Tag: australia

Australia politics live: Labor defends Catherine King’s top-tier Qantas membership gift; defenc…

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Australia politics live: Labor defends Catherine King’s top-tier Qantas membership gift; defence recruitment reaches 16-year high

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One Nation has come under fire for quietly shelving support for a new domestic gas reservation policy in preference for a policy that favours the partyâs billionaire patron, Gina Rinehart.

The Albanese government has announced it will establish a new reservation policy for Australiaâs east coast, requiring gas exporters to supply a portion of the gas they produce to the domestic market. The policy is aimed at âmodestlyâ supplying the domestic market to put downward pressure on prices for consumers.

Pauline Hanson moved a Senate motion as recently as March in support of a domestic gas reserve, saying it would âincrease the supply of gas and lower the price of electricity directlyâ.

Transport minister given free Qantas platinum status for life

Catherine King accepted the airline’s top-tier membership, which gives the cabinet minister privileges and freebies until the day she dies.

The federal Labor government has spent two terms facing full-frontal scrutiny that asks if its most senior members are too close to Qantas. Federal transport minister Catherine King dropped a stink bomb in her register of interests on Monday afternoon.

King had been given lifetime platinum status from Qantas … as a “gift”!

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Transport minister accepts lifetime membership to Qantas platinum

Transport Minister Catherine King has accepted a lifetime membership to Qantas’ platinum frequent flyer rewards tier less than two years after MPs ceremonially handed over their membership to the airline’s VIP lounge following public backlash.

The minister, whose responsibilities include aviation and the courting of airlines to make use of the new Western Sydney International Airport, quietly updated her register of interests on Monday to reflect the gift she received from the airline.

The airline’s second-highest tier, behind platinum one, offers free access to first and business class lounges across the globe, additional baggage allowance, priority check-in, boarding and baggage access. It also offers priority upgrades and seat selection.

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September 14, 2026
Australia’s migration is more complicated than the one number politicians fixate on | Immigration…

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Australia's migration is more complicated than the one number politicians fixate on

As debate about how to reduce Australia's migration intake rages, much of the conversation has focused on a single figure.

It's known as "net overseas migration", or the NOM for short.

What's the perfect number? Is it 225,000, or 130,000, or something else entirely?

Both Labor and the Coalition have indicated the NOM is higher than they want right now and are developing policies to take greater control of the migration program.

David Speers puts the big questions on migration, multiculturalism and national identity to the people shaping the debate on Monday at 8:30pm AEST on ABC TV and ABC iview.

Pauline Hanson's One Nation has gone a step further, calling for net migration to be negative (with more people leaving the country than entering) in the next few years, before the NOM settles at about 130,000 a year, although it's not always clear if the party is using the same definition for the NOM as everyone else.

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Slash the intake: Majority of Australians demand deeper migration cuts

Two-thirds of Australians want Australia’s refugee intake slashed, more money and resources spent on deportations and a ban on immigrants coming from countries where extremism is a danger.

As negotiations stall between the federal government and opposition over a crackdown on immigration, 40 per cent of voters said Labor’s current net overseas migration target of 225,000, down from about 300,000 last year, was still too high, while 32 per cent said it was about right and 11 per cent said it was too low.

A senior government source, who asked not to be named so they could speak freely about negotiations, said it was unlikely that a deal would be struck with the opposition, at least this week, and that the government would have to wind back migration using regulations, rather than by passing new laws.

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September 14, 2026
Australia is being urged to join a $41 trillion fight playing out in its backyard | Fault lines b…

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Australia is being urged to join a $41 trillion fight playing out in its backyard

SBS acknowledges the Traditional Custodians of Country and their connections and continuous care for the skies, lands and waterways throughout Australia.

Sitting at the bottom of the Pacific Ocean are vast deposits of the critical minerals that could drive a potential green transition.

The race to start mining these deposits has begun, and experts say what happens next could impact Australia's relationship with once-reliable Pacific allies.

