End of ‘go-to’ harvest trail farm labour program a big loss, farmers say
Backpackers fear a rise in exploitation on Australian farms after the government axed a 26-year-old jobs program, which farmers fear will also increase costs and threaten harvests. ⌘ Read more

India goes for ‘green gold’ as Australian avocados grow in popularity in massive new export market
From Melbourne to Mumbai, demand for avocado is on the rise in India, creating a big opportunity for Australian farmers who might otherwise dump fruit due to oversupply. ⌘ Read more

Privacy watchdog sues Medibank over cyber hack
The Office of the Australian Information Commissioner alleges Medibank breached privacy laws and exposed its customers to risk of identity theft, extortion and financial crime. ⌘ Read more

From red flesh to star-like spots, apples are getting a makeover to tempt fruit buyers
A rosy-skinned, red-fleshed apple named Kissabel is one of several new styles set to tempt fruit lovers back to eating an apple a day to revive the fruit’s market share. ⌘ Read more

Australian at the centre of the high-stakes battle over AI has a warning for the world
There’s a war raging about the future of artificial intelligence - and Melbourne-born Helen Toner is in the thick of it. ⌘ Read more

Australians may be caught up in suspected Ticketmaster hack
Notorious hacker group ShinyHunters claims to have stolen the personal details and credit card information of millions of customers around the world. ⌘ Read more

MediSecure patient data up for sale on Russian hacking forum
A hacker claiming to have the stolen data of thousands of Australian patients is selling it for $US50,000. ⌘ Read more

Communications watchdog suing Optus over data breach
Some 10 million customers had their information stolen in what was one of the worst cyberattacks in Australian history. ⌘ Read more

Communications watchdog suing Optus over data breach
Some 10 million customers had their information stolen in what was one of the worst cyberattacks in Australian history. ⌘ Read more

Younger people aren’t drinking wine, and there’s too much for sale
Too much wine might not seem like a problem, but take a drive through Australian wine country and you’ll quickly see how a global glut has created a crisis. ⌘ Read more

Crickets and cabernet, anyone? Winery launches edible insect wine tasting
A South Australian winery is turning the tables on wine tastings by pairing gourmet crunchy critters with cabernet to celebrate its focus on sustainability. ⌘ Read more

Husband-and-wife team sell tech firm in $373m deal
Once young rich listers, Collis and Cyan Ta’eed are now responsible for one of the largest acquisitions in Australian tech history. ⌘ Read more

What next for Scott Farquhar, the godfather of Australian tech?
The billionaire head of the ‘Atlassian mafia’ has the chance to further re-shape Australia’s technology sector, according to those closest to him. ⌘ Read more

Australians are consuming less fruit, vegetables and milk — here’s what that looks like
Australians are eating less of all major food groups, with fresh produce leading the decline, says a new report. ⌘ Read more

How do you know if extra-virgin olive oil is really extra-virgin?
Australia relaunches an olive oil monitoring program amid concerns consumers are purchasing inferior or fraudulent products. ⌘ Read more

Think $5.50 is too much for a flat white? Actually it’s too cheap, and our world-famous cafes are paying the price
Our recent survey of Australian capital cities found the average price of a small takeaway flat white at speciality venues is $4.78. But in some international capitals, it’s almost double this, even after adjusting for local purchasing power parity. ⌘ Read more

‘Great Friday’ for winemakers ready to ‘instantly’ resume shipments of China-bound drops
While wine authorities say getting Australian exports to China back to pre-tariff levels could be “a matter of years”, many in the industry are not only rejoicing, but getting set to resume shipments. ⌘ Read more

The history of winemaking in Australia
Over three lavishly illustrated volumes Andrew Caillard, renowned in Australian and international wine circles for his work as a wine auctioneer, expert, and writer, tells the stories of the people and events that have shaped the wine industry in Australia. ⌘ Read more

