The Knockoff

The weekly newsletter built for Australian tradies. No PR fluff. No industry body spin. Just the stuff that actually affects your work, your money and your rights

Oct 16, 2026

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9 min read

The Knockoff - Issue #21

A 30% minimum tax on trusts, fines for falls from height, and why a 2000W generator is really 1,600W

Topher Local

Oct 9, 2026

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8 min read

The Knockoff - Issue #20

Cross River Rail workers testify, cement dust limits drop tenfold, and diesel easesCement dust limits drop tenfold on 1 December, and diesel's finally easing

Topher Local

Oct 2, 2026

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8 min read

The Knockoff - Issue #19

Rates up, diesel up, new homes up 5.4% — and units just fell off a cliff

Topher Local

Sep 25, 2026

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8 min read

The Knockoff - Issue #18

$15 billion, a bombshell report, and a union that says "no stone unturned" — Royal Commission opens, Bathla's books were $736m out, diesel jumps 14c a litre

Topher Local

Sep 18, 2026

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7 min read

The Knockoff - Issue #17

Sent on National Tradies Day: two FWO prosecutions over unpaid apprentices, a fresh CFMEU charge, and the cordless circular saw verdict.

Topher Local

Sep 11, 2026

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7 min read

The Knockoff - Issue #16

Bathla owes $3.4 billion. The clock runs out 21 September for the sites still standing.

Topher Local