A popular bowling alley in Perth's north has closed indefinitely after a fire broke out on Monday evening. Rosemount Bowl on Fitzgerald Street in North Perth was evacuated, along with the nearby Pot Black and Bloodlines venues. The business said at about 10pm that everyone had left safely and no one was hurt. The fire is not believed to be suspicious and is being managed by the Department of Fire and Emergency Services. A witness claims the blaze started in the kitchen, but this has not been officially confirmed.
Twenty-six emerging First Nations leaders from across the country have been chosen for the First Nations Clean Energy Network's PowerMakers 2026 clean energy program, drawn from more than 70 applications. The intensive program aims to give participants the knowledge, skills and networks to lead clean energy projects in their homes, communities and on Country. Participants will cover household energy measures, community energy planning, project development and negotiating benefit-sharing agreements. The network's director, Bec Halliday, said the cohort is drawn from nearly every state and territory.
Sunscreen brands could be required to keep testing products after they reach shelves, under proposed reforms to sun protection factor claims. The Therapeutic Goods Administration said it is progressing with the changes. The move follows testing by consumer group Choice in 2025, which found 16 of 20 sunscreens did not meet the SPF claims on their labels. Under the proposed rules, brands would need to test finished products, submit results before listing and keep testing afterwards. Choice's Andy Kelly said the changes would help protect consumer trust and called for test results to be made public.
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Asian shares surged after AI company Anthropic filed for a US initial public offering, disclosing a steep loss alongside rapid revenue growth. Investors are weighing the payoff from heavy AI spending. Meta Platforms also plans to raise up to $US95 billion in its largest-ever equity fundraising. Central banks in the United States, Europe and Japan are expected to hold interest rates steady this week. Brent crude eased 0.7 per cent to $US114.95 a barrel as investors weighed a possible resolution to the US-Israeli war with Iran.
Australian shares fell on Tuesday, with the S&P/ASX200 index down 0.25 per cent and the All Ordinaries down 0.19 per cent. Investors are cautious ahead of key economic data, interest rate decisions, and US tech earnings. Eight of 11 sectors declined, with financials and consumer staples weighing heavily. Star Entertainment shares surged 20 per cent after a strong earnings update, while SCX.ai joined Elon Musk's SpaceX Super Intelligence Partner Network. The Australian dollar dropped to 70.20 US cents.
Independent senator Fatima Payman asked whether Prime Minister Anthony Albanese was waiting for an attack on her office before approving a two-year-old request for an extra adviser. Her remark drew backlash from fellow parliamentarians, and she refused calls to withdraw it. The question followed an attack on independent MP Helen Haines, who lost both legs after being hit by a car outside her electorate office. Nine electorate offices have since been marked for security upgrades, and parliamentarians report growing numbers of threats.
West Australians who have not yet claimed their $100 fuel relief voucher and plan to submit a paper form are unlikely to receive the money before Christmas. Paper forms have been taking about 10 weeks to arrive, and a spokesperson advised applicants to allow nine to 10 weeks, with postage possibly longer in some regional areas. About $110 million has been paid to more than a million of the 2.3 million eligible licence holders since July 1.
Xpeng Motors Australia expects to have 66 retail locations across every state and territory by the end of 2026. The mid-size L03 SUV, priced from $41,900 before on-road costs, is due in showrooms before year's end. The company says it has processed more than 1400 customer enquiries and resolved 250 cases linked to promotional offers from its former distributor, TrueEV. Customers who bought through TrueEV and were promised offers can contact Xpeng ANZ, which says it is backing its vehicles with seven-year, unlimited-kilometre warranties.
BYD's premium brand Denza says the Z9 GT electric wagon will not reach Australia until the first half of 2027. A spokesperson said the company is juggling priorities and does not want to launch simply to meet a date. Denza had earlier planned a launch in the third quarter of 2026. The Z9 GT has a claimed 0-100km/h time of 2.7 seconds and a 1036km electric range under the CLTC cycle. Pricing for the Australian market has yet to be announced.
Porsche Cars Australia is recalling 77 of its 911 and 718 sports cars made in 2023 and 2024. A manufacturing defect in the centre-lock wheel nuts may cause a wheel to loosen and detach while driving. The recall covers several 911 and 718 models from the 992 and 982 generations. Porsche will contact owners and ask them to book a free repair at an authorised Porsche Centre. The 911 was previously recalled in March 2025 over a seatbelt issue.
Complaints about the Australian Taxation Office have risen sharply as the agency ramps up debt collection. The Tax Ombudsman received 2376 complaints in the six months to September, up 74 per cent on the same period last year. The office said it received 1358 complaints over that period, because the ombudsman's figures also included matters not involving the tax office. The ombudsman found the tax office acted reasonably in 63 per cent of debt collection complaints it investigated. Outstanding tax debt stood at $54.2 billion in 2024/25, with $35.9 billion owed by small businesses.
