10 things you need to know this morning in Australia

[View in browser]( [Logo]( [Image]( [10 things you need to know this morning in Australia]( [10 things you need to know this morning in Australia]( [This is Business Insider Australia’s morning newsletter for Wednesday, January 19.]( [Workers could soon strike if employers don’t supply free RATs, unions warn, as some businesses pressure staff to return to work sick]( [Workers could soon strike if employers don’t supply free RATs, unions warn, as some businesses pressure staff to return to work sick]( [Unions are calling on employers to improve Omicron-era working conditions by supplying free RATs, N95 masks and improving ventilation.]( [Shoppers have closed their wallets and locked themselves down as Omicron drives consumer confidence to levels unseen since 1992]( [Shoppers have closed their wallets and locked themselves down as Omicron drives consumer confidence to levels unseen since 1992]( [Consumer confidence has spiralled to lows unseen since 1992, as shoppers stop spending and lock themselves down.]( [Victoria’s event sector is braced for cancellations — but the state’s COVID-19 insurance scheme won’t fully pay out until a new lockdown is declared]( [Victoria’s event sector is braced for cancellations — but the state’s COVID-19 insurance scheme won’t fully pay out until a new lockdown is declared]( [Three out of four live events in Victoria could be cancelled or postponed in the coming weeks, according to a new survey. Business conditions are brutal despite the absence of an official COVID-19 lockdown, industry groups say. A new state-run insurance scheme will only fully pay out if another state […]]( [The Australian Open NFT collection includes digital artists who have sold works for $65,000 — but they say the project’s ‘not about the financial stuff’]( [The Australian Open NFT collection includes digital artists who have sold works for $65,000 — but they say the project’s ‘not about the financial stuff’]( [Artists say its success will be measured in the project’s ability to push NFTs beyond pumped-up sales.]( [Uber and Deliveroo drivers could soon be protected by a new set of minimum standards in Victoria, as the state turns the screw on the gig economy]( [Uber and Deliveroo drivers could soon be protected by a new set of minimum standards in Victoria, as the state turns the screw on the gig economy]( [Platforms like Uber and Airtasker could soon be forced to be more transparent about pay, and offer workers an independent review process.]( [The 15 fastest-growing job titles in Australia, according to LinkedIn, highlight tech’s dominance for talent]( [The 15 fastest-growing job titles in Australia, according to LinkedIn, highlight tech’s dominance for talent]( [LinkedIn analysed data on the job titles experiencing the highest growth rates from January 2017 through July 2021 to put together the rankings.]( [Activision Blizzard soars 38% after Microsoft reportedly agrees to acquire the video-game maker for $69 billion in cash]( [Activision Blizzard soars 38% after Microsoft reportedly agrees to acquire the video-game maker for $69 billion in cash]( [The deal would also be a lifeline to Activision, which has seen its stock price fall 40% amid workplace sexual harassment allegations and lawsuits.]( [A fintech behind the first ‘crypto mortgage’ sees a multi-billion dollar market in allowing borrowers to pledge their bitcoin to gain access to the real estate market]( [A fintech behind the first ‘crypto mortgage’ sees a multi-billion dollar market in allowing borrowers to pledge their bitcoin to gain access to the real estate market]( [Crypto investors want to "continue to hold their bitcoin and be able to diversify and buy real estate," said Milo CEO Josip Rupena.]( [This TikToker rents a 95-square-foot apartment for $1,200 a month in NYC. Here’s what it’s like living there.]( [This TikToker rents a 95-square-foot apartment for $1,200 a month in NYC. Here’s what it’s like living there.]( [Axel Webber pays $1,200 a month for a microstudio in East Village. From sharing a communal bathroom to not having a real stove, here’s what it’s like.]( [Image]( [Logo]( [Unsubscribe]( | [Privacy Policy](