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Origin Energy experienced a major cybersecurity breach in which unauthorised parties accessed and disclosed customer information.

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What is the issue?

There was a data security breach at Origin Energy, whereby there was a disclosure of some customer details by unauthorised people. Such details may have included names, addresses, dates of birth, phone numbers, and account details.

Is it a significant issue?

Yes. It is a significant problem since more than 900,000 present and previous customers were affected by the breach. In addition, the security breach gained coverage in major Australian media houses.

Organisation affected:

Origin Energy is affected by this problem. This is because the breach may lead to loss of trust from customers and a poor image. In relation to PR, Origin needs to clearly communicate to the affected customers.

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What have we learnt from Origin Energy’s data breach?

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Three weeks ago, Origin Energy announced that 900,000 current and former customers had their personal data accessed. What have we learnt about our data safety online since?

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What is the issue? Workers at Broome Port in Western Australia have gone on strike after 12 weeks of failed negotiations with the Kimberley Ports Authority. The Maritime Union of Australia says staff are underpaid and losing key working conditions.

Is it a significant issue? Yes, with updates on cruise ships stranded and ongoing industrial action affecting local trade and tourism.

Organisation affected: Kimberley Ports Authority and the Maritime Union of Australia, as well as shipping and tourism operators in the region.

News links:

https://newsdive.net/2026/08/11/passengers-of-a-luxury-cruise-liner-transported-to-land-as-port-strike-halts-operations/

https://www.msn.com/en-au/money/markets/broome-port-strike-threatens-cruise-ship-arrivals-during-peak-tourist-season-in-was-north/ar-AA29PEm8?ocid=BingNewsSerp

https://www.perthnow.com.au/wa/cruise-liner-le-jacques-cartier-passengers-boated-ashore-in-broome-amid-ongoing-port-strike--c-22709765

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Passengers of a luxury cruise liner transported to land as port strike halts operations. - News Dive

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Strike actions at the Port of Broome are expected to persist for the next two weeks, disrupting cruise ship arrivals to the well-known tourist destination. Employees initiated the walkout after unsuccessful negotiations with the Kimberley Ports Authority (KPA) regarding wages and working conditions. The KPA has indicated its commitment to ongoing discussions with both the […]

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Issue: Jetstar has issued a new charge for overhead baggage, replacing the weighing of 7kg carry-on luggage.

Significant issue: Yes.

Organisation: Jetstar.

Links: 9 News

https://www.nine.com.au/travel/jetstar-to-charge-overhead-baggage-fee-20260805-p60lhz.html

ABC News

https://www.abc.net.au/news/2026-08-05/jetstar-to-charge-fees-for-overhead-carry-on-baggage/106997626

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What is the issue?

Nine Entertainment is cutting 30 newsroom jobs at The Sydney Morning Herald and The Age as part of a restructure focused on digital news production and the increased use of AI. The company says the changes are needed to adapt to industry and technology changes

Is it a significant issue?

Yes, the job cuts may cause financial and emotional hardship for employees, lower staff morale, and lead to negative publicity for Nine.

Name an organisation that may be affected

Nine Entertainment

Nine job cuts: Dozens of roles at SMH, The Age to go to drive digitial push

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Jobs to go at Nine’s metro mastheads in restructure to drive digital push

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The company is reshaping its focus on premium digital news amid a tough advertising market, which will come at the cost of about 30 roles.

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1. What is the issue in the news?

The Australian Broadcasting Corporation (ABC) faces heavy backlash over a fake sources scandal in its Four Corners program and widespread public and political outrage regarding a satirical Race Around the World sketch featuring billionaire Gina Rinehart.

2. What organisation is impacted?

The Australian Broadcasting Corporation

3. What news outlets covered the issue?

2GB Radio, SMH, BC, AFR, News.com.au, The Australian, Sky News Australia,

4. What are the potential ramifications for the organisation?

Calls for defunding the ABC

Regulatory investigations and referral to the Ombudsman

Legal action from Hancock Prospecting on behalf of G. Rinehart.

Loss of trust from the public.

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Students Falling Behind in Reading and Writing

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Students Falling Behind in Reading and Writing

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The issue: This week, reports showed that Australia’s literacy and writing results have dropped, with new testing revealing that many students are still struggling after years of disrupted learning. The data shows big declines in reading, writing and comprehension across different year levels.

Is it a significant issue? Yes, it’s definitely a big deal and it affects schools, teachers, and education departments across the country. It’s also raising questions about how schools can help students catch up.

Organisations impacted:

ACARA (Australian Curriculum, Assessment and Reporting Authority)

Department of Education

Schools nationwide

News outlets that covered the issue: ABC News, The Guardian and news.com.au

Links:

https://www.abc.net.au/news/2026-08-05/naplan-results-national-tragedy-literacy-numeracy-skill-gaps/106991058

https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2026/aug/04/naplan-results-2026-reading-writing-australian-school-standards

https://www.news.com.au/lifestyle/parenting/school-life/alarming-experts-panic-over-dire-naplan-results/news-story/b90bbd9e993e046c7fbab62fce0fbe4b

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Experts warn ‘national tragedy’ emerging in latest NAPLAN results

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NAPLAN test scores have revealed one-third of Australian students are not meeting “challenging but reasonable” expectations in literacy and numeracy.

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What is the issue:

Johnson & Johnson has proposed a US$5.5 billion settlement for about 76,000 US lawsuits alleging its talc products caused ovarian cancer. At the same time, a separate class action involving Australian women is progressing through the Supreme Court of Victoria.

Significance:

It is significant because it involves billions of dollars, consumer safety and extensive international media coverage.

Affected organisation:

Johnson & Johnson’s finances, reputation and public trust may be affected.

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US pharmaceutical company Johnson & Johnson (J&J) has said it will pay an estimated $US5.5 billion ($7.9 billion) to resolve tens of thousands of lawsuits alleging its baby powder and other talc products caused ovarian cancer, in a landmark deal that could end a contentious legal battle that has dogged the company for a decade.

J&J said the settlement covers about 76,000 claims, including ones consolidated in the federal court in New Jersey, and related cases in the state court, representing nearly all of the remaining talc claims against the company.

J&J previously settled most of the cases alleging that its talc contained asbestos and caused mesothelioma.

Plaintiffs' law firms confirmed the deal on Monday, saying it was a good resolution after a decade-long court battle.

The deal must be accepted by 95 per cent of the ovarian cancer claimants in state or federal courts before it becomes final.

J&J's vice-president of litigation, Erik Haas, said the claims were "meritless" and that the company was willing to settle in order to get closure.

"While we are confident the company would have ultimately prevailed with further litigation, as it has in the vast majority of cases tried to date, this resolution allows the company to put this matter behind it and remain focused on its mission to develop medicines and devices that save lives," Mr Haas said.

J&J expects to pay $US3 billion in 2027, and it will make further payments in 2028.

But the deal could be worth more, depending on how many people participate in the settlement.

Chris Seeger, an attorney who represents about 2,500 clients with talc claims and helped negotiate the agreement, said J&J could ultimately pay $US7 billion or more.

The settlement assigns specific values to qualifying ovarian cancer claims but does not cap J&J's total payout, he said.

"We got a fair settlement, and our clients are going to be happy with it,"

Mr Seeger said.

Australian class action progresses

In Australia, Shine Lawyers head of class actions Craig Allsop said its own class action lawsuit against Johnson & Johnson had progressed.

"The matter is scheduled to proceed to its first Case Management Conference on 26 August 2026," Mr Allsop said.

The class action included people diagnosed with a gynaecological cancer or mesothelioma before December 1.

Shine Lawyers also represented secondary claimants, namely dependants of persons affected "whether living or deceased".

"Shine Lawyers is encouraged by recent settlements reached in the United States involving Johnson & Johnson talc claims," Mr Allsop said.

"However, it is important to manage expectations regarding any potential compensation outcomes in Australia.

"While developments in the United States are positive and may provide useful indicators, any compensation outcomes will depend on the specific circumstances of the Australian proceedings."

Deal comes after courtroom wins

J&J reached the US settlement after a series of wins in court, including victories in individual trials, successful efforts to disqualify plaintiffs' lawyers from the litigation, and court rulings against experts that plaintiffs had used to prove their cases in court.

J&J won a significant court victory in the long-running legal battle last week, when a federal judge cast doubt on individual plaintiffs' ability to prove that talc specifically caused their ovarian cancer.

A Brisbane law firm has filed a class action against Johnson & Johnson alleging the pharmaceutical giant made false claims about the effectiveness of popular brands of cold and flu medication.

J&J has long denied that its talc products cause cancer, saying that talc is safe and does not contain asbestos.

The company stopped selling talc-based baby powder in the US in 2020, switching to a cornstarch product.

The litigation resumed in March 2025, after being put on hold for more than three years while J&J unsuccessfully pursued a strategy known as the "Texas two-step", filing three bankruptcies through a shell-company subsidiary in an effort to settle the cases.

Each bankruptcy ended in dismissal.

Before the bankruptcy attempts, J&J had a mixed record in talc trials, with a multi-billion-dollar verdict in favour of 22 women who said baby powder caused their ovarian cancer.

