AU Brief — Tuesday 8 September 2026
Tuesday 8 September 2026
Good morning: the government abandons recycled packaging rules, global bond markets rattle investors, an Indonesian volcano disrupts flights and schools, and experts warn El Niño could push grocery prices higher.
Politics
Government Drops Plan For Recycled Content In Packaging
The federal government has abandoned a 2023 commitment to set mandatory minimum levels of recycled material in packaging, citing cost-of-living concerns, according to an email sent to stakeholders. Environment Minister Murray Watt says the focus will instead be on working with states and territories to align packaging and recycling rules. Recycling industry figures and some independent MPs have criticised the decision, warning it could hurt local recycling capacity and jobs.
Sources: ABC News
Economy
New Caledonia seeks fresh French aid amid financial strain
Two years after deadly 2024 riots caused billions in damage, New Caledonia's economy remains under severe strain, with businesses shuttered and around 12,000 people having left the territory. President Milakulo Tukumuli travelled to Paris seeking funds to rescue the pension and health systems, and French PM Sébastien Lecornu agreed to provide between $600 million and $900 million in further assistance, contingent on New Caledonia enacting spending reforms. Tourism has also suffered, with international visitor numbers dropping to their lowest in 30 years, though some outer islands like Lifou report relative economic resilience.
Sources: ABC News
Economy
Global bond sell-off stokes fears of financial crisis
Analysts say persistent inflation and rising bond yields, including a 15-year high on Australian 10-year government bonds, are heightening risks to the global economy. Central banks and sovereign funds in the Netherlands, Norway and Australia have been reducing exposure to US Treasuries and dollar reserves amid concerns about US fiscal strength, while AI-related corporate borrowing and geopolitical tensions add further pressure on yields. Economists warn this could keep interest rates elevated for longer, affecting mortgage costs and asset prices.
Sources: ABC News
Culture
ABC quiz ranks age of placeholder words
ABC's More or Less quiz challenges players to order words such as 'thingamajig', 'whatchamacallit', 'what's-his-face' and 'you-know-who' by how long ago they originated. The quiz notes one of the terms dates back to the 1700s, with date information sourced from Etymonline. Players get three guesses across three rounds and can use hints.
Sources: ABC News
Culture
Fans camp overnight ahead of Céline Dion's Paris return
Hundreds of fans have gathered daily outside Céline Dion's Paris hotel as she rehearses for a sold-out run of shows beginning this weekend, her first major stage return since revealing a 2022 diagnosis of stiff-person syndrome. Fans including Noëlla Lamy, who travelled from near Amiens, described waiting up to 36 hours for a glimpse of the singer, who has been greeting and chatting with crowds outside the hotel. Dion, 58, has said she is conserving her energy for rehearsals ahead of the performances.
Sources: Guardian Australia
Weather & Climate
France faces lowest wine harvest in 30 years
France's agriculture ministry says this year's wine harvest is expected to hit a 30-year low, with production estimated at just under 34 million hectolitres, down 6% from last year and 17% below the 2021-2025 average. Officials attribute the decline mainly to record summer heat and drought, though some winemakers in Burgundy dispute the severity of the government's figures, saying it's too early to confirm results.
Sources: Guardian Australia
Weather & Climate
Experts warn El Niño may lift grocery prices
Analysts say a record-strength El Niño, forecast by the Bureau of Meteorology to peak in late spring or summer, could push food prices higher and complicate the Reserve Bank's inflation efforts. Wheat and feed grain crops are seen as most at risk, while dairy and meat prices are easing for unrelated reasons. Global factors such as rising oil prices, fertiliser supply issues and disrupted Black Sea grain exports are also cited as contributing to cost pressures.
Sources: Guardian Australia
Culture
Writer recalls blast furnace job that sparked TV career
A migrant to Australia in 1983 describes struggling after his mother's death and dropping out of school, then taking a series of low-skill jobs including night-shift work at a blast furnace making garden furniture. The experience prompted him to pursue a music recording course, which led to a job as a trainee sound recordist and later a documentary career with the BBC, ABC and SBS. He reflects that adult education and varied life paths helped him succeed despite disliking school.
Sources: Guardian Australia
Weather & Climate
Indonesian Volcano Eruption Grounds Flights, Shuts Schools
Indonesia's Anak Krakatau volcano erupted at the weekend, prompting experts to warn that further eruptions are likely. Volcanic ash led authorities to close schools and seven airports, affecting roughly 170,000 airline passengers.
Sources: Guardian Australia
Culture
Gen Z phone habits and AI scams erode 'hello'
The greeting 'hello', which entered English usage around 200 years ago and became standard after the telephone's invention, is reportedly falling out of use. A survey found that 40% of 18-24 year-olds consider it acceptable to answer calls without any greeting, often opting for phrases like 'Hi' or 'Yeah?' instead. Experts also note that staying silent when answering unknown numbers can help avoid AI voice-cloning scams, which use recorded greetings to mimic victims' voices.
Sources: Guardian Australia
Culture
Oasis archive heads to auction despite band's objections
A collection exceeding 100 hours of Oasis material, including concert recordings, rehearsals and private conversations between Noel and Liam Gallagher, is set for auction with a guide price between £1.2m and £1.6m. The archive, assembled by former sound engineer Huw Richards and now sold by his son Owain, includes tapes from a 1996 Loch Lomond show. Oasis has raised concerns about the sale and retains intellectual property rights over the material, meaning any buyer cannot commercially release it without the band's involvement.
Sources: Guardian Australia
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