Editors Picks
06 June 2026
MASSIVE SURGE IN TAXPAYER COMPLAINTS
THE Tax Ombudsman has reported a 127% surge in taxpayer complaints this year, driven largely by concerns over debt collection, penalties, interest charges and payment arrangements as the ATO increases debt recovery efforts. Tax Ombudsman Ruth Owen said the new quarterly complaints snapshot highlights key taxpayer concerns and helps identify systemic issues. The agency achieved tax debt reductions or interest remissions in 31% of penalties and interest complaints and provided independent reviews in many others, helping taxpayers resolve disputes and improve confidence in the fairness of the tax system.
06 June 2026
THE PILL AVAILABLE OVER THE COUNTER
WOMEN in NSW will soon be able to access the oral contraceptive pill directly through trained community pharmacists under a new NSW Government reform. Initially, 30 pharmacists will be able to prescribe the pill to low-risk women aged 18–39, with around 250 expected by year’s end. The government will fund the first 5,000 consultations and subsidise training for pharmacists, improving access to healthcare while reducing pressure on GPs.
06 June 2026
WORKERS URGED TO CHECK SUPER
THE Super Members Council is urging workers to check their super after finding one in four Australians were underpaid a total of $24.4B between 2018 and 2023. NSW recorded the highest losses at $8.1B. New payday super laws, starting 1 July 2026, will require employers to pay super alongside wages rather than quarterly. The reforms aim to reduce underpayments, improve transparency and better protect workers’ retirement savings, particularly women, younger employees and low-income earners.
06 June 2026
EXPERTS WARN OVER PASSWORD USE
PEOPLE across NSW are being urged to update their passwords regularly with experts warning weak passwords can be cracked in seconds. ID Support NSW recommends changing passwords every three to four months, using long, random passphrases and avoiding personal information. The agency is hosting free cybersecurity events and promoting tools such as its Password Strength Tester to help protect against identity theft, which affects one in four Australians during their lifetime.
06 June 2026
ILLEGAL TO LEAVE YOUR DOG UNATTENDED
NEW NSW animal welfare laws will make it illegal to leave a dog unattended in a vehicle for more than 10 minutes when temperatures exceed 28°C, with fines of up to $44,000. The reforms also ban prong collars, mandate pain relief for sheep mulesing, strengthen animal fighting penalties and improve emergency animal welfare responses. The legislation modernises 45-year-old laws and reflects strong community support for tougher animal protection standards.
06 June 2026
INVESTING $290M IN NSW COACH NETWORK
THE NSW Government is investing $290M over nine years to expand and improve the NSW TrainLink coach network, increasing services by 36 per cent from 1 July. The upgraded network will operate 638 weekly services across 49 routes, servicing more than 360 destinations. New routes, faster travel times, better connections and modern accessible coaches will improve journeys for regional communities, with features including wheelchair access, charging points, seatbelts, onboard defibrillators and toilets.
06 June 2026
VINNIES WARN AGAINST RISING LIVING COSTS
MORE than half of Australians (55%) are cutting spending on essentials such as food, medication and bills to afford housing, according to a new YouGov survey commissioned by the St Vincent de Paul Society. The research found 29% lack sufficient savings to cover an emergency expense, with 3.7 million Australians strongly disagreeing they have a financial buffer. Launching its Winter Appeal 2026, Vinnies warned rising living costs are pushing more households into financial hardship and homelessness, urging Australians to donate as demand for assistance with food, bills and essentials continues to grow.