The company won some trials outright and had other verdicts reduced on appeal.

Unlike the proposed bankruptcy settlements, Monday's agreement applies only to existing claims and does not address future lawsuits.

The exclusion of future claims made more money available to current plaintiffs than the bankruptcy proposal did, and it also accelerates the payments so that all claims will be paid within 18 months instead of being spread out over more than a decade, Mr Seeger said.
Reuters

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US pharma giant to pay out $7.9 billion over baby powder lawsuits

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A US pharmaceutical company will pay $7.9 billion to settle thousands of lawsuits that claim its baby powder caused ovarian cancer.

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Harvey Norman Fined over Misleading Advertisement 

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Harvey Norman Fined over Misleading Advertisement 

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What is the issue?

Harvey Norman was fined $55 million dollars over misleading ads.

Is it a significant issue?

Yes, there has been alot of articles coming out within the last 2 days.

Name an organisation that might be affected

Harvey Norman

Links

https://www.afr.com/companies/retail/judge-slams-harvey-norman-boss-orders-55m-fine-over-misleading-ads-20260728-p60j95

https://www.thenewdaily.com.au/finance/consumer/2026/07/28/harvey-normans-misleading-ads

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What is the issue?

Domino’s had engaged in misleading or deceptive conduct in representations about staff wages to its Australian franchisees. Domino's have underpaid thousands of staff after misleading Australian franchisees.

Is it a significant issue (are there numerous news articles)?

yes, there were quite a few sites of media coverage on this specific issue including News.com.au., TheNewDailyAU, The Guardian etc

Name an organisation that might be affected

Domino's

Find at least one or two links to different news items

https://www.news.com.au/lifestyle/food/thousands-of-underpaid-dominos-workers-could-be-entitled-to-compensation-following-landmark-class-action/news-story/02f67724a7080877f209b56c175c2a45

https://www.thenewdaily.com.au/finance/finance-news/2026/07/23/dominos-unpaid-wages-court

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Thousands of underpaid Domino’s workers could be entitled to compensation following a landmark class action.

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Getting goods into the US will become 12.5 per cent more expensive for Australian exporters, as new tariffs replace ones struck out by the Supreme Court.

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What is the issue?

United States increased tariff on Australian exports from 10% to 12.5%

Is it a significant issue?

It appears to be a mixed issue. Generally, there is not much significance towards mining companies and large scale beef producers. On the other hand, it is a significant issue towards small exporting businesses

Name an organisation that might be affected

Treasury Wine Estates

Link:

https://www.abc.net.au/news/2026-07-24/trump-tariffs-bring-more-uncertainty-to-australian-shores/106954074?utm_campaign=abc_news_web&utm_content=link&utm_medium=content_shared&utm_source=abc_news_web

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Origin Energy was hacked and customers information was accessed from hacker

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Origin Energy was hacked and customers information was accessed from hacker

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What is the issue in the news?

Origin Energy investigating "potential" customer data breach. The issue became public on the 22nd of July 2026 of an alleged hacker had claimed to steal personal information of up 2 million customers and providing samples of customer evidence to Origin employees.

Origin had initially stated that it was a cybersecurity incident and were confident that no bank details were accessed. They lodged a complaint to the Australian Cyber Security Centre, Australian Federal Police, etc, however, on the 23rd of July, the company was informed that there had been unauthorised access to:

Customer names

Residential address

DOB

Email addresses

Phone numbers

Account information

Billing history

Last 4 digits of card numbers and last 3 digits of bank account numbers

What organisation is impacted?

origin energy

1. What news outlets covered the issue?

ABC News (23 July)

The Guardian Australia

Reuters

SBS News

9 News

The Australian

The Record

The Record

ABC Analysis

Origin Energy Official Statement

What are the potential ramifications for the organisation?

1. Loss of customer trust and reputation

2. Loss of customer retention

3. Origin could face potential penalties if the investigation shows origin poorly protected customer information

4. Loss of money as it costs money to investigate breaches, specifically cyber security breaches

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Origin Energy believes 900,000 customers’ data accessed in breach

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Origin Energy says it started reviewing a “potential security threat” early this month but deemed it not credible, before new information indicated a breach.

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Optus sued over Triple Zero outage linked to two deaths

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Optus sued over Triple Zero outage linked to two deaths

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The issue: Optus has been linked to 1005 breaches during their outage in 2025. 000 calls were unable to be made, and it has been linked to 2 deaths so far. As a result, they are being sued.

This issue is extremely significant, as it resulted in a large number of emergency calls being unable to be connected and people being left without help.

Organisations Impacted: Optus, NSW Police, Ambulance, Fire.

News outlets include: ABC, Sydney Morning Herald, The Guardian, The Australian, The Daily Telegraph etc.

Links Include

https://www.abc.net.au/news/2026-07-30/acma-takes-optus-to-federal-court-over-2025-outage/106975412

https://www.smh.com.au/technology/optus-sued-over-triple-zero-outage-20260730-p60jyi.html

https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/live/2026/jul/30/antisemitism-royal-commission-nsw-icac-inquiry-closing-the-gap-data-torres-strait-climate-appeal-anthony-albanese-labor-angus-taylor-coalition-ntwnfb

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Optus sued in Federal Court over network outage

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The Australian Communications and Media Authority is suing Optus in the Federal Court over last year’s network outage in which hundreds of calls failed to reach Triple Zero.

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What is the issue?

Many drivers experienced major peak-hour traffic delays on the M5 due to emergency maintenance work

Is it a significant issue (are there numerous news articles)?

Yes, multiple news articles and issues

Name an organisation that might be affected Find at least one or two links to different news items

https://www.smh.com.au/national/nsw/huge-delays-as-sydney-motorway-closed-after-tunnel-discovery-20260729-p60jht.html

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Traffic on the M5 motorway has been backed up for more than 10 kilometres due to the closure of city-bound lanes on the M5.

Transurban, which operates the road, closed the tunnel earlier this morning in order to repair a ventilator fan.

Aerial footage and the Live Traffic website show cars backed up from the closure point near Beverly Hills, all the way to Milperra.

Transport for New South Wales coordinator-general Howard Collins urged drivers to avoid the area as the delays are not expected to be resolved until after the morning peak.

"I'd ask people, if you don't need to travel in that area, maybe stay at home or do something different and if you do need to travel, take your time, be patient with people,"

Mr Collins said.

He said diversions were in place via King Georges Road and Stoney Creek Road, and the M8 is open, but those roads were also heavily congested.

Mr Collins said Transurban crews were at the site working to repair the fan, work which would require a crane.

"It's the physical nature of this fan, which needs to be removed, does negate anyone using the tunnel," he said.

"The engineers are all down there, they're working as hard as they can ... but it's going to take time.

"Obviously this was an undiscovered fault which they found overnight."

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Fan fault shuts Sydney's M5 in morning rush, causing 10km of traffic chaos

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Traffic on the M5 motorway has been backed up for more than 10 kilometres, due to the closure of city-bound lanes on the M5 .

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ACMA to sue Optus in Federal Court over 2025 network outage

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ACMA to sue Optus in Federal Court over 2025 network outage

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Optus is being sued by the Australian Communications and Media Authority (ACMA) over a major network outage that stopped many customers from calling Triple Zero (000) during emergencies. ACMA claims Optus broke its legal obligations more than 1,000 times by failing to provide reliable access to emergency services.

The outage lasted 14 hours, with 75% of emergency calls failing, and was linked to two deaths. An independent review found that the outage was caused by errors during a routine network upgrade by Optus and its contractor, Nokia, as well as poor handling of customer reports that Triple Zero was not working.

If the Federal Court finds Optus breached the law, the company could face fines of up to $250,000 per breach. The case has highlighted the importance of reliable telecommunications services and has led to stricter government rules to improve emergency call access and hold telcos more accountable.

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What is the issue?

The issue is that there was an issue with the ventilator fan system in Sydneys m5, this caused major traffic delays. There was major traffic congestion and hours of delay.

Is it a significant issue?

This is a significant issue as many people use the m5 everyday for many reasons such as transportation of goods and commuting to work.

Name an organisation that might be affected

West connex and nsw transport may face major backlash due to the signficant delays people encountered due to this issue.

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Major Traffic Delays on Sydney’s M5 Motorway

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The issue: A ventilator fan failure in Sydney’s M5 tunnel caused severe traffic congestion, with drivers facing hours of delays while repair crews worked to fix the malfunction.

Is it a significant issue? Yes, several major news outlets reported on the incident this week, highlighting widespread commuter frustration and transport disruption.

Organisation impacted: Transport for NSW and Sydney Motorway Corporation.

News outlets that covered the issue: ABC News, 7News, 19News

Links:

https://www.abc.net.au/news/2026-07-29/major-sydney-m5-traffic-delays-amid-repairs-fan/106969970

https://7news.com.au/news/traffic-chaos-as-tunnel-closed-sydneys-m5-east-motorway-c-22643139

https://19news.au/news/emergency-repairs-shut-sydney-s-m5-tunnel-causing-major-traffic-disruption-oygaob868lqu3h3ytuc--oygaob868lqu3h3ytuc/

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The issue is Queensland Police investugating AI generated images linked to Gold Coast teacher on teachers account.