Commercial deep-sea mining in the Pacific has been on the cards for many years, but the not-yet-existent industry had been on pause while a United Nations agency responsible for the ocean floor develops guidelines for extraction.

Fault lines beneath the Blue Pacific: Deep-sea mining and the future of Pacific unity

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The Lowy Institute is an independent Australian think tank producing authoritative research, innovative data tools, and expert commentary on international affairs. We acknowledge the Gadigal people of the Eora nation, the traditional custodians of the land on which the Institute stands, and pays respects to their Elders, past and present.

The Lowy Institute is an independent Australian think tank producing authoritative research, innovative data tools, and expert commentary on international affairs. We acknowledge the Gadigal people of the Eora nation, the traditional custodians of the land on which the Institute stands, and pays respects to their Elders, past and present.

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August 27, 2026
Hahn Australia Cup 2026 QF MD4 Preview: Massive Victorian derby concludes quarter-final stage | P…

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Hahn Australia Cup 2026 QF MD4 Preview: Massive Victorian derby concludes quarter-final stage

Preston Lions have been in red-hot form in the NPL Victoria, but Australian Championship winners South Melbourne know just how to turn up on the big stage.

Nights at Genis Steel Stadium don’t get much bigger as Preston Lions hope to overcome their biggest rivals to reach the semi-finals in their first ever appearance on the national stage.

Preston caused a ‘Cupset’ in the Round of 32 with a 3-2 victory over Newcastle before easing past fellow Victorian side Moreland Zebras 4-1 in the Round of 16.

The Lions are currently undefeated in fourteen matches across the league in the Cup and are set to compete in the NPL Victoria semi-finals this season. They possess quality in all areas of the pitch, from the experienced Ryan Scott in goal to the creative Luca Tevere up top, and will hope to keep a remarkable debut in the competition rolling for at least one more round.

How to watch Australia Cup quarter-finals: Everything you need to know as two fierce foes renew rivalry this week

Who will join A-League giants Melbourne Victory and Sydney FC in the 2026 Australia Cup semi-finals? That is what will be decided this week.

Victory and Sydney FC will go head-to-head in the semi-finals, having progressed from the quarter-finals but there are still two spots up for grabs among four NPL clubs.

On Tuesday night, NPL QLD premiers Lions FC will host Victorian second-tier outfit North Sunshine Eagles in Queensland.

Then on Wednesday night, NPL VIC heavyweights Preston Lions and South Melbourne will renew their rivalry in a blockbuster showdown.

The two winners will meet for a spot in this season’s final, where either Victory of Sydney will await.

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August 26, 2026
Australia set to be drenched by storms stretching across the country’s south | Severe weather u…

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Australia set to be drenched by storms stretching across the country’s south

Huge parts of southern Australia are set to be drenched this week, including already sodden areas that are at risk of flooding.

Weatherzone warned on Sunday “there’s a storm coming … and we all best be ready when she does”, saying the week of wet was a timely reminder of the storm season “right around the corner”.

Huge parts of southern Australia are set to be drenched. Weatherzone

“On Monday the low really kicks off with rain and storms across much of South Australia, parts of the Eyre and Yorke peninsulas and the Adelaide Hills could see locally heavy rain of 30 to 50 millimetres,” Bureau of Meteorology meteorologist David Crock said.

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August 24, 2026
Australia’s big banks hike fees, slash rewards as card surcharge ban looms | Credit Card Update…

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Australia’s big banks hike fees, slash rewards as card surcharge ban looms

Australia’s biggest banks are rolling out fee hikes and slashing points programs to limit the sting from the Reserve Bank’s impending card surcharge ban.

Surcharges on debit and credit payments will be scrapped on October 1 following a decision by the Reserve Bank of Australia (RBA), billed as a way to save Australians money on every transaction.

Surcharges on debit and credit payments will be scrapped on October 1. iStock

The impending ban is expected to cost banks about $600 million per year.

