They say the best things in life are free - and for the glorious price of $0, you can tell us exactly what you think about TDA Finance, so we can make sure we’re giving you the best damn Wednesday morning finance read out there.

I just did it myself to test how long it takes, and we’re sitting at about 35 seconds. If you’ve got that half-minute spare, our team would love to hear your thoughts. We’ve got a goal to take this newsletter to the next level over the next few months, and it starts with your thoughts.

You can share them with us by clicking here.

A Macquarie University academic has used AI to represent himself in a case in the Fair Work Commission – and he won.

Academic Greg Baker took Macquarie to the Commission when the university refused to change his employment contract from casual employment to permanent part-time employment. The case was first reported by the Australian Financial Review.

It is the first successful use of laws introduced by the Federal Government in 2024 to offer better options for employees on casual contracts. It’s also believed to be the first victory for a self-represented case assisted by AI in the Fair Work Commission. But it comes as courts around the country are being swamped with poor-quality AI-driven cases that are clogging proceedings.

Here’s what to know.

Baker has been teaching at Macquarie since 2023 as a casual employee. Last year Macquarie denied his request to move to permanent part-time employment.

He had been consulting ChatGPT for career advice when the program suggested he could use the new workplace laws.

The Albanese Government legislated the “Closing Loopholes” Act in 2024, giving workers better options to move into permanent employment, among other rights.

Under the new rules, eligible casual workers can ask to move to permanent employment after six months on the job if they believe they no longer meet the definition of a casual employee.

Baker used a paid version of ChatGPT to assist him in his self-represented case with the Fair Work Commission, according to his interview with Information Age. He used ChatGPT Pro, which cost him $US200 a month.

Reporting by Lachlan Keller.

One Nation leader Pauline Hanson has called for superannuation rules to be loosened so people can access their funds early to buy a house or respond to an emergency.

The comments have sparked a fresh debate about the role of Australia’s $4.5 trillion superannuation system, years after the Coalition made the idea of accessing super to buy a house part of its unsuccessful 2022 federal election campaign.

Treasurer Jim Chalmers has accused One Nation of wanting to scrap superannuation.

Since 1992, the Government has required employers to set aside a percentage of employees’ pay into a fund for their retirement (currently 12%). Employees can choose to contribute more.

Money in the fund is invested and earns a return, so people typically take out much more in retirement than they put in.

Up to a certain level, super contributions and investment earnings are taxed at 15%, which is less than the average income tax bracket.

Australia’s $4.5 trillion super system is currently the fourth-largest national retirement pool in the world, behind the U.S, the UK and Canada, and is on track to be the second-largest by the 2030s.

People can already access their super early if they meet certain criteria and are approved by the Australian Taxation Office (ATO). Data from 2024-25 shows the number of applications the ATO received to allow someone to dip into their super had more than doubled since the 2018-19 financial year.

The total amount withdrawn has topped $1 billion.

Speaking to News24 (formerly Sky News) on Sunday, Hanson called Australia’s superannuation system “broken”.

“A lot of Australians are doing it tough now and struggling to pay off their mortgages. In some ways, I feel that you should give them their money now and... help them with the cost of living.”

Hanson’s comments came days after Liberal frontbencher Andrew Bragg told the National Press Club the superannuation scheme had “stolen choice and agency from Australians.”

Treasurer Jim Chalmers hit back at Hanson’s comments in a post to X, saying: “One Nation wants to destroy the compulsory superannuation system, just like the Liberals and the Nationals”.

“They are all a threat to the retirement incomes and economic security of Australian workers.”

Hanson said on X she had not suggested an end to compulsory super and her comments were taken out of context.

Successive governments have often looked to tweak or change superannuation.

The Morrison Government allowed people to withdraw up to $10,000 tax-free from their super accounts during COVID lockdowns, and later took a policy of allowing people to withdraw 40% of their superannuation to help them buy their first home to the 2022 federal election, which it lost.

The current Government passed a law requiring employers to pay into employees’ super accounts on payday, rather than every three months. It came into effect last month.

The dispute between One Nation, the Opposition and the Government could, as Chalmers said, become a key issue at the next election.

Labor is already facing a possible challenge from One Nation, with polls showing the two parties in a battle for voters’ first choice on their ballots.

Reporting by Lachlan Keller.

Still on the same mobile plan you signed up for years ago?

If it's been a while since you checked, there's likely a better deal out there - and a reward for finding it. Compare providers through Finder and switch to an eligible plan to get a free digital Visa gift card, an exclusive perk you won't find anywhere else. Finder's already paid out $2 million to members who've made the switch.

Flying cars could soon be here. Yes.

In case you missed it, this week Tesla CEO Elon Musk posted to X (which he also owns): “You will get flying cars.”

According to reporting from The Information, Musk is planning on unveiling a “flying” version of Tesla’s famous Roadster model, as early as the end of the month.

Looks like road rules (air rules?) are about to become significantly more complicated.

Reporting by Lachlan Keller.