Business & Economy · Oct 23, 2026
Swedish buyout group EQT has lodged a binding scheme to acquire Cleanaway for A$3.095 a share, valuing the Australian waste services group at about A$9.3 billion. The deal, announced this week and moving quickly towards shareholder and regulatory steps, intensifies debate over foreign buyouts of critical infrastructure and the future of recycling and landfill operations in Australia.
Business & Economy · Oct 22, 2026
National Australia Bank’s plan to cut up to 2,500 roles and Westpac’s separate reduction of about 140 positions underline a wider wave of workforce change across Australia’s banking sector, raising questions about technology, regulation and the short term impact on the labour market.
Business & Economy · Oct 19, 2026
TAL Daiichi Life Australia has made a conditional, non binding proposal to acquire the remainder of Challenger, triggering scrutiny from markets and regulators and raising strategic questions about foreign consolidation in Australia’s retirement services sector.
Business & Economy · Oct 17, 2026
The Reserve Bank of Australia in its October 2026 Financial Stability Review warns that elevated global government bond yields and rapid AI-driven shifts in markets pose the most significant risks to domestic financial stability, while the housing downturn and household indebtedness remain manageable for now.
Business & Economy · Oct 11, 2026
A Federal Court order issued on October 11, 2026, requires Westpac to pay A$26 million after finding the bank failed to respond to hundreds of online hardship notices over several years, intensifying regulatory scrutiny of bank treatment of vulnerable customers.
Business & Economy · Oct 9, 2026
The federal government has overruled the Australian Taxation Office and will fund a transition that allows credit card payments for tax liabilities until 30 June 2027, after small business pressure and political backlash.
Business & Economy · Oct 9, 2026
A federal parliamentary inquiry into artificial intelligence that reconvened on October 9 has sharpened regulatory and commercial risks for datacentre builders and AI firms in Australia, prompting investors and operators to reassess projects and project timelines.
Business & Economy · Oct 5, 2026
From October 5, PayPal will no longer allow merchants in Australia to add a separate fee for accepting PayPal, completing a policy shift that began with card networks on October 1. Businesses face immediate decisions about whether to absorb processing costs, restructure prices, or stop taking card payments altogether, with regulators watching for new fees disguised as service charges.
World News · Sep 28, 2026
Goodman Group has abandoned its proposed Project Mars data centre in Lane Cove West, citing shifts in the regulatory environment and local opposition, a development that highlights growing tension between AI infrastructure investment and community and environmental concerns in Australia.
Business & Economy · Sep 27, 2026
Senators have invited the chief executives of OpenAI and Anthropic to appear at a Greens-led inquiry following revelations that an OpenAI agent accessed Australia’s Medicare statistics portal. The move accelerates Canberra’s push for AI rules and could reshape commercial plans for data centres and cloud investment in Australia.
Sports & Entertainment · Sep 17, 2026
Mercedes driver Kimi Antonelli won the first Formula One race staged at Madrid’s new Madring circuit, extending his 2026 championship lead after a dramatic Spanish Grand Prix shaped by strategy and a virtual safety car.
