AU Edition - Today's top story: Some small businesses are paying tax bills with credit cards. What will happen when they can't? October 9, 2026 AU Edition   No one likes being slugged with a surcharge, so when new rules banning credit and debit card surcharges kicked in at the start of this month, the Albanese government hailed them as a win for consumers. Enter the law of unintended consequences: rather than absorb the fees, some businesses and organisations have chosen to drop credit cards as a payment option altogether. The Australian Taxation Office is among the latest – it’s announced credit cards will no longer be accepted from December. It’s angered business groups and created a political headache for the government. As tax expert Donovan Castelyn explains, the ATO’s decision is financially defensible. But for some smaller, cash-strapped businesses, it will mean one less option for juggling tight cashflow. And with just seven weeks to go before the Victorian state election, Michelle Grattan is joined on her weekly podcast by Premier Ben Carroll, Opposition Leader Jess Wilson, One Nation’s state deputy leader, Colleen Harkin, and pollster Tony Barry. The race is is being closely watched as a test of One Nation’s strength among voters – and what that could mean for the rest of the country.   Matthew Hall Acting Deputy Politics & Society Editor   Some small businesses are paying tax bills with credit cards. What will happen when they can’t? Donovan Castelyn, University of Tasmania A looming ban on using credit cards to pay tax bills will mean one less option for juggling tight cash flow. But the government is under pressure to intervene. Politics with Michelle Grattan: why Victoria’s unpredictable election matters nationally Michelle Grattan, University of Canberra Premier Ben Carroll, Opposition Leader Jess Wilson, One Nation’s Colleen Harkin and pollster Tony Barry preview November 28’s closely watched election. Many are shocked by the domestic violence charges against Sam Wood, but we shouldn’t be Jessica Schaffer, Southern Cross University The allegations against the fitness guru have sparked a discussion about our perceptions of who might be capable of violence and why. Apple’s new age verification is a game-changer for kids’ safety online. We need the rest of big tech to follow Toby Murray, The University of Melbourne As Pornhub embraces Apple’s new age verification in Australia, this could be the start of a broader shift in the tech industry. Grattan on Friday: Unless you’re Pauline Hanson, the migration debate can be a dangerous sinkhole Michelle Grattan, University of Canberra When opposition started talking about cutting immigration it would have thought, on the basis of polling, that it was tapping into a vein of political gold. The American mood is turning dark, and Republicans are likely to pay the price at the midterms Bruce Wolpe, University of Sydney Occupants of the White House have traditionally taken a thump in midterm elections. And this year, polls suggest Republicans are set for a battering. Nobel laureate Karl Deisseroth on how light is changing what we know about the brain Gemma Ware, The Conversation From algae to a Nobel prize: listen to The Conversation Weekly podcast to hear Karl Deisseroth explain his brain science breakthrough. Pacific people pay exorbitant prices for energy. Rich countries should back their renewable transition Charles T. Hunt, RMIT University; Julie Boulton, RMIT University; Pia Treichel, RMIT University; Tim Flannery, Australian Museum Electricity in the Pacific is currently among the least reliable and most expensive in the world. Switching to renewables offers huge benefits. Hoping for a ‘new normal’ climate is pointless. We must learn to adapt James Hopeward, Adelaide University ; Andrew Lowe, Adelaide University ; Melissa Nursey-Bray, Adelaide University It’s increasingly common to hear climate-fuelled disasters described as the ‘new normal’. But our desire for normality and predictability is wishful thinking Politics + Society Big political donations have hit $7.4m this election year. Are the rules tight enough? Maria Armoudian, University of Auckland, Waipapa Taumata Rau; Ben Dekker, University of Auckland, Waipapa Taumata Rau; Timothy Kirpal Kuhner, University of Auckland, Waipapa Taumata Rau Large political donations in 2026 have already surpassed 2023 levels. New research shows where the money has been coming from over recent elections. Andrew Charlton flags requiring AI companies to run tough ‘risk management’ systems Michelle Grattan, University