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lnkd.in/gpgiEpSG📣 Introducing The Signal: Capital Brief’s latest newsletter, providing an insider look at how media, tech, entertainment and power collide in Australia.
First up: 🗞️ Nine’s $700m question
www.capitalbrief.com/newsletter/n...
🗞️ Nine’s $700m question
As Nine nears a $1.4 billion payday for its stake in Domain, attention has turned to what it could offload next.
EXCLUSIVE: The Albanese government's National Reconstruction Fund is being investigated over possible misconduct following a whistleblower complaint alleging governance failures and ongoing workplace culture issues.
www.capitalbrief.com/article/labo...IDEAS: Australia led the world in solar innovation but failed to cash in. With quantum computing, we have a second chance — if we act decisively.
Let's not repeat our solar energy mistake with quantum computing
Australia led the world in solar innovation but failed to cash in. With quantum computing, we have a second chance — if we act decisively.
After finding immense investor appetite for Guzman y Gomez on the ASX, Morgan Stanley is eager to serve up the next hot restaurant chain to the market
Morgan Stanley is hungry for Australia's next fast food IPO
After finding immense investor appetite for Guzman y Gomez on the ASX, the investment bank is eager to serve up the next hot restaurant chain to the market.
New: ABC boss Hugh Marks confirms 50 roles impacted by restructure via
@capitalbrief.com www.capitalbrief.com/briefing/abc...
ABC boss Hugh Marks confirms 50 roles impacted by restructure
The ABC will cut about 50 roles as part of a restructure that will bring an end to the late night current affairs show Q+A and introduce ABC Screen in place of its content division.
Top stories in today's Edition
- Uneasy as ABC: Hugh Marks swings the axe
- Labor's Tim Ayres on PsiQuantum, NRF revamp
- Airwallex's crypto aversion
- Michaelia Cash walks back error
Uneasy as ABC
Hugh Marks' move to cancel Q+A is part of a bigger overhaul of the ABC that's expected to include jobs cuts, as the new managing director puts his stamp on the broadcaster.
for my myriad sins, i wrote about Q+A
www.capitalbrief.com/article/qa-w...
Q+A was built for another era of media, and died with it
Once a cornerstone of the national political conversation, Q+A ultimately couldn’t survive an increasingly fractured media landscape.
The US and China have agreed in principle to a framework for deescalating trade tensions, according to reports
US and China strike in-principle agreement to ease trade war: reports
The US and China have agreed in principle to a framework for deescalating trade tensions, according to Bloomberg and The Wall Street Journal.
Scoop: ABC to axe Q+A after nearly two decades on air via
@capitalbrief.com www.capitalbrief.com/article/abc-...
ABC to axe Q+A after nearly two decades on air
The ABC is set to pull the plug on its late-night panel program, ending years of speculation over its future.
Top stories in today's Edition
- Mandarin moves: Albanese shuffles top bureaucrats
- The bizarre story of the Sydney Stock Exchange
- Why Aussie founders are AI optimists
- Economists on Taylor's tax plan
Mandarin moves
The appointment of Jenny Wilkinson as Australian's first female Treasury secretary is clearly a historic moment. What it says about the government's economic plans is less certain.
For the last eight months, the Sydney Stock Exchange has been the financial equivalent of a pub with no beer ‒ a stock market with no shares changing hands on it
The bizarre story of the Australian stock exchange with no stocks listed on it
Once a burgeoning bourse home to companies like Sigma, SPC Ardmona and Brumby's Bakeries, not much is going on at the Sydney Stock Exchange any more.
Scoop from my colleague Anthony Galloway: Angus Taylor proposed an automatic tax rebate tied to high inflation months before the election campaign, but the plan was rejected by Opposition Leader Peter Dutton’s office in favour of a cut to fuel excise
www.capitalbrief.com/article/angu...
Angus Taylor had an inflation rebate tax proposal. Peter Dutton said no.
Taylor’s dismissed tax plan underscores deepening internal Liberal tensions over how to rebuild the party’s low-tax reputation after its election defeat.
My latest piece for Capital Brief on the case for investing in deep tech for Australia
www.capitalbrief.com/article/the-...
The case for betting big on deep tech
Despite the myths, deep tech isn’t riskier than traditional tech. It just demands different skills, more courage and a bigger vision for Australia’s future.
