AGP Executive Report

Jobs and Markets: Australia’s unemployment rate rose to 4.7% in September, its highest in five years, easing pressure for another Reserve Bank rate rise. The ASX 200 gained 1.12% as global markets rebounded. Trade and Ties: Labor urged the Coalition to back the EU trade pact, while political and business leaders called for stronger economic links with China. Pacific Security: Australia will give Fiji solar- and wave-powered sea drones to help detect drug smuggling, keeping deployment details secret to avoid alerting traffickers. Business and Climate: Fremantle Seaweed has bought onshore cultivation technology from FutureFeed, targeting commercial supply in 2027 of feed ingredients reported to cut cattle methane emissions. Sport: Australia edged New Zealand 24–22 in a thrilling Rugby League World Cup opener. The cricket team heads into Sunday’s second Test against South Africa after a 214-run win, with Kagiso Rabada expected to return and Cameron Green doubtful. Culture: Australia returned a 500-year-old Buddha statue found in Western Australia to China for further study.

Pacific Security: Australia will provide Fiji with Australian-made sea drones that can stay at sea for more than 180 days, boosting surveillance against drug trafficking and organised crime. The vessels are expected in early 2027. Energy: Victoria has approved a 1.5GW wind farm near Warracknabeal, planned to power about 1.2 million homes and include two 300MW batteries. Economy: Australian employment fell in September and unemployment reached 4.7%, a five-year high, reducing expectations of an imminent Reserve Bank rate rise. Sport: Australia edged New Zealand 24-22 in a thrilling Rugby League World Cup opener, with debutant Jack Bostock scoring three tries. New Zealand star Kalyn Ponga left with a suspected broken arm. Cricket: South Africa recalled Matthew Breetzke and dropped Tristan Stubbs for Sunday’s second Test after Australia’s 214-run win; Kagiso Rabada is expected to return. Food and tourism: Eleven South Australian restaurants have received Australia’s first Michelin stars. Separately, an advocacy group says government records show kangaroo meat exports failed food-safety tests; the industry’s handling of the results is under scrutiny. Digital assets: ASIC has proposed tougher rules for crypto exchanges and custodians ahead of a licensing regime due to begin in 2027.

Jobs and Markets: Australia’s unemployment rate rose to 4.7% in September, a five-year high, easing bets on an imminent Reserve Bank rate rise. A global tech sell-off also dragged Asian shares lower, with the ASX 200 slipping. Test Cricket: Australia thrashed South Africa by 214 runs in Durban, but Cameron Green’s fitness remains uncertain for Sunday’s second Test as selectors weigh batting changes. Food and Tourism: South Australia’s first Michelin Guide named 77 venues, including Magill Estate Restaurant with two stars. Chinese Golden Week bookings to Australia rose 19% year-on-year, adding to hopes of a tourism boost. Business: Glencore began trading on the ASX in a listing valued at about A$131 billion. Separately, DigiCo secured a 15-year deal for 71MW of Sydney data-centre capacity. Travel: Carnival will withdraw Carnival Luminosa and Carnival Adventure from Australia in March 2028, citing long-term deployment and operating conditions.

Australia–Jordan Ties: Anthony Albanese and King Abdullah II agreed to deepen defence, trade and climate cooperation during the Jordanian monarch’s visit, while calling for de-escalation in the Middle East. Children’s Privacy: Private chats from up to 125,000 Australian children using Character.AI could be sold after the app’s US owner filed for bankruptcy. Climate: Tuvalu’s climate minister called an Australian High Court ruling on coal and gas emissions a “clear signal” ahead of COP31. Cricket: Australia took a 1-0 lead over South Africa after a 214-run Test victory in Durban, led by Josh Hazlewood’s career-best six wickets and Matt Renshaw’s 190. Sport Integrity: A Senate committee has recommended passing a bill to create national criminal offences for match-fixing and sports corruption. Dining: South Australia’s first Michelin Guide named 77 venues; Adelaide’s Magill Estate Restaurant earned two stars, the country’s first.

Cricket: Australia crushed South Africa by 214 runs in Durban, with Josh Hazlewood taking a career-best six wickets and Matt Renshaw starring with bat and ball. Travel: Fuel queues in Bali are disrupting transport and holiday plans for Australians. Governor Wayan Koster says supplies should return to normal within a day or two. Trade: Trade Minister Don Farrell says Coalition MPs walked out of talks on the EU deal, but he is seeking Senate support to pass it. Energy: Labor’s proposed gas reservation laws would require producers to offer some export-bound gas to Australian buyers. Resources Minister Madeleine King says the plan aims to ease prices without undermining new projects. Australia in Asia: University of Tasmania vice-chancellor Rufus Black warns hardening migration rhetoric is damaging Australia’s reputation in the region. Climate: Palau’s president has defended the Pacific pre-COP talks co-hosted by Australia, urging critics to focus less on attendance and cost and more on climate investment.

