Sydney desk

Filed from the Sydney desk — including multi-city pieces that also ran elsewhere.

Sports · 23 October 2026

Foreign Money Sprints Into A-League: Global Football Empires Now Own the Pitch

Frank Bollard, Melbourne desk

Foreign capital is reshaping the A-League, bringing shiny kits and big budgets, but the strings attached mean clubs are now part of a global football family—sometimes to their own surprise.

Finance · 23 October 2026

Rapid Critical Metals Leads with NSW Drill Hit as Benz Mining and Encounter Resources Follow in WA

Vera Chen, Sydney desk

Rapid Critical Metals reported a notable drill intercept in New South Wales, topping this week’s ASX disclosures. Benz Mining and Encounter Resources each announced their own notable intercepts from Western Australia,…

Technology · 23 October 2026

Road Rules Stumble Over Screen‑Distraction Gap, Driver Finds

Ash Park, Sydney desk

A driver discovered an absurd gap in road legislation concerning screen‑related attentiveness, highlighting how the law lags behind everyday reality.

Politics · 23 October 2026

Albanese hands Greens a fortnight of extra hands as his own party nips inquiry into his powers

Mabel Crowe, Sydney desk

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese allocated fifteen staff positions to the Greens, then saw his party block a parliamentary inquiry into his powers, prompting One Nation’s Pauline Hanson to accuse him of political games.

Sports · 23 October 2026

Cooper Bai’s PNG Safari Could Land Him a Chiefs Contract—Before He Becomes a Chief Himself

Frank Bollard, Melbourne desk

Cooper Bai, the rising Gold Coast forward, is touring Papua New Guinea in pursuit of a Chiefs contract for the 2028 NRL season, leaving fans wondering if he's chasing a deal or a new adventure.

Finance · 23 October 2026

Chalmers Says Investors Bounce Like Kangaroos on a Trampoline While Inflation Sulks on the Sidelines

Vera Chen, Sydney desk

Treasurer Jim Chalmers told a press conference that investors remain upbeat about Australian business prospects, even as domestic inflation and productivity concerns linger.

Sports · 23 October 2026

Australia’s patched‑up batting collapses in Cape Town, a boiling kettle of wickets

Frank Bollard, Melbourne desk

Australia’s ageing, patched‑up batting order collapsed in Cape Town, losing by an innings as a rush of wickets exposed deeper structural flaws.

Finance · 23 October 2026

ASX Slides as Wall Street Falls, Oil Hits May Highs on Iran‑War Fears

Vera Chen, Sydney desk

Artificial‑intelligence stocks are tumbling worldwide, pulling the ASX down as Wall Street slides. At the same time, oil prices have risen to their highest level since May amid concerns that a conflict with Iran could…

Sports · 22 October 2026

Rain‑delayed Test leaves Australia scrambling to avoid defeat

Nell Hartley, Melbourne desk

Day five of the second Test in Gqeberha was delayed by rain, leaving Australia in a frantic second‑innings chase to avoid a loss against the home side South Africa.