The organisation that is imapcted is the Queenssand Department of Education and AB Paterson College.

The media outlets that covered the issues include ABC news and nine.com.

The ramifications it has include, the trust of the college affected neagtively.

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Issue- UK Political Part Leader reposted an inappropriate image regarding the leader of an opposing party.

Organisation- UK Political Group the Green Party.

News Outlet- BBC News, The Telegraph, The Guardian.

Ramifications- Political Party having to heighten security with members.

The respect between the 2 parties has fallen and connections broken.

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Polanski says guillotine re-post was mistake but refuses to apologise

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The Green leader re-posted a photo of a man wearing a guillotine t-shirt and the name Nigel.

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Major Banks Repay $55m to Aussie Mortgage holders over costly offset account failures 

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Major Banks Repay $55m to Aussie Mortgage holders over costly offset account failures 

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1. What is the issue ?

Due to a bank error, the linking of their offset account to the home loan was incorrectly removed at that time, meaning the customer paid more than $3500 in additional interest.

2. What organization is impacted?

8 Banks;

AMP Bank

ANZ

Commonwealth Bank

CUA

HSBC

ING

Maquarie

Westpac

3. What news outlets covered the issue?

news.com.au

4. What are the potential ratifications for their organization?

Finical ramifications

Reputational damage

Regulatory and legal consequences

Operational impact

Customer impact

Increased regulatory scrutiny

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ASIC criticises banks over mortgage offset account errors

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ASIC criticises banks over mortgage offset account errors

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What is the issue?
Several Australian banks overcharged some home loan customers because of errors in their mortgage offset accounts. These mistakes meant customers paid more interest than they should have, raising concerns about consumer protection and banking practices.

Is it a significant issue?
It is significant because it affects the finances of many Australians, undermines trust in banks, and has prompted regulatory action by the Australian Securities and Investments Commission (ASIC). It may also result in customer compensation and tighter oversight of banking systems.

Name the organisation:
The main organisation involved is the Australian Securities and Investments Commission (ASIC), Australia's corporate and financial services regulator. The issue also involves several major Australian banks, including ANZ, Commonwealth Bank (CBA), Westpac, and NAB, where affected customers have been identified.

What news outlets covered the issue?

The issue was widely covered by major Australian news outlets, including:

Australian Financial Review – Focused on ASIC's warning to 1.8 million mortgage holders to check their offset accounts.

The Guardian Australia – Reported that banks overcharged customers by more than $55 million due to offset account failures and explained what affected borrowers should do.

Yahoo Finance Australia – Covered the compensation owed to customers and the impact on homeowners.

news.com.au – Reported on the $55 million repayment and urged Australians to check whether they had been affected.

The Australian – Focused on the systemic failures identified by ASIC and the potential regulatory consequences.

The Adviser – Covered the issue from the banking and mortgage industry perspective.

Business News Australia – Reported ASIC's findings and detailed the compensation paid by banks.

What are the potential ramifications for the organisation?

For the organisations involved (the banks), the potential ramifications include:

1. Reputational damage – Customers may lose trust in the banks after learning they were overcharged, which could harm customer loyalty and the banks' public image.

2. Financial costs – Banks may have to repay affected customers with interest, pay compensation, and invest in upgrading their systems to prevent similar errors.

3. Regulatory action – The Australian Securities and Investments Commission (ASIC) may increase scrutiny of the banks and could impose enforcement action or penalties if breaches of financial services laws are identified.

4. Loss of customers – Some customers may refinance or switch to competing banks that they perceive as more trustworthy.

5. Operational changes – Banks will likely need to improve internal controls, compliance processes, staff training, and technology to ensure mortgage offset accounts are managed correctly.

6. Negative media attention – Ongoing coverage by major news outlets may keep the issue in the public eye, prolonging reputational damage and increasing pressure from customers, regulators, and shareholders.

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WHAT IS THE ISSUE??

On Wednesday morning Telstra, one of Australia's leading telecommunications companies experienced a nation wide outage. This leaving many customers unable to make calls, use mobile data or access internet services.

WHAT ORGANISATION IS IMPACTED??

The main organisation impacted was Telstra, Australia's largest telecommunications company. The outage also affected millions of Telstra customers, including individuals, businesses, government services, emergency workers, and organisations that rely on Telstra's mobile and internet networks. Many businesses experienced disruptions to payments, communications, and daily operations.

WHAT NEWS OUTLETS COVERED THE ISSUE??

The outage was reported on numerous bases including free to air tv, media posts, websites and radio. This issue was mentioned across many of Australia's top news outlets including Nine, ABC News, The Australian, The Guardian, 7NEWS and much more.

WHAT ARE THE POTENTIAL RAMIFICATIONS FOR THE ORGANISATION??

The outage could seriously damage Telstra's reputation and reduce customer trust, leading some people and businesses to switch to other providers. Telstra may face financial losses from compensation claims, increased customer support costs, and possible investigations by regulators. The incident may also encourage the company to invest more in improving network reliability and preventing future outages.

https://www.nine.com.au/australia-news/unacceptable-telstra-slammed-as-death-probed-20260710-p60e6c.html

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1. What is the issue?

Kogan, an online retail company, has been selling popular products at a higher price on a secondary, “clone” website called Exclusive Brands to make more profit.

2. Is it a significant issue (are there numerous news articles)?

Yes, it has become a significant issue. Other than the ABC, this issue has been covered by outlets such as the ACS and Inside Retail Australia.

3. Name an organisation that might be affected.

Kogan.

4. Find at least one or two links to different news items.

-              https://ia.acs.org.au/article/2026/kogan--clone--site-sparks-pricing-concerns.html

-              https://insideretail.com.au/digital/report-reveals-kogans-clone-website-offers-same-products-at-higher-price-202607

-              https://www.ragtrader.com.au/news/kogan-caught-running-clone-website

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Michael Atkin and Maryanne Taouk and Lucy Kent

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Kogan running ‘clone’ website selling same products at higher prices

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An ABC investigation has discovered that leading online retailer Kogan is operating a second website called Exclusive Brands, selling the same products with large price hikes.

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FIFA referee's integrity questioned by Egypt

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FIFA referee's integrity questioned by Egypt

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1. Is this significant?

This incident is highly significant as this may have a large effect on the integrity of the FIFA organisations Referee's for the world cup.

2. What organisations are involved?

FIFA, Team Egypt, Team Argentina

https://www.reuters.com/sports/soccer/fifa-refereeing-chief-rejects-claims-bias-argentinas-win-over-egypt-2026-07-09/

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‘Cannot remain silent’: Egypt demands FIFA investigate World Cup referees

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Egypt remains incensed at French referee Francois Letexier after his performance in the Round of 16 clash against Argentina at the FIFA World Cup.

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What is the issue?

An earthquake hit Japan's island, causing buildings to collapse, fires and widespread damage.

Is it a significant issue (are there numerous news articles)?

Yes, there are multiple articles talking about this issue.

Name an organisation that might be affected

Sony

Find at least one or two links to different news items

https://www.smh.com.au/world/asia/powerful-earthquake-hits-japan-injuring-at-least-50-20260728-p60jf6.html

https://www.nine.com.au/world-news/asia/powerful-earthquake-japan-kumamoto-kyushu-20260728-p60je9.html

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Major traffic delays on Sydney's M5 motorway as tunnel ventilator fan repaired

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Major traffic delays on Sydney's M5 motorway as tunnel ventilator fan repaired

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What is the issue?

Sydney commuters experienced major peak hour traffic delays on the M5 motorway because of repairs.

Aerial footage and an online traffic monitoring site shows drivers backed up more than 10 kilometres.

Is it a significant issue (are there numerous news articles)?

Yes, the are many local news reports covering this topic.

Name an organisation that might be affected

Transurban

Find at least one or two links to different news items

https://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/subscribe/news/1/?sourceCode=DTWEB_WRE170_a_GGL&dest=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.dailytelegraph.com.au%2Fnews%2Fnsw%2Fthe-incident-room-emergency-tunnel-repairs-shut-m5-east-causing-peakhour-traffic-chaos%2Fnews-story%2F82c11262d6ba0e38cdf7842381c2a413&memtype=anonymous&mode=premium&v21=GROUPA-Segment-2-NOSCORE

https://7news.com.au/news/traffic-chaos-as-tunnel-closed-sydneys-m5-east-motorway-c-22643139

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Traffic on the M5 motorway has been backed up for more than 10 kilometres due to the closure of city-bound lanes on the M5.

Transurban, which operates the road, closed the tunnel earlier this morning in order to repair a ventilator fan.

Aerial footage and the Live Traffic website show cars backed up from the closure point near Beverly Hills, all the way to Milperra.

Transport for New South Wales coordinator-general Howard Collins urged drivers to avoid the area as the delays are not expected to be resolved until after the morning peak.

"I'd ask people, if you don't need to travel in that area, maybe stay at home or do something different and if you do need to travel, take your time, be patient with people,"

Mr Collins said.

