Australia

NSW Health Minister names illicit tobacco as state's biggest preventable health challenge

NSW Health Minister Ryan Park has declared illicit tobacco the single biggest preventable health challenge facing the state over the next decade, while acknowledging the government was caught off guard by the rise of vaping. Speaking at the NSW Great Health Debate on Thursday evening, Park said he is worried a generation of young people will become hooked on nicotine if stronger action is not taken.

2 Oct 2026· 3 sources

AFP bribery investigation into SMEC ends with $9 million settlement, no prosecution

The Australian Federal Police have accepted a $9 million settlement from engineering company SMEC, formerly the Snowy Mountains Engineering Corporation, to end a 13-year-long bribery investigation into the company's conduct in Sri Lanka and Vietnam. Police will not pursue a prosecution and SMEC made no admissions of wrongdoing.

2 Oct 2026· 2 sources

Three separate crashes across Australia leave four dead, multiple injured

A series of serious road crashes across Australia over the past week have resulted in four deaths and multiple injuries, including a late-night collision in northern Tasmania that killed a 15-year-old boy, a fatal crash in Melbourne's Cranbourne area, and a two-vehicle tragedy in Victoria's Grampians region involving a learner driver.

1 Oct 2026· 7 sources

Farrell offers super backed US lamb investment in bid to avoid tariffs

Trade Minister Don Farrell has proposed using Australian superannuation savings to invest in American meat processing facilities, pitching the idea to Trump administration officials as a way to head off a looming US trade investigation into lamb imports that could impose additional tariffs on Australian farmers.

Sidney Nolan's Ned Kelly series reunited at Art Gallery of NSW for first time in decades

For the first time in nearly 30 years, all 27 paintings from Sidney Nolan's iconic Ned Kelly series will be displayed together, with the National Gallery of Australia lending its collection to the Art Gallery of NSW for a new exhibition examining the artist's formative years.

In praise of queuing: columnist argues standing in line is a form of mindfulness

John Bailey, writing for Brisbane Times and Sydney Morning Herald, argues that queuing in modern life offers an unexpected form of mindfulness and social democracy. Drawing on an accidental two-hour wait for a Mario Kart ride in Osaka, he contends that queues reward patience and foster solidarity among strangers.

Federal crackdown targets rogue migration lawyers

Lawyers who lodge visa applications they know have little chance of success will face tougher consequences under a federal crackdown on misconduct in Australia's migration system. Assistant Minister for Citizenship Julian Hill will use a speech today to outline the proposed changes, as separate developments unfold on card surcharges, the Bell Bay smelter bailout and the Middle East.

Howard-era minister De-Anne Kelly co-founded online casino after voting to ban them, leaked documents show

De-Anne Kelly, a minister under John Howard who voted to outlaw offshore casinos in Australia, has been revealed as a co-founder and former part-owner of LuckyBet, an online casino registered in the Caribbean. The revelations come from leaked internal documents from the Curaçao Gaming Authority released last week by a German activist.

Morry Schwartz reopens Collingwood pub as Bar Nero, listing it for sale

Publisher and property developer Morry Schwartz has reopened the British Crown Hotel in Collingwood as Bar Nero, a move he described as fun but ultimately aimed at selling the pub rather than running it long-term.

'Seriously bonkers': Knights-mania sweeps Newcastle ahead of NRL grand final

Newcastle is in the grip of Knights-mania ahead of Sunday's NRL grand final, with the Electric Pantera Tattoo Parlour among the busiest spots in town as fans rush to ink their allegiance before the big game.

Pressure point: Knights and Roosters face contrasting grand final expectations

The NRL grand final on Sunday pits the Newcastle Knights against the Sydney Roosters in a clash defined by contrasting pressure narratives. The Knights are playing their first grand final in a quarter of a century, while the Roosters return after a comparatively short seven-year absence. Roosters coach Trent Robinson's response to a question about the pressure after last Friday's preliminary final drew attention.

WACE overhaul: New Access pathway for students with disability, ATAR requirement for tertiary preparation courses

Western Australian Year 12 students will face significant changes to the WACE system over the next two years, including a new pathway for students with disability from 2028 and a requirement for tertiary preparation students to complete at least one ATAR course from 2027.

