Continuing our down-under theme, word that despite the Aussies’ astonishingly bad day in the Tour de France Sunday, things in the south are looking up:

Families could pay less for their Christmas dinner this year as the drought eases throughout NSW, state Primary Industries Minister Ian Macdonald says.

Announcing the best drought figures since May last year, Mr Macdonald on Sunday said a bumper winter crop had been planted and if harvested food prices should fall “by Christmas”.

“Farmers have planted a record crop … the highest since 1983,” Mr Macdonald told reporters in Sydney.

“If this crop can be harvested later in the year following follow-up rain … we could see an easing in the prices of foodstuff in NSW.