New: Polling firm Freshwater Strategy is poised to retain at least two of its three major media partners despite criticism of its work in the lead up to the Coalition’s historic 2025 federal election defeat
www.capitalbrief.com/article/fres...
Freshwater retains offshore media partners despite Australian election backlash
The polling firm has media partnerships with UK-based City AM, New Zealand's The Post, and the Australian Financial Review.
Top stories in today's Edition
- The $300b bank: Commonwealth defies sceptics to hit a new record
- Treasury Wine in short sellers' sights
- HSBC targets Aussie tech
- Labor lashes ASPI
The $300b bank
Commonwealth Bank keeps on defying its many sceptics, becoming Australia's first $300 billion company today after its share price hit a new record. What could go wrong?
Defence Industry Minister Pat Conroy has used an appearance at the Australian Strategic Policy Institute to attack the think tank, deepening its already fractious relationship with Labor
Labor minister lashes ASPI on its own turf as defence spending debate gets heated
The Albanese government's testy relationship with the think tank was on full display on Wednesday.
Top stories in today's Edition
- Hegseth's heckle: Albo holds firm against US pressure on defence
- Geoff Wilson backs Greens on super tax
- The big banks' AI talent war
Hegseth's heckle
The PM has pushed back against US Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth's call for Australia to lift defence spending significantly, but he may have little choice as conflicts flare up globally.
Prominent fund manager Geoff Wilson and Liberal MP Tim Wilson are preparing for a fight over Labor's super tax changes that may be franking credits 2.0
Fund manager Geoff Wilson '100% supportive' of Greens tweak as Liberals' Tim Wilson readies anti-super tax campaign
Prominent fund manager Geoff Wilson and Liberal MP Tim Wilson are preparing for a fight that may be franking credits 2.0.
Top stories in today's Edition
- Can Australia lead on AI?
- Nine exec shake-up complete as Stutchbury exits
- Why Allan Gray backs Ramsay Health Care
- Koda Capital shifts its VC strategy
AI or bust
Fears are growing that artificial intelligence will have a devastating impact on Australia's jobs market, but failing to take advantage of AI's productivity benefits would be a worse outcome.
Koda Capital, one of Australia’s largest private wealth firms, is shifting more capital into smaller venture capital funds
Koda Capital shifts focus to smaller VC funds for better returns
Co Ventures and Side Stage Ventures say smaller VC funds have the maths on their side — it’s easier to deliver outsized multiples from smaller pools of capital.
Top stories in today's Edition
- Behold the TACO trade
- Ley and Littleproud face dissent
- Biotech PolyActiva's $40m raise
- ABC job cut fears
- Startup lessons from the Labubu craze
TACO Friday
Donald Trump may have erupted when asked about the "TACO" trade this week, but it seems markets are just pleased it provides an element of predictability.
IDEAS: Labubu is more than just a viral plush toy. It’s the mascot for a new playbook in brand building.
What founders can learn from viral toy phenomenon Labubu
Pop Mart's increasing global success shows how brand, community and clever distribution can drive growth — and why startups should take note.
In today's Political Capital newsletter from
@finnmchugh.bsky.social
- Conservative Liberals angered by Sussan Ley's reshuffle
- David Littleproud also facing leadership rumblings
- Husic speaks out on Gaza
- US court rulings on Trump's tariffs add to investment uncertainty
Look behind you
Both Sussan Ley and David Littleproud face dissent from within after this week's reunification of the Coalition and shadow ministry announcement.
Moves by ABC management to implement a new operating model have sparked fears of job cuts
ABC staff shake-up sparks job cut fears ahead of pay talks
The public broadcaster's plans to implement a new operating model and change the way support staff work has unnerved employees and unions.
Top stories in today's Edition
- DOGE days are over as Musk departs
- Startup secondary market at a crossroads
- Vinyl Group accuses ex-Brag Media CEO of 'sham transactions'
DOGE days are over
Despite the backing of Donald Trump and his legion of dedicated supporters, Elon Musk's efforts to slash government spending had little chance in the face of the bureaucratic behemoth.
Vinyl Group alleges ex-Brag Media CEO Luke Girgis faked payroll records to obtain a bank loan, as part of a broader legal dispute over his dismissal
Vinyl Group accuses ex-Brag Media CEO of 'sham transactions' to secure loan
Vinyl Group alleges Luke Girgis faked payroll records to obtain a bank loan, as part of a broader legal dispute over his dismissal from The Brag Media.
