The WESS Edit

By Aishah Ahmed If you’re anything like the average uni student, there’s a good chance your understanding of the Federal Budget comes entirely from Instagram infographics and hearing the phrase “cost-of-living relief” repeated every five minutes last week. Still, the 2026-27 Federal Budget includes some pretty major changes, particularly around tax, housing and investment. This year’s Budget comes at a complicated time for the Australian economy. The government is forecasting

By Jessica Howard In the early 2010s, nightclubbing was the pinnacle of the average 20-year-old’s social life. What better way was there to get your dancing fix, meet new people, and squeeze in a few drinks with the girls than throwing on a fun outfit and heading down to Chapel Street? There wasn’t one. Going out, hitting the town, or throwing a few moves on the dance floor was once a weekly ritual for many people in their 20s. Fast-forward to today, and the picture looks ver

By Aishah Ahmed On a weekday morning in Sydney, the line outside MECCA stretches down the block. Not for a new restaurant. Not for a trendy café. For skincare. This was the scene at the Australian launch of Rhode, Hailey Bieber's skincare brand. Despite an ongoing cost-of-living crisis, consumers showed up in force. Products sold out, social media flooded with glossy hauls, and flagship stores in capital cities were packed wall to wall. At a time when rising rent and grocery