A win for renters' privacy and the local councils trying to save uninsurable towns

Australia's Privacy Commissioner has put the rent tech sector on notice, ruling that a platform had been unfairly collecting excessive amounts of personal information from prospective tenants. Researcher Samantha Floreani and Antonia Mercorella from the Real Estate Institute of Queensland unpack how the industry is likely to respond and what it could mean for renters.After residents in south-west Queensland were hit with increases of 500 per cent on insurance premiums, local councils have stepped in. The group of councils is investigating an option to offer their communities mutual protection. So could this be a model that more places adopt? It's never been cooler to be a bird nerd. Birdwatching as a hobby is capturing everyone from retirees to footy players. BirdLife Australia's Christina Zdenek explains what's behind the twitcher trend and where to start if it sounds like the hobby for you.