Sydney desk

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

Business · 19 October 2026

Gas‑gate: Sydney’s New Rules Pull Asian Giants into a Tug‑of‑War

Vera Chen, Sydney desk

Labor’s contentious export limits aim to keep more gas at home, risking a diplomatic backlash from Asian energy giants as markets scramble to adjust.

Business · 19 October 2026

Stax Resurrected by Sneaker‑Marketplace Founders as Retail Collapse Reboots

Vera Chen, Sydney desk

After collapsing in June following an ill‑fated retail expansion, the athleisure brand Stax is being revived by the couple who founded a popular sneaker‑trading marketplace. Their plan relies on limited‑edition dro…

Politics · 19 October 2026

Labor’s Tax‑Cut Gamble: A Quick Fix That Won’t Cool the Heat

Rex Blister, Sydney desk

Labor is counting on tax cuts to calm angry voters, but economists warn the measures will be inflationary and won’t be enough to offset rising living costs.

Politics · 19 October 2026

Steele‑John Denies Leave, Blames Greens Leader for Mishandling Complaints

Mabel Crowe, Sydney desk

Senator Jordon Steele‑John denies he is on leave and accuses Greens leader David Shoebridge of mishandling complaints about his conduct towards women, arguing the issue is about factionalism rather than accountability.

Politics · 19 October 2026

Wentworth MP champions GST tweak as Labor’s spending swells like a summer storm

Mabel Crowe, Sydney desk

The Wentworth MP and a senior adviser to the Treasury’s reform team have thrown their weight behind a GST adjustment to balance tax cuts, urging new budget rules as government spending climbs toward record levels under…

Business · 18 October 2026

Two Activists Take the Plunge, Literally, onto Woodside Platform 200km Offshore

Vera Chen, Sydney desk

Two people were taken into police custody after they occupied an offshore Woodside gas platform about 200 km off Western Australia’s coast to protest the company’s gas operations.

Sports · 18 October 2026

Boland’s Shock Recall Turns Gqeberha’s St George’s Park Into a Wet‑Weather Test

Noor Hale, World desk

Australia have recalled fast‑bowler Boland over Lyon for the second Test in Gqeberha, where a drizzly morning at St George’s Park adds a splash of chaos to the match that kicks off at 10 am local (7 pm AEDT, 9�…

Sports · 18 October 2026

Wallabies Still Stuck in 2022: No Improvement Since Rennie's Exit

Sam Orbit, World desk

Three years after Rugby Australia dismissed Dave Rennie, recent results show the Wallabies have not improved on their 2022 form.

World · 18 October 2026

Paris Police Face Cost‑of‑Living Protests Amid Rent‑Hike Outcry

Rex Blister, Sydney desk

Police clashed with demonstrators in Paris over rising rent and cost‑of‑living pressures, part of the country’s worst unrest in years.