Tag Archives: oceania

AI bringing ‘structural reset’ as thousand of jobs lost, expert says

2026-02-26 FreeNews

Two major companies in the past two days have announced thousands of collective layoffs as they pursue AI-driven efficiency, and one expert says it's just the beginning.

WiseTech Global yesterday revealed that as part of its ongoing efficiency drive, about 2000 workers were expected to lose their job in 2026-2027.

The day before, it emerged Commonwealth Bank will cut 300 jobs of its own.

But TP Australia's vice-president of customer experience strategy, Richard Valente, who works with major businesses on AI customer experience transformation and workplace strategy, said these decisions weren't just about trimming costs, but fundamentally redesigning what an employee is.

"This isn't a cyclical job cut. It's a structural reset of the workforce," Valente said.

"The era of large, transaction-processing teams is ending. Banks are moving to smaller, highly specialised workforces who manage AI systems, interpret complex data and step in when things go wrong."

Valente said the recent announcements reflected a broader global trend of organisations racing to embed AI into customer operations while redefining human roles.

And he said the bar would be raised for those humans who remained onboard.

"The future frontline banker won't just process requests, they'll be problem solvers, relationship managers and trust builders," Valente said.

But it's possible the strategy, being adopted by businesses at an increasingly accelerated rate, could backfire.

Valente warned the biggest risk for businesses would be focusing too heavily on automation without maintaining customer experience standards.

"If organisations treat AI purely as a productivity tool, they risk eroding trust," he said.

"Customers will still want empathy, reassurance and human judgement, particularly when dealing with money, fraud or financial hardship."

Valente said successful companies would be those that balanced automation with investment in workforce capability.

"The real competitive edge won't come from AI alone, it will come from how effectively organisations retrain, redeploy and empower their people to work alongside it," he said.

"Organisations also need to ensure they show empathy and understanding to those who are being displaced to protect their own brand.

"Providing training, services and Australian AI platforms which assist displaced people to build their own future career path."

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Why this beach was just crowned Australia’s best

2026-02-26 FreeNews

The experts on sun, sand, and surf have spoken, and Australia's best beach has been revealed.

Tourism Australia has released the annual Best Australian Beaches study for 2026, curated by the body's "beach ambassador" and conservationist Brad Farmer AM.

And after the arduous task of checking out coastlines around the country, Farmer handed the top gong to the beaches of Bate Bay, in Sydney's south.

"The community-minded Bate Bay Beaches are, quite simply, stunning with the vast 4.8 kilometre stretch of undeveloped sand at Greenhills, Wanda and Elouera (Sydney's longest) and to many other beaches such as Cronulla, Oak Park Beach and four more," Farmer said.

"With glorious golden sands and a cosmopolitan vibe, this picturesque stretch of coastline feels like a hidden gem right under your nose but is easily accessible by train from the city centre."

If Sydney's a bit far to go, never fear – every state and territory save the landlocked ACT is well-represented in the top 10.

Tourism Australia's Top 10 Beaches for 2026

1. Bate Beaches, Bate Bay, NSW

2. Pinky Beach, Rottnest Island, WA

3. Beachcomber Cove, Cape Hillsborough, Queensland

4. Tallow Beach, Byron Bay, NSW

5. Hellfire Bay, Cape Le Grand National Park, WA

6. Godfrey's Beach (The Nut), Stanley, Tasmania

7. Inskip Point, Inskip, Queensland

8. Mount Martha Beach, Mornington Peninsula, Victoria

9. Smoky Bay Beach, Smoky Bay, SA

10. Ellery Creek Big Hole, Northern Territory

The NT's contribution is not a coastal beach but a stunning waterhole found to the west of Alice Springs.

Farmer noted that the 2026 list has a selection of off-the-beaten-track gems that offer authentic experiences and "quiet, soulful spots".

"Whether it's the remote allure of Beachcomber Cove or Hellfire Bay, these beaches offer a 'slow-travel' experience," he said.

"They are places where you can still hear the wind and the waves rather than the crowds, providing a deep, authentic connection to the land and sea, with many First Nations stories."

Tourism Minister Don Farrell, this week in the US to promote Australia as a destination, said the country's beaches were a powerful lure for visitors.

"The flow of tourists between Australia and the US has never been stronger, with a whopping 745,000 Americans making the trip down under and spending over $2 billion in Australia last year," Farrell said.

Tourism Australia general manager Robin Mack said the beaches were also prime destinations for locals to explore.

"From the stunning sands of Bate Bay in NSW and Pinky Beach in WA to the iconic backdrop of The Nut in Tasmania and Ellery Creek Big Hole in the NT, these locations encourage both Australians and international visitors to explore more of Australia beyond the traditional hotspots," he said.

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Gang of e-bike riders attack cyclist

2026-02-26 FreeNews

Long-running tensions between local sports clubs and young e-bike riders have reached a boiling point after a cycling triathlete had a bucket of gravel and water thrown at him at Runaway Bay on the Gold Coast.

Video of the incident shows Ryan Billingham unable to stop as he rides directly into the deluge.

"My brand new bike is a write-off," he told 9News.