Tank farms show stark reality of Australia’s wine industry crisis even if China drops tariffs
Chinese authorities have announced an interim decision that tariffs of 220 per cent on Australian wine are not longer necessary, but the industry doesn’t see a return to the market fixing its crisis. ⌘ Read more

Fruit collector’s favourite time of year arrives as obscure figs come into season
A South Australian farmer wants to see more of the thousands of fig varieties become more widely available to consumers. ⌘ Read more

Newly announced wine taskforce to spotlight glut as industry reaches crisis point
Very low prices for wine grapes and low demand is putting excessive pressure on the wine industry, leading to the formation of a taskforce to report on the challenges faced by Australian growers and winemakers. ⌘ Read more

‘The days of paying women less than men are over’: Tony Burke
Employment Minister Tony Burke says the gender pay gap is now at its “lowest ever level”.

A report into the gender pay gap for more than 5,000 Australian companies has been revealed.

“The days of secretly paying women less than men are now over,” Mr Burke said during Question Time.

“That’s as a result of particular changes that had been made by law by this government.

“Wome … ⌘ Read more

China wine tariffs expected to be gone by end of March after trade minister meets with Chinese counterpart
The ABC understands that China will lift wine tariffs it had placed on Australian at the end of March, after Trade Minister Don Farrell met with his Chinese counterpart Wang Wentao overnight. ⌘ Read more

Mortgage stress risk hits record high
More Australians are struggling to pay their mortgages than ever before, but it’s not just because rates and the cost of living are higher, new research shows. ⌘ Read more

Anthony Albanese is ‘really out of touch’ with Australians
Institute of Public Affairs’ Daniel Wild says Prime Minister Anthony Albanese is “really out of touch” with Australians.

Mr Wild joined Sky News host Rita Panahi to discuss the Prime Minister’s decisions to attend the Taylor Swift concert and then a Katy Perry private concert.

“The problem he’s got here is a pattern of behaviour,” he said.

“I don’t think anyone is saying that the … ⌘ Read more

Smith’s Kiwi tormentor makes surprise call
One of Steve Smith and Australia’s great tormentors, New Zealand fast bowler Neil Wager, has announced his retirement after missing selection for the opening Test in Wellington. ⌘ Read more

Tuesday, February 27 | Top stories | From the Newsroom
Malcolm Turnbull criticises Donald Trump’s ties to Vladimir Putin, NSW Police uninvited from Mardi Gras, Cristiano Ronaldo faces suspension for inappropriate gesture, and Taylor Swift’s Australian tour concludes with her backup dancer delighting the crowd with Aussie slang. ⌘ Read more

Labor has ‘misread’ the Dunkley community: Steve Price
Sky News host Steve Price says the Labor Government have “misread” the Dunkley community “completely”.

Mr Price’s comments come as the Dunkley by-election is set to happen on Saturday.

“The people who live in Dunkely are the best example I think you can get of aspirational middle-class Australians who want the best for their families,” Mr Price said.

“I just think that Labor, in particula … ⌘ Read more

How a clever craft distillery used grapes and rocks to win World’s Best Botanical Vodka
Forget potatoes or the Russians, Australian “underdogs” have taken out the 2024 title of World’s Best Botanical Vodka using grapes and ancient volcanic rocks. ⌘ Read more

ScoMo’s final warning to Aussies
Scott Morrison will warn against a ‘drift of secularism’ and encourage Australians to reconnect with traditional Christian values in his final speech as a federal politician. ⌘ Read more

‘Groundbreaking’ first revealed for Cirque du Soleil show
The forecast for Cirque du Soleil’s revolutionary new show is: rain. ⌘ Read more

Albanese government is ‘ambiguous and weak’ on Israel-Hamas conflict
The Australian’s Foreign Editor Greg Sheridan says the Albanese government is “ambiguous and weak” on the Israel-Hamas conflict.

Mr Sheridan told Sky News host Steve Price that Hamas is an illegal proscribed terrorist organisation “under Australian law”.

