On October 19, 2025, Australian insurance company Bupa awarded over AUD 14 million in bonuses to more than 20 senior executives for the 2023–2024 fiscal year. One executive received AUD 2.5 million, more than double their AUD 1.1 million salary, while 19 others shared AUD 11.6 million in bonuses, including AUD 5.5 million in deferred payments.

This comes after Bupa admitted that between 2018 and 2023, over 7,500 customers were misled, resulting in canceled or delayed medical procedures. The Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC) found some customers were incorrectly upgraded or denied timely medical treatment. Bupa agreed to pay AUD 35 million in fines, though the Federal Court has not yet determined if the penalty is appropriate.

Consumer Health Forum CEO Elizabeth Deveny criticized the bonuses, saying, “When a company breaches consumer trust, millions in executive bonuses send the wrong message.” Bupa stated that the issues stemmed from systemic errors rather than individual wrongdoing and implemented corrective measures since 2021, including AUD 14.3 million in compensation for 4,100 incorrect claims. They also disciplined executives and revised bonus policies.

Experts have noted that awarding large bonuses amid such failures highlights a corporate culture prioritizing financial performance over customer responsibility. It remains unclear if executives will be required to return part of their bonuses.

A 15-year-old girl brought a kitchen knife to her former school campus on October 9, intending to stab another student. Fortunately, a teacher successfully persuaded her to put down the weapon, and she was arrested upon police arrival.

During the subsequent hearing, the court learned that the girl had expressed fascination on social media with the 1999 Columbine school shooting and the 2024 Bondi Junction shopping centre massacre. Police discovered several unpublished TikTok drafts on her phone, including one placing herself on the cover of Time magazine with the subtitle “Why did she do it?” Reportedly, the girl had been bullied at school, but her stepfather and mother did not pay attention, merely telling her not to mind.

Despite prosecution opposition, the court granted her bail after six days in custody and issued restraining orders preventing her from approaching five teachers at the school.