Labor targets 'rogue' migration lawyers with new code of conduct

The Albanese government will announce a crackdown on migration lawyers and agents who lodge visa applications they know have little chance of success, proposing changes to the industry's code of conduct that would ban assisting with applications lacking a reasonable factual or legal basis.

Waleed Aly argues Greens have lost anti-establishment identity as Labor faces electoral headwinds

In a column published Thursday, Waleed Aly argues that this week may prove to be an inflection point for the Albanese government, with the Greens appearing to have shed their anti-establishment credentials just as Labor faces a difficult electoral environment.

eSafety report finds 'significant gaps' in child safety on Steam, Roblox, Fortnite and Minecraft

Australia's eSafety Commissioner has found 'significant gaps' in how some of the world's most popular gaming platforms protect children, with a new report revealing that Steam, Roblox, Fortnite and Minecraft all fail to adequately prevent predators, sexual extortionists and violent extremists from contacting minors. The report, published on Friday, singles out Valve's Steam Chat for not using industry-standard tools to proactively detect harmful content, while noting that self-declaration of age remains common across platforms.

EU envoy warns Australia against losing free trade pact opportunity

The European Union's new ambassador has warned that Australia's economy could be $10 billion a year worse off if parliament fails to ratify the recently negotiated free trade agreement, urging against any attempt to renegotiate the deal. Ambassador Lawrence Meredith, who presented his credentials this week, described the pact as 'comprehensive, ambitious, and balanced' and said he hopes it could come into force early next year.

NRL Selection Reports Published Across Nine Network Sites

Articles titled "Robinson, Holbrook answer big selection questions" were published on 1 October 2026 across Sydney Morning Herald, Brisbane Times, and The Age, but the full content of the selection announcements was not available in the source material provided.

Anika Wells named in Time100 list for social media ban work

Federal communications minister Anika Wells has been named on Time magazine's Time100 list as one of the 'world's most influential rising stars', with the publication citing her efforts on Australia's under-16 social media ban and taking on big tech companies.

Anthropic pushes for opt-out copyright model in Australia as ABC and SBS warn of news ‘cannibalisation’

AI company Anthropic, maker of the Claude chatbot, has urged the Australian government to adopt an opt-out model that would grant conditional approval for AI training on copyrighted content, acknowledging it will not secure a blanket exemption. The proposal faces sharp criticism from public broadcasters ABC and SBS, who warn the technology risks undermining public interest journalism and call for strict media regulations and compensation.

Future Fund Rewards: 11 Public Servants Earned Over $1m, Topping PM's Salary

Eleven staff at Australia's Future Fund were paid over $1 million last year, including one executive who received a $1.5m package, more than double the Prime Minister's base salary. The remuneration, which includes bonuses and allowances, has drawn criticism as "insulting" during a cost-of-living crisis and while the public service faces job cuts.

Matt Kean slams approval of largest coal mine in NSW history, says climate cost ignored

Matt Kean, the chair of the Climate Change Authority and a former NSW treasurer and energy minister, has criticised the state’s Independent Planning Commission for approving the largest coalmining development in New South Wales’ history without accounting for the economic cost of climate change caused by burning the coal. The Hunter Valley Operations mine extension was given the green light to operate until 2045.

Government lifeline saves hundreds of smelter jobs

Reports from Sydney Morning Herald and Brisbane Times on October 1, 2026 indicate that a government lifeline has saved hundreds of smelter jobs, though the specific smelter, the government involved, and the nature of the support have not been detailed in the available source material.

40 Years Since Parramatta's Last Premiership Win

Australian news sites including the Sydney Morning Herald, Brisbane Times and The Age have published articles marking 40 years since the Parramatta Eels last won a rugby league premiership, though full details are limited in available excerpts.

Carlton overcomes torrential rain to down Hawthorn in AFLW round eight

Carlton have weathered torrential rain at Ikon Park to defeat Hawthorn 5.6 (36) to 3.6 (24) in AFLW round eight, moving into the competition's top four with a gritty 12-point victory.