This will include a reduction in interchange fees, which are paid by businesses to banks.

But financial institutions are finding ways to claw the money back through increasing card fees, raising interest rates and slashing customer loyalty programs.

Credit Card Updates

We’re closing the CommBank Awards program and introducing CommBank Yello points as the new way to earn points in the CommBank Yello Program, if you meet CommBank Yello eligibility criteria. We’re also making some changes to pricing and features on your card.

To support these changes, we’re updating the Awards Program terms and conditions on 28 September 2026. We’re also updating the CommBank Credit Card Conditions of Use, Schedule of Credit Card Particulars and related insurance, with changes taking effect on 29 September 2026. View your important notices here.

Continue earning and redeeming your Awards points until the CommBank Awards program closes on 29 September 2026. After this:

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CBA throws down the gauntlet in challenge for loyalty dominance

A simple question during a parliamentary hearing two years ago has triggered the biggest overhaul of a bank rewards scheme, and there’s a lot at stake.

Commonwealth Bank has chosen Virgin’s Velocity over Qantas’ Frequent Flyer loyalty program as the main partner for its own scheme. Bethany Rae

When Labor MP Jerome Laxale asked bank executives appearing before a parliamentary inquiry two years ago why his $5 cup of coffee cost $5.08 if he paid with a card, he could hardly have envisaged the monumental shake-up of the loyalty points market that was to come.

This week, Commonwealth Bank overhauled its loyalty scheme, signalling it would compete more aggressively with its Yello program against Qantas Frequent Flyer in an about-face that showed the reward-points market is shifting, and quickly. Arguably, it is possible to draw a line between that moment and the seemingly innocuous question two years earlier.

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August 23, 2026
Australia vs Turkey Football Match Commentary Group Stage, 2026 | Nestory Irankunda makes bow for…

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Australia vs Turkey Football Match Commentary Group Stage, 2026

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Nestory Irankunda makes bow for Portuguese giants after $24.5million transfer and he nearly had an assist!

Sporting CP fans had their first glimpse of Nestory Irankunda after the Socceroos star made his debut in the Primeira Liga club’s 3-1 win over Alverca.

Irankunda came off the bench in the second half as Portuguese giants Sporting outclassed Alverca on home soil to remain unbeaten through three rounds on Sunday (AEST).

‘SPECIAL’: Lucas Herrington’s reaction to Premier League debut after 52-year first against Manchester United

The 20-year-old Australian sensation recently completed a $24.5million AUD transfer from EFL Championship outfit Watford to one of Portugal’s biggest teams in Sporting.

With Sporting leading 3-0 against Alverca thanks to Maximiliano Araujo and Luis Suarez either side of a Matheus Mendes own goal, Irankunda was introduced in the 69th minute and he was lively throughout his cameo at Estadio Jose Alvalade.

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August 23, 2026
Australia and China cooperate to bust illegal tobacco smuggling syndicate | $100m illegal tobacco…

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Australia and China cooperate to bust illegal tobacco smuggling syndicate

More than 60 people have been arrested in a joint Australian-Chinese operation to crack down on illegal tobacco smuggling into Australia. (Australian Border Force)

Australian and Chinese authorities have worked together to break a large-scale illegal tobacco smuggling syndicate, seizing products worth $92 million.

More than 100 containers were searched following intel from Beijing, with 60 people arrested in China.

The federal government has been pushing back on calls to slash the tobacco excise, to try to reduce the price of legal cigarettes and undermine the black market.

Australian and Chinese authorities have worked together to crack an international syndicate shipping illegal tobacco into Australia.

$100m illegal tobacco haul after tip-off from China

Australian and Chinese authorities have confiscated almost $100 million worth of illicit tobacco in what federal authorities are touting as a major boost for bilateral relations amid Beijing’s crackdown on the lucrative illegal cigarette market.

Australian Border Force officials, acting on intelligence from Chinese authorities, intercepted more than 100 shipping containers between January and May, 91 of which contained 60 million illegal cigarettes and 60 kilograms of loose-leaf tobacco. The haul has an estimated value of more than $92 million, the ABF said.