“So we wouldn’t allow an organisation like that to control a slice of territory that we were responsible for. … ⌘ Read more

The Voice a ‘textbook case in how to tank a referendum’: Joe Kelly
The Australian National Affairs Editor Joe Kelly says Anthony Albanese’s approach to The Voice to Parliament was a “textbook case in how to tank a referendum.”

Mr Kelly’s comments come amid reports the Prime Minister allegedly ignored advice against having a Voice referendum.

“I think certainly on election night Anthony Albanese wanted to make this a personal symbol … ⌘ Read more

Albanese wants to ‘hold on’ to younger voters: PM spotted going to Taylor Swift concert
The Australian’s National Editor Dennis Shanahan says Prime Minister Anthony Albanese wants to “hold on” to younger voters after he was spotted going to a Taylor Swift concert.

Mr Shanahan joined Sky News host Peta Credlin to discuss Mr Albanese’s reputation after attending the concert.

“Well the Prime Minister is constantly … ⌘ Read more

‘THE DEFINITION OF INSANITY’: Massive lie Aussies have fallen for
It’s the cornerstone of Aussie life, sometimes called the Great Australian Dream – but figures show that only one section of society is benefiting. ⌘ Read more

‘Majority of Australians’ in support of nuclear energy
Nuclear for Australia Founder William Shackel says a “majority of Australians” support nuclear energy.

A new poll shows that 55 per cent of voters are in support of a move to replace retired coal-fired power plants with small modular nuclear reactors.

Mr Shackel told Sky News host Chris Kenny that it is now “on the politicians” to listen to the voters.

“So it’s on all of those politician … ⌘ Read more

Labor’s plan for Navy ‘more than doubles’ number of surface combatants
Defence Industry Minister Pat Conroy says Labor’s plan for the Australian Navy “more than doubles” the number of surface combatants which will be available to Australia.

The Royal Australian Navy, after the completion of the additional vessels, will hold three Hobart class air warfare destroyers, six Hunter class frigates (reduced from nine), 11 new ‘off-the- … ⌘ Read more

Increase in Defence spending will see an ‘acceleration’ in acquiring surface combatants
Defence Minister Richard Marles says the increase in Defence spending will see an “acceleration” in acquiring surface combatants.

The Royal Australian Navy, after the completion of the additional vessels, will hold three Hobart class air warfare destroyers, six Hunter class frigates (reduced from nine), 11 new ‘off-the-shelf … ⌘ Read more

Red meat industry questions sustainability ‘remit’ of Australian Dietary Guideline review
Sustainability is on the menu for the official review of the national dietary guidelines, but the red meat industry is concerned it will not recognise its work to reduce greenhouse emissions. ⌘ Read more

With a bumper harvest underway, wine growers pin their hopes on an end to Chinese tariffs
Producers say ideal conditions have led to a 50 per cent increase in yields this season amid hopes the tariffs on Australian wine to China could be lifted as early as March. ⌘ Read more

Banana-infused vodka? How imperfect fruit is leaving the waste stream to make boutique edibles
Tonnes of West Australian bananas that would end up as waste or mulch are being made into freeze-dried snacks and used to make products like vodka as Carnarvon growers look to reduce wastage. ⌘ Read more

Bitter news for wine exporters as more people choose not to drink to save money — and health
Australian wine exports have been hit by a global trend in people drinking less alcohol and cutting costs, but hope remains for the re-opening of a major market. ⌘ Read more

Why is an Australian tomato more expensive than a can flown around the world?
Shoppers have seen the price of local fruit and veg skyrocket, but canned produce remains relatively cheap. One expert says there’s several worrying reasons for this. ⌘ Read more

Fed-up Aussie farmers shun supermarket giants and sell direct to consumers
Some Australian producers turn their backs on the major supermarkets because of what they say are unfair prices at the farm gate. ⌘ Read more

Wet summer threatens to create a shortage of Australian-grown dried fruit
Lovers of dried fruit could face shortages of some Australian-grown products this year as unfavourable weather conditions create a global decline in production. ⌘ Read more

