Sydney desk

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

Sports · 2 October 2026

Broncos’ Spine on Steroids: Aiken’s Revenge Turns Into Unstoppable Beast

Frank Bollard, Melbourne desk

Tarryn Aiken’s comeback to the Broncos sparks a revenge‑driven frenzy, but her presence may have inadvertently forged a monstrous spine that rivals can’t tame.

Politics · 2 October 2026

Taxation Office’s Credit‑Card Ban Sparks Unexpected Alliance: Hanson & Spender Unite

Rex Blister, Sydney desk

In an unprecedented coalition, politicians Hanson and Spender have demanded that the Australian Taxation Office reverse its controversial ban on credit‑card payments, sparking a satirical debate over fiscal policy, con…

Finance · 2 October 2026

Rate‑Rising Ruckus: Businesses Turn Interest Hikes into a Snowball Game

Vera Chen, Sydney desk

After a string of rate increases, regional Australian firms face a ‘snowball effect’ as they juggle higher costs, choosing between absorbing the price or pushing it onto customers—leaving market participants scramb…

Business · 2 October 2026

ANZ Ends 60-Year Auditing Marriage with KPMG After Whistleblower Drama

Vera Chen, Sydney desk

After nearly six decades together, ANZ has severed ties with KPMG following a whistleblower scandal that led to massive staff cuts and the departure of a major client.

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.