Margaret Paul
Margaret Paul reports on how business decisions and government policy intersect with the lives of workers, consumers and communities. She covers labour markets, industry pressures and economic change for the Australian Broadcasting Corporation, with a consistent focus on who gains, who loses and what shifts in policy mean on the ground.
Business under strain and industry adjustment
Paul’s business coverage concentrates on sectors under pressure and the ripple effects when markets or supply chains break down.
In recent work on the soft plastics sector, she reports on an industry “at breaking point” as waste is diverted overseas, unpacking how local operators, recyclers and regulators respond when an environmental promise collides with commercial reality. Her reporting frequently returns to themes of viability, regulation and public accountability, examining how businesses manage risk and adapt when systems they rely on start to fail.
Work, job security and changing labour markets
A recurring thread in Paul’s work is the experience of workers in volatile labour markets.
She has covered proposed Victorian laws to protect gig economy workers, explaining how ride-share drivers and food delivery couriers operate with limited rights and what new industrial standards and agencies could mean for their pay, safety and dispute resolution. She has also reported on programs designed to fill hospitality staff shortages, profiling people who move into permanent roles through targeted training initiatives and state-backed schemes.
Across these stories, she focuses on job security, pathways into work and the role of government and industry in setting the conditions of employment.
Economic policy, regulation and state initiatives
Paul regularly reports on economic measures and state initiatives aimed at reshaping business conditions. In her coverage of gig economy reforms, she tracks how inquiries feed into legislative proposals, budgets and new regulatory bodies, showing how formal recommendations are translated into practical mechanisms such as standards for fair conditions or agencies to mediate disputes. Her reporting on hospitality workforce programs similarly links individual outcomes to broader policy settings, detailing how targeted schemes address sectoral shortages while opening new opportunities for job seekers. She writes about these interventions in clear, accessible terms, setting out the mechanics of new rules and programs alongside the perspectives of those affected.
Background and reporting style
Paul joined the ABC in 2011 as a cadet journalist and has since worked across radio and television news.
Before joining the national broadcaster, she held reporting roles at a Greek-language publication and contributed sports and arts coverage to a major metropolitan newspaper, as well as reporting on a federal election for a youth-focused media organisation. That mix of general news and specialist beats informs a business reporting style that combines policy detail with human stories, giving equal weight to official decisions, industry responses and the lived experience of workers and communities.
4 more business journalists.
AdNews
AdNews focuses on how corporate decisions, campaigns and industry recognition shape the wider communications market, linking company moves and sector trends to their impact on regional audiences, traditional channels and people working in news and adland. It covers the business of media, marketing and advertising, tying deals, awards and campaigns to how the ecosystem functions day to day. Its reporting follows regional television and restructuring around Nine’s stations, explains why regional TV matters commercially, and combines transaction news with audience and pricing analysis. Long reads track traditional media recovery after COVID‑19 through agency views and budget shifts. AdNews treats journalists, mastheads and awards as business assets and reports on campaigns and marketing aimed at business owners, profiling data tools like Standard Media Index to show how entrepreneurial ideas become industry infrastructure.
Aditi Sarkar
Aditi Sarkar specialises in concise, data-led coverage of ASX-listed companies, with a technical edge in healthcare, biotechnology and critical minerals. She writes business and markets pieces for Kalkine Media, covering healthcare, diagnostics, food and beverages, resources, energy, financials and property. Her work examines revenue growth, contract pipelines, regulatory clearances, product rollouts, drilling, project pipelines, corporate actions, asset sales, debt reduction and trading performance. She also tracks themes such as critical minerals demand, changing energy use and AI-driven power and infrastructure demand. Notable coverage includes Pro Medicus, Mach7 Technologies, Tetratherix, Biome Australia, Killi Resources, Woodside Energy, Lendlease and Sports Entertainment Group. She uses precise company data and disclosures, then builds sector context around earnings, growth prospects, investor interest and market structure. Her reporting is research-driven and informed by scientific analysis and co-authored peer-reviewed research.
Adrian Black
Adrian Black is a business reporter who treats regulation, court action and economic shocks as core business terrain, not side issues. He writes for The Canberra Times, covering corporate conduct, legal and market consequences of misleading investors, and concrete risks from technology, crime and volatile costs. His recent work centres on detailed coverage of the fallout from Regional Express profit forecasts and losses, tracking ASIC’s case, courtroom arguments and continuous disclosure mechanics in the NSW Supreme Court. He follows contested cases over time, parses formal statements, and connects legal developments to reputational damage, shareholder confidence and governance standards. Beyond litigation, he reports on rising fuel and energy costs, unpaid invoices and money mule schemes as operational risks, and examines how AI changes careers, always tying abstract forces back to specific businesses, workers and the choices they face.
Adrian Leung
Adrian Leung is a technically precise reporter on Chinese electric vehicle manufacturers, distinguished by deep coverage of engineering specifications, thermal management systems, and performance metrics often ignored by business media. He writes on Chinese EV makers including BYD, Nio, Leapmotor, Xiaomi, and others, examining their manufacturing strategies, market positioning, and production developments. His Electrical and Computer Engineering background informs detailed analysis of battery thermal management, torque outputs, battery capacities, and thermal performance metrics, including case studies like BYD’s Flash Charging system and e4 motor system. Leung tracks new model launches and refreshes with exact dimensions, pricing, and export timelines, and reports on broader auto industry profits, production volumes, and margins. He also covers battery technology and solid-state battery delays, translating complex chemistry and semiconductor supply chain issues into clear, business-focused insights.