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Sports · 2 October 2026

Cats Nab Giants’ Superstar in Free‑Agency First‑Round Coup

Frank Bollard, Melbourne desk

In a whirlwind opening day of the AFL free‑agency window, the Geelong Cats snatched the North Melbourne Giants’ most prized player, turning the trading arena into a carnival of cheers and groans.

Business · 2 October 2026

IV Manufacturers Walk Off the Line, Demanding Higher Pay – Hospitals Left with Empty Syringes

Moss Harlow, Auckland desk

The union‑led strike by IV manufacturers in Auckland has left hospitals scrambling for supplies, as low wages push workers to pay to travel to the factory, sparking a potential nationwide shortage of essential medical…

World · 2 October 2026

Pigeons Return to Their Owners After Brief Tribute to Mao—National Day Feathers Fly

Noor Hale, World desk

Every National Day in Beijing, a flurry of pigeons perform a brief aerial homage to Chairman Mao before darting back to their owners, leaving bewildered tourists and a lingering question of whether the birds have better…

Finance · 2 October 2026

CBA Chief’s Roulette: RBA Rate Rise Still on the Table for November

Vera Chen, Sydney desk

The Commonwealth Bank’s chief executive signals that a November interest‑rate hike remains a real possibility, contingent on late‑month inflation figures that could send market participants into a frenzy.

Business · 2 October 2026

Credit Card Curb: ATO’s Ban Turns Sydney Retailers into Cash‑Only Cartoons

Vera Chen, Sydney desk

The Australian Tax Office’s new prohibition of credit‑card surcharges has backfired, forcing retailers to hike prices and chase cash, while market participants claim it’s a consumer‑savvy move that’s anything b…

Business · 2 October 2026

Coffs Harbour Businesses Brace for 35,000‑Vehicle Vacuum as Brisbane‑Melbourne Link Goes Light‑Free

Vera Chen, Sydney desk

With a new Brisbane‑Melbourne expressway that promises no traffic lights and a complete ban on the Big Banana, Coffs Harbour firms are preparing for a sudden 35,000‑vehicle drop. Market participants scramble to re‑…

Business · 2 October 2026

Tasmania’s ‘Winding Wonderland’ Road to Re‑Route for $2.7 billion — A Turn That Could Spin the Economy

Vera Chen, Sydney desk

Tasmanian authorities have unveiled a $2.7 billion plan to reroute a famously serpentine stretch of road. The move, aimed at easing traffic and boosting tourism, has market participants scrambling to gauge its impact o…

Sports · 2 October 2026

Luke Paul Swaps Aussie Suns for Duke: The Australian Gun's Leap to the American Hardwood

Rex Blister, Sydney desk

Luke Paul, the rising star of Australian basketball, has committed to Duke University, sparking wild speculation that the NCAA could soon see a new kind of hardwood hero.

Business · 2 October 2026

TasWater’s Sewerage Reboot: 500% Shock and a Refund for the Rest

Vera Chen, Sydney desk

TasWater has announced a recalibration of fixed sewerage fees that will slash costs for most firms but leave one unlucky business with a 500% hike, prompting market participants to chuckle and groan in equal measure.