He said diversions were in place via King Georges Road and Stoney Creek Road, and the M8 is open, but those roads were also heavily congested.

Mr Collins said Transurban crews were at the site working to repair the fan, work which would require a crane.

"It's the physical nature of this fan, which needs to be removed, does negate anyone using the tunnel," he said.

"The engineers are all down there, they're working as hard as they can ... but it's going to take time.

"Obviously this was an undiscovered fault which they found overnight."

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Fan fault shuts Sydney's M5 in morning rush, causing 10km of traffic chaos

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Traffic on the M5 motorway has been backed up for more than 10 kilometres, due to the closure of city-bound lanes on the M5 .

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1: The Sydney M5 East motorway was shut down during this morning's rush due to emergency maintenance works.

2: Yes.

3: Transport for NSW.

4: https://7news.com.au/news/traffic-chaos-as-tunnel-closed-sydneys-m5-east-motorway-c-22643139

https://www.smh.com.au/national/nsw/huge-delays-as-sydney-motorway-closed-after-tunnel-discovery-20260729-p60jht.html

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Traffic on the M5 motorway has been backed up for more than 10 kilometres due to the closure of city-bound lanes on the M5.

Transurban, which operates the road, closed the tunnel earlier this morning in order to repair a ventilator fan.

Aerial footage and the Live Traffic website show cars backed up from the closure point near Beverly Hills, all the way to Milperra.

Transport for New South Wales coordinator-general Howard Collins urged drivers to avoid the area as the delays are not expected to be resolved until after the morning peak.

"I'd ask people, if you don't need to travel in that area, maybe stay at home or do something different and if you do need to travel, take your time, be patient with people,"

Mr Collins said.

He said diversions were in place via King Georges Road and Stoney Creek Road, and the M8 is open, but those roads were also heavily congested.

Mr Collins said Transurban crews were at the site working to repair the fan, work which would require a crane.

"It's the physical nature of this fan, which needs to be removed, does negate anyone using the tunnel," he said.

"The engineers are all down there, they're working as hard as they can ... but it's going to take time.

"Obviously this was an undiscovered fault which they found overnight."

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Fan fault shuts Sydney's M5 in morning rush, causing 10km of traffic chaos

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Traffic on the M5 motorway has been backed up for more than 10 kilometres, due to the closure of city-bound lanes on the M5 .

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Origin Energy investigating potential data breach 

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Origin Energy investigating potential data breach 

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Issue: Australian news outlets reported a hacker had sent in a sample of 50 customer records containing names, addresses, emails, dates of birth, phone numbers and bill history.

What organisation is impacted?

Origin Energy

Which news outlets covered the issue?

7 news, ABC News, 9 News, Sky news Australian, The Australian

Potential Ramifications:

Upon announcement, shares in the company quickly dropped by 1.88 percent

Can lead to customers debating on "How serious Origin takes security"

Group: Sienna-Rose, Alex, Arsha, Jenesis

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Tessa Flemming and Emilia Terzon and Cam Wilson

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Origin Energy investigating ‘potential’ customer data breach

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Origin Energy says it does not believe customer credit card or bank details have been affected by a suspected data breach at the company.

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1.What is the issue in the news?

A mid-air malfunction of a Ryanair plane caused serious injuries for a traveller.

2. What organisation is impacted?

RyanAir

3. What news outlets covered the issue? Wide coverage – internationally and in Australia

4.What are the potential ramifications for the organisation?

Loss of customers. Loss of customer trust. Financial losses. Safety Infringements. Reputational damage. The airline could be significantly impacted.

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Australia's Emergency Plan Starts with Carpooling, Escalates to Fuel Caps - The Sydney Morning Herald

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Australia's Emergency Plan Starts with Carpooling, Escalates to Fuel Caps - The Sydney Morning Herald

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What is the issue?

Fuel prices, lack of transparency with the country's fuel supply, and no immediate support from the government, especially for low-income households

Trust Score?

2/10

Edelman Report?

Pay gap (income division high), some are better off than others, but still no support for those affected by the cost of living

Group: Caitlin, Fadel, Nikola, Sabina

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Australia’s emergency plan starts with carpooling, escalates to fuel caps

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Environment Minister Murray Watt on Wednesday dismissed the prospect of a cap at $40, as that figure was used as a hypothetical example seven years ago.

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Israel says it will hold off striking key Iranian natural gas field as war rattles energy markets

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Israel says it will hold off striking key Iranian natural gas field as war rattles energy markets

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Jon Gambrell, Julie Watson, And Natalie Melzer, The Associated Press about an hour ago

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Israel says it will hold off striking key Iranian natural gas field as war rattles energy markets

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DUBAI, United Arab Emirates (AP) — Israel pledged to refrain from more strikes on a key Iranian gas field after Iran intensified attacks Thursday on oil and natural gas facilities around the Gulf, raising the stakes in a war that has sent shock w

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1.What is the issue?

Trump made a sarcastic remark about the attack on Pearl Harbor during a meeting with the Japanese Prime Minister.

2.Is it a significant issue?

Yes. There is a possibility that the Japanese public's views and opinions towards Trump and the United States could become more aggressive. In addition, it could potentially trigger Japan's participation in a war, given that Japan has renounced its right to wage war.

3.Which organization is involved?

Japanese government

American government

Trade between Japan and the United States

https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/donald-trump/pearl-harbor-joke-iran-operation-meeting-japan-prime-minister-war-rcna264325

https://www.nytimes.com/2026/03/19/us/politics/trump-japan-pearl-harbor-oval-office-takaichi.html

https://www.9news.com.au/world/donald-trump-pearl-harbor-japanese-prime-minister-sane-takaichi-usa-politics-news/3503f82c-91b9-466e-b287-0d8f09c74842

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Trump mocks Japan about Pearl Harbor in response to question about Iran war

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US president was meeting with Japanese PM when he said: ‘Who knows better about surprise than Japan?’

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Netanyahu says Israel 'acted alone' in attack on Iranian gas field

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Netanyahu says Israel 'acted alone' in attack on Iranian gas field

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Whats the issue?

Israel hit Iran's South Pars - part of the world's largest natural gas field - and Tehran retaliated by striking an energy complex in Qatar and attacking other energy targets in the Gulf.

The attacks led to a spike in energy prices and US President Donald Trump later posted he had not known about them in advance.

Is it a significant issue?

yes, The attacks on energy infrastructure marked an escalation in the war launched by the US and Israel against Iran, which had already responded by restricting shipping through the Strait of Hormuz.

About a fifth of the 100m barrels of oil that the world consumes every day usually travels via the Strait of Hormuz, which runs along part of Iran's coast.

Name an organisation that might be affected ?

Iran's government organisation

Middle Eastern governments and economies

Global Stock indices

https://www.nbcnews.com/world/iran/iran-war-gas-field-attacks-energy-prices-trump-israel-south-pars-rcna264249

https://www.1news.co.nz/2026/03/19/israeli-attack-hits-major-natural-gas-field-in-iran/

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Netanyahu says Israel ‘acted alone’ in attack on Iranian gas field

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Speaking at a news conference, the Israeli leader said Trump had requested that there be no further such attacks.

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Trump compares Iran attack to Pearl Harbor in front of Japan's PM

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Trump compares Iran attack to Pearl Harbor in front of Japan's PM

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1 what the issue is

Trump used sensitive information to refer as war in midwest.

2 Which organization is involved

Japanese goverment

American goverment

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Trump compares Iran attack to Pearl Harbor in front of Japan’s PM

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Donald Trump has defended his surprise attack on Iran by comparing it to Pearl Harbor while he sat next to…

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Intensifying Tropical Cyclone Narelle takes aim at Australia with destructive winds, flooding, and storm surge

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The cyclone is expected to make landfall in Far North Queensland on Friday, March 20, before tracking westward toward the eastern Northern Territory over the weekend.

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Experts warn of 50 per cent food price spike as fuel crisis deepens

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Australians are being warned to brace for a massive surge in food prices as the escalating conflict in the…

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https://7news.com.au/sunrise/entertainment/kyle-sandilands-axed-by-arn-after-jackie-o-fallout--c-21978917

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Kyle Sandilands’ contract terminated in bombshell decision

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Sandilands confirmed the decision in a statement, saying he doesn’t accept it.

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Iranian women's football team begin journey home after five withdraw asylum claims in Australia

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Iranian women's football team begin journey home after five withdraw asylum claims in Australia

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What is the issue?

The team have decided to go home after the Australian government offered Asylum in the country from the war.

What organisation?

Iranian Women's football team, Australian Government

Could this work as a Media Audit Topic?

Yes, as it covers issues from wars and violence.

Is it likely to continue and evolve?

Yes, as it is a current and growing situation

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The Iranian women's soccer team has begun making their way home from Malaysia, after five players withdrew their claims for asylum in Australia.

The group departed on a flight bound for Oman on Monday night.

The Asian Football Confederation (AFC) said it had been supporting the squad in Kuala Lumpur, where they had been staying since leaving Sydney last week.

Iran war live updates: For the latest news on the Middle East crisis, read our blog.

