Australia’s housing market continues to show resilience, with new data indicating that property prices are rising across several major cities despite recent interest-rate increases by the Reserve Bank of Australia. The latest figures suggest that demand for residential property remains strong, particularly in metropolitan areas where housing supply remains limited. Property analysts report that steady population growth, housing shortages, and continued buyer demand have contributed to ongoing price growth in parts of the country. Some cities have recorded moderate monthly increases, highlighting the continued strength of the property sector even as borrowing costs remain elevated. Economists note that higher interest rates typically slow housing activity by increasing mortgage repayment costs. However, current market conditions suggest that supply constraints and sustained demand are continuing to support price growth. Experts say the housing market may remain active in the coming months, though future movements will likely depend on interest-rate decisions, developments in housing supply, and broader economic conditions.

The Australian Football League (AFL) has revealed its ambition to showcase Australian Rules football at the Brisbane 2032 Olympic Games, potentially introducing the sport to a global audience through an exhibition format. AFL leadership believes the Olympic stage would provide a unique opportunity to promote the game internationally and expand its global recognition. League officials say discussions have begun about adapting Australian Rules football for an Olympic environment, possibly featuring a shorter format designed to suit the event schedule and attract international participation. The proposal reflects broader efforts by the AFL to grow the sport beyond Australia and strengthen its international presence. Supporters of the idea argue that including Australian Rules football at the Brisbane Olympics would highlight a sport deeply connected to Australia’s sporting culture while providing global exposure during one of the world’s largest sporting events. Brisbane’s hosting of the 2032 Games has created opportunities for several sports to propose demonstration events. While the International Olympic Committee ultimately determines which sports appear at the Games, AFL representatives say they remain optimistic that Australian Rules football could be showcased during the Brisbane Olympics as part of efforts to celebrate Australian sporting identity on the global stage.

Australia’s share market has experienced a decline after global oil prices surged following escalating tensions in the Middle East and disruptions affecting shipping routes in the Strait of Hormuz. The developments have raised concerns among investors about the potential economic impact of rising energy costs and ongoing geopolitical uncertainty. Market analysts report that the benchmark ASX index recorded losses as energy price volatility triggered cautious trading across multiple sectors. Higher oil prices are expected to increase fuel and transportation costs, potentially placing additional pressure on businesses and consumers already facing cost-of-living challenges. Economists warn that sustained increases in global energy prices could contribute to renewed inflationary pressures, which may influence future monetary policy decisions by central banks. Financial markets are closely monitoring developments in the Middle East as geopolitical instability continues to affect global commodity markets. Despite the market decline, experts note that investor sentiment may stabilise if energy prices moderate and geopolitical tensions ease in the coming weeks.

A new mobile health initiative aimed at improving early detection of skin cancer has been launched across regional Australia, bringing screening services directly to communities with limited access to specialist healthcare. The program involves mobile clinics traveling to rural and remote areas to provide free or low-cost skin examinations. Health organizations behind the campaign say the initiative is designed to address the high rates of skin cancer in Australia, particularly in regional areas where access to dermatology services can be limited. Medical professionals will use specialized imaging equipment to examine suspicious skin lesions and advise patients on further treatment if required. Experts note that early detection plays a critical role in improving survival rates formelanoma and other skin cancers. By bringing screening services closer to ruralpopulations, health authorities hope more Australians will seek regular skin checks and identify potential health risks earlier. The mobile screening program is expected to visit multiple regional communities throughout the year, with organisers encouraging residents to participate in the free checks as part of broader efforts to strengthen preventive healthcare across the country.

