Election 2025
Past posts resurface as teal candidate’s campaign turns into political punch-on
A cheeky airport Facebook stunt from 2016 has returned to haunt Wannon teal candidate Alex Dyson.
As John Ferguson writes in The Australian, the former Triple J host used his public page to play a boozy “Never Have I Ever” game with followers, fielding eyebrow-raising questions about sex, planes, and workplace antics.
The post, which attracted hundreds of comments, also featured a misogynistic slur from a contributor, left unmoderated.
Sky News draws strong ratings for leaders’ debate
The first leaders’ debate of the federal election campaign aired Tuesday night on Sky News Australia, pitting Prime Minister Anthony Albanese against Opposition Leader Peter Dutton.
As Daanyal Saeed reports in Crikey, the event drew political attention and prime-time ad dollars, but failed to move the needle with undecided voters, only 44% leaned toward Albanese, 35% backed Dutton, and 21% stayed on the fence.
While both parties declared victory across social media, the publication called in a debating expert to cut through the spin.
Trump tariffs
Trump’s new tariffs could give Apple and advertisers a margin headache
Apple boss Tim Cook once played diplomat-in-chief, smoothing over Donald Trump’s trade war rhetoric with personal charm and backchannel calls.
As James Titcomb and Hannah Boland report in The Sydney Morning Herald, that strategy helped secure tariff exemptions and kept Apple’s global supply chain humming.
But with Trump now pushing for sweeping new tariffs on China, India, and Vietnam, Cook’s behind-the-scenes influence may have run its course.
Trump’s tariff blow hits Shein and Temu, but Aussie retailers may find an upside
Donald Trump’s latest tariff salvo is set to hammer Chinese e-commerce giants Shein and Temu, stripping them of the duty-free loophole that’s helped flood global markets with ultra-cheap fashion.
According to Eli Greenblat in The Daily Telegraph, From June, US imports under $US800 will not only lose their exemption, they’ll be hit with tariffs of up to 90% of the order value.
It’s a major blow for fast fashion disruptors, but legacy Australian retailers might finally catch a break.
Social media
Federal ad spend returns to X despite early brand safety pause
Despite pausing campaigns over brand safety concerns, the Australian government spent nearly $3 million advertising on X (formerly Twitter) in the first year of Elon Musk’s ownership.
As Josh Taylor writes in The Guardian Australia, the spend, $2.7 million between November 2022 and November 2023, included campaigns tied to health, the Voice referendum, and federal budget messaging.
The brief freeze, triggered in September 2022 after reports of ads appearing alongside inappropriate content, was lifted just one week later.
FedeEx-Meta exec’s bombshell claims spark brand and policy questions
Former Meta policy lead Sarah Wynn-Williams has levelled explosive accusations against her former employer, telling a US Senate committee that the company compromised American national security in pursuit of business in China.
As Barbara Ortutay reports in The Australian Financial Review, the Australian-born executive alleged Meta executives misled stakeholders and shared sensitive AI insights to win Beijing’s favour, all while building a multibillion-dollar presence in the region.
Wynn-Williams, whose tell-all Careless People surged into Amazon’s top 10, also claimed Meta caved to Chinese government pressure by deleting a dissident’s account.
Calls to investigate kids’ YouTube and Netflix star ‘Miss Rachel’
Children’s YouTube sensation Ms Rachel has found herself at the centre of a political firestorm, with US antisemitism watchdog StopAntisemitism urging an investigation into whether the creator is being paid to promote pro-Hamas narratives.
The group alleges her posts about child casualties in Gaza are politically charged and misleading, according to a report from Carl Campanile and Ronny Reyes on news.com.au.
While Ms Rachel, whose real name is Rachel Griffin Accurso, hasn’t commented on the claims.
Legal
Bondi stabbing photos puts media copyright use under spotlight
The family of Dawn Singleton, a victim of the Bondi Junction tragedy, has launched legal action against Nine and The Sydney Morning Herald, alleging the unauthorised use of images taken from her social media.
As Michaela Whitbourn writes in The Sydney Morning Herald, the lawsuit claims the publishers breached copyright by using photos without consent and seeks to prevent further use without express permission from Singleton’s fiancé or mother.
The case, now before the NSW Supreme Court, could set a precedent for how media outlets navigate copyright in the age of user-generated content.
Companies
Empact Group named best place to work
Canberra-based consultancy Empact Group has been named the 2025 Financial Review BOSS Best Place to Work – Small Organisation, thanks to a values-driven approach that puts purpose and inclusivity at the centre of its operations.
As Sally Patten explains in The Australian Financial Review, with a team of 70 and a strong government client base, the firm has embedded practices to support diverse hiring, including neurodiverse talent, while fostering a culture of empowerment across all levels.
Retail
Activist fund Tanarra makes quiet play for Endeavour amid leadership limbo
Tanarra Capital has taken a stake in Endeavour Group, the embattled operator behind Dan Murphy’s, BWS and a vast pub portfolio, signalling fresh pressure on the drinks and hospitality giant as it searches for a new CEO.
As Carrie LaFrenz writes in The Australian Financial Review, the move comes as executive chairman Ari Mervis leads a strategic review across the group’s assets, including Langton’s and several premium vineyards.
Known for its activist edge, Tanarra is led by investment heavyweight John Wylie and has a track record of pushing for boardroom and strategic change across major ASX-listed firms.
Retailers back budget’s relief measures but say small business support falls short
Retailers have welcomed cost-of-living relief in the federal budget, including energy bill discounts and tax cuts, but say support for small business still misses the mark.
The Australian Retailers Association praised headline measures like the $300 energy credit and adjustments to personal income tax brackets, which are expected to lift consumer confidence and spending.
As Celene Ignacio reports for Inside Retail, the continuation of the $20,000 instant asset write-off and new funding for cybersecurity and mental health support were also noted as steps in the right direction.
Events
Why you should enter Mediaweek’s Next of the Best Awards
In an industry built on momentum, talent, and bold thinking, recognising the people driving the work forward isn’t a luxury, it’s a necessity.
Mediaweek‘s Next of the Best Awards were born from a simple idea: to shine a light on the rising stars and trailblazers shaping the future of Australia’s media, marketing, and advertising industries.
These aren’t age-based awards, they’re based on impact. Next of the Best recognises those who’ve been in the industry or in their current role for 15 years or less, regardless of how old they are or where they started.
All the winners from the 2025 Rolling Stone Australia awards
The 2025 American Apparel Rolling Stone Australia Awards lit up Sydney’s Ivy on Wednesday night with a celebration of music, creativity and cultural impact, spotlighting the artists who’ve defined the last 12 months both locally and abroad.
From punk-rock heavyweights Amyl and the Sniffers to global dance trailblazer Dom Dolla, the night honoured a diverse mix of genre-defying acts making waves across the charts and on stage.
Streaming
Streaming’s golden age fades as ad dollars and algorithms reshape the screen
Streaming was once the wild west of entertainment, ad-free, on-demand, and gloriously unfiltered.
Platforms like Netflix rewrote the rules, dropping entire seasons at once and throwing traditional formats out the window.
But as Debi Enker writes in The Sydney Morning Herald, with no need to please advertisers or fit TV schedules, creators pushed boundaries and audiences lapped it up.