The Australian Taxation Office is urging people to lodge their 2025-26 returns before the 2 November deadline rather than leaving it until the last minute. Around nine million returns have already been processed, but about two million people who usually prepare their own returns have yet to submit. ATO Assistant Commissioner Anita Challen said straightforward returns take an average of eight minutes through myTax. Lodging late can bring penalties of up to $1820, and delaying does not change the payment due date.
The owner of two dogs that mauled a 37-year-old man in Chermside, in Brisbane's north, is expected to face harsher penalties under state law. The dogs were captured by police after the attack on October 16, and the man was taken to hospital with serious arm injuries. Brisbane City Council rescinded a destruction order for the dogs and issued a proposed dangerous dog declaration instead. The owner has two weeks to respond. No charges have been laid, and police investigations continue.
People who illegally clear or poison trees in NSW could face court-imposed penalties of up to $500,000 under new reforms. Corporations could be fined up to $2.5 million. Councils will gain the power to pursue civil penalties on both public and private land for the first time. On-the-spot fines will double for individuals to $6,000 and triple for businesses to $18,000. Councils will also be able to stop tree clearing work and enforce replanting. Planning Minister Paul Scully said the reforms respond to community anger over recent tree vandalism cases.
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Australia trails New Zealand 0-2 in the Constellation Cup after losses in Auckland and Christchurch, with two Tests left in Sydney and Melbourne. Injuries to Kate Moloney and Jamie-Lee Price have forced coaches to shuffle the midcourt, and Jo Weston remains unavailable. Australia has conceded 145 penalties this series, compared with 100 by New Zealand. Coach Stacey Marinkovich said the team must seek clarity from umpires on offensive contact calls. New Zealand coach Noeline Taurua said the trophy matters as much as the Commonwealth Games gold.
South Australia has introduced proposed laws to Parliament that would impose the strictest penalties in the country on illicit tobacco dealers. Dealers could face up to 17 years in prison, while fines for supplying or possessing large commercial quantities would rise to as much as $21 million. The Illicit Tobacco Taskforce would gain power to impose 130-day medium-term closures, the longest in the Commonwealth. Landlords would be able to terminate leases during any closure order and face jail for repeat offences. Authorities could also seize all tobacco and e-cigarette products found on premises during inspections.
RSPCA WA has rescued a rooster stranded on protective netting in the Canning River. The bird, named River Phoenix, was found near the Greenfield Street Footbridge in Ferndale. The rooster is now up for adoption at the RSPCA WA in Malaga. The organisation is reporting an increase in unwanted roosters being surrendered or abandoned. Abandoning an animal is an offence under WA’s Animal Welfare Act 2002, with penalties of up to $50,000 and five years imprisonment.
NFL fans have criticised roughing-the-passer penalties after two calls in Week 6 drew attention. Kansas City's Chris Roland-Wallace appeared to intercept a Justin Herbert pass, but Ashton Gillotte was flagged for roughing the passer. Later, Lukas Van Ness was penalised for contact on Dak Prescott, which wiped out a Carrington Valentine interception for Green Bay. Both teams still won, with Kansas City at 5-0 and Green Bay at 4-2.
The tax office has urged taxpayers to lodge about two million outstanding returns before the deadline. Because October 31 falls on a Saturday, people have until Monday, November 2. Assistant commissioner Anita Challen said about nine million returns had been filed, and that a straightforward return takes about eight minutes using myTax. The office has also blocked more than 10,000 returns linked to likely unregistered agents. Late filing can incur a fine of $364, plus $364 for every 28 days, up to $1820, along with interest of 11.51 per cent.
About 2 million Australians have yet to lodge their 2025-26 tax return, according to the Australian Taxation Office. The deadline is Monday 2 November. Taxpayers using a tax agent must be on the agent's books by 31 October. Anyone who misses the deadline will first be warned by the ATO before any penalty is issued. An individual can be fined up to $1,820, based on a penalty unit valued at $364.
