Australia’s largest annual Ramadan cultural event is returning to Lakemba, promising weeks of community celebration, cultural exchange, and shared experiences throughout the holy month. The event, widely known for its vibrant atmosphere and diverse attractions, is set to run from 19 February to 15 March 2026. It will feature a range of activities focused on celebrating culture, unity, and the spirit of Ramadan, drawing families and visitors from across Sydney and beyond. Organisers say the event will showcase an extensive array of cultural experiences, including authentic global cuisine, traditional arts, live entertainment, and community workshops that reflect the richness of Australia’s multicultural fabric. The celebrations have become a highlight of Lakemba’s calendar in recent years, attracting thousands of attendees who come together to enjoy cultural performances, family-friendly events, and opportunities for cross-community engagement. Local business owners and community leaders have welcomed the return of the event, noting the positive impact it has on the area’s economy and the support it provides to small enterprises, particularly those run by migrant and multicultural families. The Ramadan cultural festivities also serve as an important platform for promoting understanding and respect among diverse communities. Through shared meals, storytelling, music, and art, participants are encouraged to learn more about Muslim traditions and values, fostering a greater sense of unity and mutual respect. As Lakemba prepares for several weeks of celebration, organisers and volunteers continue to emphasise the importance of inclusivity and cultural sharing in strengthening Australia’s social cohesion. The event’s return highlights the increasing importance of multicultural gatherings in Australia’s major cities, where diverse communities contribute to a vibrant, unified national identity.

Two Queensland residents are set to appear in court today, following allegations they purchased a fishing trawler with suspected illicit funds to facilitate drug importation into Australia. A 32-year-old man is scheduled to face Mackay Magistrates Court, while a 37-year-old woman will appear before Beenleigh Magistrates Court. The charges come after authorities flagged a suspicious voyage, prompting an investigation into the purchase of a fishing trawler reportedly used in the scheme. According to the Australian Federal Police (AFP), the man allegedly established a trawl fishing company in December 2024. Within a month, suspicious deposits totaling approximately $500,000 were made into the company’s accounts. Investigators believe that about $230,000 of those funds were used to purchase the trawler in February 2025. Police allege that the bank transactions linked to the man were inconsistent with the operations of a genuine fishing business. Authorities further allege that the vessel served as the couple’s primary residence until January 2026 and was acquired with illicit funds to support the importation of illegal drugs. Yesterday, the AFP executed four simultaneous search warrants on properties in South-East Queensland and Mackay, seizing multiple electronic devices and documents for examination. Both suspects have been charged with one count each of dealing with money and property worth $100,000 or more, intending for the property to be used as an instrument of crime—namely, the importation of border-controlled drugs. The charge, under section 400.4(1) of the Criminal Code (Cth), carries a maximum penalty of 20 years’ imprisonment. AFP Detective Acting Superintendent Shane Scott emphasized the agency’s commitment to community safety and the ongoing effort to disrupt drug trafficking operations. “The AFP is committed to defending Australia from drug trafficking and disrupting anyone attempting to profit at the expense and suffering of the community,” he said. He added, “Illicit drugs attack the fabric of a safe society, so no matter how small a part a person plays in the importation of drugs, know that the AFP and our law enforcement partners will make sure you face your day in court.”

The 25th annual Sydney Biennale is set to return in 2026, bringing together local and international artists in a major celebration of contemporary art and cultural diversity. Running from 14 March to 14 June 2026, the internationally recognised event will transform venues across Sydney into dynamic spaces for visual arts, performance, and creative expression. Among the participating locations is the Campbelltown Arts Centre, alongside other prominent cultural sites across the city. The 2026 program places a strong emphasis on exploring marginalised histories, diasporic experiences, and diverse cultural narratives. Curators say this year’s exhibition seeks to amplify voices that are often underrepresented in mainstream artistic platforms, reflecting Australia’s evolving multicultural identity. The Biennale has long served as a significant platform for cross-cultural dialogue, providing audiences with opportunities to engage with contemporary issues through art. Installations, performances, and collaborative projects are expected to examine themes of belonging, memory, identity, and social change. Organisers have described the event as an important space for conversation and creative exchange, where artists from different backgrounds can share perspectives and connect with audiences from across Australia and overseas. As one of the country’s largest and most respected art festivals, the Sydney Biennale continues to strengthen Australia’s reputation as a global cultural destination. The 2026 edition is expected to attract significant attendance, drawing art enthusiasts, international visitors, and local communities alike. The return of the Biennale reinforces Sydney’s role as a hub for creative innovation and multicultural storytelling, highlighting the power of art to bridge cultures and foster understanding.

