🕵️♀️ A crazy corporate spy story
Volume 109: Hopes fade for Star | Hooters goes broke | A 120km jog around the GC | Poll results | Hooters goes broke | Election 2025 and heaps more!
G’day there and happy Thursday, it’s April 3.
Today's newsletter is 1,479 words, a 7.5-minute read.
And, sorry for keeping you hanging at 4:20 pm, please forgive us 🙌
In today's email
One Big Thing: A quick look at the election on the GC
Hopes for a Star future are: Starting to fade
Last week’s poll results: Bring on Brisbane 2032!?
GC’s Ultimate Creator Challenge sparks a: Digital buzz
Struggling education sector hits the: Local office market
Trending: The GC Minute got a front page..
Around The Web (Snippets): Hooters goes broke, Local breastscreen legend to retire, A 120km jog around the GC, Amazon tries to buy TikTok and more!
Upcoming Events
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🍿 What To Watch: If murder mysteries are your thing, The Residence, which just dropped on Netflix, is probably how you’d hope for an Aussie state dinner at the White House to unfold—epically chaotic, unexpectedly funny, and a bit weird.
Weekend Weather and Surf
Live Housing Price Index
1. One Big Thing: The GC votes and fun federal elections stats
What’s Happening: The starter’s gun has been fired on what’s set to be Australia’s largest-ever election, with voters taking to the polls on May 3.
Why It Matters: Driven by massive population growth since 2022, with a record 710,000 more voters enrolled, the AEC is ramping up with more venues, greater accessibility options, and 100,000 staff to deliver the national vote.
Why It Matters: The Gold Coast, traditionally a very comfortable Liberal National stronghold, is once again heading to the polls, but this time with a significantly bigger population itself.
By The Numbers: Here are some fun 2025 federal election stats 👇
Just one term—that’s the total number of times any of the Gold Coast’s three federal electorates have been held by a party other than the Liberals (Labor had a go in Fadden for just 1.5 years in 1983-1984)
710,000 more people on the electoral roll compared to 2022
570 early voting centres will be open
7,000 polling places in total
100+ overseas voting centres will be available
100,000 staff needed (with 240,000 vests)
250,000 pencils plus 250,000 lengths of string
40,000 transport routes, including 90,000 transport containers, 5,000 rolls of tamper-proof tape
80,000 ballot boxes
1.4 million security seals
Zoom In: We know you’ve probably seen it by now; however, here’s our quick summary of candidates in each of the City’s three electorates of Moncrieff, Fadden, and McPherson.
A. Moncrieff (Surfers Paradise, Southport)
B. Fadden (Labrador, Helensvale, Hope Island)
C. McPherson (Burleigh, Palm Beach, Currumbin)
2. Hopes for Star future start to fade
By Marshall Hall
What’s Happening? The Star Entertainment Group has lost a proposed near $1 billion refinancing lifeline from Salter Brothers Capital, leaving its future hanging on a potential rescue bid from US-based Bally’s Corporation.
Why It Matters: Following recent turmoil, the collapse threatens thousands of jobs and the future of key Gold Coast assets, including the casino and Convention Centre.
By the Numbers
• $940 million: Salter’s withdrawn debt facility
• 50.1%: Bally’s potential stake via capital raise
• 9,000: Employees across Star’s operations
FOMO of Funding: Star Gold Coast’s future ownership—and survival—now depends on US money and government approval.
If Bally’s comes good, The Star could be majority US-owned—pending State sign-off.
What The People Say: In a statement to the Australian Stock Exchange on Wednesday, The Star Entertainment Group confirmed the Salter Brothers Capital deal would not proceed.
“The withdrawal of the Refinancing Proposal follows extensive engagement by The Star with Salter Brothers Capital and relevant third parties, including State Governments and regulators.
What To Look For Next
With Star Entertainment Group shares already having been suspended since March 3 after the company failed to lodge its half-year report, read more below👇
3. Last week’s poll results
Confirmed, in last week’s poll, the Gold Coast can’t wait for Brisbane 2032!
The Weekly Dream Gig
This week – Earth Beer Co is tapping a new Venue Manager to pour energy into their brewery, lead Saturday tours, and keep the good vibes (and beer) flowing.
If you know your hops from your Hefeweizens and can wrangle a taproom team like a pro, this full-time role offers competitive pay, bar cred, and serious brew street rep.
