Each morning we post a selection of our favourite news stories from the day’s news. These posts also give you a chance to see how we can summarise news for you.
Ousted Greens MP’s grenade sparks leadership chaos
Original article by Jessica Wang
Herald Sun – Page: Online : 30-Sep-26
Australian Greens senators Sarah Hanson-Young and Mehreen Faruqi have confirmed that they will contest the party’s leadership. Faruqi will run on a joint ticket with Nick McKim, who will replace her as deputy leader if they win the upcoming ballot. Meanwhile, former Greens MP Max Chandler-Mather has called for all members of the Greens to vote on the new leader, rather than just the party-room; he contends that this would would boost the party’s membership. Prime Minister Anthony Albanese says he has wished outgoing Greens leader Larissa Waters "all the very best"; she will remain in parliament will dealing with health issues.
CORPORATES
AUSTRALIAN GREENS, AUSTRALIA. DEPT OF THE PRIME MINISTER AND CABINET
IBAC warns political leaders on improper election interference
Original article by Damon Johnston
The Australian – Page: 2 : 30-Sep-26
Victoria’s Independent Broad-based Anti-corruption Commission has warned that there may be attempts to interfere in the state election on 28 November. IBAC commissioner Victoria Elliott says political parties and candidates must be alert to the potential for individuals or organisations to "improperly influence" the outcome of the poll via "lobbying, pressures, favours, donations or gifts". Elliott adds that candidates should maintain detailed records of all meetings they hold and ensure that they fully comply with Victoria’s new laws on political donations.
CORPORATES
VICTORIA. INDEPENDENT BROAD-BASED ANTI-CORRUPTION COMMISSION
‘No choice’: Victorian doctors to stage historic walkout
Original article by Lily McCaffrey
The Australian – Page: 2 : 30-Sep-26
The Australian Medical Association’s Victoria president Simon Judkins says many doctors in the state’s public hospitals are working shift of more than 14 hours. Public hospital doctors are set to go on strike for four hours tomorrow afternoon, and Judkins says they have been left with no choice after 14 months of enterprise bargaining talks with the state government. Doctors want each shift to be limited to no more than 12.5 hours, at least three guaranteed days off every fortnight and a pay rise of 28 per cent over four years. Judkin says the state government needs to look after doctors if it wants to maintain a world-class hospital and healthcare system.
CORPORATES
AUSTRALIAN MEDICAL ASSOCIATION (VICTORIA) LIMITED
‘Fill the gap’: Australia’s plan to swoop on Trump’s trade war with Canada
Original article by Michael Koziol
The Age – Page: Online : 30-Sep-26
The federal government will seek to capitalise on the growing trade war between the US and Canada. Trade Minister Don Farrell will push for Australian wines and spirits to have increased access to the Canadian market when he attends the G20 Trade Ministerial Meeting in Milwaukee this week. Farrell says Australia can "fill the gap" left by the US ban on alcohol imports from Canada, which has been imposed in retaliation for a similar ban by Canada in 2025. Farrell will also urge the US to refrain from imposing new tariffs on Australian lamb imports; he will contend that such a move would be counter-productive, as it would result in higher costs for US consumers.
CORPORATES
AUSTRALIA. DEPT OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS AND TRADE, GROUP OF TWENTY (G-20)
In August 2026 risk of mortgage stress virtually unchanged at 32.3%, but up a large 8.4% points since January
Original article by Roy Morgan
Market Research Update – Page: Online : 30-Sep-26
New research from Roy Morgan shows that 32.3% of mortgage holders were ‘At Risk’ of ‘mortgage stress’ in the three months to August 2026. This is equivalent to 1,718,000 people (down 68,000 on a month earlier, but up 534,000 so far this year). The proportion of people at risk of mortgage stress is down 0.2% points from July, although it is up 8.4% points since January after three interest rate increases from the Reserve Bank early this year. Yesterday’s interest rate increase of 25 basis points to a 15-year high of 4.6% will impact future mortgage stress. Meanwhile, the number of Australians who are considered to be ‘Extremely At Risk’ of mortgage stress, is now numbered at 1,207,000 (22.7% of mortgage holders); this is significantly above the long-term average over the last two decades of 16.4%.
CORPORATES
ROY MORGAN LIMITED, RESERVE BANK OF AUSTRALIA
OpenAI apologises for hacking Medicare
Original article by Jared Lynch
The Australian – Page: 2 : 30-Sep-26
ChatGPT’s developer OpenAI has advised that chief strategy officer Jason Kwon will appear before the Senate’s inquiry into AI data centres. The company has also apologised for the hacking of the Medicare health statistics portal by one of its AI agents, which had been instructed to research government spending per person on medicines for skin conditions in Victoria; OpenAI said the AI agent had difficulty obtaining that information, and it took actions that it had not been authorised to make. Meanwhile, software company SAP has warned that 71 per cent of federal government entities are using legacy technology that is no longer supported and is therefore vulnerable to cyber attacks.