Tabcorp Holdings Limited has been hit with a $158,400 penalty after the Australian Communications and Media Authority (ACMA) found the company had illegally accepted online in-play sports bets, in breach of Australian law. An ACMA investigation revealed that Tabcorp had taken 426 in-play bets across 32 tennis matches between February 2024 and June 2025. In-play betting—placing wagers after a sporting event has commenced—is prohibited under the Interactive Gambling Act 2001. According to the ACMA, all the illegal bets were voided and customers were refunded. The authority accepted Tabcorp’s explanation that the breaches were due to systems and communication issues with a third-party provider. ACMA member Carolyn Lidgerwood noted that this is the third time since 2021 that Tabcorp has breached the rules on in-play betting. “The law is clear and wagering services must have processes in place to prevent illegal in-play bets from being accepted,” Ms Lidgerwood said. She added, “While we understand that most wagering operators rely on third-party providers to close betting on sporting events, they cannot outsource their legal responsibilities. The length of time it took Tabcorp to identify and then fix the problem was concerning and we expect Tabcorp to do better in the future.” Along with the financial penalty, Tabcorp has entered into a comprehensive enforceable undertaking, requiring the company to review its systems and processes around closing betting on tennis matches and to report regularly to the ACMA. Any further non-compliance could result in proceedings through the Federal Court.  

Australia is entering a new phase in its migration program, with the 2025–26 planning levels and a re-designed points test set to reward applicants who can fill urgent skills gaps, work in regional areas and demonstrate strong English and real job outcomes. For thousands of hopeful migrants, the era of relying on generic qualifications and age points is giving way to a system that demands clearer alignment with the Australian labour market. Skilled visas: fewer “open” places, tougher competition The traditional Skilled Independent visa (Subclass 189) is expected to become even harder to secure in 2026, as the federal government keeps shrinking general skilled caps in favour of targeted skills migration. Higher invitation cut-offs, stricter emphasis on English and experience, and priority for critical sectors such as health, teaching, construction, ICT and engineering mean only top-tier profiles are likely to receive invitations, particularly from offshore. State-nominated visas (Subclass 190 and 491) are also being reshaped, with states moving away from broad occupation lists toward sector-based priorities that mirror local workforce shortages. Teaching in Victoria, health in New South Wales, trades in Western and South Australia and engineering in Queensland are among the areas flagged for stronger preference, with points alone increasingly insufficient without genuine, relevant employment. Employer sponsorship: most stable path to PR In line with the national Migration Strategy, employer-sponsored pathways are emerging as the most stable and predictable routes to permanent residency in 2026. The new Skills in Demand (SID) visa framework, which replaces legacy subclass 482 streams, introduces three salary-based pathways and channels more places into healthcare, childcare and early education, construction trades, ICT and cybersecurity, and engineering roles. Under this model, sponsored workers who meet income thresholds and occupation requirements can transition through visas such as the Employer Nomination Scheme (Subclass 186) and regional employer options, creating a clearer 482 → 186 → PR pipeline for those in critical occupations. Legal and advisory firms note that, despite higher income thresholds, employer sponsorship is increasingly favoured by policymakers because it ties migration directly to demonstrable labour demand and long-term productivity. New points test: English, experience and sector fit Canberra has already committed to reforming the skilled migration points test so it better identifies migrants who will drive long-term prosperity rather than simply rewarding age and degrees. The redesigned model gives more weight to full-time employment in Australia, occupation-specific experience, industry licensing and higher English proficiency, particularly at Proficient and Superior levels. At the same time, factors that do not strongly predict job outcomes – such as very young age bands or qualifications in low-demand fields – are likely to carry less influence in 2026. Policy documents and expert commentary suggest that many independent stream invitations now require points well above the 65-point minimum, with 85+ increasingly common for competitive occupations. Regions in focus: 491–191 pathway strengthened Regional Australia remains at the heart of the government’s population and skills agenda, with planners using migration levers to ease housing pressure in capital cities and plug critical shortages in agriculture, aged care, construction, teaching and community services. The Skilled Work Regional (Provisional) visa (Subclass 491) continues to be promoted as a key stepping stone to permanent residency via the Subclass 191 visa for migrants willing to live and work outside major metropolitan areas. Although recent allocations show fewer 491 places overall in 2025–26 compared with 2024–25, states and territories are using tighter criteria and targeted occupation lists to ensure each nomination closely matches regional workforce needs. For successful applicants, the rewards remain significant: regional nomination adds 15 points to their score, and three years of qualifying income on a 491 or 494 visa can lead to one of the least competitive PR pathways under Subclass 191. Family and parent visas: stable but constrained While most attention is on skilled and regional programs, family visas are expected to remain relatively stable in 2026, with only modest shifts in planning levels. Parent visas continue to be one of the most heavily capped parts of the system, with combined places for contributory and non-contributory parents tightly limited and queues for standard parent visas stretching many years. Demand for contributory parent visas remains high despite their substantial costs, as families look for faster options within these constrained quotas. Officials indicate that budget pressures and health and infrastructure considerations make a major expansion in parent places unlikely in the short term. What prospective migrants should do now Migration advisers say 2026 will reward applicants who plan early, choose occupations with genuine demand and build a track record in Australia’s labour market. High-priority roles include registered nurses, teachers, early childhood educators, key construction trades, civil and mechanical engineers, software developers, cybersecurity specialists and aged and disability support workers. Strengthening English scores, even from Proficient to Superior, can deliver a decisive points boost in a highly competitive environment. For many, combining state nomination or regional study with employer sponsorship, rather than relying on a single visa category, will be the most realistic way to secure permanent residency in the evolving 2026 landscape.

