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McDonald’s to open on Melbourne street once dubbed ‘world’s coolest’ after winning legal challenge

27 April 2026 at 03:52

Fast food giant cannot not be denied on basis it doesn’t suit ‘vibe’ of location, tribunal finds

McDonald’s is poised to open a 24/7 takeaway outlet on a Melbourne street once dubbed the “world’s coolest” after the fast food giant won its legal challenge against the local council’s attempt to block the new restaurant.

Victoria’s civil and administrative tribunal (Vcat) has upheld McDonald’s application for a review of Darebin city council’s decision to reject its application to turn 323 High Street in Northcote into one of its stores.

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© Photograph: Daniel Pockett/Getty Images

© Photograph: Daniel Pockett/Getty Images

© Photograph: Daniel Pockett/Getty Images

Woolworths’ ‘Prices Dropped’ rules intended to prevent ‘gaming’ the promotional system, executive tells court

22 April 2026 at 05:09

Senior manager at supermarket giant gives evidence on day two of case brought by the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission

A senior Woolworths executive has defended relaxing rules designed to protect shoppers from misleading discounts by preventing the supermarket or suppliers from “gaming” the “Prices Dropped” promotional program.

Woolworths’ chief commercial officer, Paul Harker, gave evidence on the second day of a landmark trial between the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission and Woolworths in the federal court on Wednesday.

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© Photograph: Jaimi Joy/Reuters

© Photograph: Jaimi Joy/Reuters

© Photograph: Jaimi Joy/Reuters

Woolworths engaged in ‘marketing magic’ to trick customers, consumer watchdog tells court

21 April 2026 at 07:46

The trial between the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission and the supermarket giant began in the federal court in Sydney on Tuesday

Woolworths engaged in “marketing magic” to trick customers into thinking they were getting genuine discounts as part of the supermarket’s “Prices Dropped” promotion, the consumer regulator has told a court.

The landmark trial between the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC) and Woolworths began in the federal court in Sydney on Tuesday, almost two months after hearings ended in its very similar case against Coles.

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© Photograph: Bloomberg/Getty Images

© Photograph: Bloomberg/Getty Images

© Photograph: Bloomberg/Getty Images

Consumer watchdog zeroes in on Woolworths’ allegedly fake discounts as it meets supermarket giant in court

20 April 2026 at 15:00

Vinegar, Tim Tams and baby rice are among the products to be scrutinised in the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission’s case

The consumer watchdog is back in court and taking on Australia’s largest supermarket chain, alleging Woolworths deliberately misled shoppers with fake discounts.

The Australian Competition and Consumer Commission’s (ACCC) case against Woolworths begins in the federal court in Sydney on Tuesday, almost two months after hearings wrapped up in its very similar case against Coles.

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© Photograph: Joel Carrett/AAP

© Photograph: Joel Carrett/AAP

© Photograph: Joel Carrett/AAP

Trucking industry celebrates Fair Work fuel payment win – as it happened

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Treasurer says capital gains changes and other tax reform still under consideration

Sticking with the budget, Chalmers said the government hasn’t made any decisions on capital gains tax reform.

We haven’t taken any decisions on those policies, whether the specific ones you mentioned [or others].

There’s more work to do on our options for tax reform in this budget.

The savings package won’t be exactly the same as what we would have been contemplating over the summer, but it will be a substantial savings package.

When we came to office the NDIS was out of control and it had strayed a long way from its original intended purpose.

It was growing around 22% when we got to office.

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© Photograph: George Chan/AAP

© Photograph: George Chan/AAP

© Photograph: George Chan/AAP

Fuel prices fall despite Geelong refinery blaze as Albanese says facility production has slipped by 40%

17 April 2026 at 07:43

Prime minister says Corio refinery fire will not push Australia into stage 3 restrictions, despite reduced production of petrol, diesel and aviation fuel

Anthony Albanese says petrol production has fallen 40% at one of Australia’s two remaining oil refineries but the damage caused by fire at the Geelong facility will not lead to fuel restrictions.

Petrol prices have fallen below $2.10 a litre and diesel below $3 a litre in most cities, as a price spike predicted to follow the refinery shutdown failed to materialise on Friday.

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© Photograph: William West/AFP/Getty Images

© Photograph: William West/AFP/Getty Images

© Photograph: William West/AFP/Getty Images

PM to join summit on reopening strait of Hormuz – as it happened

17 April 2026 at 07:30

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Australia secures extra fertilizer and 100m extra litres of fuel, PM says

Albanese has also provided an update on Australia’s talks with its allies in Asia to shore up imports of fuel and other goods affected by the effective closure of the Strait of Hormuz.

The advice that we have received today is that 80% of diesel production is continuing, 80% of aviation fuel is continuing, ongoing.

It has been slowed down just slightly because of the circumstances which are there, but 60% of petrol production [is] proceeding today as well.

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© Photograph: Bianca de Marchi/AAP

© Photograph: Bianca de Marchi/AAP

© Photograph: Bianca de Marchi/AAP

No ‘specific request’ to help US in strait of Hormuz, Marles says, as Trump repeats criticism of Australia

16 April 2026 at 22:13

US president told reporters he was ‘not happy with Australia because they were not there when we asked them to be there’

Donald Trump has again accused Australia of not doing enough to help him in the Middle East war, claiming the US “asked them to be there” despite Australia’s defence minister saying there had been no “specific request”.

The US president made the comments while taking questions from reporters, including Australian correspondents, as he left the White House on Thursday.

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© Photograph: Lukas Coch/AAP

© Photograph: Lukas Coch/AAP

© Photograph: Lukas Coch/AAP

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