Top stories in today's Edition
- Hume dumped, Taylor shifted in Ley's new shadow ministry
- The startup sector's lobbying problem
- Ex-ANZ CEO Mike Smith on Australia's fintech advantage
Hume truths
Angus Taylor and Jane Hume both bore the brunt of criticism over the Coalition's economic policies after its election disaster. But only one of them has been dumped from the frontbench.
Whether it's a real threat or not, the debate over Labor's super tax has revealed a crucial pain point — Australia's startup ecosystem lacks the clout to influence policy.
Read more in this week's Sweat Equity newsletter.
Super tax debate highlights tech's lobbying weakness
Whether it's a real threat or not, the debate over Labor's super tax has revealed a crucial pain point — Australia's startup ecosystem lacks the clout to influence policy.
New Greens leader Larissa Waters has committed to supporting the Albanese government — if it chooses to pursue progressive reforms
'Party of Whitlam'? Greens leader Larissa Waters has a plan to pull Labor to the left
In an interview with Capital Brief, the successor to Adam Bandt said she will not rubber stamp Labor policies, but will support a progressive agenda.
Unrealised gains, unleashed fury: Behind the war over Labor's $3m super tax
www.capitalbrief.com/article/unre...
Unrealised gains, unleashed fury: Behind the war over Labor's $3m super tax
A policy that hardly featured during the election campaign has dominated its aftermath. It follows a long battle for reform of the nation's retirement system.
New: AAP chief Lisa Davies to depart newswire
www.capitalbrief.com/article/aap-...
AAP chief Lisa Davies to depart newswire
AAP chair Gail Hambly told staff on Tuesday that the newswire’s chief executive will depart the organisation next month after three years in the role.
The Tech Council of Australia and Australian Investment Council say Labor's super tax will hurt startup funding and work against the productivity agenda
‘Significant negative impact’: Innovation groups speak out on super tax
The Tech Council of Australia and the Australian Investment Council warn the proposed tax will hurt startup funding and work against the productivity agenda.
Top stories in today's Edition
- The latest exec raid on CBA and the fight for AI talent
- Innovation groups speak out on super tax
- Liberals and pollster Freshwater set to split
- DLA Piper tips M&A surge
Poaching season
The latest executive raid in Australian banking is part of an intensifying global battle to attract the best AI talent.
An exasperated Commonwealth Bank chief executive Matt Comyn has taken a swipe at his big four rivals over their internal talent management after Westpac poached another one of his senior executives 👇
Liberal pollster Freshwater has faced a fierce backlash since the election. Now it's set to lose, or walk away, from one of its biggest contracts.
'It was all bullsh**t': Liberals and Freshwater set to split after polling disaster
The Liberal Party's pollster has faced intense scrutiny and a fierce backlash since the election loss. Now it's set to lose, or walk away, from one of its biggest contracts.
IDEAS: In 2025, more of the 14 million Australians with a net worth of $100,000 will confront a difficult truth: while their need for high-quality financial advice is growing, affordable and personalised options remain scarce...
Ben Roberts-Smith has lost his reputation as a war hero. Next could be his liberty.
After another crushing legal defeat, Ben Roberts-Smith eyes a High Court appeal
Ben Roberts-Smith has lost his reputation as a war hero. Next could be his liberty.
A judge’s ruling has sparked claims that the cryptocurrency may no longer be taxed. Not so fast, say crypto tax experts.
'People are not going to be getting refunds': Experts quash tax-free crypto myth
A Victorian court ruling has sparked refund rumours, but crypto tax experts say it changes nothing about how Bitcoin is treated under Australian tax law.
Top stories in today's Edition
- Blackbird backs Airwallex to fix ‘most expensive' mistake
- Rio Tinto CEO to step down
- RBA took too long on cuts, says Bernie Fraser
- Westpac poaches ANZ exec
Airwallex's foreign exchange
The fintech's latest raise and rocketing valuation have cemented its position as one of Australia's top startup success stories. Except it's no longer very Australian.
A deal with Labor to exclude judicial pensions from its new super tax is in doubt - and judges aren't happy
Super tax backflip jolts judges
Judges thought they had a promise from Labor that their pensions would be excluded from the increased tax on superannuation accounts worth more than $3 million.
Former Reserve Bank governor Bernie Fraser has hit out at the central bank board for taking too long to cut interest rates
'A bloody long time coming': Bernie Fraser blasts RBA for delayed rate cuts
The former RBA governor said interest rate cuts were overdue and too modest, and criticised the board’s approach to forecasting and employment.
