Dodgy online items in consumer watchdog’s crosshairs
Forcing giant online marketplaces like Temu and Shein to protect consumers from unsafe products is one of this year's key focuses for the consumer watchdog.
Economy, Business and Finance
Popular car brand earns $24m debt under pollution rules
Some of the most popular car companies in Australia and a selection of luxury brands have failed to meet emissions targets in their first year of operation.
Insurer’s ‘failing’ health system warning as costs soar
Health insurer Medibank Private has lifted its interim bottom-line net profit after the number of Australians taking out policies increased.
Supermarket giant ‘genuinely cares’ about customers
A grocery giant accused of false price discounts has told a court that it genuinely cares about customers while boosting its profits.
Cheese giant hails culture as Bega hits four-year high
Australian dairy giant Bega has posted a positive earnings result, buoyed by ongoing demand for its brands and operational transformation.
Kmart, Bunnings building as Officeworks stays deskbound
Kmart and Bunnings performed strongly in the first half of 2025/26, owner Wesfarmers says, but another of its well-known chains is lagging.
Rio Tinto misses profit view on iron ore challenges
Weaker iron ore prices have dug into mining giant Rio Tinto's underlying profit, although stronger copper prices cushioned the blow.
Insurer’s shares soar to four-month high on profit rise
QBE shares have rocketed after reporting a net profit increase of 21 per cent on higher premiums and fewer disaster payouts.
Up up prices gave shoppers bang for buck, court told
A supermarket giant is defending claims it misled customers with its "down down" campaign, saying it offered value for money.
Cochlear crashes in latest earnings season carnage
Hearing device manufacturer Cochlear has suffered a 19 per cent sell-off after posting weaker-than-expected half-year earnings and trimming its guidance.
‘Predatory’ children’s author used fame to groom kids
A bestselling children's author who preyed on girls as young as 11 after visiting their schools to talk about his books has been jailed.
Electric car sales may stall if tax policy changes gear
Australia's biggest electric vehicle incentive is under review and both traditional car makers and the EV industry warns change could lead to a crash.
Work never ends for used car giant after $120m sale
A used car startup has netted its founder a nine-figure payday after selling his business to Toyota but it won't put the handbrake on his drive.
Steelmaker pledges dividend bonanza, but shares drop
Weeks after rejecting a takeover bid, BlueScope Steel is promising to return more of its profit to shareholders after delivering a rise in first half earnings.
Artificial announcers to be outed in radio rule refresh
Radio stations must reveal if they are using AI voices to host radio shows under a revised code of practice although rules will not apply to all segments.
‘Didn’t have the skills’: biotech boss retires abruptly
A desire for new leadership has been cited as a reason for the sudden retirement of the head of an $89 billion biopharmaceutical company.
Pump it up: former PM calls for action on hydropower
Hydropower projects should receive more support and faster approvals if Australia is to meet its renewable energy targets, a group has warned.
‘Stonking result’: big bank basks in best day for years
Shares in Australia's biggest bank have soared to a three-month high after it beat earnings expectations with "a really clean set of numbers".
Literary journal Meanjin back from the dead
The axed literary journal Meanjin is back, to be run out of the city where it was originally founded 85 years ago.
Shares in wealth manager plunge in earnings bloodbath
AMP shares have plummeted amid questions from analysts about why shareholders should watch their money being "torched" to fund the company's new digital bank.
Aussies ditch copper for fibre to boost download speeds
More Australians are upgrading their broadband connections, choosing faster plans and setting download records, NBN Co has revealed.
Bank business clients proving resilient, despite rates
One of the bright spots in Commonwealth Bank's interim results this week was its interactions with businesses, particularly in regional Australia.
Not a real doctor: AI struggles to treat human patients
Tasked with identifying common medical conditions and recommending treatment, artificial intelligence can deliver deadly advice.
Sovereign citizens pose ‘radical’ security threat
Governments must work together to tackle the dangerous rise of sovereign citizens, with spontaneous acts of violence that kill cops on the rise, a report warns.
Signs of softening spending could stay RBA’s rates hand
A surprise slide in consumer spending has thrown more uncertainty around the Reserve Bank's next move on interest rates.
Debt group sees upside in higher credit card balances
Debt collection business Credit Corp, which also owns lender Wallet Wizard, expects its profit to grow by up to 17 per cent as cost-of-living pressures bite.
China to buy more US soybeans, Trump says after Xi call
Chinese President Xi Jinping has had a phone call with US President Donald Trump, officials from both countries say.
Greens hold door open to capital gains tax reforms
Support from the Greens could hold the key to opening the door to capital gains tax changes as the government ponders reforms the opposition says it won't back.
Security deal to strengthen ties on PM’s Indonesia trip
Australia and Indonesia's already positive relationship is set to be further boosted when a high-level security deal is formally signed.
Veterans call to hold fire on Defence property sell-off
The RSL is pushing back against the sale of almost 70 Defence properties, saying veterans have "deep connections" to many of the historic locations.
Domestic producer worried about gas reservation policy
Australian oil and gas exploration and production company Beach Energy is concerned about the impact of a looming east coast gas reservation policy.