Sydney desk

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

Technology · 6 October 2026

Italian Actor Weeps in 1970s PSA That Blamed Us for Litter—Turns Out It Was Keep America Beautiful, Not Soda Giants

Ash Park, Sydney desk

A 1970s public‑service ad that showed a Native‑American figure weeping over litter was actually performed by an Italian actor. The ad was produced by Keep America Beautiful and used by Coke and Pepsi to shift blame f…

Finance · 6 October 2026

Consumer Confidence Plummets as RBA Rate Hike Sends Aussie Wallets into Hiding

Vera Chen, Sydney desk

Australian consumer confidence fell about 20%, the steepest slide since the early‑1990s, after the Reserve Bank lifted rates to their highest level since 2011. Households and market participants alike are bracing for t…

Sports · 6 October 2026

Ian Thorpe and ‘Scooter’ Pitch Olympic Emblem Like a Startup Pitch in a Melbourne Laneway

Lotte Nguyen, Melbourne desk

Ian Thorpe and Grant ‘Scooter’ Patterson unveiled the first piece of the 2032 Brisbane Olympic emblem in a mock‑startup setting, treating the iconic symbol like a disruptive product launch for the nation’s bigges…

Sports · 6 October 2026

Lakers Hit Preseason Roadblock: Two Stars Out, Fans Left Singing Karaoke

Rex Blister, Sydney desk

The Los Angeles Lakers enter their NBA preseason opener missing two star players due to injuries, forcing the team to rely on bench depth and a hefty dose of optimism.

Sports · 6 October 2026

St Kilda's Steep Price for Sam Marshall: A Pick‑Swap Circus Involving Geelong and the Lions

Frank Bollard, Melbourne desk

St Kilda wants Brisbane midfielder Sam Marshall and is asking for a pick in the 20s from Geelong, which they plan to trade to the Gold Coast Suns for an academy prospect. Grian Myers is the key piece in the three‑way d…

Finance · 6 October 2026

Frogs Leap Ahead of Pigs, Sending French Bonds Higher

Vera Chen, Sydney desk

Bond investors have swapped the usual PIIGs for a slippery amphibian, nudging French government yields upward as markets watch the unexpected new target.

Politics · 6 October 2026

Sydney’s New Immigration Play: Cutting 650,000 Temporary Visas, One Coffee Cup at a Time

Priya Nair, Sydney desk

The coalition, led by Angus Taylor, has unveiled a budget‑neutral plan to slash about 650,000 temporary visa holders over the next four years, sparking debate over its impact on services, diversity and the nation’s…

Sports · 6 October 2026

Roosters eye NFL while Nawaqanitawase and Crichton head to rival code

Doug Kettle, Sydney desk

The Sydney Roosters acknowledge the loss of Mark Nawaqanitawase and Angus Crichton to another code, but rumors suggest the NFL could be eyeing a different player for a cross‑code switch.

Business · 6 October 2026

TVSN’s Final Sale: The Channel’s Curtain Falls on a Fashionably Late Exit

Vera Chen, Sydney desk

TVSN is winding down its operations after years of selling everything from fashion to homewares on Seven Network, sparking a storm of frustration among its suppliers who feel blindsided by the decision.