Sydney desk

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

Business · 30 September 2026

Dentists, Dollars, and Debt: The Tooth Tax That Won’t Quit

Vera Chen, Sydney desk

The Treasury’s free dental care plan has market participants chewing on higher rates, property squeezes, and a new sugary‑drink tax, all while the cost of keeping care unaffordable climbs.

Finance · 30 September 2026

Rate Hike Turns Labor’s Budget into a Tightrope Act

Vera Chen, Sydney desk

When the Reserve Bank of Australia nudged rates higher, the Labor government’s plans for spending and productivity were left balancing on a financial tightrope. Market participants mutter that the move is a reminder th…

Politics · 30 September 2026

RBA's Rate Hike: The Great Unemployment and House‑Price Squeeze

Rex Blister, Sydney desk

In a move that would make a clown look sober, the RBA hiked rates, promising to curb inflation while inadvertently turning the job market into a treadmill and the housing market into a sinking ship.

Finance · 30 September 2026

ASX’s Slow‑Start Stroll: Rate Riddle and Inflation’s Inevitable Pause

Vera Chen, Sydney desk

The Australian market opens flat as traders weigh the Reserve Bank’s latest rate hike against looming inflation data, and market participants keep talking about the same thing: more hikes or a slowdown?

Politics · 30 September 2026

Ink and Irony: September’s Cartoon Round‑up Exposes More Council Chaos Than a Summer Heatwave

Mabel Crowe, Sydney desk

A collection of September’s editorial cartoons highlights the city’s endless queues, fickle weather, and the perpetual drama of local government, proving that a single sketch can say more than a council report.

Finance · 30 September 2026

Fourth Rate Hike Turns Homeowners into Budget‑Slicing Ninjas

Vera Chen, Sydney desk

The Reserve Bank’s fourth rate rise to 4.6% has pushed home repayments into the hundreds, prompting market participants to rethink budgeting and property‑ownership strategies across Sydney.

Politics · 30 September 2026

Penny Wong’s UN Gaffe Ignites ‘Pay for Slay’ Row, Israel Declares War on Words

Rex Blister, Sydney desk

A bungled UN speech by Penny Wong has sparked a heated debate over Palestinian statehood, with Israel accusing her of a 'blatant lie' and the world watching as diplomatic tensions simmer like a pot of too‑strong coffee…

Sports · 29 September 2026

Socceroos Stiffen Brazil’s Ambition with 1‑1 Draw at Lang Park

Frank Bollard, Melbourne desk

The Socceroos and Brazil traded goals at Brisbane’s Lang Park, ending in a 1‑1 draw that left fans on the edge of their seats and the referee’s whistle. The match was a showcase of tactical nuance and a reminder th…

Politics · 29 September 2026

Professor Dr. Joanna Howe’s ‘Consentless’ Crusade Sparks Debate in Canberra

Rex Blister, Sydney desk

Dr. Joanna Howe, a Rhodes scholar and anti‑abortion activist, claims her marriage is a ‘consentless’ experiment, sparking a wave of bemused commentary across the legal and political spectrum.