Sydney desk

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

Business · 28 September 2026

Coal Plants Face ‘Pay‑to‑Pollute’ Bill That Might Turn Them into Solar‑Powered Museums

Vera Chen, Sydney desk

A new bill aims to make Australia’s coal power stations pay for their emissions, forcing them to close sooner or retrofit with greener tech – a move that market participants are scrambling to juggle.

Finance · 28 September 2026

Budgeting for the Future: RBA’s Rate Hike Looms as Treasury Promises a $6 bn Smile

Vera Chen, Sydney desk

Parliament’s final budget is set to unveil a $6 bn improvement, while the Reserve Bank’s next rate hike remains on the agenda, sending market participants into a mild frenzy of speculation.

Sports · 28 September 2026

Goodman’s Gold: Sam Wins IBF Interim Title in Tokyo, Kicking Off a New ‘Kangaroo‑Kicking’ Era

Frank Bollard, Melbourne desk

Australian featherweight Sam Goodman captured the IBF interim super‑bantamweight title in a one‑night knockout that left the Tokyo crowd roaring and the judges in a state of shock. The fight, billed as a “kangaroo�…

Business · 28 September 2026

Bots Boast Tax‑Cutting Brilliance – Market Participants Urge Caution

Vera Chen, Sydney desk

When a Sydney start‑up claims its AI assistant can dodge the dreaded ‘lazy tax’, market participants scramble to decide whether to applaud or alarm. The satire explores the fine line between innovation and regulato…

World · 28 September 2026

Bangkok Declared Disaster Zone as Floods Turn Capital into Urban Aquarium

Rex Blister, Sydney desk

When Bangkok’s canals overflowed into its bustling streets, the city was hastily slapped with a disaster‑zone tag. In the meantime, commuters are trading cars for rubber ducks.

Politics · 28 September 2026

Bullock’s 150,000‑word marathon leaves rate‑setters clutching their calculators

Mabel Crowe, Sydney desk

Michele Bullock has logged 150,000 spoken words across 22 press briefings, a feat that has left economists wondering whether the RBA is setting interest rates or auditioning for a podcast. The relentless verbal onslaught…

Finance · 28 September 2026

ASX Holds Its Breath as RBA Prepares to Tighten, Market Participants Tread Lightly

Vera Chen, Sydney desk

The Australian share market opens flat as investors brace for the Reserve Bank of Australia's 15‑year‑high rate hike, while market participants trade between optimism and existential dread.

Sports · 28 September 2026

Wallabies Edge Springboks 42‑38 in Perth Test After 11‑man Collapse

Frank Bollard, Melbourne desk

In a Perth Test that read like a rugby version of a last‑minute footy comeback, the Wallabies outscored the world‑champion Springboks 42‑38 after a frantic flurry of tries and a final‑minute 11‑man collapse.

Business · 28 September 2026

Gold Fields Eyes Northern Star: A South African Takeover That Could Turn Sydney’s Gold Rush Into a South‑African Snack

Vera Chen, Sydney desk

South Africa’s Gold Fields has turned its sights on Australia’s largest gold miner, Northern Star, sparking a speculative frenzy among market participants and leaving Australian investors wondering if the next headli…