4. GC Ultimate Creator Challenge sparks digital buzz
What’s Happening: The Ultimate Creator Challenge (UCC), a new local production, has emerged as a powerhouse built out of the Gold Coast’s creative industry after it saw digital influencers race across the Gold Coast in a 24-hour filming frenzy—creating promo content for local businesses.
Why It Matters: Significantly boosting engagement and visibility for both businesses and creators, proving the Gold Coast’s potential as a hub for creative entrepreneurship and digital storytelling
By the Numbers
160,000+ views during the 24-hour challenge
7+ local businesses provided venues and services, including Burleigh Brewing, Q1 Spa, and SkyPoint
Millions of followers were reached with influencers included in the show, such as:
Jade Kevin Foster (@jadekevinfoster) – 1.3M Instagram followers
Alan Daxon (@alandaxon) – 537K Instagram followers
Kristen Sorrenson (@kristen_sorrenson) – 123K Instagram followers
And more (Nicholas Marsh, Brennan Tosch, Jon Baxter (JAEN Collective), Wills Mwanaume, Riley Smith)
Local Impact: Putting the Gold Coast on the map as a serious player in Australia’s creator economy, from the national attention it received, local businesses and creators alike mutually benefit.
What the People Say
“This event has not only given our local creators a chance to compete on a national stage, but it has also provided them with real-world industry exposure and networking opportunities, which are crucial for career progression in this industry,” said Jon Baxter, Founder of JAEN Collective.
What to Look For Next
The UCC Presentation Night at Burleigh Brewing on April 5 and more and the link below👇
5.
Struggling education sector hits office market
The struggles of the Gold Coast’s once booming international education sector has led to an increase in office vacancies in Southport and Surfers Paradise.
6. Trending
The GC Minute making headlines April 1…
🕰️ Last week’s newsletter:
6. Around The Web (Snippets)
Gold Coast BreastScreen farewells one of: Its longest-serving employees, Dr Lesley Robertson
Hooters goes broke and has: Filed for bankruptcy despite having 400+ locations across 29 countries
Rich lister backed developer Hirsch & Faigen plans a: Fourth tower for Gold Coast in as many years
Tinder launched The Game Game, an OpenAI-powered feature where: Users flirt by talking to the app, which then scores them and offers constructive feedback for future flirting with, ideally, humans.
A man has been charged after an: Alleged noise dispute between neighbours ended with a father and son being stabbed and another son shot on the GC.
Top US Scientists Write Open Letter To The: People "Describing Real Danger In This Moment"
GOLD Coast Suns coach Damien Hardwick says: "Internal competition is driving former skipper Jarrod Witts to his outstanding start to 2025”
The crazy story of a Rippling employee who testified that he was working as a spy for: The HR tech company’s arch rival Deel
Amazon submits last-minute bid to: Acquire TikTok
The first orbital rocket launched from Europe has: Fallen to the ground and exploded
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🆓 Dig the dig? We’ve got rewards for sharing!
We’ve updated our referral program to make it easier to get a few little freebies👇
7. Upcoming Events
🛟 Australian Surf Life Saving Championships: March 29 – April 6; With more than 7,000 surf lifesavers on the Gold Coast for the event
🏉 Gold Coast Titans vs. Dolphins: April 5 from 2:30 pm onwards; Round 5 at Cbus Super Stadium
🏃♀️ Pho3nix Gold Coast Triathlon – Luke Harrop Memorial: April 5 and 6 from 5 am onwards; participate in or watch this renowned triathlon honouring athlete Luke Harrop at Mitchell Park
🎨 DTE Dance Teacher Expo ’25: April 5–6; a gathering for dance educators and studio owners featuring workshops and networking opportunities at the Gold Coast Convention and Exhibition Centre
🎭 Spellbound: A Night of Magic & Grand Illusion: April 6 from 1 pm onwards; experience a mesmerizing magic and illusion show by renowned illusionist Anthony Street at The Star Theatre
🎶 Human Nature Concert: April 8 from 7:30 pm onwards; enjoy a live performance by the popular Australian vocal group celebrating 20 years of Motown sound at the Gold Coast Convention and Exhibition Centre
🗳️ Australia’s largest ever Federal Election, May 3; get ya’ votes in
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