The Reserve Bank will delay its next interest rate cut until 2026, economists say, after figures released today showed inflation jumped to 3% and the highest in a year.<\/p>\n
The federal court has fined Optus $100m over \u2018predatory\u2019 sales practices in 26 stores, including two in Darwin, that signed up vulnerable customers including First Nations and customers living with a disability to plans they could not afford. Dr Kerry Schott has been appointed by the Optus board to conduct an independent review into last week\u2019s triple zero outage<\/a>.<\/p>\n The ABC has been ordered by the federal court to pay Antoinette Lattouf a total of $150,000 in pecuniary penalties for breaching the Fair Work Act and the ABC\u2019s enterprise agreement when it unlawfully terminated the casual presenter for holding a political opinion opposing the Israeli military campaign in Gaza.<\/p>\n And a panel of experts has told the inquiry into SA\u2019s harmful algal bloom that while Karenia mikimotoi <\/a>was the species initially identified as the cause of the bloom, there are other species that may never have been studied before.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n Updated at\u00a004.28 EDT<\/p>\n Anthony Albanese posts grinning selfie with Donald Trump<\/p>\n The prime minister has posted a beaming selfie with president Donald Trump to Instagram ahead of their planned meeting this month.<\/p>\n Allow Instagram content?<\/p>\n This article includes content provided by Instagram. We ask for your permission before anything is loaded, as they may be using cookies and other technologies. To view this content, click ‘Allow and continue’.<\/p>\n Anthony Albanese, who is looking in the image like the cat who got the cream after securing his first face-to-face meeting with Trump in October<\/a>, wrote in the caption:<\/p>\n Good to chat with President Donald Trump at US welcome reception for world leaders attending United Nations General Assembly.<\/p>\n We do not have confirmation as to who suggested the selfie, or whether it was taken with the front facing or back facing camera.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n Updated at\u00a004.28 EDT<\/p>\n Man drowns on NSW Central Coast<\/p>\n A man in his 50s has died after being pulled unconscious from the water at a beach on the Central Coast of New South Wales this afternoon.<\/p>\n NSW police said about 3pm, emergency services were called to Soldiers beach at Norah Head following reports a swimmer was in trouble.<\/p>\n The man, believed to be aged in his 50s, was pulled from the water unresponsive and treated by NSW Ambulance paramedics, however he died at the scene.<\/p>\n He is yet to be formally identified, police say, and inquiries into the incident are ongoing. A report will be prepared for the coroner.<\/p>\n A report released last month by Royal Life Saving Australia and Surf Life Saving Australia found 357 people drowned<\/a> in the past financial year \u2013 the highest drowning death toll since records began in 1996.<\/p>\n The annual drowning report found there had been 34 more deaths than the previous year\u2019s total of 323, and a 27% increase on the 10-year average.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n Updated at\u00a003.14 EDT<\/p>\n Australian shares suffer worst day in three weeks<\/p>\n The local share market has suffered its worst drop in three weeks after a domestic inflation readout and cautious commentary from the US Federal Reserve reduced expectations for interest rate cuts at home and abroad.<\/p>\n The benchmark S&P\/ASX200 index on Wednesday fell 81.4 points, or 0.92%, to 8,764.5, while the broader All Ordinaries dropped 80.2 points, or 0.88%, to 9,057.6.<\/p>\n The Australian dollar spiked to a five-day high after the inflation readout, buying 66.23 US cents, from 65.93 US cents at 5pm on Tuesday.<\/p>\n -Australian Associated Press.<\/p>\n Share<\/a>Kim Beazley wary over Anthony Albanese\u2019s meeting with Trump<\/p>\n The former Australian ambassador to the US and Labor opposition leader, Kim Beazley, says it would be a \u201cgood idea\u201d for the prime minister to avoid meeting Donald Trump until the future of Aukus<\/a> was decided.<\/p>\n Appearing on ABC\u2019s Afternoon Briefing, to discuss next month\u2019s meeting in Washington, Beazley said:<\/p>\n I would rather think it\u2019d be good idea for the prime minister not to be meeting Donald Trump until what we\u2019re doing with Aukus is sorted.<\/p>\n Beazley said it would be a \u201chard meeting\u201d because of the live review of Aukus<\/a>, and \u201ctendency on the part of the American president to try and finish negotiations\u201d.<\/p>\n He said those negotiating the program\u2019s future were doing \u201cvery well\u201d and American counterparts were \u201cresponding very well\u201d, however he doubted the issue would be resolved in the coming weeks.