The Reserve Bank of Australia (RBA) has increased the cash rate target by 25 basis points to 3.85 per cent, lifting borrowing costs for households and businesses. The decision will push up variable mortgage rates, resulting in higher monthly repayments. The RBA Board said that inflation is expected to remain above the 2–3 per cent target range for a while longer. “While inflation has fallen substantially since its peak in 2022, it picked up materially in the second half of 2025,” the institution said in a statement. “The Board has been closely monitoring the economy and judges that some of the increase in inflation reflects greater capacity pressures. As a result, the Board considers that inflation is likely to remain above target for some time.” The RBA predicts the jobs market will remain healthy, with the unemployment rate expected to stay around its current low levels this year and increase only gradually after that. Activity and prices in the housing market are also reportedly continuing to pick up, as credit is “readily available to both households and businesses, and the effects of earlier interest rate reductions are yet to flow through fully to aggregate demand, prices and wages.” This was the RBA’s first monetary policy meeting of 2026. In December 2025, the Board decided to leave the cash rate unchanged at 3.60 per cent.

Sydney will host its first official celebration of World Greek Language Day on Monday, 9 February 2026, marking a historic milestone following UNESCO’s recognition of the Day in November 2025. The landmark event will take place at the University of Sydney’s Refectory and is being jointly presented by the Consulate General of Greece in Sydney and the University’s Department of Modern Greek and Byzantine Studies. World Greek Language Day, now formally proclaimed by UNESCO, honours one of the world’s oldest living languages and its profound contribution to philosophy, democracy, science, education and global culture. Celebrated annually on 9 February, the Day also coincides with the commemoration of Greek national poet Dionysios Solomos, author of the “Hymn to Liberty,” which became Greece’s national anthem. The evening program in Sydney will open with a welcome reception, followed by official greetings from the Consul General of Greece in Sydney, Giorgos Skemperis, and Professor Avril Alba, Head of the School of Languages and Cultures at the University of Sydney. A central feature of the event will be the presentation of awards to HSC top achievers in Modern Greek courses, highlighting the ongoing commitment of young Australian students to Greek language studies. Professor Vrasidas Karalis, Chair of the Department of Modern Greek and Byzantine Studies, will deliver the keynote address, reflecting on the cultural, literary and philosophical legacy of the Greek language and its place in the contemporary world. His remarks are expected to emphasise how Greek has shaped key concepts in politics, ethics, science and the arts, and continues to resonate in modern multicultural societies such as Australia. The cultural program will also include a live musical performance of “Erotokritos,” the iconic 17th-century Cretan poetic work, performed by the Cretan band IXO NYX. The performance aims to showcase the enduring vitality of Greek language through music and oral tradition, connecting audiences to centuries-old storytelling that still speaks to contemporary experiences. A panel discussion moderated by Professor Karalis will bring together prominent Greek-Australian figures, including actress, author and speaker Mary Coustas and entrepreneur Mark Bouris AM, to explore the role of language in identity, communication and cultural continuity. The conversation will look at how Greek language and heritage are maintained across generations in the diaspora, and how language strengthens community ties in a multicultural nation like Australia. The evening will be hosted by journalist Tom Skolarikis and digital creator Kalliopi Roditis, underscoring the strong engagement of both traditional media and new digital platforms in promoting Greek language and culture. Organisers say the event is not only a celebration for Greek-Australians, but an open invitation to the wider community to engage with a language that has helped shape global thought for more than three millennia. UNESCO’s decision at its 43rd General Conference in Samarkand, Uzbekistan, to designate 9 February as World Greek Language Day formally acknowledges the universal cultural significance of Greek. The move followed a multi-year diplomatic effort by Greece, supported by numerous member states, to recognise the Greek language’s unique contribution to humanity’s intellectual and cultural heritage. In Australia, the federal government has also committed to recognising World Greek Language Day, highlighting the deep historical and contemporary ties between the two countries and the contribution of the Greek diaspora. For Sydney’s Greek community and friends of Hellenic culture, this first UNESCO-recognised celebration represents a new chapter in acknowledging the language that underpins so much of Western vocabulary, scientific terminology and political discourse. It also reinforces the role of educational institutions and community organisations in keeping the Greek language alive for future generations in Australia and around the world. Event details (for broadcast lower-thirds and web listing) Event: World Greek Language Day – Sydney Celebration​ Date: Monday, 9 February 2026​ Time: 5:30pm​ Venue: The Refectory, University of Sydney​ RSVP by: 29 January 2026​ RSVP email: pdo.syd@mfa.gr

