogen plant
There’s been a lot of talk about hydrogen energy this year, but it still seems a great unknown for many. The Post went deep into the science of how exactly SA’s new hydrogen plant will produce energy without contributing to greenhouse gases. But don’t worry – our explainer gives you the lowdown on green hydrogen production in a way you don’t need a science degree to understand. There’s even a video!
Support for first home buyers
Getting your foot in the door of your first home has been incredibly tough this year for many South Australians. In 2023, there was a whole lot of help in the state budget to make it easier. The initiatives included grants, the abolishment of stamp duty for eligible first home buyers, land releases, and low deposit loans from HomeStart. We followed the journey of one couple as they realised their dream to buy their first home, plus our guide laid out exactly what the new measures mean for first home buyers.
August
The problem of sports gambling
Sports betting and gambling ads are everywhere, trying to make gambling seem like a safe, easy way to make money. The Post faced the facts and discovered why gambling on sports is creating such massive problems for so many South Australians. Adelaide Football Club premiership player Anne Hatchard talked us through what’s being done to stop sports betting becoming normalised among young people – and how you can get involved in stopping its insidious spread.
Virtual healthcare in SA
Did you know a whopping $130 million is being injected into virtual healthcare to help free up hospital beds across the state? We gave you the lowdown on the free virtual services, and talked to one SA family who found them a literal life saver. Our Q and A with a doctor had more details about the virtual healthcare service for children and adolescents, and we also had a chat with the expert midwives staffing the new virtual healthcare service for women experiencing gynaecological issues, or who are newly pregnant and experiencing possible pregnancy loss.
September
Three-year-old preschool on its way
Big changes were announced this year for SA kids’ early education, following a Royal Commission into Early Childhood Education and Care led by former Prime Minister Julia Gillard. The Post broke down what it all means for South Australian parents now and in the future, when SA will become the first place in Australia to offer universal three-year-old preschool. This will give all families access to two years of preschool before school, plus long day care that will make it easier for parents to juggle childcare and their career.
Cost-of-living support
If the cost-of-living crisis made your life a misery this year, you’re certainly not alone. Around half of all Australians are now living payday to payday, with no money saved up for emergencies. That’s why the $4.8 million Financial Wellbeing Program was launched this year, providing free financial counselling, debt consolidation, no interest loans and immediate help such as food relief or paying bills for South Australians doing it tough. The Post naturally shared everything you need to know about it – including who it’s for and where to access it.
How to buy local
The ‘Buy SA. For SA.’ campaign offers four handy hacks to help South Australians shop local – and you can bet you’ll find them all in The Post. This is a campaign definitely worth supporting: If it succeeds in inspiring us to switch just one in every $20 of our grocery spending to local sources, then our economy will be up to $2 billion better off. That amount of money could mean a heap of new local jobs. Shopping locally is also one of the best things you can do to help the environment. We call that a win-win! (If you’re reading this before Christmas, check out our ultimate Christmas gift guide for buying local.)
October
New affordable housing
The rising cost of living and ever-increasing house prices have moved the great Australian dream of home ownership beyond reach for many. To make things easier, the State Government is fast tracking a whole lot of affordable and social housing – both now and in the months and years to come. The Post broke down what’s being built and who’s eligible to apply for the more affordable housing options.
SA’s film and TV industry
Did you know Kate Winslet, Zac Efron, Cate Blanchett, Jamie Dornan and Hilary Swank have all starred in movies with creative input from SA? When it comes to the big and small screens, our state really punches above its weight – and it’s showing no signs of slowing down. The Post gave you all the goss on what’s being filmed in SA right now, including our state’s biggest Netflix series ever. We also broke down what that means for our local talent and took a look back at the Top 10 SA films everyone should watch.
SA becomes the ‘spirit state’
Five years ago, there were only around 10 distilleries in South Australia. Now there are more than 100. The Post investigated how SA’s spirits are becoming just as prized internationally as our wines, winning a slew of recent awards. Plus, if you want to taste our best craft spirits and meet their makers (with a few specials and freebies along the way), we’ve got the lowdown on the SA Distillery Trail.
November
Autism in SA
One in four Australians have an Autistic family member, but there are still some myths that need busting around Autism. The Post talked to an Autistic South Australian about her unique experience in education and the workplace, and discussed the ways our state is leading the way in creating an Autism-friendly place to live, learn and work.
Submarines and training for the defence sector
As SA gears up to build nuclear-powered SSN-AUKUS submarines, the South Australian Government is working with its Australian Government counterparts to make sure our future workforce has the skills it needs to keep up with the huge demand for defence sector jobs. The Post has the lowdown on the new educational and training opportunities available, plus handy explainers on the SSN-AUKUS subs, what else is being built here, and the five new technical colleges.
VAILO Adelaide 500
On the eve of the VAILO Adelaide 500, we sat down with driver and proud South Australian Todd Hazelwood – who was born into a family of rev-heads and grew up watching the Supercars – about what makes this race so special. If you want to relive all the on- and off-track excitement of this massive event, this article is the one for you.
December
Rental reforms
To end the year on a positive note, the State Government passed reforms rewriting the rental rules for tenants to make them fairer, more secure, and pet friendly. The Post took you inside the biggest shake-up of residential tenancy laws in a generation. Reasons to celebrate include no more no-cause evictions, the right for SA renters to keep a pet, and the new Tenant Advocacy Service to support renters whose landlords don’t do the right thing.
Uni merger
The South Australian Parliament has passed legislation that gives the green light to the amalgamation of UniSA and the University of Adelaide into the new Adelaide University – set to open in 2026. The Post has everything you need to know about this massive milestone for our state’s education sector, including a handy guide to how you’ll be affected if you’re studying now or starting your degree in the next few years.
Want more? Matt, Anna, and Tim reminisce on the good times, and keep an eye on what South Australia is continuing to achieve as we move into 2024:
