Business & Finance
Paul Graham will step down as Group CEO and Managing Director at the end of the 2026/27 financial year, prompting a government backed succession process as Australia Post navigates parcel growth, network upgrades and regulatory scrutiny.
The Australian Energy Market Operator reported a record connection pipeline dominated by grid batteries, shifting the country toward a storage-led transition while flagging risks if projects do not proceed on schedule.
At a Tasmanian parliamentary hearing on October 23, 2026, executives for AI data centre developer Firmus told lawmakers that while two projects in the state are under way or approved, most of the company’s wider Tasmanian buildout remains contingent on securing additional capital, deepening concerns after the company withdrew a proposed ASX listing earlier this month.
National Australia Bank confirmed plans to cut up to 2,500 internal roles, triggering staff backlash and union warnings that the move signals a structural shift in Australia’s banking employment as technology and cost pressures mount.
Reserve Bank of Australia Deputy Governor Andrew Hauser said on Oct 21 the inflation outlook had deteriorated, lifting market odds of a fifth rate rise and forcing businesses and consumers to reassess borrowing and pricing plans ahead of the RBA meeting on November 3.
Cleanaway has agreed to a scheme of arrangement with EQT that values the ASX listed waste manager at about A$9.3 billion including debt. The deal, recommended by Cleanaway’s board, crystallises private equity appetite for Australian infrastructure and raises questions about future investment, debt loading and regulatory oversight.
New data from the Commonwealth Bank and the Regional Australia Institute shows capital-to-regional migration in the June quarter matched the June 2021 record, with LGAs in northern Queensland among the fastest growing destinations. The shift is reshaping housing demand, local labour markets and business prospects across regional Australia.
Challenger Limited said on 19 October 2026 it has received a non binding, conditional indicative proposal from TAL Daiichi Life Australia to buy the 79.5 percent it does not already own at A$11.80 per share. The approach values the retirement and annuities specialist at roughly A$7.9 billion and lifts takeover activity across the ASX.
The Department of Finance published updated guidance on October 17, 2026 clarifying how Commonwealth agencies can use Appendix A, Exemption 17 of the Commonwealth Procurement Rules to directly engage small and medium enterprises. The change formalises thresholds and Indigenous procurement requirements and is intended to boost SME access to federal contracts.
The Reserve Bank of Australia on October 16 published an overview and draft papers from its 2026 research conference, spotlighting how central bankers should weigh inflation control against output and employment when supply shocks and global uncertainty persist.
IREN on October 14 publicly revealed plans for a 900 megawatt data centre campus near Wagga Wagga, New South Wales, proposing more than AU$10 billion in staged investment and targeting initial grid connection in 2029. The announcement comes weeks after a separate A$15 billion proposal for the same region and intensifies questions about electricity supply, local impacts and approvals.
Workato announced an agreement with Sydney based Gulanga Group and Trellis Data on October 14, 2026, to integrate locally trained language models into its enterprise automation platform, aiming to give Australian organisations onshore AI options that meet data sovereignty and procurement requirements.
Minutes from the Reserve Bank of Australia meeting in late September, released today, say inflation remains too high and identify a mix of global and domestic drivers, reinforcing expectations of higher for longer interest rates and adding pressure on households, businesses and financial markets.
On October 11, 2026, Australia’s business lobby groups intensified warnings that the government’s recent measures to curb temporary migration will squeeze labour supply, raise costs for employers and slow growth, after a fresh round of detail and industry reactions emerged.
Firmus Grid, the Nvidia backed data centre developer that aimed to stage Australia’s largest IPO in decades, has withdrawn its application to list on the ASX, citing market volatility and weak demand. The decision exposes investor caution on high valuation AI infrastructure plays and leaves suppliers and regional projects facing funding uncertainty.