By Tom Watson
Australians who rely on credit cards to rack up frequent flyer points are being warned to brace for sweeping changes, with major banks hiking annual fees, cutting earn rates and stripping away popular perks ahead of the October 1 surcharge ban.
























![Younger children now face gambling cues not just in ads or sports, but inside the games they play. A September study found [RJ21.1]simulated gambling in games aimed at kids as young as four.](https://media.moneymag.com.au/prod/media/library/Money_Mag/2026/01._January/gambling-exposure-children-australia-0001_500x_.jpg)