Top stories in today's Edition:
- John Wylie's call to arms: Less 'digging holes' and more entrepreneurship
- GQG's private credit warning
- RBA's Bullock unworried by super tax financial impact
'Lazy complacency'
Tanarra Capital's John Wylie has a new mission — rallying support for Australia's new economy to reduce the country's reliance on 'comfortable oligopolies'.
Fund manager John Wylie says Australia must emerge from “a lazy complacency of collecting rent from comfortable oligopolies or digging holes in the ground”
John Wylie's call to arms: Less 'digging holes' and more entrepreneurship
At the inaugural Tanarra Capital Entrepreneurship Forum, top business leaders joined John Wylie to chart an urgent path for Australia’s economic renewal.
Employment Hero acquisition Humi is descending into cultural chaos as perks vanish, CEO Ben Thompson's Elon Musk fandom alienates staff, and key talent exits
Nick Opie helped found Synchron, a brain-computer interface company backed by Jeff Bezos and Bill Gates. Now he's revealed his latest venture.
Synchron co-founder unveils new brain-computer interface venture Ultra Bionics
Nick Opie helped found Synchron, a futuristic brain-computer interface company backed by Jeff Bezos and Bill Gates. Now he has revealed his latest venture.
Inside the showdown meeting that split the Coalition
Inside the showdown meeting that split the Coalition
David Littleproud and Sussan Ley’s Albury meeting marked a turning point, as deep policy rifts led the Nationals to walk away from the Coalition agreement.
Top stories in today's Edition
- Inside the Coalition's historic split
- Bullock warns of economic risk as RBA cuts rates
- Labor holds firm on super tax plan
- Antony Catalano lashes Sandon Capital
Split decision
A standoff over key policies has split the Coalition for the first time in decades, raising questions about the future of both the Liberals and Nationals. But how long will it last?
The Reserve Bank has cut rates by 25 basis points to 3.85% at its third meeting of the year, in line with economic and market expectations.
BREAKING: The Liberals and Nationals have failed to secure an agreement to maintain the Coalition, prompting the first split in decades.
capitalbrief.com/briefing/coalition-…MA Financial’s US$1.7b private credit JV in flying start with seven deals done in first month
MA Financial’s US$1.7b private credit JV in flying start with seven deals done in first month
Just one month after launch, the US middle-market joint venture with Monroe Capital and SMBC has already written several loans in 'boring' sectors.
Top stories in today's Edition
- Helen Toner calls for Australia to back AI 'moonshots'
- A 'bizarre contradiction' in Labor's super tax plan
- News Corp's mandatory AI bootcamps.
- RBA poised to cut
Toner's AI advice
Australia could take a share of the global AI economy, argues ex-OpenAI board member Helen Toner, but it will take significant political will and public investment.
Almost everyone agrees the RBA will cut rates by 25bps tomorrow. But opinions are divided on what will happen next.
The RBA is poised to cut rates on Tuesday, but nobody knows what it will do after that
Almost everyone agrees there will be a 25bps easing of the cash rate on Tuesday. But opinions are divided on what its next move after that will be.
Former OpenAI board member Helen Toner says Australia has a unique opportunity to make a global impact by funding and leading “moonshot” AI projects
Australia should take bold AI 'moonshots', says former OpenAI board member
AI could help cure diseases and tackle climate change. Researcher Helen Toner says Australian public investment can have a key role to play.
New: News Corp will run a series of mandatory artificial intelligence “bootcamps” for journalists across its Australian newsrooms as part of an effort to ramp up the technology’s use in the production process
www.capitalbrief.com/article/news...
News Corp introduces mandatory AI 'bootcamps' for journalists
Reporters will be taught how to use in-house tools like NewsGPT, as the company ramps up AI use ahead of pay talks and amid growing industry scrutiny.
Startup and VC industry experts are warning that the Albanese government's plan to tax unrealised gains on superannuation funds will create a "bizarre contradiction" with existing tax incentives designed to boost investment in Australian startups
Labor's unrealised capital gains tax in 'bizarre contradiction' with tax breaks for VC deals
Experts are warning the proposed tax on unrealised gains in some super funds counteracts existing ESVCLP and ESIC exemptions, creating a "bizarre" situation for early-stage investors.