Luckily, Billingham himself was not physically injured.

"I feel very lucky but it can be a matter of days or a matter of time until somebody comes off way worse than I did," he said.

It wasn't an isolated incident, with multiple sports clubs having come into conflict with the young e-bikers at Runaway Bay Sports Precinct.

Theresa Theaker from the T-Rex Triathlon Club accused e-bike riders of smashing athletes' glasses and pushing them off their bicycles.

Travis Harker from Runaway Bay Cricket Club said riders had also been known to interrupt ongoing matches.

While Madison Bland of the Gold Coast Cycling Club said the club had made the drastic decision to move all Runaway Bay training and race events to its Nerang facility.

"It's not all of us that ruin it though," one young e-bike rider told 9News.

"I think they should also make a track where we could just ride."

The local council is planning to add a BMX track and junior criterium track as part of the Runaway Bay Sports Precinct Master Plan.

But in the meantime, authorities are taking action

"The city will be moving to restricting the access of e-devices in a trial that commences on the 2nd of March," councillor Shelley Curtis said.

Police said a 15-year-old boy was being dealt with under the Youth Justice Act for the incident involving Billingham, while another boy is under investigation after video of the incident was posted online.

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‘Highly unusual’ weather system floods four states at once

2026-02-26 FreeNews

Flooding has spread across four states after a rare weather system brought days of heavy rain to central Australia.

An extremely slow-moving tropical low has loomed over Munga-Thirri, or the Simpson Desert, all week so far, with 24-hour falls over 100mm experienced on some days.

A Weatherzone animation showed the system had barely moved between Sunday morning and Wednesday morning.

"Rain and thunderstorms associated with this low pressure system have inundated parts of the Northern Territory, South Australia, Queensland and NSW over the last few days," Weatherzone reported.

"Moisture from this low has also extended south and fuelled showers and thunderstorms in (Victoria), where flooding also occurred on Tuesday."

The heavy falls are rare for the area, in some cases coming close to the annual average.

For example, Weatherzone reported 169mm had falled at Nappa Merrie, in Queensland's central west, in 24 hours to 9am yesterday.

Nappa Merrie normally receives 100mm to 200mm a year, Weatherzone said.

And there could be more to come.

"While it has already been odd to see the low pressure system lingering over central Australia during the last three to four days, it could stay in a similar position until at least Saturday," Weatherzone said.

"This would make a whole week where the same tropical low has hovered above the Simpson Desert region, which is a remarkable and highly unusual meteorological event."

The Bureau of Meteorology has warned that roads could be cut and communities isolated amid flooding.

Warnings are in place for the NT, Queensland, NSW and South Australia.

Weatherzone has forecast rain and storms are likely to extend further south in NSW, Victoria, and South Australia over the weekend.

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Samsung’s new phone feature blocks prying eyes

2026-02-26 FreeNews

Samsung's flagship smartphone for 2026 will launch with an industry-first privacy feature aimed at stopping those prying eyes around you from glimpsing what you're looking at on your screen.

It's called Privacy Display, and while the ability to block angled glances using a third-party screen protector has been around for some years, the ability to firstly do this at a hardware level and secondly do it on an as-needed basis is revolutionary.

This feature is achieved by controlling how each pixel disperses light, essentially using fewer pixels and blockage between them to ensure the angled view is restricted. While it's not pitch black and a sense of what's on screen is possible – and of course, the closer your angle to front-on the more you'll see – this feature is a huge leap forward in privacy.

Critically too, the feature can be enabled on an app-by-app basis and on specific areas of the screen, meaning notifications can be private, and whenever you launch your banking or email apps, they can be locked in privacy mode should you choose.

Today's launch from Samsung did highlight new artificial intelligence features in the Samsung phones, but the company appears to have pivoted away from being "all about AI" and just making AI an everyday feature.

Samsung global chief executive TM Roh said, "We believe AI should be something people can depend on every day, designed to work consistently for everyone and without the need for expertise.

"With the Galaxy S26 series, we focused on making AI feel effortless, working quietly in the background so people can focus on what matters."

There will be three S26 phones this year; last year's fourth device, the Edge, which was the ultra-thin model, has been dropped, perhaps thanks to a lack of demand in the market. Instead, the company is focussed on its core, the S26, S26+, and S26 Ultra, with the premium Ultra model likely to make up far more than 50 per cent of their sales.

It's only the S26 Ultra model which features the new privacy screen, while across all three models there are many tweaks and improvements, not least the horizontal lock feature, which allows your video recording to stay stable and level even if the phone is twisted upside down.

In a time of rising interest rates and cost of living pressures, both Samsung and their telco partners will be hoping for some forgiveness from buyers with outright prices rising year on year.

The entry-level S26 is $1549, up from $1399 for the S25. The S26+ is also $150 more than its predecessor while the S26 Ultra is just $50 more than last year's model.

All three go on sale on March 11, with pre-orders starting today. Samsung will also be hoping their subscription program "New Galaxy Club" might appeal to those who upgrade frequently, offering a $14 per month program to get device repair guarantees, and a guaranteed 50 per cent value back when you upgrade a year later.

Trevor Long travelled to San Francisco as a guest of Samsung.

