Media Roundup: Bezos beats Musk, MAFS drama escalates, billionaire boys clubs, Genea faces backlash and supermarkets sales slump

As Lucy Dean, Euan Black and Elouise Fowler report in The Australian Financial Review, fresh data from the Workplace Gender Equality Agency (WGEA) reveals that at 24 major companies - including Goodman Group, IFM Investors, Morgan Stanley, and UBS - only a handful of women cracked the top salary brackets in 2023-24. In all but two of these firms, women made up less than a third of those earning seven figures.

WGEA chief Mary Wooldridge points to a system that rewards long hours and hefty bonuses - perks that often favour men. Overtime and incentive pay, key drivers of high salaries, tend to go to those with the flexibility to work extra hours, leaving women at a structural disadvantage.

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Tech

IVF giant Genea faces brand fallout after data breach

Reputation strategist Robyn Sefiani says the stakes are higher in the IVF sector, where privacy is non-negotiable. Genea’s slow response and lack of transparency have only deepened the trust deficit, making recovery even tougher. “Trust and privacy are paramount, and this breach will make reputation rehabilitation all the harder,” Sefiani said.

Amazon outpaces Starlink in race for NBN’s satellite contract

Amazon is on track to secure a lucrative deal to provide satellite internet across rural Australia, edging out Elon Musk’s Starlink in a high-stakes battle for the National Broadband Network (NBN) contract. Amazon’s Kuiper satellite system has emerged as the frontrunner to replace NBN’s ageing Sky Muster service, which is set to be decommissioned by 2032 but is already losing customers to Starlink’s faster speeds.

As Ronald Mizen reports in The Australian Financial Review, the agreement, which would mark NBN Co’s first major outsourcing of satellite services, is still awaiting final approval. With a federal election looming, sources say the contract’s execution could face delays as ministers Katy Gallagher and Michelle Rowland review the terms.

If finalised, the partnership would reshape regional connectivity and reinforce Amazon’s foothold in Australia’s broadband market.

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Retail

Supermarkets lose billions as shoppers shift to specialty retailers

Australia’s major supermarkets are losing the battle for non-food essentials, with an estimated $500 million in sales shifting to competitors like Chemist Warehouse, Amazon, Bunnings, and Temu. Internal Coles research reveals the supermarket giant alone has lost around $100 million annually over the past four years, as pharmacy and online retailers expand their offerings in health, beauty, and home care.

As Eli Greenblat reports in The Australian, shoppers are increasingly turning to specialty stores and online marketplaces for products once considered supermarket staples - think skincare, dishwashing tablets, nappies, and cleaning supplies.

The shift is reshaping the $120 billion grocery sector, with pharmacy, hardware, and e-commerce players carving deeper into Coles, Woolworths, Aldi, and independent grocers’ market share.

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