Government launches illegal tobacco crackdown, as bikie ‘turf war’ on tobacco shops rages on
As another tobacco shop burns in Melbourne, the federal government announces a $188 million crackdown on the tobacco black market, hoping to stop imports before they reach the Australian border. ⌘ Read more

Could solar panels improve Australian wine?
Australian researchers are testing solar panels in a vineyard to see if they can help protect the fruit from extreme weather, but that is not the only potential benefit. ⌘ Read more

An ambitious quest to supply Australians with locally grown garlic year-round is paying off
Garlic lovers can now buy Australian-grown all year round, thanks to decades of work by persistent farmers who refused to give up on the difficult crop. ⌘ Read more

Australia’s largest canned vegetable producer to sell Thai corn in supermarkets
Simplot Australia, which owns brands including Edgell, says natural disasters have led to a shortage of Australian-grown vegetables, forcing it to look outside the country for supply. ⌘ Read more

Should we remove best-before dates on produce?
Advocates say a simple change would stop Australian households from unwittingly throwing out perfectly edible food, and they are banding together to get the regulator on board. ⌘ Read more

Remote community strives to improve health by growing their own fruit and veg in APY Lands
A Central Australian Aboriginal community hopes to improve the health of residents and increase food security by re-establishing a once plentiful orchard that has fallen into disrepair. ⌘ Read more

Australians Are Poor Now? ⌘ Read more

Tea harvesting on two wheels pays off for father-son farming duo
Nestled in a rainforest timber plantation is a unique tea producer. Queensland father and son Brendon and Darryl Collins are creating a unique legacy as they move away from timber farming. ⌘ Read more

‘Sweeter, nuttier, fruitier’ locally-grown bean gives coffee lovers a taste of Australia
Coffee drinkers may tell you an Australian brew tastes different. And they’d be right, with research finding local beans have a distinct taste of place, or “terroir”. ⌘ Read more

The Australian Media’s High Horse ⌘ Read more

Queensland farmer specialises in melons that you’re unlikely to see on supermarket shelves
Shaun Jackson grows niche varieties of melons and, just as Australians are cutting back on fruit, an expanding Japanese market can’t get enough of them. ⌘ Read more

How one woman turned farm waste into a sustainable food business
A South Australian woman is turning farm waste into a sustainable food business by making meals out of second-grade fruit and veggies. ⌘ Read more

Capers looks effortless and appetising on a plate — but harvesting them is a brutal labour of love
Australian-grown capers are a sought-after ingredient for high-end restaurants, selling for up to $50 per 250 grams. And with each tiny bud picked by hand, it’s not hard to see why. ⌘ Read more

How a ‘wrestle’ with the rough end of a pineapple inspired a classic Aussie invention
In the 1970s, the pineapple peeler was a staple in many Australian kitchens. But the story behind this Aussie invention shows why life’s little pleasures are often the sweetest. ⌘ Read more

Why funky young wines are a winner for Aussie producers looking for fresh export markets
It’s out with the heavy old-world styles and in with bright, natural drops as young consumers around the globe seek wines with more Australian sunshine and fewer additives. ⌘ Read more

‘Absolutely disgraceful’: NT politician speaks at global tobacco and nicotine conference
The involvement of Kezia Purick at the Global Tobacco and Nicotine Forum has been labelled “shameful” by the president of the Australian Medical Association. ⌘ Read more

How GUN VIDEOS Look to Australians ⌘ Read more

Why Australian grape growers are ditching shiraz and cab sav for ‘trendier’ varieties
In response to the global red wine oversupply, grape growers embrace lesser-known varietals to appeal to adventurous consumers. ⌘ Read more

How a boy from the outback became an Australian olive oil baron
Chances are you don’t know Rob McGavin. But he’s made it his life’s work to win a place on your kitchen table — and he’s been very successful at it. ⌘ Read more