The team spent several hours at the Kuala Lumpur airport on Monday night with Iranian embassy staff.

AFC general secretary Windsor John said earlier he was not aware of the team's travel plans after Oman as it had been arranged by the Iranian embassy.

"We have spoken to the team officials. We have spoken to the coaches, the head of delegation," he said.

"They are actually in high spirits.

"They are not demotivated or they didn't look afraid."

Mr John said he would regularly check up on the players when they were back in Iran.

Concerns over the safety of the team first emerged after the players failed to sing the national anthem at a women's Asian Cup match.

Seven team members, including a player handler, were granted humanitarian visas by the Australian government fearing persecution if they returned to Iran.

But five have since withdrawn their claims and opted to return home.

Esmail Baghaei, a spokesperson for Iran's foreign ministry, said the country "[took] pride" in the footballers "who did not fall for the hypocritical temptation of Australian officials".

"What happened in Australia was a very clear example of hypocrisy and deceit," he said.

"On the one hand, you massacre Iranian girls in Minab, and at the same time you become excited about taking photos with Iranian women footballers."

Local Iranian diaspora members campaigning for the women to stay claim that the staff member granted asylum was passing on threats from the Iranian regime.

Government sources have previously said they looked into those claims and had no reason to believe them.

Expert analysis on the Middle East:

Two players remain in Australia and have been moved to an undisclosed safe location.

They are receiving support from the government and the Iranian diaspora community in Australia.
Reuters/ABC

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Iranian women's football team head home after five decline asylum

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The Iranian women's football team leave Malaysia for the Middle East after five players withdraw their claims for asylum in Australia.

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https://7news.com.au/news/prime-minister-anthony-albanese-calls-an-emergency-national-cabinet-meeting-as-the-fuel-crisis-deepens-c-21979811

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PM calls emergency national cabinet as the fuel crisis deepens

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Global supply pressures amid the war in Iran are now colliding with surging demand at home.

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group 5 - ashanti , james , rami - week 3 

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group 5 - ashanti , james , rami - week 3 

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Issue : The issue is a growing conflict between the US/Israel and Iran, causing global tension and disagreement between countries.

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Live: Trump says US ‘no longer’ needs NATO allies, Australia in Iran war

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Donald Trump says the US “do not need the help of anyone” in the war against Iran, calling out NATO allies and Australia in a fiery social media post. Follow live.

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Decision on Kyle Sandilands’ radio future imminent

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‘The listeners want me back on there doing the show.’

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Major banks announce interest rate increase after Reserve Bank lifts crash rate by 0.25 per cent

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Major banks announce interest rate increase after Reserve Bank lifts crash rate by 0.25 per cent

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Yes, this is significant.

organisations impacted include major banks, customers,

Will this be an ongoing issue? Yes, as it will impact Australians drastically.

https://www.abc.net.au/news/2026-03-17/australian-banks-rba-interest-rates-response/106462942

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RBA interest rates decision as it happened: Reserve Bank raises rates to 4.1 per cent, Bullock says recession a ‘possibility’, NAB passes rate hike on to mortgage holders

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The Reserve Bank of Australia voted 5-4 to raise interest rates for the second time this year.

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group 2 - julia, pam, stanley, mary, ngoc week 3

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group 2 - julia, pam, stanley, mary, ngoc week 3

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https://www.9news.com.au/national/lidcombe-news-two-men-charged-after-fatal-shooting-of-38yearold-man-in-sydneys-west/e60aa3c4-bafe-44ad-934e-9020c73e9733

Issue: Lidcombe shooting

Signficance: Local violence emerging in Sydney's west

Who's involved: Police, News reporters, Victim's families, people living in that suburb

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Third man charged with murder over underworld shooting

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Police say their work is not done yet after arresting a third person over the targeted attack on 38-year-ol…

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https://www.abc.net.au/news/2026-03-17/australian-banks-rba-interest-rates-response/106462942?utm_campaign=abc_news_web&utm_content=link&utm_medium=content_shared&utm_source=abc_news_web

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Major banks respond to Reserve Bank cash rate increase

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Australia’s four major banks respond to the Reserve Bank of Australia’s decision to increase the national cash rate to 4.1 per cent.

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Major banks respond to Reserve Bank cash rate increase

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Australia’s four major banks respond to the Reserve Bank of Australia’s decision to increase the national cash rate to 4.1 per cent.

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1. Whats the issue?

Back in February 2026, Paramount acquired Warner Brothers in a $156 billion mega deal, after Netflix stepped out of their agreement. Consolidation is a concern.

2. Is it a significant issue?

Yes, it has been discussed throughout several different news broadcast across all platforms, to television and newspapers. Major outlets like ABC, The Hollywood Reporter, The Guardian, The Dailey Telegraph, SBS News and others have published stories regarding the situation.

3. Name an organisation that may be affected:

Streaming services, companies owned by Warner Brothers and Paramount, HBO, independently owned cinemas, independent film makers.

4. other links

https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/business/business-news/warner-bros-discovery-secret-bidder-david-zaslav-payout-1236535350/

https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/c20j5n2w4q6o

https://theconversation.com/paramount-acquires-warner-bros-discovery-in-mega-deal-the-winners-losers-and-trumps-man-in-the-middle-277220

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What the Warner Bros deal could mean for streaming and movie theatres

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The proposed takeover of Warner Bros by Paramount could reshape Hollywood, movie theatres and the wider media landscape.

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1. What is the issue:

The issue is not necessary the flights being cancelled its the result of the company providing an unclear and restricted solution of customer credits.

2. Which organisation is involved:

The organisation involved in Australian major airline company Qantas. another company involved is Echo, who filed the class action. Additional to the federal court would be considered involved.

3. Why it caught your attentionIs it a significant issue?

The national branch is one of Australia's trustworthy and most reliable airline company. This is also not the first time the company has been under the spotlight, with previous issues regarding Alan Joyce and the financial management.

4. Links https://www.9news.com.au/national/qantas-settles-covid-class-action-for-105-million-dollars/5328147d-ccf8-4e0b-8af7-a5ff6622fd89

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Qantas to pay $105m after class action over cancelled COVID flights

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Hundreds of thousands of customers are expected to receive compensation, stemming from when Qantas gave customers restricted flight credits instead of cash refunds as COVID halted the aviation sector.

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Several players from the Iranian women’s national football team sought asylum in Australia while competing in the 2026 AFC Women’s Asian Cup. They did this because they feared punishment or persecution if they returned home to Iran, especially after Iranian state media labelled them “traitors” for refusing to sing the national anthem before a match. Some have been granted humanitarian visas so they can stay in Australia safely.

Is it a significant issue?

Yes — this story has been widely covered in international and Australian media, with multiple news outlets reporting on the asylum requests, political reactions, and human rights implications. Major outlets including Al Jazeera, The Guardian, ABC News (Australia), SBS News, and others have published stories on the situation. There has also been ongoing coverage of diplomatic tensions and reactions from sports organisations.

Name an organisation that might be affected

Football Federation Islamic Republic of Iran (FFIRI) — the governing body for football in Iran, which is directly involved as the national federation for the team and is affected by both the sporting and political fallout of the asylum situation.

https://www.abc.net.au/news/2026-03-13/fifa-human-rights-responsibility-iran-womens-asian-cup-asylum/106437804?utm_source

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The plight of the Iranian women's football team in Australia has exposed a gap between the words and actions of FIFA and the Asian Football Confederation (AFC) when it comes to human rights, according to some experts.

Neither football's governing body nor the organisers of the Women's Asian Cup could confirm if a human rights risk assessment took place before the tournament, despite requests from the global players' union FIFPRO.

And a growing chorus is urging the sport's powerbrokers to protect the members of the women's team currently making the journey home, while ensuring there is not a repeat of the situation at the upcoming men's World Cup.

Even before the US and Israeli strikes on Tehran occurring a day before the first Women's Asian Cup match, there were ongoing concerns for the safety of the travelling women's team after tens of thousands of protesters were killed in the months prior.

Iran's last appearance at a global football tournament, the 2022 men's World Cup in Qatar, was also marked by protests against the regime.

The Woman, Life, Freedom movement featured prominently in the wake of Mahsa Amini's death in the custody of the nation's so-called morality police, with the men's team in Qatar performing similar actions around the anthem - not singing before their first game - to the women's team at the Asian Cup.

Dr Leila Khanjaninejad, an Iranian-Australian gender equity researcher at the University of Technology Sydney, said "most of us knew" something similar could occur at the Asian Cup, and organisers should have been able to foresee it too.

"These governing bodies cannot wait for the crisis to happen and become public, then take action," Dr Khanjaninejad told ABC Sport.

"Even though there is a human rights commitment from FIFA and AFC on paper, we are seeing very explicitly that there is a gap between the commitments they have on paper and the protection they offer in practice to athletes.

The smiles and joy seen in pictures of the seven members of the Iranian women's football team who sought asylum in Australia only tell part of the story, with many still scared for their families back home.

"Nobody is expecting them to resolve the geopolitics or the big issues, but these are very powerful organisations and they have the responsibility not to just run a tournament but to protect the people inside them."

