Australia

On June 3, 2025, the Fair Work Commission (FWC) delivered its annual decision on the national minimum wage and award wage rates, granting a 3.5 percent increase to both. Effective July 1, 2025, this adjustment raises the national minimum wage to $24.95 per hour (or $948 per week based on a 38-hour work week). For millions of low-paid and award-dependent workers, this equates to approximately $32 extra per week, or nearly $1,670 per year. The decision comes as inflation has settled back within the Reserve Bank of Australia’s 2–3 percent target range and follows five consecutive years of real wage declines for award-wage earners.

The Australian government has sharply criticised US President Donald Trump’s decision to double import duties on steel and aluminium from 25% to 50%, effective from June 4. Australia’s Minister for Trade, Don Farrell, described the move as “unjustified and not the act of a friend,” calling it “an act of economic self-harm” that will hurt consumers and businesses on both sides of the Pacific. Although Australia exports relatively little steel and aluminium to the United States—approximately 2.5% of US aluminium imports by volume come from Australia—Australia’s trade minister says Canberra will continue to press Washington to remove the tariffs.

Over the past 30 years, Australia has seen a troubling surge in sexually transmitted infections (STIs) such as chlamydia, gonorrhoea, and syphilis. Despite the availability of testing and treatment, these bacterial infections continue to climb — often silently and without immediate symptoms.

A two-year scientific investigation into one of Australia’s most elusive and diverse spider groups has yielded remarkable results: 55 species of wishbone spiders, all previously unknown to science, have been formally described by researchers from Queensland Museum, the Western Australian Museum, and the University of Western Australia.

Australia is facing an unusually early and potentially severe flu season, prompting strong recommendations from healthcare experts for early vaccination. Doctors across the country are warning that the influenza virus is already circulating rapidly, with cases surging significantly higher than this time last year. The Royal Australian College of General Practitioners (RACGP) and the Australian Medical Association are urging the public—especially vulnerable populations—to receive their flu shots now, before the virus reaches its expected peak in the coming winter months.

In the heart of Perth, Glen Pendlebury spends his days painting mansions — the sprawling, glittering symbols of a booming city. Billionaires’ homes with $400,000 fishponds aren’t unusual for the house painter, who hauls his equipment across town in a daily commute that can stretch up to 90 minutes. Parking fines are a regular inconvenience. Public transport isn’t an option.

In today’s highly competitive supermarket sector, loyalty programs have evolved far beyond simple rewards systems. An extensive inquiry by the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC) has raised concerns that the gamification of loyalty programs at major chains such as Coles and Woolworths may be influencing customer behavior in ways many shoppers do not even realise. With more than 85 percent of Australians now belonging to at least one loyalty program, these initiatives are not only shaping purchasing decisions but might also be obscuring the true value of deals offered to consumers.

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