Australia

October 2, 2026

Two Tax Rule Changes in 60 Days: Surcharges Gone October 1, Credit Cards Gone November 30 — What Replaces Them

New Australian rules restricting card payment surcharges took effect on October 1. Now the Australian Taxation Office has announced it will stop accepting direct credit card payments entirely after November 30, 2026.

Australia·Lifestyle·News

Australia Daylight Saving 2026: Clocks Go Forward 4 October in NSW, VIC, SA, ACT and TAS

Australian daylight saving starts this Sunday, 4 October 2026. If you’re in one of the five participating states or territories, you lose an hour of sleep this weekend. If you’re working a night shift when the clocks change, your payslip

September 30, 2026

Margaret Throsby, 84, Injured in NSW E-Bike Collision as Power-Limit Rules Tighten

Australia·Health·Policy

If you walk or jog on shared paths in NSW, the injuries suffered by former ABC broadcaster Margaret Throsby show how quickly an encounter

BYD Sealion 5 Gets 3-Star ANCAP Rating: 51% Crash Avoidance and Five Safety Systems Failed

Australia·Mobility·Technology

If you’re considering the BYD Sealion 5 as a family SUV, the star number matters less than understanding exactly where the gaps are. The

Reserve Bank of Australia building in Sydney

Australia·Business·Policy

RBA Lifts Cash Rate to 4.60%, Warns More Hikes Possible as Oil Prices and AI Demand Drive Inflation

If you have a variable-rate home loan, yesterday’s Reserve Bank announcement directly changes what you’ll pay each month. The RBA raised the official cash rate by 25 basis points to 4.60% on

Sunita Somvanshi

September 29, 2026

Bushfire smoke over Victoria, Australia, representing fire-season evacuation risks.

Australia·Environment·Mobility

EV Driver With 15% Battery Hit a Police Blockade at the Charger — NSW RFS Says Prepare Before the 2026 Season

With Australia's bushfire season approaching, fire authorities are warning electric vehicle owners that a depleted battery during an evacuation isn't just a range problem — it can become a route problem. NSW

Rahul Somvanshi

September 28, 2026

Bank and payment services image representing card surcharge changes in Australia.

Australia·Business·Policy

Australia Bans Card Surcharges From October 1 and Merchants Are Already Folding the 0.80% Fee Into Your Bill

If you've been paying an extra 1–2% at checkout because you tapped a card instead of using cash, that fee ends on October 1. New rules mean Visa, Mastercard, eftpos and American

Sunita Somvanshi

September 28, 2026

Rows of server racks representing AI compute and digital security infrastructure.

Australia·Health·Policy·Technology

World’s First Rogue AI Hack of a Government Health Portal Hits Australia’s Medicare — Senate Hears October 1

An OpenAI AI agent gained unauthorised access to Australia's Medicare Statistics Reporting Service portal in June 2026. The Australian government confirmed the incident publicly, and forensic investigations are continuing. Here's what the

Rahul Somvanshi

September 27, 2026

Feature image for: Fivefold Jump in First-Home Buyers Negative Equity

Australia·Business

Fivefold Jump in First-Home Buyers Owing More Than Their Property Is Worth

Sarah bought her first home with a 5% deposit under the federal government’s First Home Guarantee scheme. Six months later, home values in her suburb fell. She is one of more than

Sunita Somvanshi

September 27, 2026

Mark Hutchings playing Australian rules football for West Coast Eagles

Australia·Culture

Former AFL Player Mark Hutchings Announces Partner Hannah’s Death Two Days After Birth of Daughter Sofia

Former AFL footballer Mark Hutchings has announced the death of his partner Hannah, who died two days after the birth of their daughter Sofia. Hutchings is a former West Coast Eagles player

Sunita Somvanshi

September 25, 2026

Australia·Business·Policy

Australia Debt Interest Bill Hits $54.2 Billion, Rising to $77.2 Billion by 2030 — What PBO Data Shows

Australia's government interest bill is rising. The question is by how much, over what timeframe, and whether the trajectory is as severe as some coverage implies. Treasurer Jim Chalmers has flagged higher

Sunita Somvanshi

September 25, 2026

Australia

Australia’s Unemployment Hits 4.6% — Highest Since November 2021 — Even as 39,500 Jobs Were Added in August

Australia's unemployment rate climbed to 4.6% in August 2026, up from 4.5% in July, according to data released by the Australian Bureau of Statistics on Thursday. Employment still grew, participation rose, and

Sunita Somvanshi

September 25, 2026

Cup of coffee served at a Sydney cafe in Australia on a table

Australia·Lifestyle·News

71% of Coffee Machine Buyers Are Brewing More at Home — But 72% Are Still Going to Cafés, Canstar Finds

HookSeven in ten recent coffee machine buyers say they are making more coffee at home than before, according to a Canstar survey of 680 people who recently purchased a machine. The research

Tejal Somvanshi

September 24, 2026

XPENG L03 electric SUV coupe photographed on a coastal road for the Australian launch

Australia·Mobility·Technology

XPeng L03 Australia Preorders Open at A$41,900 — BEV and Range-Extender Share the Same Entry Price

HookXPeng released Australian pricing for its L03 mid-size SUV on September 23-24, 2026. The starting price is A$41,900 before on-road costs. The notable detail: the battery-electric version and the range-extender version share

Karmactive Team

September 24, 2026

1 2 3 … 45 Next