Members of the Iranian-Australian community have started a petition, to ask FIFA to protect the players who are returning to Iran.

"After all, FIFA's role is to support footballers, and it needs to understand the situation our female football players are facing," Haleh Nazari, who is gathering signatures, told ABC News in Farsi.

"FIFA must know what conditions our women footballers are living under, and how they and their families may be at risk.

"We hope they can help ensure their safety.

"So far, FIFA has shown no [public] reaction to what has happened to the Iranian women's national team, and we remain very concerned for the players' lives."

What are FIFA's human rights obligations?

In 2017, FIFA published what it described as a "landmark" human rights policy on the back of a report by Harvard professor John Ruggie.

It came after questions were raised about human rights abuses in the lead-up to the 2018 men's World Cup in Russia, and the awarding of the 2022 edition to Qatar.

The policy says FIFA adheres to the United Nations' Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights, and "embraces all internationally recognised human rights", including the International Bill of Human Rights.

There are a number of pillars governing this policy, including identifying and addressing "potential and actual adverse human rights impacts associated with its activities and address[ing] such risks through adequate prevention and mitigation measures".

A large part of that is due diligence to "continuously identify" any issues that may crop up in relation to a FIFA-sanctioned event.

The policy also stipulates regular and transparent communication from FIFA with stakeholders and the general public about its human rights efforts.

The AFC is one of FIFA's six continental confederations, which is then comprised of the 211 national associations.

FIFPRO says it raised concerns over Iranian players' safety with FIFA and the AFC in February.

FIFPRO Asia/Oceania president Beau Busch told ABC Sport there should have been "a comprehensive human rights impact assessment" carried out before the tournament.

"That would've identified the risk of political persecution to players potentially seeking asylum [and ensured] there was available support services for them to understand their rights in relation to that," he said.

Australia initially granted five Iranian players asylum after their Women's Asian Cup campaign. So, who are they?

"We're not aware of that having occurred, we really believe that should have occurred and that certainly needs to occur going forward ahead of all major tournaments."

FIFA ordered the Australian Human Rights Commission (AHRC) and its New Zealand counterpart to conduct an independent assessment for the last global football tournament in Australia, the 2023 Women's World Cup, and it was handed down in 2021.

That report flagged the possibility of some members of visiting teams seeking asylum, based on similar instances at the 2000 Sydney Olympics and 2018 Gold Coast Commonwealth Games.

Within that, the report raised concerns about the potential for refoulement, when an asylum seeker or refugee is forced to return to a country where they are likely to face persecution.

"The AHRC was not asked to conduct a similar assessment for the 2026 AFC Women's Asian Cup ... [and] is not aware if a similar risk assessment was done," a spokesperson told the ABC.

ABC Sport has contacted FIFA and the AFC several times to address the claims they did not conduct a human rights assessment, and to get their response to the evolving situation involving the Iranian women's team.

FIFA only provided this statement earlier in the week.

"The safety and security of IR Iran's women's national team are FIFA's priority, and we therefore remain in close contact with the AFC and the relevant Australian authorities, including Football Australia, in relation to the team's situation."

Dr Catherine Ordway is a sport integrity expert and visiting scholar at UNSW's School of Business Canberra and said FIFA's silence is damning.

"[FIFA should tell the Iranian authorities] if you want to play at the FIFA Men's World Cup, then you need to ensure the safety of the players and their families, and that includes the Iranian women's team and their families," Dr Ordway said.

"But I haven't heard publicly that FIFA's making that statement. Perhaps there are negotiations going on privately behind the scenes, and I hope there are.

"If FIFA wants to award a peace prize to the President of the United States, Donald Trump, then they can also make statements in support of people who are being threatened with their lives."

Political forces in AFC

The safety of the Iranian women's team became a global talking point after they did not sing the national anthem before their first Asian Cup game against South Korea.

After being labelled "traitors" on Iranian state TV they sang and saluted during the anthem in their next two matches against Australia and Philippines, sparking fears that the players were being put under pressure to show deference to the state.

"It was very visible they are under too much pressure, they are under surveillance," Dr Khanjaninejad said.

It was alleged that the travelling Iranian entourage included people with ties to the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), an organisation on the Australian government's list of state sponsors of terrorism since November.

After the increasing urgency over the fate of Iran's women's football team over the past few days, the breakthrough came last night, when five players were able to seek independent advice.

Human rights advocate and former Socceroo Craig Foster has been vocal this week, applying pressure on FIFA and the AFC to publicly comment and act.

"We understand football politics very well, Iran is a very powerful member of the Asian Football Confederation," he told ABC Radio Canberra.

"Expecting any sport politic body, whether it's the IOC or FIFA or otherwise to act in these situations against powerful member federations is probably folly.

"Therefore the only leverage that can be applied two forms is internally by the Australian government, and publicly."

The political webs are tangled in the AFC.

The AFC's president, Shaikh Salman bin Ebrahim Al Khalifa, is a member of Bahrain's royal family.

Hakeem al-Araibi, the Bahrain-born Australian footballer, who was held in Thai detention for several months, has previously criticised Shaikh Salman for not supporting the campaign to release him from detention.

At the time he said: "How can he [Shaikh Salman] be a 'fit and proper' leader for football in our region?"

The head of the Football Federation Islamic Republic of Iran, Mehdi Taj, is also one of the five AFC vice presidents.

He is a former IRGC commander and still believed to have strong links to the regime.

There is also a vice-president from Lebanon, which is currently involved in the war in the Middle East.

Lessons must be learned

There are doubts over whether Iran's men's team will compete in the upcoming men's World Cup to be hosted in North America from June.

The country's sports minister said Iran could not compete in the USA, after US forces launched air strikes alongside Israel.

Dr Khanjaninejad says if they do end up participating, lessons must be learned from the Asian Cup.

"[FIFA] need to take proactive actions revealing how the risk was handled during the tournament and building a very formal protocol, step by step practical one, what they want to do in future cases for other athletes," she said.

"So they are not depending on ad hoc advocacy or public pressure or political intervention, which all happened in this case.

"They also need to think about athletes who are now returning to Iran who are going to be under so much pressure.

"How are they going to protect these athletes?

"I think we can highly anticipate that it's going to happen with the men's team as well, and what FIFA will do then, I don't know.

"Are they going to learn the lessons or not?"

Promotion

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FIFA, AFC accused of failing their human rights obligations with Iranian players

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Pressure is growing on FIFA and the Asian Football Confederation to help the members of the Iranian women's football team returning home, and their families, and to learn lessons ahead of the men's World Cup.

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1. What's the issue?

The Great Western Highway, a major road connecting Sydney to Western New South Wales has been closed at Victoria Pass.

2. Is it a significant issue?

Yes - there a multiple headlines created by more than 10 Australian news outlets discussing this issue.

3. What organisations will be affected?

Schools around the area, companies who rely on truck drivers to transport their products (The alternatives routes are said to be more dangerous for heavy duty vehicles), The Blue Mountains Council, local businesses.

4. other links

https://bigrigs.com.au/2026/03/09/major-freight-route-shuts-due-to-causeway-defects/

https://www.abc.net.au/news/2026-03-13/great-western-highway-closed-three-months/106449956

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Rufous Whistler – arrival of a summer songbird

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Work around the clock but ‘no timeline’ for reopening Great Western Highway

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The critical connection from the central west to the city closed overnight Sunday or Monday morning.

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F1 Owner loses over $2 Billion over middle east war. 

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F1 Owner loses over $2 Billion over middle east war. 

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1. What's the issue: Investors sold shares of owner Liberty Formula One Group, causing the stock price to fall about 7%, which reduced its market capitalisation by about $1.9 billion.

2. Is it a significant issue:

Yes, multiple articles have been released with headlines breaking in the finance sector.

3. Why has it caught so much attention? The fear over middle eastern war and closing down of F1 in Bahrain has been going viral.

4. What Organizations are involved?

Investment Banks

Bahrain Government ( misses out on fees for hosting the F1)

F1 Teams and Sponsors

Domestic and Foreign Investors

5. Other Links:

https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2026-03-06/f1-owner-s-nearly-2-billion-rout-after-iran-clouds-new-season

https://www.sadanews.ps/en/news/282525.html

https://theedgemalaysia.com/node/795274

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F1 owner loses over $2 billion as Iran war clouds Middle East races

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Investors sold shares of owner Liberty Formula One Group, causing the stock price to fall about 7%, which reduced its market capitalisation by about $1.9 billion.

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What is issue?

US military’s aircraft crashed to the building in Iran.

Is it the significant issues?

Yes

It is expecting that the relationship between Iran and US could be worse than before. This is because it has negative effects on US. Also, it is expected that other countries can be included to war.

3 Why it caught so much attention?

The fear about happening war and can be included war for people in the world. War is no longer things which is happening other world.

