🗞️ October's Monthly Wrap

Good morning. Month 10 of 12 is done and if you haven't started on your new year’s resolution yet then at least you'll be able to save time writing your resolution for 2025.

In this monthly wrap we cover a quick update on the US election, the disturbing report coming out of Nine Entertainment and why Albanese keeps turning up on the front page of newspapers.

We also have our top clicked headlines for the month so if you missed anything, we've got all the stories your corporate colleagues were most interested in during October.

See you in November!

All the headlines and more below...

OCTOBER IN THREE

1. The kid from public housing

A mere fortnight ago Qantas was enjoying some reprieve as Coles and Woolworths were thrust into the wrongdoing spotlight. However just like an NRL player post season, they’re back in the spotlight, and not necessarily for the right reasons. Prime Minister Anthony Albanese’s parents may not be clipping his recent front-page appearances for the scrapbook. It’s been a rough few weeks for the Australian Prime Minister, following his property portfolio expansion and his overly close relationship with former Qantas CEO Alan Joyce.

Albanese’s lifestyle upgrade—purchasing a $4.3 million oceanfront home—hasn’t sat well with many voters who are struggling with cost-of-living pressures. While there’s no doubt Albanese has worked hard for his money, and there are suburbs in Australia with median house prices above $4.3 million, it still feels a bit like a friend booking a holiday while owing you rent money—not quite right. To top it off, he used the narrative of being “the kid from public housing,” claiming he understands hard times, which surely the summer PR intern could have advised wasn’t the best line to use right now.

Just a week after this property purchase, Albanese was back on the front page, facing questions about his relationship with Qantas. It was revealed that he would message former Qantas CEO Alan Joyce for personal and official upgrades on Qantas flights. Albanese claims everything was declared, but recent government decisions, like the rejection of Qatar Airways’ request to expand flights into Australia, once again look questionable.

For Albanese, this moment has been dubbed his “Hawaii moment,” echoing Scott Morrison’s infamous holiday during Australia’s bushfire crisis. With an election looming, any more PR missteps could leave him with plenty of time to enjoy that beachfront home or a first-class flight to Hawaii, without needing to book time off.

2. A Current Affair

Nine Entertainment has been making its own news headlines although none that they will be proud of. The company is facing serious scrutiny after an independent review uncovered widespread issues of workplace harassment, bullying and abuse of power across its divisions. While Nine was producing shows such as 60 Minutes and A Current Affair, snooping into other peoples faults, nearly half of Nine’s staff reported witnessing or experiencing misconduct from within the network.

Staff shared stories of being sidelined for speaking up, with some describing managers who allegedly assigned roles based on “f---ability” ratings. One employee recounted a time they were “put on ice” and sent to "Punishment Island" for daring to challenge management. In the broadcast division, 66% of staff reported bullying, and 32% said they had experienced sexual harassment.

In a move to address the findings, Nine’s board has accepted all 22 recommendations from the report. Matt Stanton, Nine’s interim CEO, has promised change, transparency and “cultural reform” which feels like the bare minimum requirement for one of Australia’s biggest TV networks.

3. House of Cards

This year, the US election has brought storylines that feel more suited to House of Cards or The West Wing than real life. With less than a week to go, new headlines emerged this week after a Donald Trump rally, where comedian Tony Hinchcliffe took aim at Puerto Ricans, referring to Puerto Rico as “a floating pile of garbage.” Following the event, the Republican Party quickly tried to distance itself from the comment, aware that one million Puerto Ricans live in key swing states. However, unlike an outdated remark from your grandparents, someone in the GOP approved this speech, leaving them in full damage control.

These comments are the latest in an increasingly personal and polarising election season. Kamala Harris recently labelled Trump a “fascist,” while Trump has retaliated with terms like “mentally impaired” and allowed his surrogates to call her the “antichrist.” Democrats are betting these recent controversies will sway undecided voters in their favour, though some argue that anyone still undecided has likely already heard worse, and the impact may be minimal.

At this stage, anything could happen—even the notoriously unreliable polls are still uncertain. Adding to the drama, ballot boxes in Washington State have been set on fire, destroying votes already cast. Whichever way it lands, the rollercoaster is nearly over, or for about 50% of the population, it’s just beginning.

WHAT DID CORPORATE AUSTRALIA CARE ABOUT IN OCTOBER?

 
🇦🇺 Top Australian News

1. An IT professional tried to claim $11,420 in tax deductions for chores performed by his wife, bandaids and his council rubbish bin. LINK

2. As CEOs increasingly push for a return to in-office work there’s a new divide between executive preferences and research findings on hybrid work models. LINK

3. Small businesses are imposing excessive debit and credit card surcharges on customers to accumulate Qantas Frequent Flyer points. LINK

4. Having numerous browser tabs open may indicate a multifaceted intellect, as research suggests that such individuals are perceived as more attractive and likelier to achieve notable accolades. LINK

5. The finance sector is on track for its worst year since 2017, with nearly 30,000 job losses due to cost-control pressures and major restructures by some of the industry's largest employers. LINK

6. Up to 70% of Australian companies are cutting costs through salary reductions and layoffs, with one-third of contractors losing their job in the past 6-8 months. LINK

7. CBA flags ‘very challenging’ conditions for households as high rates bite. LINK

   
   

 🌏 Top Global News

1. Commonwealth Games 2026 cuts iconic sports, sparking shock as rugby, hockey and diving miss out. LINK

2. Hurricane Milton marched across Florida on Thursday, whipping up deadly tornadoes, destroying homes and knocking out power for nearly 2 million people. LINK

3. Queenstown, New Zealand, is becoming increasingly appealing to Australian investors, particularly for luxury holiday homes that often come fully furnished. LINK

4. Japan is implementing initiatives like special visas and networking events to attract digital nomads who seek flexible remote work opportunities. LINK

5. Life expectancy study finds that human lifespan may have reached its peak, with little room for further increases despite advances in technology and healthcare. LINK

   
   

 
💼 Top Company News

1. Qantas Frequent Flyer customers have been caught in a major cyber theft involving contractors in India who accessed and altered bookings. LINK

2. 12 EY UK staff have been fired for streaming multiple zoom training sessions at the same time. LINK

3. Country Road Group’s poor performance was downplayed in its annual report, despite plummeting sales and profits amid a workplace scandal. LINK

4. Amazon AWS CEO stated that employees who oppose the new 5-day-per-week in-office policy, which is supported by 90% of those he has spoken with, are welcome to leave the company. LINK

5. CBA has warned staff that failure to meet the requirement of working at least 50% of their time in the office could result in reduced bonus payments and a formal warning. LINK

6. The NDIS will ban spending on services like sex work, yoga and cuddle therapy starting Thursday, as the government enforces a new list of approved services. LINK
   

CHARTS OF THE MONTH

This Year’s Worst Corporate Jargon

Booking.com’s Trending Destinations for 2025

OCTOBER’S ONE MORE SCROLL

• A British woman who sued a former employer for neglecting to give her a farewell card lost her lawsuit when it was revealed her colleagues had bought her a card, but no one signed it.

• The world’s best bars for 2024 have been announced by World’s 50 Best, with Melbourne and Sydney both getting entries.

• World’s ‘coolest’ neighbourhoods for 2024 named, of which Australia is ranked 7th.

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