Bondi crime scene reopens, Woodside chief quits, ANZ bonus cuts

The Bondi attack is reshaping its community — and Australia's laws

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From trade wars to unthinkable tragedy, this year's news cycle rarely paused for breath. 2025 will be defined in history by the Bondi massacre, a moment of profound national trauma that shocked Australia and set in motion repercussions that will continue well into 2026 and beyond. Still, the headlines have been huge from the start. The bizarre and chilling trial of the "mushroom killer" gripped the country and drew global attention. In politics, a bruising election campaign fought as the cost-of-living spiraled. Canberra moved to reshape the digital landscape, passing landmark social media laws — including a world-first ban for children under 16, sparking fierce debate about safety, speech and accountability online. In markets and business, volatility reigned. ANZ rang in the "Nunogeddon" era, former meme stock DroneShield left investors agape, the crown atop Macquarie's millionaires' factory looked a little less straight and Gina Rinehart doubled down on rare earths. Globally, Donald Trump's renewed tariff threats rippled through trade and markets, while across the Tasman a new central bank chief signaled a shift in New Zealand's economic direction. As we sign off for 2025, on behalf all of us in the Australia newsroom - thank you for reading Australia Briefing. The newsletter will resume on Jan. 5. Here's to a year we won't soon forget. — Rebecca Jones, Managing Editor for Australia, New Zealand and the Pacific Islands What's happening now Australia will create a package of new hate speech laws in the wake of the Bondi Beach terror attack. They'll include a crackdown on preachers and leaders who promote violence, along with increased penalties. Meanwhile, it's emerged that the father and son accused of the murders stayed at a southern Philippine hotel for nearly a month before the shootings. Just how does Bondi move on from the past week? My colleague Angus Whitley visited the beach as the crime scene reopened yesterday, and spoke to locals and business owners as they confront a new reality. Woodside Energy chief executive Meg O'Neil has quit to head UK oil giant BP, the company's first female leader and first external CEO hire. She replaces Murray Auchincloss after a short two-year stint as the company struggles to engineer a turnaround following a failed pivot towards renewables. Meg O'Neill Photographer: Matt Jelonek/Bloomberg ANZ's Chairman Paul O'Sullivan was re-elected at the bank's annual general meeting yesterday, where he faced unhappy shareholders seeking more accountability for past failings. He said more bonus cuts for executives were on the cards. Kneejerk responses won't stop the next attack in Bondi, writes Bloomberg Opinion's David Fickling. Preventing another similar tragedy will involve improving the painstaking work of anti-extremism and counter-terrorism. What happened overnight Here's what my colleague, market strategist Mike "Willo" Wilson says happened while we were sleeping… Treasuries and US stocks rose, driven by core CPI data which slowed to a four-year low in November, bolstering bets for at least two Fed cuts next year. The pound clawed back losses made after the Bank of England cut rates 25 basis points but saw limited scope for further easing in 2026. The yen edged higher ahead of today's Bank of Japan decision where the central bank is expected to lift its benchmark rate to the highest level in three decades. ASX futures point to a solid start for local equities. Trump Media & Technology Group, the company behind Truth Social, is diversifying into nuclear fusion. The company said it will merge with TAE Technologies, a fusion developer, in a deal worth over $6 billion. India's parliament has passed a bill to open up its nuclear industry to private firms, unlocking investment opportunities worth $214 billion. The new laws come at a time of growing global interest in nuclear as a clean energy source. The Kudankulam Nuclear Power Plant in Kudankulam, India. Photographer: Prashanth Vishwanathan/Bloomberg What to watch • Private sector credit data, 11.30 a.m. (Sydney) One more thing... Wealthy Americans are eyeing luxury homes in New Zealand after a seven-year ban on overseas ownership was lifted. Among the properties attracting attention from US buyers is a 4.9-hectare island estate with a traditional beachfront villa and organic vineyard. The property at 40 Rothschild Terrace on Waiheke Island, New Zealand. Source: Paterson Luxury We're improving your newsletter experience and we'd love your feedback. If something looks off, help us fine-tune your experience by reporting it here. Follow us You received this message because you are subscribed to Bloomberg's Australia Briefing newsletter. If a friend forwarded you this message, sign up here to get it in your inbox. Unsubscribe Bloomberg.com Contact Us Bloomberg L.P. 731 Lexington Avenue New York, NY 10022 |