Mike Flanagan's Carrie Miniseries Updates Classic with Cyberbullying and Modern Themes

Mike Flanagan's eight-episode miniseries adaptation of Stephen King's Carrie has landed, bringing the classic horror story into a modern setting with a focus on cyberbullying. Starring Summer H. Howell in the title role, the series has been awarded three stars by critics, who note it respects the original while setting up Flanagan's vision of a three-season arc.

Heeney wins third straight Bob Skilton Medal as suspended Swans dominate top 10

Suspended Sydney Swans star Isaac Heeney has won the Bob Skilton Medal for the third consecutive year, delivering a video message to the club's best and fairest ceremony on Thursday night. Heeney was one of five players absent from the event after being suspended for breaching behavioural standards in August, following an incident at the Pullman East Melbourne hotel after round 23. Club chairman Andrew Pridham defended the decision not to rule the suspended players ineligible for the award, calling it 'inappropriate and in excess of the sanction'.

1 Oct 2026· 8 sources

Zach Merrett wins seventh Essendon best and fairest as Hawks trade stand-off continues

Zach Merrett has claimed Essendon’s best-and-fairest award for the seventh time, equalling club legends Bill Hutchison and Dick Reynolds, as the Bombers remain locked in a trade stand-off with Hawthorn over his future.

HSC advice for 'the great middle': Don't do it for me, do it for yourself

With HSC exams beginning on October 13, one parent is calling on families to rethink the pressure they place on average students. In an opinion piece published in The Sydney Morning Herald and Brisbane Times, communications consultant Liz Nable argues that while a high ATAR matters for students aiming for medicine, law or astrophysics, the message for the 'great middle' of students should be different.

Column 8 readers explore AI, celebrity encounters and cryptic coincidences

This week's Column 8 brings together reader submissions covering the philosophical implications of AI, a recalled encounter with Marlon Brando at Los Angeles International Airport, and a series of curious wordplay coincidences spanning recent editions of the column.

Renshaw hit on forearm adds to Australian cricket injury worries

Australian cricket has fresh injury concerns after batsman Renshaw was struck on the forearm, according to a report carried by The Sydney Morning Herald, The Age and The Brisbane Times on September 30, though the versions available contained no further details of the incident.

Ten injured in Newcastle crash as Knights chase premiership on grand final day

Grand final day in the NRL arrives in the shadow of a Saturday crash that injured ten people in Newcastle, where a P-plater struck Knights fans. The Newcastle Knights, seeking their first premiership in 25 years, will field a record five Indigenous players against the Sydney Roosters at Stadium Australia tonight.

1 Oct 2026· 14 sources

South Africa omits Johannesburg from Australia Test tour in strategic venue choice, says Chappell

Cricket South Africa has selected Durban, Gqeberha (East London) and Cape Town for Australia's upcoming Test tour, notably excluding the Wanderers ground in Johannesburg – a move former Australian Test captain Greg Chappell argues is a deliberate strategic decision based on 25 years of results.

Tom Hiddleston joins Everest film Tenzing after director's letter promises real snow, real crevasses

Tom Hiddleston says he took just moments to agree to play Sir Edmund Hillary in Tenzing, an Australian-led film about the first ascent of Mount Everest, after receiving a letter from director Jennifer Peedom that included a promise the production would film on real mountains in Nepal. “We will be in real ice, real snow, real crevasses,” the letter said, a pledge that sealed the deal for the actor who called the project “one of the most extraordinary, unique opportunities of my life.”

Dueling airport rail promises expose Coalition coordination failure

Victoria's major parties have both promised a new train station at Keilor East as part of the airport rail link, but an apparent attempt by the Liberal Party to gazump Labor's announcement has backfired after the opposition's own public transport spokesman publicly condemned the station as unnecessary and politically motivated.

Preston Market redevelopment plans revealed: eight towers, 900 apartments, market footprint cut by 20 per cent

A master plan for the Preston Market redevelopment has been released, showing private owners want to reduce the market's footprint by nearly 20 per cent to build about 900 apartments across eight towers. The proposal, which requires approval from Planning Minister Sonya Kilkenny, would demolish the south block and an adjoining Aldi, while increasing total market floor space and protecting heritage elements.

