Let's start with the good news. Australia's economy is growing at its fastest rate in three years, faster than any advanced economy in the world.

Subscribe now for unlimited access.

Login or signup to continue reading

Now the bad news: Australia's economy is growing at its fastest rate in three years, faster than any advanced economy in the world.

Confused? You're not alone. When news broke that our GDP had grown faster than forecast during the December quarter, the competing narratives were befuddling.

A strong economy is good - it means we are better placed to withstand external shocks like the Middle East war. An overheated economy is bad - if surging demand can't be met prices go up, increasing inflation and compelling the Reserve Bank to hike interest rates to cool things down.

Good news and bad rolled out of the same numbers. This in a week any purely good news would have been a welcome glimmer of light over the gloom of terrible world events.

And so it was I went on the hunt last week for purely good news.

Vision of the return of the first Australians stranded in the Middle East seemed like a good place to start. The sight and sound of joyful reunions brought a lump to the throat and a welling in the eyes - especially the applause for the flight crews as they emerged into the arrivals halls. But even this was tinged with a little sadness as it emerged many of the seats on those flights were empty.

My local newspaper came to the rescue with a couple of good news stories. One concerned two high school students who had come to the rescue of man who had collapsed from a brain bleed while helping a friend put out her rubbish bins. The man's daughter wanted to thank the children, believed to be in years 7 and 8, who had dialled Triple 0 and waited in the rain until the ambulance arrived.

The other good news story was the opening of an urgent care clinic, which should take the pressure off the local hospital's emergency department. Like many regional towns there's an acute shortage of doctors which has meant the ED is often the first port of call.

A scan of the headlines from other nearby local newspapers revealed a much more balanced menu of news than their metro cousins. Among the court stories were uplifting profiles of people doing extraordinary things.

There was Valentino Guseli, fresh back from the Winter Olympics, who honed his snowboarding skills while growing up on the NSW South Coast.

From another masthead, a story about a wedding dress accidentally thrown out but retrieved with the help of tip staff just in time for the big day. Small in the global scheme of things but huge news for the bride to be. A story guaranteed to put a smile on the face of anyone reading it.

And from further afield, a story about a woman whose advocacy has resulted in a trial to make a Port Macquarie beach accessible to people with disabilities. Again, small globally but immensely important for the people whose lives it will improve.

We can't shy from bad news. But we owe it to ourselves to leaven it with the good. And for that, there's often no better place to turn than the local paper.

Long may they stay with us.

HAVE YOUR SAY: Are you suffering from bad news fatigue? Do you find your local news outlets are better at balancing good news with bad? Share a good news story you came across in this week of bad tidings. Email us: echidna@theechidna.com.au

SHARE THE LOVE: If you enjoy The Echidna, forward it to a friend so they can sign up, too.

IN CASE YOU MISSED IT:

- Three Australian defence members were on board a US nuclear submarine that sunk an Iranian ship, Prime Minster Anthony Albanese has confirmed.

- Keeping tax cuts for electric cars and reintroducing state-based rebates could help more Australians avoid rising petrol prices and should be treated as a national security issue.

- The salmon industry's use of an antibiotic has been suspended after the medication was found in wild species and deemed to put Australian export markets at risk.

THEY SAID IT: "Journalism makes you think fast. You have to speak to people in all walks of life. Especially local journalism." - Sir Terry Pratchett

YOU SAID IT: Garry detailed how oil and its byproducts have established a chokehold on almost every aspect of modern life.

"Your article on petro products was the best I have ever come across," writes Michael. "Everyone can learn the power behind the oil barons and their hold over the world. The war against Iran is not against a 40-year regime in that country. It is about an insatiable appetite for oil by US, Russia and Israel to name the main protagonists in the war. Russia wants Crimea and so does the US for its oil and gas. Couple this with Iran and you have enough oil to control the world and people. It stinks of globalisation."