<\/p>\n It will still be pending when the prime minister goes and sees the president and hopefully it stays like that and the prime minister is able to talk to the president about one thing that we really have to offer, which is our critical minerals.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n Updated at\u00a003.08 EDT<\/p>\n Trade minister to push US administration to return Australian tariffs to zero<\/p>\n Farrell said he would meet with his US counterpart, Jamieson Greer, to discuss the Trump administration\u2019s tariff policy with Australia in the coming days.<\/p>\n Asked whether the hardline stance the US had taken was pushing south-east Asian nations to deal more closely with China, he said we \u201chave to accept the world as it is\u201d.<\/p>\n America has changed its policies in recent times. I will be meeting with my counterpart over the next couple of day, and I\u2019ll be talking to him about trying to reverse some of the policies that the United States have adopted in respect to their trading arrangements \u2026<\/p>\n I think we should continue to execute the arguments with the Americans that we have a free trade agreement with America that was freely entered into 20 years ago and that agreement provides that trade between Australia and the United States should be tariff free.<\/p>\n All we\u2019re asking Americans to do is to honour the terms of our trade agreement. The Americans may have issues with the way in which that agreement operates but the message I will be giving to Mr Greer is look \u2026 we believe it should return to where it ought to be based on our free trade agreement and that is zero tariff on all products going from Australia into the United States.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n Updated at\u00a002.34 EDT<\/p>\n Australia \u2018could do more\u2019 with trade relationship with China, Don Farrell says<\/p>\n The minister for trade and tourism, Don Farrell is appearing on the ABC\u2019s Afternoon Briefing today to discuss his trip to Kuala Lumpur in Malaysia for the Association of Southeast Asian Nations<\/a> (Asean) meetings with economic ministers.<\/p>\n Asked what outcomes were expected, Farrell said Australia could do more in the region, particularly in regards to selling food and wine, the digital space and with critical minerals.<\/p>\n Too often in the past, Australia has flown over South-east Asia \u2026 This will be an opportunity to meet with my counterparts and discuss ways in which we can build free and fair trade in a world that is increasingly difficult in the trading space.<\/p>\n Pointing to American tariffs and economic unpredictability and whether China was becoming a \u201cmore stable\u201d trading partner, Farrell said Australia had a \u201cvery good trading partnership\u201d with the Asian nation but we \u201ccould do more\u201d.<\/p>\n China is now our largest trading partner. Over the last three and a half years we have managed to stabilise our relationship \u2026 The policy of this government is to try and diversify our trading relationships so we now have a new free trade agreement with the United Kingdom \u2026 with India \u2026 and on the 1 October, a new free trade agreement with the United Arab Emirates comes into force.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n Updated at\u00a002.20 EDT<\/p>\n Inflation jump wipes out rate cuts until 2026, economists say The Reserve Bank will delay its next interest rate cut until 2026, economists say, after figures released today showed inflation jumped to 3% and the highest in a year.<\/p>\n Sally Auld, NAB\u2019s chief economist, had expected rate cuts in November and February, but now predicts the next move won\u2019t come until May.<\/p>\n We think the signal in today\u2019s data is too strong to ignore.<\/p>\n The RBA as recently as this week warned against reading too much into the monthly figures, saying they offered only a partial read on inflation.<\/p>\n And the consumer price report also showed the headline figure was pushed higher by a 25% jump in electricity prices over the year as power bill subsidies rolled off – something the central bank has been predicting.<\/p>\n But Auld said the price of various services were rising too quickly, and this would be reflected in the RBA\u2019s preferred quarterly measure of underlying inflation.<\/p>\n Deutsche Bank\u2019s chief economist, Phil O\u2019Donaghoe, told clients inflation was proving \u201cstickier\u201d than expected, and that a forecast rate cut in November would now be delayed to February.<\/p>\n Other economists were more sanguine, although they cautioned that there was now a higher chance that inflation would come in hotter in the September quarterly consumer price report.<\/p>\n CBA\u2019s Harry Ottley said his team was sticking with another \u2013 and final \u2013 rate cut in November. He said:<\/p>\n Today\u2019s data, however, suggests this is not a done deal and tension is building in the economic data.<\/p>\n The RBA meets on Monday, and the very slim chance of a rate cut after that meeting has disappeared.