Good afternoon. The data is in and rents across Australia have risen at the fastest rate in at least 15 years. That’s according to Corelogic’s Rental Value index. Annual rent increases topped 10% in late 2022 and early 2023 – the highest increase since 2007 during the global financial crisis.
However, renters are feeling it more this time around because the proportion of household income spent on housing is now 55% higher than it was in June 2005.
Top news
Qantas should be fined ‘hundreds of millions’ if found guilty to send message to companies, ACCC says | “The ACCC is on a path of wanting to substantially increase the penalties that large corporations, in relation to serious conduct, pay for failing consumers. And so this is going to be an important test for us,” ACCC chair Gina Cass-Gottlieb said on seeking massive penalties against Qantas over selling tickets for already-cancelled flights.
Amanda Vanstone’s expletive-laden insult of radio show guest caps off ABC’s hellish week | Former Liberal minister and ABC host Amanda Vanstone has apologised for calling a guest on her program a “fuckwit” in comments that she made after a recorded interview while the guest, Kamilaroi Stem expert Corey Tutt, was still on the line.
Fortescue marks three high-level resignations in a week | Guy Debelle, the former Reserve Bank deputy governor, left Fortescue after 17 months, just days after Fiona Hick, the chief executive of Fortescue’s mining business, abruptly left after six months in the role, and a day after the company announced the chief financial officer, Christine Morris, was leaving.
Law Council of Australia urges judicial immunity reform after judge Salvatore Vasta was successfully sued | Australia’s peak lawyers body has called for reform to judicial immunity and reiterated its support for a federal complaints body after a landmark case found sitting judge Salvatore Vasta personally liable for false imprisonment.
UK scientists find link between proteins related to blood clots and long Covid | Scientists have identified molecular signatures in the blood that are linked to brain fog, other cognitive problems and fatigue in patients who are diagnosed with long Covid after catching the virus.
Singapore to choose new president amid rare political scandals | Singaporeans will select a new president on Friday, a vote that will measure public mood at a time when the ruling party, which has been in power for more than six decades, is reeling from a spate of uncommon political scandals.
Seriously injured boy allegedly abandoned and dog Tasered after Sydney crash | A seriously injured 12-year-old has allegedly been abandoned at the scene of a fiery car crash by two men, one of whom was carted away from the site in a shopping trolley, New South Wales police allege.
Matildas captain named runner-up in Uefa’s player of the year awards | Sam Kerr’s magnificent European season, capped back home by her striking late contribution to Australia’s World Cup push, has been rewarded with her being named runner-up behind Spain’s Aitana Bonmati in Uefa’s player of the year awards.
Full Story
Newsroom edition: Is it too late for a respectful debate on the voice?
This week the prime minister, Anthony Albanese, announced 14 October as the date for the Indigenous voice to parliament referendum. And as the campaign gears up, the stakes are high and the conversation increasingly pernicious.
Gabrielle Jackson talks to Guardian Australia’s editor-in-chief, Lenore Taylor, and Indigenous affairs editor, Lorena Allam, about the moment that could define Australia’s national character.
What they said …
“I hope he attends,” the US president, Joe Biden, told reporters on Thursday in Washington, about the Chinese president, Xi Jinping, at the G20 leaders summit in India next week, after reports Xi will skip the meeting.
In numbers
Before bed read
What better to read before bed than a guide on how to get the best sleep?
Daily word game
Today’s starter word is: TAPE. You have five goes to get the longest word including the starter word. Play Wordiply.
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