Officers from the Anti-Smuggling Bureau of General Administration of China Customs arrested 60 people suspected of being involved in an international criminal syndicate smuggling millions of South-East Asian-manufactured cigarettes into Australia after identifying the network’s smuggling routes.

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August 20, 2026
Australia and China cooperate to bust illegal tobacco smuggling syndicate | $100m illegal tobacco…

Explore the latest developments concerning Australia and China.

Australia and China cooperate to bust illegal tobacco smuggling syndicate

More than 60 people have been arrested in a joint Australian-Chinese operation to crack down on illegal tobacco smuggling into Australia. (Australian Border Force)

Australian and Chinese authorities have worked together to break a large-scale illegal tobacco smuggling syndicate, seizing products worth $92 million.

More than 100 containers were searched following intel from Beijing, with 60 people arrested in China.

The federal government has been pushing back on calls to slash the tobacco excise, to try to reduce the price of legal cigarettes and undermine the black market.

Australian and Chinese authorities have worked together to crack an international syndicate shipping illegal tobacco into Australia.

$100m illegal tobacco haul after tip-off from China

Australian and Chinese authorities have confiscated almost $100 million worth of illicit tobacco in what federal authorities are touting as a major boost for bilateral relations amid Beijing’s crackdown on the lucrative illegal cigarette market.

Australian Border Force officials, acting on intelligence from Chinese authorities, intercepted more than 100 shipping containers between January and May, 91 of which contained 60 million illegal cigarettes and 60 kilograms of loose-leaf tobacco. The haul has an estimated value of more than $92 million, the ABF said.

Officers from the Anti-Smuggling Bureau of General Administration of China Customs arrested 60 people suspected of being involved in an international criminal syndicate smuggling millions of South-East Asian-manufactured cigarettes into Australia after identifying the network’s smuggling routes.

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Canada cut the tobacco tax. To stamp out illegal trade, so should we

Quebec first changed the policy, then strengthened enforcement. Australia has chosen the reverse.

We are repeatedly told by the health minister, the illicit tobacco and e-cigarette commissioner and others that there is no evidence to support lowering tobacco excise.

It is true that few countries have reversed course on tobacco taxation but few have distorted their tobacco market as severely or as quickly as Australia.

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August 20, 2026
Australia’s top 11 most expensive transfers of all-time | Concern over Herrington decision as big…

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Concern over Herrington decision as big clubs watch ‘very closely’

Ex-Socceroos star Tommy Oar has issued a word of caution about Lucas Herrington’s dream Premier League move as the 18-year-old defender prepares for a possible Hull City debut against Manchester United on August 22 (AEST).

Herrington’s five-year deal with newly promoted Hull was confirmed on Thursday (AEST) as the Tigers agreed terms for an Australian football record $33 million transfer from the Colorado Rapids.

Oar, 34, has joined Stan Sport’s team of football experts after working on the 2026 FIFA World Cup for SBS.

“There are two ways of looking at this,” Oar said on Stan’s Premier League season preview show.

Australia’s brightest young talents are on the move and it bodes well for the Socceroos | Jack Snape

Headlined by Lucas Herringtonâs record move to Hull City, almost a third of the World Cup squad are changing clubs with Januaryâs Asian Cup looming

From Socceroos to soccer-moves, the World Cup has launched Australiaâs top footballers into the transfer vortex, highlighted by this weekâs signing of Lucas Herrington and expected signing of Nestory Irankunda at top-flight European clubs.

At just 18, Herrington has completed a blockbuster $33m move to Premier League returnees Hull City from Colorado Rapids in a deal that eclipsed the transfer record for an Australian, previously held by Harry Souttar who moved to Leicester City for $26.3m in 2023. âThe opportunity to play in the Premier League, one of the best leagues in the world, is a dream come true,â Herrington said.

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August 16, 2026