☔️ La Nina forecasts for Queensland, again
Volume 141: Tallest building in Australia approved for Southport | Light Rail stage 3 major milestone | Drop croc evidence found in Queensland and heaps more
G’day GC, welcome back to another big weekly newsletter; it’s November 13.
Get the spray jackets and indoor activities ready; this weekend is looking pretty wet ☔️
And, go Queenslanders, you good things, who take on New South Wales this weekend in the Surfing State Of Origin at Burleigh Heads.
Good luck out there in those northerlies..
In today's newsletter
One Big Thing: The GC wins right to host the popular AACTA Awards
Local Gold Coast author B.J. Wilde launches her: Debut novel at The Hearth Café Providore in Mudgeeraba.
InvestFest 2025: Unites local founders, investors and partners over two days
Local rugby star-turned financier fails: In fight against regulator
Trending: QLD in for another La Nina summer, Higgins forecast ☔️
Around the web: Evidence of ancient tree-climbing ‘drop crocs’ found in Queensland, GC Light Rail Stage 3 gets first tram on tracks, tallest building in Australia approved by council for Southport build and heaps more.
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1. One Big Thing: The GC wins right to host the increasingly popular AACTA Festival and Awards
By Marshall Hall
What’s Happening: The Gold Coast has won the right to host the increasingly popular AACTA (Australian Academy of Cinema and Television Arts) Festival and Awards for the next three years.
Why It Matters: The five-day cinematic extravaganza is now set to return in February, featuring premieres, masterclasses, career expos and over 100 events.
Red carpets will be rolled out to help celebrate the Gold Coast’s global screen cred, its ability to boost the local economy while inspiring the next generation of Australian storytellers.
By the Numbers
300+ speakers and talent across more than 100 events will be part of the event’s schedule
$4.85 million is the forecast boost to Queensland’s economy in 2026 from the event
AACTA celebrates its 70th anniversary during the festival run.
Stars, Stories and a Splash of Surfers: Baz Luhrmann and Catherine Martin were announced as the official ambassadors for the Academy, supporting Russell Crowe (President), Nicole Kidman (Vice President), Cate Blanchett (Ambassador) and Dr. George Miller (Patron).
What The People Say: Baz Luhrmann said he and Ms Martin had been connected to AACTA (previously known as AFI) for more than 35 years, since his movie Strictly Ballroom won multiple AFI awards.
“We are honored to be named ambassadors of AACTA, an organization that does so much to celebrate Australian storytellers and the stories we tell, elevating them on the world stage and lifting up new generations of Australian talent, not just through the Awards, but now through the brilliant AACTA Festival, returning to the Gold Coast in February, bigger than ever,’’ he said.
What To Look For Next: The full schedule of the 2026 event, with more big names and big screens lighting up the GC.
We’ll keep you posted.
2.
The Sky Called Her Home… to the Hearth Café
Gold Coast author B.J. Wilde launches her debut novel at The Hearth Café, Providore in Mudgeeraba.
Like many Australian millennials, I grew up reading Harry Potter, Artemis Fowl, The Hobbit, and Tomorrow When the War Began. When I wasn’t busy studying at the library or drinking at the uni bar, I was reading The Hunger Games, Eragon, and..
3.
Big ideas and bold talks at InvestFest 2025
What’s Happening: InvestFest 2025 wrapped up after two packed days on the Gold Coast, bringing together founders, investors, and ecosystem partners for a celebration of innovation, connection, and opportunity.
Day one took place at Cohort Innovation Space, while day two unfolded at the newly opened..
4. High Tackle in the High Court; GC rugby star’s finance fight fails
By Marshall Hall
What’s Happening: Gold Coast dwelling rugby union star turned financial industry Mark Swanepoel and his company have failed in a High Court bid to overturn a ruling that they had breached lending laws.
Why It Matters: The court dismissed their appeal, upholding findings that their companies, Cigno Australia and BSF Solutions, operated without a credit licence and charged prohibited fees.
The decision reinforces ASIC’s commitment to tackling unlawful lending practices and upholding consumer credit protections, especially for financially vulnerable Australians.
By the Numbers:
Over 100,000 consumers, many of whom were vulnerable or in financial distress at the time, were impacted by the involvement of Cigno Australia and BSF Solutions
ASIC’s proceedings began in October 2023
7 April 2026 is when the penalty hearing is set for
Local Impact: With Swanepoel based on the Gold Coast, the case casts a sharp spotlight on local compliance in the fast-moving consumer finance space.
What The People Say: ASIC Deputy Chair Sarah Court said ASIC was pleased the High Court had decided not to hear the appeal against the decision that the Cigno Australia and BSF Solutions’ directors were involved in Credit Act breaches.
“Over 100,000 consumers, many of whom were vulnerable or in financial distress at the time, were impacted by the involvement of Cigno Australia and BSF Solutions’ directors in a model that denied consumers access to consumer protection laws,’’ Ms Court said.
“Harmful lending practices continue to be a priority for ASIC, and we will ensure that lenders who flout the law are held to account.
What To Look For Next: Eyes now turn to the April 2026 hearing, which will set the final penalties, and likely some regulatory benchmarks.
Recent newsletters
5. Trending
6. Around The Web (Snippets)
Evidence of ancient, tree-climbing: Drop crocs have been found in Queensland’s Murgon,
First tram on tracks marks major milestone for: Gold Coast Light Rail Stage 3
A proposal to build: Australia’s tallest building in Southport has received approval from the City of Gold Coast.
Orcas in Mexico have learned to: Attack young great white sharks by flipping them upside down and eating their livers
Australia’s intelligence head Mike Burgess has warned that: China-backed hackers are “probing” the country’s critical infrastructure, and in some cases have gained access.
A giant 500-megawatt, 2 gigawatt-hour battery project just near Toowoomba is: Seeking Federal Government environmental approval
The Forensic Crash Unit is investigating a: Fatal single-vehicle traffic crash at Mudgeeraba yesterday afternoon, 12 October.
Weekly Dream Gig
This week: Ready to let your marketing career go wild?
National Trust of Australia (Queensland) is hunting a Head of Marketing to turn koala cuddles, night walks and conservation wins into clicks, visits and donations at Currumbin Wildlife Sanctuary.
On $130,000.00 plus super, you’ll lead strategy, digital, PR and a creative team driving one of Queensland’s most loved attractions and boosting memberships and community.
7. Upcoming Events
🤸 CheerCon QLD State Series, Fri 14 – Sun 16 Nov 2025, from 12:00 am
Top cheer and dance squads from around QLD face off at the Carrara Sports & Leisure Centre. cheerleading
🏉 3Ptag Queensland Junior All Nations, Fri 14 – Sun 16 Nov 2025, from 8:00 am Australia’s best junior rugby talent (U12–U18) compete in this non-contact tournament at Runaway Bay. rugby
🎯 Dabble Darts ANZ Premier League, Sat 15 Nov 2025
Australia and NZ’s top dart players battle it out in the local round of this premier competition.
📚 Community Book Swap – Surfers Paradise, Sat 15 Nov 2025, 10am-1pm.
Bring a book and swap it at this casual community exchange in the heart of Surfers.
🎮 FUSE Esports Festival — Sun 16 Nov 2025 An esports celebration in Bilinga blending schools, families and fans in a tech-savvy gaming environment. esports