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n Updated at\u00a002.13 EDT<\/p>\n Victoria\u2019s premier says the BCA is \u2018run by Liberals\u2019 after they reject working from home<\/p>\n The premier, Jacinta Allan, was asked about the Business<\/a> Council Australia submission at her press conference this morning. She rejected the \u201cfalse claims\u201d that companies would move interstate and said Black was a Liberal. (Black has worked as a staffer for several NSW Liberal leaders including as chief-of-staff to former premier Dominic Perrottet). She went on:<\/p>\n Well, it\u2019s no surprise that an organisation run by Liberals is opposing working from home. Working from home is good for families. It\u2019s good for the economy.<\/p>\n Indeed, many of Victoria and Australia\u2019s major companies are proud of the fact that they have flexible working arrangements. That includes working from home. They advertise it when they look to attract the best and brightest to come and work for them. We need to protect working from home, because we know many Liberals oppose working from home.<\/p>\n We\u2019ve seen, as I\u2019ve just mentioned, an organisation that\u2019s headed by a Liberal is opposing working from home. We\u2019ve seen other Liberals as well, Tim Wilson, James Newbury, just to name a couple who\u2019ve also come out and said they don\u2019t support working from home. And the real question here for [opposition leader] Brad Battin is, will he pull those, pull those Liberals into line and back work from home, or will he back his Liberal colleagues?<\/p>\n The Victorian premier, Jacinta Allan. Photograph: James Ross\/AAPShare<\/a><\/p>\n Updated at\u00a001.54 EDT<\/p>\n Business Council of Australia opposes right to work from home<\/p>\n Earlier today, the Business Council of Australia released its submission to the Victorian government\u2019s consultation on a proposed right to work from home<\/a> at least two days a week and \u2013 unsurprisingly \u2013 they aren\u2019t supportive.<\/p>\n At a press conference in Melbourne, the lobby group\u2019s chief executive Bran Black said working from home arrangements should be \u201cagreed between employers and employees at a workplace level\u201d. He told reporters:<\/p>\n We\u2019ve opposed the Victorian government\u2019s proposal to legislate, [to] mandate working from home arrangements, and I want to be crystal clear in this regard, we don\u2019t oppose working from home \u2026 Hundreds of thousands of Australians already have flexible working arrangements in place. They embrace working from home opportunities \u2026 when you mandate a single one size fits all, heavy handed, top down \u2018government knows best\u2019 approach \u2013 that doesn\u2019t do it.<\/p>\n Black also noted that it would lead to \u201cmultiple compliance processes\u201d for employees who operate across multiple states, creating a \u201cheadache\u201d that could lead them to shift jobs and investment interstate.<\/p>\n I hear frequently [from businesses that] they don\u2019t regard Victoria as a good place to invest. I\u2019ve heard the word un-investable. Let\u2019s turn that around. Let\u2019s not look at policies that deliver short term sugar hits like a work from home legislative arrangements. Let\u2019s look at policies that genuinely seek to drive economic growth.<\/p>\n Business Council of Australia chief executive Bran Black. Photograph: Dominic Giannini\/AAPShare<\/a><\/p>\n Updated at\u00a001.38 EDT<\/p>\n ABC managing director says Lattouf saga has been \u2018deeply felt\u2019 at the broadcaster<\/p>\n ABC managing director Hugh Marks put out a statement earlier after a court ordered the broadcaster to pay Antoinette Lattouf $150,000 in pecuniary penalties for terminating her employment.<\/p>\n Marks said the ABC acknowledged the decision and would \u201ccontinue to reflect on the court\u2019s findings\u201d, adding:<\/p>\n This matter has been deeply felt at the ABC. As I\u2019ve said previously, it was not handled in line with our values and expectations and Ms Lattouf, our staff and the public were let down. We take the matter seriously and have reflected on the lessons learned and their implications. We must be better.<\/p>\n I would like to reiterate the ABC\u2019s sincere apology to Ms Lattouf and wish her all the best in the future.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n Updated at\u00a001.22 EDT<\/p>\n Algal bloom inquiry turns to \u2018who knew what, and when\u2019<\/p>\n This morning\u2019s algal bloom inquiry in Canberra was very focused on the science \u2013 what we do know, and the many (many) things we don\u2019t know about the South Australian disaster<\/a>.<\/p>\n This afternoon the focus has moved to the more political: who knew what, and when?<\/p>\n There\u2019s a sprawling ecosystem of department and agency chiefs being grilled about if and when things were \u201cfed up the chain\u201d, as Greens senator Sarah Hanson-Young put it.