Sydney desk

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

Politics · 30 September 2026

eSafety Commissioner bows out, citing David‑vs‑Goliath tech tussle

Mabel Crowe, Sydney desk

The eSafety chief announced departure, warning that the regulator is still out‑gunned by the tech giants despite a fresh digital duty of care. A new era is promised, but the baton may be handed to someone with a strong…

Business · 30 September 2026

Coal and Curriculum: Fossil Fuel Giants Sponsor 260 New 'Green' Lessons in Aussie Schools

Vera Chen, Sydney desk

A climate advocacy report has uncovered that at least 260 educational programs across Australia carry sponsorships from fossil‑fuel firms, a move that has turned the classroom into a new front for the industry’s mark…

Business · 30 September 2026

Café Caution: Sydney's Bean Bar Faces Legal Roasting Over Dormant Building Law

Vera Chen, Sydney desk

A Sydney café owner is forced into a costly legal battle over a building compliance law that was passed four years ago but has yet to take effect, a reminder that even the market participants can get caught in bureaucra…

Sports · 30 September 2026

Hospital Bed, Hospital Bed, Hospital Bed: Nathan Cleary's Bedside Battle for Dally M

Nell Hartley, Melbourne desk

The Dally M Awards have taken a turn for the absurd when Nathan Cleary is tipped to win the medal from a hospital bed, while thousands of Newcastle fans descend on McDonald Jones Stadium for an open training that feels m…

Business · 30 September 2026

Wagga Wagga’s Newest Landmark: A $15 billion Data Centre Lurking by the Waste Tip

Vera Chen, Sydney desk

CDC Data Centres has proposed a $15 billion megastructure on the outskirts of Wagga Wagga, raising questions about whether the region’s landfill will become the next digital super‑hub. Market participants are watch…

Business · 30 September 2026

Alan Kohler Announces Retirement, Leaving ABC’s Financial Forecasts to the Next Generation of Numbers

Vera Chen, Sydney desk

After 30 years of delivering market commentary, Alan Kohler steps down from ABC, leaving a void that market participants will scramble to fill, while the network’s ratings take a nosedive into the red.

Politics · 30 September 2026

Greens Face Three‑Way Tug‑of‑War as Shoebridge, Faruqi and Hanson‑Young Eye Top Spot

Mabel Crowe, Sydney desk

Nearly half the Greens partyroom has put forward three contenders – David Shoebridge, Mehreen Faruqi and Sarah Hanson‑Young – for the leadership vote due this week.

Business · 30 September 2026

Tangara Trains Close Back Carriages After Security Breaches, Leaving Commuters in the ‘Front Row’

Vera Chen, Sydney desk

After a string of security breaches, Sydney’s Tangara trains have shut the rear carriages to passengers, prompting a cost‑cutting scramble that could affect the operator’s bottom line and the commuter market.

Sports · 30 September 2026

Crossland’s Hip‑Drop Sends Him Home: Four‑Game Ban and a Broken Leg Force a Grand Final Exit

Frank Bollard, Melbourne desk

Phoenix Crossland is suspended for four games after a hip‑drop tackle that broke Nathan Cleary’s leg, forcing him to miss the NRL Grand Final and prompting an apology to the injured player.