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World-first Australian trial offers hope for women with low libido

2026-02-25 FreeNews

Testosterone cream is being tested on dozens of women in their later reproductive years to help boost their low libido as part of a world-first Australian study.

There are currently no treatments available for women in their 30s and 40s who feel distressed about the issue.

"It's a taboo subject, so you sort of suffer in silence a little bit," said Sarah Eglinton, 52, who participated in a similar testosterone trial.

A testosterone cream has offered new hope for women with low libido.

Sarah said in her mid-30s she thought it was a normal part of feeling exhausted while raising young kids.

"Not really knowing that during that phase, my testosterone starts to drop and continues to drop," she said.

Experts say about 10 per cent of women who are premenopausal in their later reproductive years experience a loss of sexual desire.

That number doubles to nearly 20 per cent in perimenopause.

"In Australia, right now, there is no specific treatment for low libido that has been approved for premenopausal and perimenopausal women," said Professor Susan Davis, head of the Women's Health Research Program at Monash University.

A testosterone cream has offered new hope for women with low libido.

Previous work by the Monash University team was pivotal in having testosterone cream approved in 2022 for women after menopause.

"This really has been a game changer for a lot of women," Davis said.

That same formulation, which involves rubbing a small amount on the thigh so it can dissolve into the skin, will be used for the new study.

It's currently enrolling 260 women who live in Victoria, aged between 35 and 50, who are not yet in menopause.

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All Black Damian McKenzie and Georgia O’Sullivan reveal baby’s name in touching Instagram post

2026-02-25 FreeNews

Friends and teammates, including Anton Lienert-Brown, shared warm wishes.

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‘Scared the hell out of me’: Three Adelaide schools plunged into lockdown

2026-02-25 FreeNews

Students at three Adelaide schools have been forced to hide in cupboards and on the floor as they were plunged into lockdown.

Gleeson College, Golden Grove High School, and Pedare Christian College in the city's north-east were forced to abandon their lessons just after midday today when police asked Golden Grove High School to enter lockdown as a precaution.

Police were searching for a "suspicious man", so the other schools also locked themselves down due to their close proximity to the presumed danger zone.

Police headed to the city's northeast after midday, where multiple schools are located close together.

Photos and videos sent to 9News show students being forced to hide in cupboards in some cases, with alarms going off and police walking through Golden Grove High School.

Some parents like Adreena Axisa said their children sent them messages, unsure and afraid of what might happen.

Students sent messages to their parents or posted photos and video on social media.

"He said, 'Hey mum, I love you so much, we are in lockdown and I am hiding in a closet, I have no idea what's going on'," she said.

"[It] absolutely scared the hell out of me.

Kate Nash received a similar message from her daughter.

"I just got a message from my daughter saying, 'We are in lockdown mum. Don't know what's going on, there's cops everywhere'," she said.

The cause of the lockdown was found to be a teacher innocently walking around with a prop gun.

After dozens of officers combed the area, the true cause of the panic was revealed.

9News understands the "suspicious man" was actually a staff member innocently carrying a toy gun.

There is no suggestion of wrongdoing on the part of the staff member.

Police conducted a final search of the area, before allowing the schools to reopen and classes to resume as normal in the afternoon.

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‘Blown into ruins’: Chinese dance troupe threat linked to Lodge evacuation

2026-02-25 FreeNews

There are investigations into whether the international dance troupe Shen Yun was the target of a bomb threat that forced the evacuation of the prime minister's Canberra residence.

Anthony Albanese was evacuated from The Lodge yesterday following an "alleged security incident" that may have stemmed from the Chinese Communist Party's escalating campaign against a banned religious group.

The classical dance group Shen Yun is not the most obvious fomenter of political dissent but it's a prime target of the party because of its links to the the long-persecuted Falun Gong.

The classical Chinese dance group Shen Yun is at the centre of a hoax bomb threat at the PM's lodge, following an email urging Anthony Albanese to cancel their upcoming performance. Albanese touted the idea of extending the project to Melbourne at the Future Victoria Summit.

Albanese was caught up in China's harassment via threatening emails to the dance group.

"Large quantities of nitroglycerin explosives have been placed around the Australian Prime Minister's residence in Canberra," one email read.

"If you proceed with the performance, the Lodge will be blown into ruins and blood will flow like a river."

An Australian Federal Police search of The Lodge and its surrounds found it was a hoax, however, Anthony Albanese was evacuated as a precaution.

"We shouldn't allow such hate crimes and foreign interference continue in Australia by the Chinese Communist Party," Lucy Zhao from the Falun Dafa Association of Australia said.

Finance Minister Katy Gallagher said the threats "will be taken seriously by the police".

Emails sent to the PM sparked fear and resulted in the evacuation of Albanese from his Canberra lodge.

Threats to Australian politicians are on the rise, with almost 1000 last year, as security authorities fear that authoritarian nations, including China, are increasingly projecting their own internal political hostilities onto our shores.

Opposition Leader Angus Taylor labelled the incident "unacceptable" as he called for "a united front".

Shen Yun's performance tonight in the Gold Coast will go ahead with extra security.

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