China wine tariff review ‘no silver bullet’, but Australian producers hold hope for the future
Wine exports to China have dropped to a low of $10 million a year, but China’s announcement it will review tariffs on imports has given a glimmer of hope to the industry. ⌘ Read more

How Aussie extra-virgin olive oil is bucking an international trend
The largest producer of olive oil in Australia says it is delighted by the support it is getting from Australian consumers as prices for international competitors rise. ⌘ Read more

Will living with varroa mite make Australian honey and food more expensive?
Research into varroa mite is expected to surge after Australia waved the white flag in its fight to eradicate the pest from New South Wales, a decision that is also expected to increase beekeeping costs. ⌘ Read more

Darwin mango season kicks off, with 2.3 million trays expected to be picked
The Darwin region is forecast to produce about 2.3 million trays this year, according to the Australian Mango Industry Association, down from about 2.6 million last season. ⌘ Read more

The Aussie dollar could slump below 60 US cents, bringing with it pain and gain
For foreign tourists? Great. For travellers? Terrible. For the economy? A mix. The fall in the Australian dollar has created winners and losers across the economy. ⌘ Read more

Tropical flower supply looking tight as rain dampens the north’s dry season
Lovers of Australian-grown tropical flowers could have trouble finding them as an usually rainy dry season has put Queensland growers two months behind schedule. ⌘ Read more

Meet an Australian helping Afghan farmers find an alternative to opium poppies
With the Taliban banning poppy production, this agriculture consultant from Darwin helps farmers in Afghanistan find viable and legal alternative crops. ⌘ Read more

Chinese tariffs, changing palates see Australian wine stockpile grow to 2.8m bottles
Australian grape growers have produced a stockpile of over 2 billion litres of wine that will take years to bring back into balance. ⌘ Read more

Leading chef calls on Aussies to buy locally grown olives as a ‘fresher and better’ option
Chef Mark Best says Australian table olives offer better quality for consumers, truth in labelling and help reduce the impact of food miles on the environment. ⌘ Read more

Cut food waste and save money with five tips from a famous foodie
Australians each throw out a whopping 300 kilograms of food every year. But these tricks from award-winning author and broadcaster Alice Zaslavsky can help reduce your waste — and put money back into your wallet. ⌘ Read more

Cheap imports ‘decimated’ Australia’s flower industry. Could micro farms save it?
Twenty years after cheap flower imports flooded the Australian market, the focus is back on locally grown blooms as shoppers “push towards sustainability”. ⌘ Read more

Waste-busting businesses save delicious fruit not up to supermarket specifications
An increasing number of businesses are using fruit that would otherwise be dumped, with one retailer attaching EFTPOS facilities to his honesty boxes. ⌘ Read more

Australia’s wine grape vintage plummets to 23-year low
Australia’s vintage is well down on the 10-year average thanks to challenging weather and economic factors — but the industry hopes higher quality fruit will mean better prices for what’s sold. ⌘ Read more

Australia’s largest wine grape growing region diversifies to deal with one of the hardest years yet
South Australian wine grape growers are switching crops or walking away amid the global red wine oversupply as key local stakeholders call for more support. ⌘ Read more

Once only for ’pavlova lovers’, Aussie passionfruit has come a long way. But the industry is under threat
Australia’s passionfruit farmers have a problem — no matter how well they care for their vines, yields of the delicious fruit are declining. But a solution could be on the horizon. ⌘ Read more

It takes a machine to dig up 35,000 roses. But when the ground is soggy, it’s all down to the farmhands
Farmhands are digging up tens of thousands of rose plants by hand at a South Australian nursery after heavy rain has made it impossible for a machine to do the job. ⌘ Read more

Are Australian consumers ready for imported ‘Manila mangoes’?
Australia’s first consignments of famously sweet carabao mangoes imported from the Philippines are reportedly due within weeks. ⌘ Read more

Packing a gram-for-gram protein punch equal to a T-bone steak, demand for this tiny legume is booming
Mung beans are one of the world’s smallest vegetables. But there is a huge global market for this tiny — and valuable — crop. ⌘ Read more