New laws passed by Parliament will allow the Australian Communications and Media Authority to act faster against telecommunications providers that breach industry rules. Penalties have increased about 40 times, to more than $10 million in some cases, and can be based on the benefit gained from a breach or a provider's turnover. The law also creates a registration scheme for carriage service providers, allowing the regulator to stop providers it considers unsafe from operating. Minister for Communications Anika Wells said the changes will better protect customers, particularly those facing financial hardship or domestic, family and sexual violence.
Telecommunications companies face fines of more than $10 million for breaching industry codes, up from $250,000, under new federal laws. The changes to the Telecommunications Act also let the Australian Communications and Media Authority act swiftly against telcos found to have done the wrong thing. Fines will be based on the benefit gained from a breach or the offending telco's turnover. Communications Minister Anika Wells said the law sets clear rules for how telcos must support customers facing financial hardship or domestic, family and sexual violence.
Australian workers have until 2 November 2026 to lodge their 2025-26 tax returns. Those using a registered tax agent must book an appointment before 31 October 2026 to qualify for an extended deadline. Taxpayers are advised to familiarise themselves with eligible deductions, calculate work-related percentages accurately, and keep detailed records to support their claims. The ATO may impose penalties for late submissions, but considers individual circumstances before doing so.
Landlords whose tenants are repeatedly caught selling illegal tobacco could face jail under proposed South Australian laws. Illicit tobacco dealers could be jailed for up to 17 years, and possession of large commercial quantities could attract fines of up to $21 million. Consumer authorities would gain power to impose 130-day closure orders on businesses. Police Minister Michael Brown said the amendments would be tabled in parliament this week. Critics questioned whether the penalties could be enforced, while the opposition said it would examine the detail.
The Eagles and Jaguars played a chaotic opening to their NFL game in London. Jacksonville returner Josh Cameron ran the opening kickoff back for a touchdown, but it was called back because of penalties on both teams. Eagles linebacker Jeremiah Trotter and Jaguars linebacker Bryan Thomas Jr. then fought at midfield and were both ejected. Jacksonville later took the lead on a Parker Washington touchdown.
Brodie Kostecki and Todd Hazelwood have won the Bathurst 1000 after Anton De Pasquale ran out of fuel while leading on the final lap. De Pasquale, who was less than a lap from victory, said he knew his team was cooked once he saw how short they were on fuel. Team 18 had urged him to save fuel with the chequered flag nearing. Kostecki, who passed Zach Bates on the final corner, took the win for Dick Johnson Racing. Will Brown and Scott Pye finished second for Triple Eight.
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South Melbourne beat Melbourne Victory 4-3 on penalties after extra time to win the Australia Cup, the first NPL team to claim the trophy. The result came in front of 29,911 fans at AAMI Park. Coach Sinisa Cohadzić and players said the club deserves a place in the A-League, which it has been denied since the NSL folded in 2004. The win also secures a spot in the Asian Champions League 2 competition.
South Melbourne became the first NPL team to win the Australia Cup, beating Melbourne Victory 4-3 on penalties after a 1-1 draw in extra time. Max Mikkola equalised in the 117th minute, sending the final to a shootout in front of 29,911 fans at AAMI Park. South goalkeeper Javier Lopez saved two penalties, one of them a retake, and was named man of the match. Victory skipper Jason Davidson hit his penalty over the bar. The win also gives South a berth in next season's Asian Champions League 2.
South Melbourne have become the first NPL club to win the Australia Cup, beating Melbourne Victory 4-3 on penalties in the final at AAMI Park. Denis Genreau gave Victory the lead in the 95th minute, but Max Mikkola equalised in the 117th minute to force the shootout. Goalkeeper Javier Lopez saved two penalties and was named man of the match. The win also gives South a berth in next season's Asian Champions League 2, and extends Victory's trophy drought.
A man has been fined $10,000 for running an illegal tip on council-owned land in Wollert, Melbourne. The clean-up has cost ratepayers about $3 million. Mohamad Yassin Yousef Sadek was also ordered to pay $5,000 towards the Environmental Protection Agency's costs. The EPA says he accepted industrial waste from truck drivers in 2021, and about 11,000 tonnes of contaminated soil and rubbish later had to be removed. Some of the waste contained asbestos. An expert says the fine was likely less than the cost of lawful disposal.