NSW police seize drugs, guns and Queensland Police uniforms in cross-border raid

New South Wales police have arrested four people and seized a kilogram of cocaine, three kilograms of methylamphetamine, six guns and Queensland Police uniforms in a raid near the Queensland border, sparking concerns about potential impersonation of officers.

Extortion case collapses against Bandidos boss Joel Leavitt, exposing gaps in building industry laws

A high-profile extortion case against the Melbourne boss of the Bandidos outlaw bikie gang and former CFMEU Big Build official has collapsed, with Victoria's Office of Public Prosecutions withdrawing a blackmail charge this week. The development is a major setback for authorities seeking to clean up Victoria's building sector and is set to be referred to the royal commission into the industry.

Carlton man accused of being IS propagandist supplied by fugitive Queensland doctor, court told

A 65-year-old Carlton man charged as a key propagandist for Islamic State was supplied with extremist material by a radicalised Queensland doctor who fled to Syria in 2016, the Melbourne Magistrates’ Court heard on Thursday. Mohamed Musse Bakit is accused of sending thousands of violent propaganda files to other extremists, some in Queensland, during a five-year period.

Burns accuses new Greens leader Shoebridge of prejudice against Jewish Australians

Labor MP Josh Burns has accused newly elected Greens leader David Shoebridge of being prejudiced against Jewish Australians, saying the NSW senator divides Jews into 'good and bad' categories based on their position on Israel's war in Gaza.

Hanson-Young speaks out on Greens divisions after leadership ballot

Sarah Hanson-Young has broken her silence on internal divisions within the Greens party, describing politics as "brutal" after finishing third in the party's leadership ballot. Greens sources confirm the relationship between new leader David Shoebridge and runner-up Mehreen Faruqi is seriously strained.

Perth median dwelling price dips below $1 million, but rising rates blunt buyer relief

Perth’s median dwelling price has fallen below the million-dollar mark for the first time in months, slipping to $975,000, but property experts and new data indicate that the downturn is doing little to ease the burden on everyday buyers as interest rates climb to a 15-year high.

Hawthorn's opening offer for Zach Merrett rejected by Essendon

Hawthorn's initial bid to secure Essendon star Zach Merrett has been rejected, with the Bombers indicating the offer of draft picks 15 and 25 plus a future selection is insufficient, according to multiple industry sources.

Gold Coast man charged with displaying Nazi symbols online

A 49-year-old Gold Coast man has been charged with displaying Nazi symbols online, following an Australian Federal Police investigation that began in June. Police searched his home in Mudgeeraba on Wednesday, seizing a mobile phone, and the man is due to appear in the Southport Magistrates Court on November 16.

Greens leadership in flux after Larissa Waters resigns, party gathers for Sydney retreat

Larissa Waters has resigned as leader of the Australian Greens, triggering a leadership contest that has transformed a scheduled two-day strategy retreat in Sydney into a high-stakes internal election. The surprise resignation was announced on Monday, ahead of a closed-door meeting of federal MPs originally intended to focus on policy and strategy.

Roosters wait on concussion verdict for Connor Watson ahead of NRL grand final

Sydney Roosters utility Connor Watson will know by Friday whether an independent concussion consultant will allow him to play in Sunday's NRL grand final against Newcastle, after suffering a concussion just one minute into last Friday's preliminary final against the Dolphins.

'Devastating' root rot fungus detected in Australian crops for first time

An exotic soil-borne fungus capable of quickly devastating crops has been detected in Australia for the first time, in cucumber, honeydew and rock melon plants across two Northern Territory regions.

Funding cut to remote bus service could leave Aboriginal residents stranded in Alice Springs

Aboriginal people in remote Central Australian communities could be left stranded in Alice Springs and forced into overcrowded housing unless the Northern Territory Government reinstates funding for the Centre Bush Bus, local organisations have warned.

ATO to stop accepting credit card payments after November 30, warns of cash flow impact

The Australian Taxation Office will cease accepting credit card payments for tax debts from November 30, a move it acknowledges could make cash flow management more difficult for businesses.