Cricket: Australia opened its South Africa tour with a 214-run win in Durban, taking a 1–0 series lead. Matt Renshaw scored 190 and 82, while Josh Hazlewood’s career-best 6–49 sealed the result. Child Safety: University of Sydney research found sexual assaults against Australian children rose from 2014 to 2024, with a sharp post-pandemic increase among boys aged 10 to 17. Researchers point to economic stress and other possible factors. Economy: The IMF warned Australia faces stubborn inflation and rising unemployment, adding pressure as the Reserve Bank signals another rate rise may come in November. Pacific Climate: A University of Melbourne study found warming could leave the tropical Pacific with El Niño-like conditions for centuries, even after emissions reach net zero. Australia–Jordan Ties: Australia returned a rare 12,000-year-old archaeological artefact to Jordan during King Abdullah’s state visit, underscoring cooperation on cultural heritage.

Rugby World Cup: Fiji has appointed 2007 champion coach Jake White to lead its team into next year’s tournament in Australia, where it will face Spain, Canada and Argentina in pool play. Economic Pressure: The IMF warns Australia faces high inflation and rising unemployment, while markets anticipate another Reserve Bank rate rise in November. Consumer Watchdog: The ACCC is taking 12 egg suppliers, including Sunny Queen, to court over alleged price coordination and production cuts; the companies have not been found to have breached the law. Energy and Resources: ARENA will provide up to $32.3 million to establish solar-installation robot factories in Melbourne and Brisbane. Tasmania, meanwhile, plans to use a $75 million windfall from its King Island tungsten mine to support regional projects and pay down debt. Diplomacy and Security: Jordan’s King Abdullah is in Australia for his first visit in a decade, with defence, trade and regional security on the agenda. Australia has also joined allies in accusing Iran of backing an alleged plot against a UK air base. Travel Alert: Australians have been urged to exercise caution in the Middle East after missile strikes on Riyadh airport.

Durban Test: Australia moved within six wickets of victory over South Africa, setting a 421-run target before reducing the hosts to 102-4. Matt Renshaw added 82 after his first-innings 190 and claimed his first Test wicket; Steve Smith is being assessed after a blow to the helmet. Middle East Warning: Canberra has urged Australians to avoid travel to Saudi Arabia after deadly Houthi attacks on Riyadh’s airport, which remains closed. EU Trade Deal: Trade Minister Don Farrell warned Australia may not get another chance at a free-trade agreement with the EU, as the Coalition considers opposing the deal. Telstra Outage: Shareholders are set to question executives over July’s nationwide outage, which disrupted services including transport payments and emergency calls. Robert Pether: Australian engineer Robert Pether, released after years detained in Iraq, has reunited with his family in Ireland.

Pether Heads Home: Australian engineer Robert Pether has left Iraq after five years of detention and travel restrictions, and is on his way to reunite with his family in Ireland. His legal advisers criticised Foreign Minister Penny Wong’s announcement, saying Pether was still in transit and at risk. Cricket: Australia hold a 139-run lead over South Africa in Durban after bowling the hosts out for 284. Steve Smith set a Test fielding record with 223 catches, while Matt Renshaw’s 190 powered Australia’s first innings. Ocean Plastics: The Ocean Cleanup says it will focus two-thirds of its global work on Southeast Asia over the next three years, targeting plastic pollution reaching Australian waters. The push comes as Australia prepares to co-lead a global ocean health roadmap at COP31. Travel Warning: Canberra has urged Australians to avoid Saudi Arabia after deadly missile attacks on Riyadh’s airport, which has been struck repeatedly. Markets: The ASX 200 rose 0.9% as Asian markets were mixed and oil prices fell about $1.50 a barrel after Donald Trump announced a plan to buy diesel from Russia. AI Security: A survey found one in 10 Australian companies had halted an initial AI rollout over security concerns.

Cricket: Australia lead South Africa by 139 runs after bowling the hosts out for 284 on day three in Durban. Steve Smith set a Test fielding record with 223 catches, while Australia finished 33 without loss; bad light has repeatedly cut play short. Soccer: South Melbourne made history as the first NPL club to win the Australia Cup, beating Melbourne Victory on penalties and renewing calls for promotion into the A-League. Riyadh Attack: A second strike hit Riyadh’s King Khalid International Airport, a day after an attack killed 12 and injured more than 300. Australia has warned travellers against going to the Saudi capital. Digital Safety: Labor’s social media bill, including an option for users to opt out of algorithms and protections for children, appears set to pass after the government dropped a proposed ministerial power to ban content. Climate and Energy: New South Wales has approved an extension of the Hunter Valley Operations coal mine to 2045, despite concerns about its climate impacts.