4 What organization is involving? Organization which might be affected.

US Military

Iran government

Aircraft company

5 Other links

https://www.nytimes.com/2026/03/11/us/politics/iran-school-missile-strike.html

https://www.bbc.com/news/live/c4gqjyk0vx3t

https://www.cbsnews.com/news/u-s-military-plane-crashes-in-iraq-as-status-of-crew-is-unknown-officials-said/

https://www.politico.com/news/2026/03/12/us-military-plane-crashes-in-iraq-amid-war-with-iran-00827233

https://thehill.com/policy/defense/5781924-us-military-kc-135-crash/

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The government is not speaking plainly about joining the war effort in the Middle East

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The government is not speaking plainly about joining the war effort in the Middle East

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What is the issue?

Anthony Albanese has deployed various military aircraft in light of the Iran war, stating to 'help protect and defend the region' of the UAE. Furthermore, he has sent 85 personnel and 'air-to-air missiles' which are able to shoot down air drones.

Is it a significant issue (are there numerous news articles)?

Yes- multiple articles have began discussing this issue through-out media as well as our country is being brought into this war more and more as it evolves.

Name an organisation that might be affected

The Australian Government would be most affected as they now have a standard to follow through with their decision to provide aid to those in the UAE as well as protect those citizens in Australia ensuring that the war is not brought to our country and putting us at danger

Find at least one or two links to different news items

https://www.abc.net.au/news/2026-03-10/speaking-plainly-if-australia-is-at-war-with-iran-government/106437946

https://theconversation.com/australia-is-sending-an-aircraft-and-personnel-to-the-middle-east-does-this-mean-we-are-entering-the-war-277958

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foreign affairs correspondent Stephen Dziedzic

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Is Australia at war? Legally, the answer is yes

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It’s a reasonable question for Australians to ask given the government is sending a sophisticated reconnaissance plane — crewed by dozens of military personnel — to the Middle East. And legal experts say the answer is yes.

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Indonesia ban social media and other online platforms for under 16s

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Indonesia ban social media and other online platforms for under 16s

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1. What the issue is

Indonesia decided to prohibit under 16s to use social media to protect them from online abuse.

2. Which organization is involved?

Regulated platforms and companies using social media for PR.

3. Why it caught my attention?

In my country, Japan, it is considered to regulate children's use of social media by the new prime minister, so I was curious about which countries have such regulation.

https://www.abc.net.au/news/2026-03-07/indonesia-to-ban-social-media-for-under-16s/106427038

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Lesthia Kertopati and Astudestra Ajengrastri

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Indonesia to ban social media and other online platforms for under 16s

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It is the latest country to curb young people’s access to digital spaces to try and protect them from abuse.

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foreign affairs correspondent Stephen Dziedzic

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Is Australia at war? Legally, the answer is yes

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It’s a reasonable question for Australians to ask given the government is sending a sophisticated reconnaissance plane — crewed by dozens of military personnel — to the Middle East. And legal experts say the answer is yes.

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Iran war updates: US bases will be attacked unless closed, says Khamenei

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Iran war updates: US bases will be attacked unless closed, says Khamenei

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Iran war updates: US bases will be attacked unless closed, says Khamenei | US-Israel war on Iran News | Al Jazeera

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Australia to send air-to-air missiles to Middle East to help defend UAE from Iranian attacks

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Australia to send air-to-air missiles to Middle East to help defend UAE from Iranian attacks

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Issue: Australia getting involved with the war

Significance: Our country is getting more and more involved as the days go on. How does this affect us?

Organisations affected: petrol stations, grocery stores, farmers

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SkyNews.com.au — Australian News Headlines & World News Online from the best award winning journalists

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Bad Bunny’s Austrailan debut drew a record 89,000 fans. These fans explain why it was such a big deal

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Almost 90-thousand people have packed a Sydney stadium to see Bad Bunny’s first live concerts in Australia. It’s a record for the ENGIE Stadium, underlining the global audience for music sung in Spanish, including among Western audiences that don’t understand or speak the language.

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Members of Iranian Women's Football Team seeking asylum as fears grow over returning home.

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Members of Iranian Women's Football Team seeking asylum as fears grow over returning home.

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1. What is the issue?

The team refused to sing their national anthem in a game against South Korea in protest against the Iranian regime which resulted in backlash in Iran where they were labelled traitors.

2. Is it a significant issue?

Yes it has been discussed through domestic and international media for the past week.

3. Organisations that might be affected:

The Australian government, the Iranian government and any business affected by relations between the two.

4. Links:

https://www.theguardian.com/football/2026/mar/09/iran-women-football-team-australia-asian-cup

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Seven members of Iran’s women’s football team have sought asylum, ABC understands

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Home Affairs Minister Tony Burke, who was at the airport ahead of the team’s departure, says border force officials made multiple representations to the players before they were due to depart Sydney.

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Break out room 3

1. what is the issue?

Campbelltown TAFE placed into lockdown, reports of a person with a gun.

2. which organisation is involved?

Campbelltown TAFE

students and educators attending the TAFE at the specific time.

3. why it caught our attention

it showcases the dangerous nature of attending the TAFE

it caught attention because it involved a weapon being brought to the premises

There was a major police response and lockdown

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Water pistol seized after ‘gun’ scare forces TAFE lockdown

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A Sydney TAFE campus was forced into lockdown after a person was pictured walking through it with an item that resembled a gun, but which police now believe to have been a water pistol.

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Campbelltown TAFE Campus put into Lockdown after a gun was spotted

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Campbelltown TAFE Campus put into Lockdown after a gun was spotted

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What is the issue?

The media portrays the story as a campus going into lockdown after a young girl was spotted with a gun, turning out to be a water gun. This raised public concern while police were still reporting details to the media.

What organisation is involved?

Campbelltown TAFE, NSW Police, News Outlets

Why it caught your attention?

Not a usual story for Australia. Still on edge after the Bondi Shooting, fearing history repeating itself.

Can this be used as a media audit topic?

Yes, to survey the impact it had on the public with the way it was written until all details were clear.

Is it likely to evolve and continue in the media?

Yes, it'll be used by politicians and schools to enhance safety for students and all citizens.

What can you add to the issue?

Police policies and procedures could be looked into more.

Caitlin, Jasmine, Sabina, Anastacia, Nhoc Ni

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Cops seize water pistol after Sydney TAFE thrown into lockdown

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Police have seized a water pistol and spoken to a 16-year-old girl after a TAFE campus was put in lockdown…

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10/3/26 Campbelltown TAFE locked down, water pistol seized from 16yo after major police operation Narellan Rd

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10/3/26 Campbelltown TAFE locked down, water pistol seized from 16yo after major police operation Narellan Rd

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1. TAFE forced to lockdown for hours. Students in fear.

2. TAFE, Police, News

3. Close to western sydney. Impacts Students like us.

4. This issue has been sorted. Won’t last that long.

https://www.news.com.au/national/nsw-act/crime/campbelltown-tafe-locked-down-during-major-police-operation-along-narellan-rd/news-story/c0eb84103e532f1f4014a5b8c6a2c375?amp

James, Seng, Julia, Vo

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news.com.au — Australia’s leading news site for latest headlines

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A major police operation at a TAFE campus in an outer southwestern Sydney suburb has concluded, with police seizing a water pistol from a young girl after receiving reports of two individuals “acting suspiciously”.

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Middle East crisis causing Formula 1 race tracks in Bahrain and Saudi Arabia to be affected 

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Middle East crisis causing Formula 1 race tracks in Bahrain and Saudi Arabia to be affected 

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1. What is the issue?

Formula 1 race tracks in Bahrain and Saudi Arabia are under threat due to crisis happening within the Middle East affected by Israel and American bombings.

2. Is it a significant issue?

It has been discussed a lot through a number of news outlets and social media, yes it is significant.

3. Organisations that might be affected:

Tourism and hospitality companies, venue and management staff at the specific tracks who are currently being affected by the bombings.

4. https://www.news.com.au/sport/motorsport/formula-one/hospitality-events-cancelled-as-middle-east-conflict-wreaks-more-chaos-on-australian-f1-gp/news-story/472ce38ab00de508154ebe327f366d3a

https://www.bbc.com/sport/formula1/articles/c4gee8dw4q2o

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Formula 1: Bahrain and Saudi Arabia races under threat because of conflict in Middle East

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The Bahrain and Saudi Arabia Grands Prix are under threat as a consequence of the US-Israel war with Iran.

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Burger King Boss Mocks McDonald's CEO over 'awkward' viral burger video 

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Burger King Boss Mocks McDonald's CEO over 'awkward' viral burger video 

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1. What is the issue?

A video of Chris Kempczinski eating a new burger went viral because people thought it looked awkward and unnatural. After that, Burger King made a response video making fun of it, which started an online rivalry between the two brands.

2. Is it a significant issue?

Yes. It became a significant issue because many news organisations reported on it, and it spread widely on social media.

3. Organisations that can be affected include:

McDonald’s- because the CEO’s promotional video caused negative publicity and online criticism.

Burger King- which responded publicly and used the situation as part of its marketing rivalry.

4. Links:

https://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/lifestyle/food/burger-king-boss-mocks-mcdonalds-ceo-over-awkward-viral-burger-video/news-story/8aa3e387f3522ab69ba6b4de6e8ee783

https://www.theguardian.com/business/2026/mar/02/mcdonalds-ceos-awkward-taste-test?utm_source=chatgpt.com

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news.com.au — Australia’s leading news site for latest headlines

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The CEOs of two of the world’s largest fast-food chains are officially trading blows.