Farmers call for rethink on Pacific worker scheme as union warns against ‘hysteria’
Fruit and vegetable growers say they’ll be forced to employ fewer workers from the Pacific when the Australian government introduces changes to its foreign labour scheme. ⌘ Read more

It’s sweet and crunchy like an apple. So why aren’t more Australians eating persimmons?
A Queensland orchard is celebrating a record persimmon crop, but few Australians have ever tasted the fruit. Growers like Rod and Jeanette Dalton are trying to change that. ⌘ Read more

‘It made me proud to be Australian’: The fence that saved a family home from flood
When the River Murray began to rise, the Schultz family built a fence from vineyard posts, bits of tin and shade cloth to save their home — and it worked. ⌘ Read more

Australian wines are going through a ‘golden period’ — now there’s awards to prove it
Australian wines have been labelled ‘the best in the world’ after dominating a prestigious international wine awards, taking home more ‘Best in Show’ awards than any other country ⌘ Read more

Why this expert says we’ll always drink, even when we know it’s harmful for us
Australians aren’t drinking like we used to. Yet, despite parallels to tobacco use, some experts say alcohol’s history and place in society mean it’ll remain indefinitely. ⌘ Read more

GM banana could save $20b industry from devastating fungus, researcher says
Australian researchers have developed the world’s first genetically modified (GM) banana, but don’t expect it in a fruit bowl near you anytime soon. ⌘ Read more

Victorian flower farmer invents award-winning app encouraging people to buy local
In a bid to encourage Australians to buy locally grown flowers, a young entrepreneur in western Victoria designs a digital marketplace to connect producers with the local market. ⌘ Read more

Macadamia growers face financial disaster as glut drives prices down
The majority of Australian macadamia processors will pay their suppliers some of the lowest prices on record, with concerns they could drop further. ⌘ Read more

At an average of $6 each, soaring pineapple prices are here to stay
Pineapples are selling for record high prices and those in the industry say consumers need to get used to paying more for the Australian-grown product. ⌘ Read more

Country of origin labelling for Australian-grown flowers will set them apart from imports
Next time you buy flowers, check the rubber band holding the bunch together. Green and gold elastic bands will signify the blooms are locally grown. ⌘ Read more

New Kissabel apple with its red-hued flesh enters Australian market
Ten years in the making, the Insta-worthy Kissabel apple is a cross between a crabapple and a traditional eating apple. ⌘ Read more

How the battle for prosecco is heating up for Australian wine producers
An effort by the European Union to restrict the use of the name prosecco has been labelled as the “dodgiest claim” to a geographical indicator. ⌘ Read more

Historic family winery signs up all of its grape growers to sustainability program
Grape growers contracted by Australia’s oldest family owned winery have found signing up to a sustainability program has had financial, environmental and emotional benefits. ⌘ Read more

Australian wine growers hearing ‘positive noise’ from China as rumours of end to trade freeze swirl
A wine grower from Victoria says she’s been contacted by Chinese importers over the past three months who are confident the two countries’ wine trade will soon resume. ⌘ Read more

Embracing local manufacturing has helped boost the fortunes of Australia’s dried fruit producers
Dried fruit growers can now order a specialised harvester, but it hasn’t always been the case. ⌘ Read more

Would you try quandong-flavoured coffee?
A small WA business is using the native Australian fruit quandong as a key ingredient in its products, including a coffee blend created as a tribute to the owner’s late daughter. ⌘ Read more

‘Game-changer’ deal sees Australian avocados to set sail for India
A free-trade agreement and access to the Indian market of 1.5 billion people is being hailed as “the light at the end of the tunnel” for avocado growers following a recent avo “glut”. ⌘ Read more

Shifts in weather are causing Italian families to rethink an inter-generational tradition
Italian-Australian communities are facing uncertainty over whether they’ll be able to keep their annual sauce-making tradition this year due to a tomato shortage. ⌘ Read more