New data from the Australian Bureau of Statistics reveals that the total value of wages and salaries paid to workers across Australia has continued to grow steadily over the past two years, pointing to ongoing resilience in the labour market. According to the latest Monthly Employee Earnings Indicator, employers paid $107.4 billion in total wages and salaries in December 2025, an increase of 5.7 per cent compared with the same month a year earlier. This growth rate mirrors the annual change recorded in December 2024, showing no significant acceleration or slowdown over the 12‑month period. ABS Head of Labour Statistics Sean Crick highlighted the consistency of the figures, noting that the annual rise to December 2025 matched that of the previous year, though both were softer than the 7.2 per cent jump seen to December 2023 after the post‑pandemic recovery. The quarterly figures, spanning July to December 2025, show a steady climb in total wages paid throughout the first half of the 2025‑26 financial year. A notable feature of this release is the introduction of a new measure called “employee jobs,” which counts the number of individuals receiving wages and salaries each month. According to the ABS, this new indicator helps shed light on monthly fluctuations. For instance, total wages fell by 0.9 per cent in the three months to December 2025 following a high base in September, but the decline in employee jobs was smaller, at 0.3 per cent. While this measure serves as an additional lens on earnings trends, it is separate from the Wage Price Index — the ABS’s established gauge of underlying wage changes — which considers base pay movements without the influence of employment or hours worked. Economists say that while wage payments are rising, broader measures of wage growth, such as the Wage Price Index, still point to moderate increases when adjusted for inflation. Recent ABS wage price data shows annual wage rises around 3.4 per cent, underlining ongoing tension between wage gains and cost‑of‑living pressures for households. The ABS release is part of a suite of labour market statistics that aim to give policymakers, businesses, and workers a clearer picture of earnings dynamics across Australia.

A new study by researchers at the University of Queensland has revealed dramatic differences in life expectancy across Queensland, with some communities just kilometres apart experiencing gaps of more than two decades. In some cases, communities just five train stops apart—less than 5 kilometres by road—showed more than 20 years’ difference in the median age of death for men. The study also identified a 26-year gap in age of death between males living only 85 kilometres apart. “The median age of death for women in Queensland can span between 68 and 88 years, and between 60 and 83 years for men,” health geographer Associate Professor Jonathan Olsen from the Institute for Social Science Research explained. “Residents in South East Queensland generally have a longer life expectancy than people elsewhere in the state, but what may surprise people is the difference in data within cities.” The research team used geospatial data and railway stations as geographic markers to map health statistics across the state. By overlaying median age of death data onto Queensland’s rail network, they uncovered striking spatial inequalities. Dr Olsen said factors shaping population health range from social, environmental, and economic conditions to cultural and commercial influences. He emphasized that spatially referenced data can be an invaluable tool for guiding targeted, place-based health initiatives, such as upgrading green spaces or expanding infrastructure for active travel. “Interventions can be tailored to specific communities and have been found to be most effective when co-designed with the communities themselves,” he added. Achieving equitable health outcomes across Queensland remains a complex challenge, given the state’s vast area of more than 1.7 million square kilometres and uneven population distribution. Dr Olsen noted that geospatial data can help identify where resources are most needed and monitor the impact of health initiatives at all levels. The findings underscore the importance of targeted, community-driven strategies to address health inequalities, even in areas that may appear similar on the map but differ greatly in health outcomes.

The Queensland Government has announced the launch of the Age-friendly Seniors Month Grant Program, aimed at supporting local initiatives that enhance the well-being and social inclusion of older Queenslanders. In partnership with Council on the Ageing Queensland, the program will provide grants ranging from $5,000 to $15,000 to local governments, community organizations, and not-for-profit groups. A total of $100,000 in funding will be available for the 2026–2027 period. The grants are intended to reduce social isolation, improve access to services, and promote intergenerational connections within communities across the state. Applications for the grant program open on 16 February 2026 and close on 27 March 2026. Interested organizations are encouraged to review the official Grant Guidelines to ensure they meet all eligibility and program requirements. The guidelines outline the grant’s purpose, eligibility criteria, available funding, types of initiatives that may be funded, and the application and assessment processes. The initiative aligns with Queensland’s commitment as an affiliate member of the World Health Organisation’s Global Network of Age-friendly Cities and Communities. Successful initiatives are expected to address at least one of the WHO’s eight domains of age-friendly communities and to include some activities during Seniors Month in October 2026. For more information, applicants are advised to consult the Grant Guidelines before submitting their proposals to https://qldseniorsmonth.smartygrants.com.au/QSM2026.  

