Qantas Checks for Data Breach, Storm Brings Asthma Warning, and Home Prices Keep Falling

It is Monday, November 2, 2026, and Australia is dealing with several big stories at once. Qantas, Australia's most well-known airline, is trying to find out if its customers' personal information was stolen in a cyber attack. At the same time, people in parts of Victoria are being warned to stay indoors because dangerous storm and pollen conditions could trigger sudden asthma attacks. Home prices are also continuing to fall across the country, adding to worries about the economy.

Qantas says it was not directly hacked, but a company it works with was. That company, called Amadeus, is a global technology provider that helps airlines manage flight bookings. Amadeus told Qantas that someone got into one of its computer systems without permission. Qantas is now working with Amadeus to find out if any of its customers' booking information was accessed.

A Qantas spokesperson said the problem at Amadeus was contained in September, but the airline still wants to know what customer data may have been seen. This kind of attack, where hackers break into a supplier's system to reach a bigger company's data, is becoming more common around the world. Qantas has promised to update customers as it learns more. Passengers are encouraged to watch for any unusual activity on their accounts.

In the state of Victoria, health officials are warning people about a dangerous weather event called epidemic thunderstorm asthma. This happens when strong winds from a thunderstorm pick up tiny pieces of grass pollen and break them into even smaller bits. Those tiny bits can travel deep into a person's lungs and cause a sudden and serious asthma attack. People who have asthma or hay fever are especially at risk.

Victoria's Acting Chief Health Officer, Dr. Evelyn Wong, sent out an urgent alert to several parts of the state. She warned people in the Mallee, North Central, North East, and Wimmera districts to be ready and stay alert. 'The safest place to be during the strong wind gusts before and during a thunderstorm is indoors, with windows and doors closed,' she said. People with asthma were advised to keep their medication close by just in case.

A new survey called the McKinnon Index found that trust in politicians across Australia has dropped sharply. Fewer than half of voters feel they have a real say in how the country is run. Nearly three out of four people think Australia has become more divided over the past year. These results point to a big shift in the way Australians feel about their government.

In New South Wales, the cost of providing extra security at high-risk places and events has passed $50 million since the Bondi Beach terror attack. Police have had to increase their presence at many locations across the state. At the same time, New South Wales has started a gun buyback program, where people can hand in certain types of guns in exchange for money. These measures are aimed at keeping communities safer.

Finally, house prices across Australia have fallen again, and many experts are worried things could get worse. The Reserve Bank of Australia may raise interest rates again this week. When interest rates go up, it becomes more expensive to borrow money to buy a home, which usually causes house prices to drop even further. Many Australians who own homes or are trying to buy one are watching the Reserve Bank's decision very closely.