CORPORATES
OPENAI INCORPORATED
ANZ-Roy Morgan Consumer Confidence down 1.5pts to 70.5 as confidence about personal finances declines
Original article by Roy Morgan
Market Research Update – Page: Online : 30-Sep-26
ANZ-Roy Morgan Consumer Confidence fell 1.5pts to 70.5 in the week to 27 September, which is its lowest rating since late May. Consumer Confidence is now 15.8pts lower than a year ago (85.3), and 1.8pts below the 2026 weekly average of 72.3. Analysis by State shows that Consumer Confidence has decreased in New South Wales, Western Australia and South Australia, but there have been small increases in both Victoria and Queensland. Now 17% of Australians (down 2ppts) say their families are ‘better off’ financially than this time last year, while 50% (unchanged) say their families are ‘worse off’. Looking forward, 20% (down 4ppts) of respondents expect their family to be ‘better off’ financially this time next year, while 43% (up 2ppts) expect to be ‘worse off’. Only 6% (up 1ppt) of respondents expect ‘good times’ for the Australian economy over the next 12 months, while 44% (unchanged) expect ‘bad times’. Meanwhile, 16% (down 1ppt) of Australians say now is a ‘good time to buy’ major household items, while 44% (down 2ppts) say now is a ‘bad time to buy’.
CORPORATES
ROY MORGAN LIMITED, AUSTRALIA AND NEW ZEALAND BANKING GROUP LIMITED – ASX ANZ
ALP holds an election winning lead; One Nation strongest in Queensland, Labor strongest in New South Wales
Original article by Roy Morgan
Market Research Update – Page: Online : 29-Sep-26
Over the past fortnight the ALP has maintained an election-winning lead with 26% of the primary vote, ahead of One Nation on 25.5%. The L-NP Coalition’s primary vote is 22.5% (20% Liberal, 2.5% Nationals); Greens 14.5% and Independent/Others 11%. This result comes in a fortnight where both Labor and One Nation announced their immigration policies and Prime Minister Anthony Albanese spoke at the UN General Assembly in New York. Albanese also announced a taskforce to review an incident of AI hacking into the Medicare statistics portal. If a Federal Election were held now the ALP would win a majority against either One Nation or L-NP Coalition. Next week’s Roy Morgan poll will show the impact of the Reserve Bank’s interest rate decision yesterday. These results are according to the Roy Morgan Poll conducted from 14-27 September, with a representative Australia-wide cross-section of 2,569 electors.
CORPORATES
ROY MORGAN LIMITED, MORGAN POLL, AUSTRALIAN LABOR PARTY, ONE NATION PARTY, LIBERAL PARTY OF AUSTRALIA, NATIONAL PARTY OF AUSTRALIA, AUSTRALIAN GREENS, AUSTRALIA. DEPT OF THE PRIME MINISTER AND CABINET
Roy Morgan announces winners of the 2026 New Zealand Customer Satisfaction Awards
Original article by Roy Morgan
Market Research Update – Page: Online : 30-Sep-26
Roy Morgan’s annual New Zealand Customer Satisfaction Awards honour the businesses that are leading the way in Customer Satisfaction and providing outstanding personal service in the previous calendar year. Of the 25 companies winning an award in 2026, 10 are repeat winners from a year ago, while there are 12 winners who did not feature among the 2025 winners and three winners in new categories introduced this year. More than 150 companies competed across the 25 categories, plus the ultimate award, the ‘Best of the Best’, won this year by Car Manufacturer of the Year Hyundai, which emerged as the company with the highest Customer Satisfaction of any category winner at 92.5%. Filling out the top five positions were Mobile Handset Provider of the Year Apple iPhone with a Customer Satisfaction of 91.8%, International Airline of the Year Emirates on 91.4%, Quick Service Restaurant of the Year Hell Pizza on 87.4% and Hardware Store of the Year Mitre 10 on 86.8%. Watch the special Roy Morgan webinar of the 2026 New Zealand Customer Satisfaction Awards presented by Roy Morgan CEO Michele Levine.
CORPORATES
ROY MORGAN LIMITED, HYUNDAI MOTOR COMPANY LIMITED, APPLE INCORPORATED, EMIRATES AIRLINES, HELL PIZZA DELIVERIES, MITRE 10 (NEW ZEALAND) LIMITED
Bullock rebuffs Labor on rates
Original article by Michael Read
The Australian Financial Review – Page: 1 & 6 : 30-Sep-26
Reserve Bank of Australia governor Michele Bullock has reiterated that "domestic capacity pressures" have been the key driver of the inflation rate, rather than the Iran war. She notes that while the conflict in the Middle East has "made things much worse", there was already excess demand in the economy and the RBA had started increasing the cash rate before the war began. Treasurer Jim Chalmers has persistently claimed that the war has been the primary source of Australia’s inflation challenge, rather than government spending. Bullock has warned that the RBA may need to follow up yesterday’s increase in the cash rate with another one if it is to prevent high inflation from becoming embedded across the economy. Financial markets have fully priced in a rise in the cash rate by February 2027.
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RESERVE BANK OF AUSTRALIA, AUSTRALIA. DEPT OF THE TREASURY