Housing: Australia Institute economist Greg Jericho says Labor’s changes to investor tax breaks are improving affordability, as national home prices fall and investment shifts toward new builds. Cricket: Matt Renshaw’s career-best 190 lifted Australia to 390 against South Africa in Durban; Australia ended day two 363 runs ahead. Justice: Three men were found guilty of murdering Australians Jake and Callum Robinson and their American friend on a 2024 surfing trip in Mexico. Football: South Melbourne made history, becoming the first non-A-League club to win the Australia Cup after beating Melbourne Victory on penalties. Youth sport: Australia claimed a third straight FIBA U18 Women’s Asia Cup title, edging Japan 83-82. Migration: Opposition Leader Angus Taylor defended plans to cut net migration by 100,000 a year, while Labor called the proposal a “war” on migrants. International law: New US sanctions on the International Criminal Court put pressure on Australia and other member states to weigh their commitments to the court.

Cricket: Matt Renshaw’s career-best 190 rescued Australia from 124-6 and lifted them to 390 against South Africa in Durban. The hosts closed day two at 27-1, trailing by 363; Josh Inglis is expected to rejoin the squad for the next Test. Rugby: New Zealand retained the Bledisloe Cup with a 50-19 win over Australia, pulling away with five second-half tries. Football: South Melbourne made history as the first NPL club to win the Australia Cup, beating Melbourne Victory on penalties before a record crowd of 29,911. The triumph revives the club’s push for an A-League place. Mexico killings: Three men were found guilty of murdering Australian brothers Jake and Callum Robinson and their American friend Carter Rhoad during a 2024 surf trip. Coal exports: Australian thermal coal is trading far below Asian LNG prices, setting the stage for a possible late-year export rebound as utilities restock for winter.

Bledisloe Cup: Australia face New Zealand in Auckland, hoping to build on recent form and end a long wait for the trans-Tasman trophy. The injury-hit All Blacks remain formidable at home. Cricket: Australia were 187-6 against South Africa after the Proteas’ pace attack exposed familiar batting frailties. Matt Renshaw and Pat Cummins steadied the innings; Nic Maddinson was out for a duck in his Test return. Australia also fielded their oldest-ever Test XI, with no player under 30. Mexico Murders: Three men were convicted over the 2024 killings of Australian brothers Jake and Callum Robinson and their American friend. Sentencing is still to come. Fuel Policy: Energy Minister Chris Bowen ruled out Russian diesel imports, saying Australia would not reward Moscow for its invasion of Ukraine despite a reported US-Russia supply deal. AI Investment: Australian data-centre firm Firmus abandoned its planned $7.1 billion ASX listing after struggling to attract investors, and will seek private funding instead. Coal and Climate: The High Court blocked an expansion of NSW’s Mount Pleasant coal mine after finding overseas emissions from exported coal had not been properly considered. The Coalition says it would legislate to prevent such projects being stopped on that basis.

Test Cricket: South Africa took control on day one in Durban, reducing Australia to 187-6 before bad light ended play. Matt Renshaw and Pat Cummins steadied the innings with an unbeaten 63-run stand. Steve Smith passed Steve Waugh to become Australia’s third-highest Test run-scorer; Nic Maddinson’s cancer-comeback return ended in a 33-ball duck. Women’s Basketball: Australia beat China 78-59 to reach the FIBA U18 Asia Cup final and keep their three-peat hopes alive. Markets: Nvidia-backed data-centre firm Firmus scrapped its planned $5 billion Australian IPO after weak investor demand, dealing another blow to the ASX’s pipeline of major listings. Defence: The US approved a possible $300 million sale of Tomahawk planning, communications and support systems to Australia, aimed at strengthening its existing long-range strike capability. Immigration: A Sydney restaurateur has criticised policies making migration harder, as parties propose changes to skilled visas and international student numbers.**

COP31 Diplomacy: Australia and Türkiye will draft a presidency-led decision aimed at accelerating climate action and keeping the 1.5°C goal within reach. Chris Bowen says Pacific priorities, including climate finance, must shape the summit agenda. Markets: Nvidia-backed data-centre firm Firmus has scrapped its multibillion-dollar Australian IPO after weak demand and will seek private funding instead. Cricket: Australia opens its Test series against South Africa in Durban, with Kagiso Rabada ruled out and Anrich Nortje returning. The 2018 ball-tampering scandal is again looming over the rivalry. Arts: Tropfest has secured $2.7 million in NSW funding to support its 2027 return and emerging Australian filmmakers. Mexico Trial: The parents of slain Australian surfers Jake and Callum Robinson have urged a court to give the three accused men the maximum sentence; a verdict is expected Friday.

Cricket: Australia open their three-Test tour of South Africa in Durban on Friday, eight years after Sandpapergate. Pat Cummins says his side must grind through tough sessions, while the hosts will be without injured fast bowler Kagiso Rabada. Climate Ruling: The High Court has ruled that regulators must consider emissions from Australian coal when burned overseas in decisions on mine approvals, a landmark setback for the industry. Cost of Living: Sydney rents fell 0.4% in the September quarter as national rental growth slowed, though the median weekly rent reached a record $713. AI Oversight: A government inquiry heard that Australians are blurring the distinction between data centres and commercial generative AI, undermining trust in infrastructure used by public agencies and universities. Overseas Case: A verdict is expected in Mexico in the trial over the 2024 murders of Australian brothers Jake and Callum Robinson and their American friend.