The City of Gold Coast has officially launched its community consultation on the proposed 2026-27 Annual Budget, inviting residents to share their views on local spending priorities, services and future investment. Published on the City’s official website, the consultation period runs from 27 January to 16 February 2026, during which residents can complete an online survey to register their feedback. Council will consider all submissions before finalising and adopting the budget ahead of the new financial year. Mayor Tom Tate emphasised the importance of community involvement, saying the consultation is a key opportunity for residents to influence how the City allocates its financial resources. “We are calling on all Gold Coast residents to have their say on how we should invest money to improve services, start new projects and infrastructure to create an even better lifestyle for the community,” the Mayor said. The consultation invites feedback on a wide range of topics including city services and facilities, priorities for new or enhanced services and preferences for transport, community spaces, parks and recreation. Last year’s consultation saw 6,486 submissions, with local priorities focusing on road networks, public safety, transport, parks and recreation — feedback that helped shape the City’s $2.678 billion budget for 2025-26. Council will meet prior to the end of financial year to adopt the 2026-27 Budget. 

A new study from Queensland Children’s Hospital (QCH) has revealed the alarming risks facing children who ride e-scooters, with one in four seriously injured children requiring intensive care and two-thirds needing surgery. Published in the ANZ Journal of Surgery, the retrospective study reviewed cases of paediatric e-scooter injuries requiring hospital admission for more than 24 hours at QCH between January 2009 and September 2024. In total, 64 children aged 16 and under were admitted with serious injuries sustained while riding e-scooters. Disturbingly, two children died from severe brain injuries neither was wearing a helmet at the time. The study also found that 38 percent of children who suffered head injuries from e-scooter accidents experienced ongoing functional impairments affecting cognition, learning, communication, and mood. From 2021 to 2024, e-scooter-related hospital admissions more than doubled, mirroring the growing popularity of e-scooters in Queensland. Head, face, or neck injuries were the most common, accounting for 51.6 percent of cases, with skull fractures recorded in 40 percent. Fractures were the most frequently seen injury overall. Falls were the leading cause of injury (70.3%), followed by collisions (29.7%). More than half of the collisions involved motor vehicles. Notably, 64.3 percent of patients with known helmet status were not wearing a helmet at the time of their injury. Additionally, over 20 percent of the injured children were under the legal riding age for e-scooters in Queensland. Professor Roy Kimble, Director of Paediatric Surgery, Burns and Trauma at QCH, highlighted the “stark reality” of severe and life-altering injuries since the introduction of e-scooters. “The incidence of e-scooter accidents is increasing, and they are causing serious, sometimes fatal, injuries in children,” Professor Kimble said. He noted that more than 65 percent of patients required surgery, including 28 percent who underwent neurosurgery. “A helmet should be non-negotiable, even for short trips. A helmet can mean the difference between an acute head injury and long-term neuro-cognitive consequences.” He further called for more robust safety measures and increased public awareness of the risks posed by e-scooters. The findings underscore the urgent need for improved safety practices and stricter regulations to protect children from the growing danger of e-scooter-related injuries.

The new Glasshouse Theatre at the Queensland Performing Arts Centre (QPAC) will open to the public next month, following the QLD Government’s announcement of the end of construction. The cultural complex will feature a 1500-capacity auditorium made of ironbark timber, improving acoustics and enhancing audience sightlines across two levels, with every seat a winner. More than 2,400 workers were inducted onto this site, including 180 apprentices and trainees, completing over one million work hours. Minister for the Arts John-Paul Langbroek said Queenslanders would be able to visit the modern marvel at a free community day on Saturday, 7th March 2026. “The QPAC team is now undertaking extensive training and testing to ensure the best patron experience before the theatre’s incredible opening program of local and international productions commence from late-March 2026.” From late March, the general public will be able to purchase tickets upcoming events, including Queensland Ballet’s Messa da Requiem featuring with Queensland Symphony Orchestra, the Australian exclusive production of The Last Ship, and the world premiere of The Drover’s Wife – The Opera, based on the work of Queensland artist, Leah Purcell AM.   The $184 million Glasshouse Theatre was funded with Queensland Government investment of $159 million and $25 million from QPAC.