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What is the Issue:
The escalating war between the United States, Israel, and Iran, with continued airstrikes and attacks spreading into Lebanon, increasing tensions and violence across the Middle East.

Is it a significant issue?
Yes because it involves several countries, military strikes, and civilian casualties across the various regions.

Organisation that might be affected:

schools, hospitals, and businesses operating in the region etc.

Links:

1. The Guardian - https://www.theguardian.com/world/2026/mar/05/israel-orders-people-evacuate-beirut-suburbs-lebanon-iran

2. Associated Press – https://apnews.com/article/iran-israel-us-march-04-2026-e1c316da4ce809407122590a6872aa85

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Phoebe Hosier in Washington DC with wires

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Trump claims Iran wants to ‘make a deal’ as Hegseth flags ‘accelerating’ war

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Israel threatens further strikes in Lebanon, pulling its northern neighbour deeper into the widening conflict as the US surges its military operations inside Iran.

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Anthropic's AI Model Use in Intelligence and Government Operations 

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Anthropic's AI Model Use in Intelligence and Government Operations 

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1. Recent use of AI intelligence government and intelligence operations.

2. Because of the US military's use AI, organisations will further integrate its use in their daily operations. Daily and mundane tasks will automated, leading to junior roles becoming redundant.

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Anthropic’s AI model Claude gets popularity boost after US military feud

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Claude climbs to top of app store charts in US and UK after being blacklisted by Pentagon over ethics concerns

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A loads of flights are cancelled because of US-Israeli attacks Iran

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A loads of flights are cancelled because of US-Israeli attacks Iran

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1. So many flights are cancelled because the unstable aviation conditions.

2. It is significant issue in the world, and so many news are released recently.

3. This situation affects not only airline company, but also hotels, and travel agency.

4. https://www.abc.net.au/news/2026-03-03/us-israel-iran-airstrikes-middle-east-travel-explainer/106408908

https://www.theguardian.com/world/2026/mar/02/flights-cancelled-middle-east-travel-chaos-us-israeli-iran-conflictflights-cancelled-middle-east-travel-chaos-us-israeli-iran-conflict

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Flights cancelled as new travel warnings issued after US-Israeli strikes on Iran

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BA and Virgin Atlantic are among major airlines to ground services to the Middle East in light of the attacks.

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1 what is issue?

Price of petro which is essential for Australian society relying heavily on car increased and it is assumed that this news will be affect the individual daily life in Australia

2 Is it significant issue?

Yes

It is big issue and this accident can be last for a long time. Petro is essential for people in Australia especially people in countryside

3

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Gian De Poloni, Madigan Landry, Neve Brissenden and Niddal Mustafa

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Long queues at servos as petrol prices surge amid Middle East war

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Petrol retailers across the nation are being accused of “unconscionable” behaviour by preying on people’s anxieties as fuel prices surge in the midst of the Middle East war.

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Iran war: Emirates gives update on Dubai flights to Auckland, Christchurch

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Big airline on a reduced flight schedule but carrying some passengers and cargo.

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there are many articles available about the topic.

Tourism and Hospitality is largely affected by this issue. There is flight disruptions and airport shutdowns causing less tourists to go to Mexico and attend hotels and pay for flights.

https://www.abc.net.au/news/2026-02-24/people-dead-in-mexico-after-drug-leader-el-mencho-death/106379184

https://edition.cnn.com/world/live-news/mexico-el-mencho-killed-travel-chaos-02-23-26-intl-hnk

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More than 70 dead after Mexico’s biggest drug lord ‘El Mencho’ killed

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At least 73 people have died in the attempt to capture cartel leader Nemesio Oseguera Cervantes and in the aftermath of his death.

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Following air strikes on Iran by Israel and the US, and retaliatory strikes on the Middle East, which cleared the skies in the region as airspace closed and commercial aviation ceased, some airlines have recommenced operations, focusing on relief and repatriation flights for foreign citizens in the affected zone.

The United Arab Emirates (UAE) provided an early offer of rescue operations, flying approximately 17,500 people out of its territory on 60 aircraft between 2 and 3 March, the national General Civil Aviation Authority confirmed.

Despite the ongoing closure of Qatari airspace, Qatar Airways has begun operating a limited number of relief flights "to support passengers who are stranded due to the current situation across the region," an airline press release said.

Service Update : On 05 March 2026, due to the current situation and temporary airspace closures by the relevant authorities affecting parts of the region, Qatar Airways has started to organise and operate a limited number of relief flights to assist passengers affected by the...
- Qatar Airways (@qatarairways) March 5, 2026

Starting 5 March, the flag carrier started flying passengers from the Omani capital, Muscat, to Amsterdam, Berlin, Copenhagen, London Heathrow, Madrid, and Rome. It will also run departures from the Saudi capital, Riyadh, heading to Frankfurt.

The airline urged passengers to ensure their contact details were accurate on its website or mobile app, and said it would get in touch with them directly to communicate their flight details and next steps. Passengers were also "kindly requested not to proceed to the airport unless they have received an official notification from Qatar Airways for these flights.

Oman's Muscat_International_Airport today, where the Airport has become a main travel hub for many travelers in the region due to the suspension of flights and the closure of airspace for a number of countries in the Middle east.

Mr. Badr Al-Busaidi, Minister of Foreign Affairs... pic.twitter.com/0ImVqGWzsI
- FL360aero (@fl360aero) March 5, 2026

An airline statement said: "We are continuing to closely monitor the situation and will share further updates as soon as they become available. The safety and well-being of our passengers and crew remains our highest priority. We apologise for the disruption caused by circumstances beyond our control due to the temporary airspace closure and thank you for your patience."

Similarly, British Airways launched a series of special repatriation flights from Muscat on 5 March, for customers with pre-existing bookings, and there are no seats left on any such BA departures through to 7 March.

We are actively coordinating repatriation flights from the Middle East through the EU Civil Protection Mechanism.

We've already supported EU countries with 6 flights, bringing citizens safely to 🇧🇬, 🇮🇹, 🇦🇹, and 🇸🇰.

We're planning more flights in the coming days ⇣... pic.twitter.com/vsjhlpA6Qn
- European Commission (@EU_Commission) March 5, 2026

Virgin Atlantic flights between Dubai and London Heathrow resumed even earlier, on 4 March. Air India, flydubai, and Russia's S7 have also at least partially recommenced schedules. Etihad Airways relaunched on 6 March, while Emirates said it would not take to the skies again until almost midnight local time on 7 March.

Meanwhile, with hundreds of thousands of foreign citizens still in the region, demand for private and charter flights from Dubai has surged, with some choosing to make lengthy road trips to reach the city-state, instead of sheltering in place as advised by authorities.

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Qatar Airways and others begin repatriation flights from stricken Gulf

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Following air strikes on Iran by Israel and the US, and retaliatory strikes on the Middle East, which cleared the skies in the region as airspace

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1. International student visa has doubled in price in Australia

2. No, it was only released on the media yesterday as an article but there isn’t much coverage on it.

3. https://www.visahq.com/news/2026-03-03/au/australia-doubles-temporary-graduate-visa-fee-sparking-backlash-from-international-students/

https://www.sbs.com.au/news/article/international-education-graduate-visa-fee-hike-2-300-changes/9cfhpzb7e

https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2026/mar/03/international-student-fees-australia-visa-cost-double

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Australian Visas & Immigration Team VisaHQ

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Australia doubles Temporary Graduate visa fee, sparking backlash from international students

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The application fee for Australia’s Temporary Graduate (subclass 485) visa doubled without warning on 3 March 2026, jumping from A$2,300 to A$4,600. Student leaders say the move treats graduates like “ATMs” and may push talent to competitor countries, while universities warn of enrolment declines. Employers should expect more graduates to seek corporate sponsorship, increasing mobility budgets.

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issue - rise in violence in sydney

significance - yes there a lot of media coverage around the increase violence in sydney and melbourne

link - https://www.9news.com.au/national/potts-point-man-shot-by-police-in-inner-sydney-after-reports-of-women-being-assaulted/88618241-b8a9-42ad-b3ab-120098539c2a

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Armed man shot dead by police after allegedly attacking two women in inner-city Sydney

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A street in inner-city Sydney remains shut after police fatally shot an armed man who allegedly broke into…

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Issue: Increasing rates of home invasions in Western Sydney - Caitlin, Melanie, Kritisha, Mary

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Issue: Increasing rates of home invasions in Western Sydney - Caitlin, Melanie, Kritisha, Mary

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Significance: High, becoming a large problem in the area, especially in young people/teens

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Innocent young family mistakenly targeted in home invasion

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Confronting footage shows the group smashing windows and trying to break the door down.

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Break out room 5

Issue - Kye and Jackie O ending abruptly

Is it significant - yes significant

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news.com.au — Australia’s leading news site for latest headlines

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Kyle and Jackie O Show forced off air after shock resignation causes chaos

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Utter chaos played out on The Kyle & Jackie O Show this morning when the entire program was shut down for one hour.