Australia’s January 2026 skilled migration round has delivered 344 invitations to skilled workers, with health professionals and engineers again emerging as the big winners under South Australia’s General Skilled Migration program.

Gold Coast Council has launched a new real-time water quality tool for 25 of the city’s most popular swimming spots, promising residents and tourists faster, clearer advice about when it is safe to get in the water – but also warning that heavy rain and pollution can still turn beaches and creeks unsafe at short notice.

Nationals leader David Littleproud has accused the Albanese Labor government of dragging its feet on key supermarket transparency reforms and “letting shoppers down” during a cost‑of‑living crisis, as Labor counters that it has already delivered a tough mandatory supermarket code and is now moving on wider consumer protections, including a national crackdown on online “subscription traps”.

Australia’s forests are experiencing rapidly rising tree death rates at the same time as a major heatwave drives extreme fire danger across Victoria, South Australia and Tasmania, raising grave concerns about ecosystem collapse, carbon emissions and community safety.

Australia’s forests are experiencing rapidly rising tree death rates at the same time as a major heatwave drives extreme fire danger across Victoria, South Australia and Tasmania, raising grave concerns about ecosystem collapse, carbon emissions and community safety.

Brisbane’s median home value has surged by about $135,900 over the past year, lifting typical dwelling prices to around the $1 million mark and outpacing Sydney and Melbourne, even as borrowers brace for possible interest rate hikes in early 2026.

Australia is entering 2026 with multiculturalism reaffirmed as central to the national story, while a tightening but highly targeted migration program pushes states such as the ACT and Tasmania to use their skilled visa quotas to attract urgently needed workers in health, trades and regional roles.

Australian renters received sobering news this week as new data confirms the nation's rental affordability crisis has intensified, with rents climbing faster than household incomes and vacancy rates dropping to levels not seen in decades.

Brisbane, QLD A global architecture dream team has been appointed to design the new Brisbane Stadium at Victoria Park, which will serve as the centrepiece venue for the 2032 Olympic and Paralympic Games.

Australia begins 2026 juggling pressures on three fronts: a tougher global economy, growing anxiety about safety and social cohesion, and a changing climate that is already biting at the local level.