<\/p>\n Surfers first raised the alarm that something was in the water in March, and the state government got involved later that month.<\/p>\n The environment minister, Murray Watt. Photograph: Matt Turner\/EPA<\/p>\n But it\u2019s fair to say that it wasn\u2019t until the deadly bloom hit Adelaide\u2019s metropolitan beaches that it got a wider audience. Things then snowballed, money and support packages started flowing. The fish kept dying.<\/p>\n Federal environment minister Murray Watt faced outrage<\/a> for not acting faster both on the bloom and on the marine heatwave that preceded it.<\/p>\n In today\u2019s Senate inquiry into the bloom, various people have said they first became aware of the bloom in March (which was then corrected to May), or April, or July, and that Watt was formally briefed in July.<\/p>\n \u201cWhy wasn\u2019t this information flowing faster?\u201d Hanson-Young asked.<\/p>\n Federal agencies were aware but nobody told the federal government.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n Updated at\u00a001.10 EDT<\/p>\n That\u2019s all from me! Caitlin Cassidy will be your blog captain for the rest of today\u2019s news.<\/p>\n Share<\/a>Optus to pay $100m fine for \u2018predatory\u2019 sales practices targeting vulnerable Australians The federal court has fined Optus $100m over \u2018predatory\u2019 sales practices in 26 stores, including two in Darwin, that signed up vulnerable customers including First Nations and customers living with a disability to plans they could not afford.<\/p>\n The Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC) brought the action against Optus last year<\/a>, and in a judgment on Wednesday, Justice John O\u2019Sullivan, said Optus had engaged in \u201cunconscionable conduct\u201d in the practices affecting over 400 customers, and Optus senior management knew, or ought to have known about the systemic failures that allowed the conduct to occur.<\/p>\n He said Optus failed to act with any sense of urgency and abrogated any semblance of responsible corporate behaviour.<\/p>\n He said:<\/p>\n Of particular concern is the fact that Optus conduct predominantly affected vulnerable consumers, including people with mental disabilities, people suffering from financial hardship, those with low financial literacy and people with limited English proficiency and or learning difficulties. Again, many of the vulnerable consumers were also First Nations Australians from regional, remote and very remote communities.<\/p>\n An Optus store. Photograph: Lisa Maree Williams\/Getty Images<\/p>\n In one example reported by Guardian Australia<\/a>, a woman with an intellectual disability was signed up to 24 plans she could not afford.<\/p>\n He said the $100m penalty would have a deterrence factor for Optus and others who may think contravention would pay.<\/p>\n The court agreed to the orders proposed by Australian Competition and Consumer Commission and Optus of the fines and remedies suggested.<\/p>\n Optus chief executive, Stephen Rue, said earlier today Optus would issue a statement following the judgment.<\/p>\n Rue has previously apologised for the conduct \u2013 which occurred before he became chief executive \u2013 and has made changes, including taking over franchises involved in the conduct.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n Updated at\u00a000.58 EDT<\/p>\n Laneway festival sells out Sydney and Melbourne dates<\/p>\n Chappell Roan is turning out to be a major drawcard for next year\u2019s Laneway festival.<\/p>\n The event, featuring Alex G, Lucy Dacus, Wet Leg and Role Model, has completely sold out in Sydney and Melbourne. The festival wrote on Instagram:<\/p>\n It\u2019s been a record couple of days, and we can\u2019t thank you enough for the enthusiasm for the festival \u2013 we feel so honoured.<\/p>\n Tickets are still available for the Gold Coast, Auckland, Perth and Adelaide.<\/p>\n Allow Instagram content?<\/p>\n This article includes content provided by Instagram. We ask for your permission before anything is loaded, as they may be using cookies and other technologies. To view this content, click ‘Allow and continue’.<\/p>\n![\"Patrick](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/nz\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/1758713708_237_Patrick_Commins.png\")
Patrick Commins<\/p>\n![\"Benita](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/nz\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/1758713708_217_Benita_Kolovos.png\")
Benita Kolovos<\/p>\nBenita Kolovos<\/p>\n![\"Tory](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/nz\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/1758713709_660_Tory_Shepherd.png\")
Tory Shepherd<\/p>\n![\"Nick](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/nz\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/1758713709_169_Nick_Visser.png\")
Nick Visser<\/p>\n![\"Josh](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/nz\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/1758713709_189_Josh_Taylor.png\")
Josh Taylor<\/p>\n