Canberra severs Iran ties; AusPost suspends US parcels; beard ban backlash

Canberra severs Iran ties; AusPost suspends US parcels; beard ban backlash

News in brief

Australia Post has suspended most parcel shipments to the US, effective immediately, ahead of new Trump administration tariffs on low-value imports. Only letters, documents, and gifts under $150 will still be delivered.

 

Coles has reported a healthy full-year profit as theft prevention measures cut losses from shoplifting, even as staff face more threatening incidents in stores.

 

Fortescue Metals is facing a rocky road to achieving its green ambitions. The miner’s carbon emissions jumped 12pc last year, even as it vows to reach zero emissions by 2030.

 

A push by Qantas to enforce a clean-shaven rule for all pilots has sparked a backlash. While Qantas and Jetstar pilots already face a beard ban, QantasLink staff have been exempt, and efforts to standardise rules have not been received well.

US President Donald Trump has threatened to impose “substantial tariffs” on any country that taxes or regulates American tech companies, warning that export restrictions on US technology and chips could also follow.

Fear-o-meter

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese spoke yesterday after revealing Iran was behind two attacks on the Jewish community in Australia:

 

These were extraordinary and dangerous acts of aggression orchestrated by a foreign nation on Australian soil. This is an attack on our society, aimed at creating fear, stoking internal divisions and eroding social cohesion.

 

The Australian people want the killing and hatred to stop, and they don’t want the conflict in the Middle East brought here.

 

Iran has sought to do just that. They have sought to harm and terrify Jewish Australians, and to sow hatred and division in our community.

 

The actions of the Albanese Government send a clear message that we stand against antisemitism and violence.

 

It also sends a message to those who try to interfere in our country: your aggression will not be tolerated.

Fear & Greed Q+A today

Guzman y Gomez co-CEO Steven Marks on the chain's full-year results, the hammering it copped from shareholders, and how he feels about new competitors in the local market:

 

"Well, Wingstop's got one store and I think maybe Australians are very excited to have it. Wendy's has one store. You know, Australia is a different market to the US. I think sometimes these competitors come in and think they're going to open up a number of stores. When I look at GyG's pipeline, we have 10 full time real estate people that have been with GyG. We opened up 32 restaurants this year, mostly drive-thrus. We've got a pipeline of 98 restaurants, 88 of those are drive-thrus. And it's just not easy to pick them up. You need a dedicated team and obviously real planning. So as always, man, anybody that comes into market, I wish them the best of luck, but GyG's not stopping."

It’s Wednesday, the 27th of August. Canberra has severed diplomatic ties with Iran after ASIO linked the country to at least two antisemitic attacks in Sydney and Melbourne. The Iranian ambassador to Australia and three other officials have been expelled, with seven days to leave. Operations at Australia's embassy in Tehran have been suspended, with all Australian diplomats already out of the country. Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has condemned the arson attacks as “extraordinary and dangerous acts of aggression."

Greed-o-meter

Task	% people
Writing	43
Research	23
Admin	20
Data analysis	11
Creative design	6
Software development	5
Ideation	5
Strategy	4
Translation	4
Learning	3

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Nearly half of all office workers are using AI once a week or more, according to design firm Hassell's Workplace Futures Survey 2025. As for the tasks they're using it for... well, it's a little bit of everything, but heavily dominated by writing and research.

Listen to today's episode 🎧 

Source: Hassell's Workplace Futures Survey 2025, reported in AFR

Business By Numbers

The top 3 numbers to know for the week, brought to you by Xero

8.5pc: the jump in the share price of Coles after a bumper result from the supermarket. 

 

$150: letters, parcels, and gifts worth under $150 will still be delivered to the US after Australia Post suspended most shipments.

 

$1.1 billion: tennis legend Roger Federer's net worth, the latest addition to the billionaire athlete club.