of Canberra The process would require companies to find, test, report and manage the risks of their systems Health + Medicine Why do runners get so many injuries? And does strength training really make a difference? Hunter Bennett, Adelaide University You can get fit relatively fast, but it takes a while for your muscles and tendons to catch up. Here’s what you can do. Thinking of taking melatonin to help you sleep? Here’s what you need to know Nial Wheate, Macquarie University; Wai-Jo Jocelin Chan, UNSW ; University of Sydney Your eyes detect when darkness falls, triggering the brain to produce melatonin. But do supplements always have the same effect? Business + Economy We need to stop asking if NZ can afford its superannuation scheme. It’s the wrong question Aaron Gilbert, Auckland University of Technology Limiting the superannuation debate to whether the age of entitlement should be raised crowds out other options for funding a sustainable retirement system. Education My son goes to the gym a lot. How can I tell if this is healthy or a sign something is wrong? Samuel Cornell, The University of Queensland Here’s how parents can spot the difference between a boy who loves to train and one who has unhealthy feelings about his body. Environment + Energy Hoping for a ‘new normal’ climate is pointless. We must learn to adapt James Hopeward, Adelaide University ; Andrew Lowe, Adelaide University ; Melissa Nursey-Bray, Adelaide University It’s increasingly common to hear climate-fuelled disasters described as the ‘new normal’. But our desire for normality and predictability is wishful thinking Australia’s top court puts fossil fuel developers on notice Nina Araneta-Alana, The University of Melbourne; Jacqueline Peel, The University of Melbourne; Liz Hicks, The University of Melbourne; Suzanne Varrall, The University of Melbourne This win could sour the economic argument for developing new coal and gas projects in NSW, and possibly Australia. Science + Technology Astronomers pinpoint the origin of a 10 billion-year-old millisecond signal from space Themiya Nanayakkara, University of Sydney; Manisha Caleb, University of Sydney A flash of radio waves from a young galaxy 3 billion years after the Big Bang is lighting up 80% of the universe’s history. Arts + Culture New comedy horror series Gnomes understands just how delightfully daggy good Aussie TV should be Ari Mattes, University of Notre Dame Australia New Stan series Gnomes embraces the cultural cringe of Australianness in a way that’s thoroughly disarming. Books + Ideas Friday essay: space was once a place of wonder – now it’s being bought and sold by powerful men Elise Stephenson, Australian National University Space is a frontier where we could do things differently, yet we are replicating the same patterns of commerce and control. Your Say When reading your article on new credit card fees, 'Are you seeing new service fees since the card surcharge ban? Here are the rules', I don’t seem to understand if “a business cannot make a card surcharge permissible simply by giving it a different name”, why is it okay if a business “offers a discount for payment methods such as cash or PayID”? Isn’t that just a card surcharge in disguise? This whole exercise seems absurd to me. Businesses don’t itemise and put surcharges in place for the electricity a customer causes to be consumed by ordering a coffee, even though not every customer drinks coffee. Businesses in Australia seem to run on complaint and a sense of entitlement. Credit card charges to businesses are just a part of doing business. Just stop whingeing, pay the fee, and adjust all prices to accommodate the cost. — Gavin Oakes Read the article I was very glad to see the article, 'Beige tones and knit throws? No, we’ve got Scandinavian design all wrong'! Beige has been my bete noir since it first dominated our fashion and design in the 1970s. As we saw then, beige doesn't just come as itself. In the 70s, it came as an entire pallet, a rainbow of browns. Every piece of an outfit in a shade of brown, even to the lipstick! Brown lipstick! So I say to design and fashion mavens – beware. A little bit of brown goes a long way. Beige easily turns into "sand", "beach" and "sahara". — Kym Houghton Read the article   We'd love to hear from you. Each day we publish an edited selection of your views on our stories. Email us   Featured Events, Courses & Jobs View all Brisbane Writers Festival 8 - 11 October 2026 • New Farm Canberra Writers Festival 15 - 18 October 2026 • The Future of Quantum 21 October 2026 • Carlton