Susan writes: "Oil, like any finite resource, should be used with care, not squandered by revheads doing burnouts. The urea supply chain interruption is more of a worry as there has been no increase in arable land since 1965 but food production has tripled. Starving people are very dangerous, for a while. So important for the lads to keep watering the lemon trees naturally - be good if we could create fertiliser from waste plants."

"For years we have been told that we are so dependent on oil that we should not be burning it," writes Arthur. "It is a very valuable resource but finite. Without it our modern day lifestyle could not exist."

Phil writes: "I love oil. It's why my second degree was in chemistry. Cracking it, distilling it, reacting it, creating with it. It used to make so many good fun jobs in Australia. The silly thing we do is burn it for fuel. Complete waste of wonderfully complex aliphatic and aromatic compounds."

"We just can't do without oil , and all politics leads to oil," writes Bill. "However, you missed one lot of evangelistic deniers- those who strut around in a self-made moralistic fog: EV drivers. Their cars are supposed to be environmentally friendly, purely because the means of propulsion is non-petroleum dependent. Plastic panels, rubber tyres, along with plastic battery cases, plastic upholstery and control screens, synthetic paint, and millions of feet of plastic-coated electric copper wiring."

Joan writes: "It is all so true. The only way we will get away from a synthetically and environmentally controlled life, is to return to horse and buggy days and all that went with them. Fantasy of course."

"Plastics and their varied uses are a monument to human inventiveness," writes Sue K. "So hard to imagine where we'd be without them. Sure, given decades of evolution, plastics have gotten out of control, but just think of the original 'Eureka' moment when all these possibilities opened up to humanity. It's really hard to imagine life without plastic products as you have so convincingly described. That said, I can't wait until I can afford a little electric vehicle and thumb my nose at the oil companies and countries who think they can control world politics by manipulating oil supplies."

Sue B writes: "Now and then my cynical mind reminds me of the ads during my childhood arguing the benefits of plastic over glass. I have not bought plastic mixing bowls for years and some of the glass ones I use are more than 50 years old. Clothes I use until they are falling apart. When I was buying new clothes I tried to buy wool, linen or cotton but it became increasingly difficult - and expensive. I would love to do without oil, or further reduce my use of oil based or oil dependent products but its pervasiveness is insidious."

When world news is so dark, try local for light

Aussie forces could help secure critical oil route

Grave concerns for Iranian soccer team in Australia

Good Samaritan identified after 'savage' fatal stabbing

Crocs and rising rivers: towns face flood disaster

'Perfect storm': fuel uncertainty threatens food prices

Today's top stories curated by our news team. Also includes evening update.

Don't miss updates on news about the Public Service.

Grab a quick bite of today's latest news from around the region and the nation.

Catch up on the news of the day and unwind with great reading for your evening.

Get the editor's insights: what's happening & why it matters.

Stay in the know on news that matters to you with twice weekly newsletters from The Senior.

Going out or staying in? Find out what's on.

The latest news, results & expert analysis.

Early Look At David Pope

Your exclusive preview of David Pope's latest cartoon.

Join our weekly poll for Canberra Times readers.

We've selected the best reading for your weekend.

Get the latest property and development news here.

Every Saturday and Tuesday, explore destinations deals, tips & travel writing to transport you around the globe.

Sharp. Close to the ground. Digging deep. Your weekday morning newsletter on national affairs, politics and more.

Your essential national news digest: all the big issues on Wednesday and great reading every Saturday.

Get the very best journalism from The Canberra Times by signing up to our special reports.

Voice of Real Australia

Get real, Australia! Let the ACM network's editors and journalists bring you news and views from all over.

Get news, reviews and expert insights every Thursday from CarGuide, ACM's exclusive motoring partner.

Be the first to know when news breaks.

Your digital replica of Today's Paper. Ready to read from 5am!

Your favourite puzzles

Test your skills with interactive crosswords, sudoku & trivia. Fresh daily!

© Canberra Times