The Pharmaceutical Society of Australia (PSA), the nation’s peak body for pharmacists, has issued an urgent call to the Federal Government to support the delivery of essential medicine safety programs. The PSA warns that the current lack of support is placing the health of many Australians at increasing risk. In its 2026–27 Federal Budget Submission, the PSA stated that overdue reforms are needed to ensure regular and urgent medicine management, particularly for people in residential care, older Australians, and those with chronic or complex conditions. The PSA says these measures are critical to keeping people well and preventing emergency hospitalisations. The PSA is seeking government backing for the Home Medicines Reviews (HMRs), Residential Medication Management Reviews (RMMRS) and Quality Use of Medicines (QUM) delivered by credentialed pharmacists in patient homes and aged care facilities. The PSA’s Budget Submission outlines key recommendations such as reinstating the pharmacist service fee indexation for the delivery of pharmacy services in the homes of patients and in aged-care settings, frozen since 2019, removing the monthly cap on services delivered by credentialed pharmacists, among others. PSA National President Professor Mark Naunton MPS said, “Without urgent investment, these medicine safety programs are becoming unsustainable, leaving more patients at risk of emergency hospitalisation from unresolved problems with their medicines.” “The next Budget is a critical opportunity to modernise long-neglected pharmacy programs and deliver stronger patient care to all Australians, particularly those most at risk of medicine-related harm. “This is about restoring and securing better outcomes for Australians who rely on medicines for their health and wellbeing. “Supporting these programs will increase productivity in the health system by reducing wait times, strengthening workforce sustainability, and improving the safe use of medicines for high-risk groups. “We know patients are falling through the cracks, often waiting months for time-critical medicine safety reviews,” said Professor Naunton. The PSA says it is prepared to work with governments to implement these measures immediately through the First Pharmacy Programs Agreement across primary and aged care.

The City of Moreton Bay’s all abilities playground at Leslie Patrick Park in Arana Hills is scheduled for a major upgrade aimed at increasing accessibility for children of all abilities. Planned improvements at Leslie Patrick Park are designed to benefit children and adults with low or no vision, as well as individuals with other sensory needs. The upgrade follows consultation with speech pathologists, occupational therapists, access consultants, and park users, including a community engagement day with children and parent volunteers from Vision Australia. Work began this month on an additional play space, which will feature a braille trail, pavement art, beehive cubby, sensory hangout, vibration post, overhead optic sensory panels, and a picnic shelter. According to City of Moreton Bay Mayor Peter Flannery, the new play space will connect with the existing playground, which opened in late 2019. Flannery said the upgrade is expected to enhance the accessibility of the playground for more children and their families. He noted that feedback from the community was incorporated to introduce features that support navigation for people with low or no vision, communication and education opportunities, sensory play elements, and quiet spaces. Flannery stated that providing accessible and inclusive parks and recreation spaces remains a priority for the City of Moreton Bay. He also acknowledged the contributions of Vision Australia and community volunteers in the consultation process. Councillor Matt Constance said the $500,000 upgrade is being delivered as a Local Community Infrastructure (LCI) project. Constance stated that the upgraded play space will be available to people of all abilities, and that public feedback was incorporated into the design. He added that efforts will be made to minimize disruption to playground users during construction. Construction is expected to take approximately eight weeks, weather permitting.

Salisbury station in Brisbane will reopen on Monday, 2 March, following a full accessibility rebuild. It is one of seven surface stations being upgraded on Brisbane’s south side. The project is part of a broader rail upgrade that includes the Wave on the Sunshine Coast, a new underground line through Brisbane, and the Logan and Gold Coast Faster Rail project. The rebuilt station includes features designed to improve accessibility for all passengers. Accessibility upgrades include entry points with shade canopies, lifts and staircases to each platform, a new station overpass, and a secure bicycle enclosure. Additional features include braille and tactile station maps, accessible parking, drop-off zones, and hearing aid loop coverage. The station’s design was guided by input from the project’s Accessibility Reference Group, which included representatives from the disability sector. Salisbury station will be fully operational from Monday, 2 March. However, customers should be aware that upcoming track closures will affect several train lines as we continue to improve the rail network. The Beenleigh and Gold Coast lines will be impacted during the Easter school holidays, from 3 April to 26 April. Full details about these closures will be shared with customers in advance on the Translink website. During this time, bus services will replace affected train routes. Of the seven stations being rebuilt by the Cross River Rail Delivery Authority, five—Dutton Park, Fairfield, Yeronga, Yeerongpilly, and Rocklea—are now open. Moorooka, the final of the seven stations, will also close on 2 March for rebuilding as part of the Cross River Rail Delivery Authority’s broader project.