Sydney desk

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

Politics · 1 October 2026

RBA Flags One‑Percent of Homebuyers Stuck Owing More Than Their Roofs Amid Inflation‑Induced Headaches

Mabel Crowe, Sydney desk

About one per cent of Australian homebuyers now sit in negative equity, prompting the Reserve Bank to warn that a global financial shock could hit harder than a summer heatwave, especially as inflation refuses to cool.

Business · 1 October 2026

Emperor’s Garden Settles $1 Million Tax Tussle, Cream Puff Store Shuts Its Doors

Vera Chen, Sydney desk

The venerable Emperor’s Garden, long a favourite for soy‑glazed buns, finally agreed to settle a $1 million tax debt with the ATO, but the settlement came with a clause that forced the closure of its beloved cream…

Business · 1 October 2026

Solar Pioneer Gets Heritage Badge, Sparking a Blazing Property Boom

Vera Chen, Sydney desk

The 1980s outback solar farm in Opalville, a forgotten opal mining town, has been granted heritage status, sending a ripple through local real‑estate markets and prompting market participants to weigh the cost of nosta…

Sports · 1 October 2026

Green’s Tummy Tumble Leaves Aussies Short of Test‑Series Guts

Frank Bollard, Melbourne desk

The Australian camp is reeling as fast‑bowler Cameron Green suffers an abdominal injury in the final ODI, forcing a scramble for replacements days before the South Africa Test series.

Business · 1 October 2026

Caffeine Cutbacks: Aussie Cafés Face Grounds for Concern as Homebrew Trend Cooks Profit Margins

Vera Chen, Sydney desk

With rising living costs nudging Australians to brew at home, cafés find themselves on thin, espresso‑laden margins, prompting market participants to rethink their latte strategy.

Business · 1 October 2026

South African Mining Behemoth Persists in $38 billion Gold Grab, Keeps Negotiating Despite Rejection

Vera Chen, Sydney desk

When its $38 billion bid to take over the country’s biggest gold producer was turned down, the South African group has vowed to keep the conversation alive, hinting that the deal may still be in the offing or that it…

Business · 1 October 2026

Shops Fumble into Card Surcharge Nightmares as Ban Takes Hold

Vera Chen, Sydney desk

Despite a government ban on card payment surcharges, retailers across Australia are scrambling to update their systems, leading to a wave of unintended fees that even the most diligent shoppers will spot.

World · 1 October 2026

Verdict at 10 a.m.: Judge Schedules Court Date to Match Mother’s Perth‑bound Flight

Priya Nair, Sydney desk

A judge in Mexico has set a Friday 10 a.m. verdict for a murder case that arrives just in time for the victims’ parents to board a flight back to Perth. The timing has sparked a tongue‑in‑cheek look at the sync‑o…

Finance · 1 October 2026

Cash Still a Good Idea? Reserve Bank Adds Cones to the Conversation

Moss Harlow, Auckland desk

The Reserve Bank’s consultation on minimum cash‑service standards has sparked a national debate, with banks installing literal cones around ATMs to signal the future of physical money.