February 25, 2026

 

(WHO WOULD HAVE THOUGHT IT – A TRUMP TOWER IN AUSTRALIA)

 

February 25, 2026

 

Hello everyone

 

It was February 14, 2026, when the Trump Organisation announced plans to build its first official project in Australia: The Trump International Hotel & Tower Gold Coast.

It will be a landmark, ultra luxury, 91-storey tower In Surfers Paradise on the Gold Coast in the state of Queensland.

The site where the proposed development will take place has been vacant for over a decade. 

The planned height of the project is 335-340 metres tall, which would make it the tallest building in Australia, surpassing the current record holder, Qi at 322m.  It will be taller than the Shard in London.

The project is led by an Australian company, Altus Property Group, in a licensing deal with the Trump Organisation.

It will cost an estimated AUD$1.5billion.

Construction is planned to start in 2026, maybe in August, with a goal to finish before the 2032 Brisbane Olympics.

Mayor of the Gold Coast, Tom Tate, met with President Trump, his wife, Melania, and the Trump Organisation’s executive vice chairman, Eric Trump, to discuss the project.

So, what will this luxury tower include?

A 6-star hotel, possibly comprising one-third of the building (approximately 285 rooms)

Luxury Apartments comprising approximately 270-285 residences, with starting prices expected to be around $5 million.

High-End Retail & Dining, which may include five floors of retail, restaurants, and a beach club.

Services, including a 24/7 butler service, valet, and private concierge.

The Nitty Gritty

Although the partnership has been announced, a formal development application has not yet been submitted to the Gold Coast City Council for approval, though the developer claims “early works” have been approved.

The CEO of Altus Property Group, David Young, has a colourful background.  He has faced scrutiny regarding previous company failures, most recently in 2010.

Strong opposition has become evident with a petition showing thousands of signatures citing concerns about environmental impacts, infrastructure pressure, and the brand name.

Competitor Projects are in the works, which may challenge the title of the “tallest building” in Australia.  One Park Lane, another project, may become a significant challenger as it will stand at 101 storeys.  Importantly, it has already been approved.

 

 

A concept image of the upcoming Trump International Hotel and Tower Gold Coast

 

IN THE NEWS

A bomb threat

Our Prime Minister, Anthony Albanese, was evacuated from The Lodge (which is the equivalent of The White House in the U.S.) after a bomb threat.  The threat is related to the Shen Yun Dance Group.  The group is in Australia and will be performing on the Gold Coast this week.  This Group has close ties with Falun Gong, a spiritual movement.  Both Falun Gong and Shen Yun are banned in China.

 

The relentless pinch

Australian data from the Australian Bureau of Statistics has shown inflation is still a big problem in the Lucky Country.   

Year to January – 3.36%

Year to December – 3.34%

Housing ^ 6.7%

Clothes ^ 5.3%

Food ^ 3.1%

The data suggests further rate hikes are in the pipeline.   Mortgage holders are bracing for a hit.

And on the ASX today:

Wisetech Global surged 11.1% after it was announced that 2,000 of its staff would be cut from the company.  That’s 10% of the workforce.  AI is the efficiency revolution that no one will stop.  Either learn it, adopt the skills, or get left behind, & booted out.

 

Wisetech Global is a leading Australian technology company that provides cloud-based software solutions for the global logistics industry, specializing in managing freight forwarding, customs, warehousing, and shipping.

 

Tariffs, Tensions & Tough Talk

The State of the Union Address was the longest address in history – 108 minutes.

President Trump was adamant that he had successfully overhauled America – “we’re winning too much, bigger than ever…”

 

What he broadcast:

America will receive 80 million barrels of Oil from Venezuela.

Natural gas production is at an all-time high – Trump’s “drill, baby drill “mantra is humming along nicely in the energy sphere.

He claimed more Americans are working today than at any other time in our country.

There have been more jobs created in the private sector.

2.4 million have been taken off food stamps.

The Dow Jones is topping 50,000.

Lower petrol prices.

Lower crime.

Recognition of the U.S. ice hockey team, which won gold in the Winter Olympics.  They were welcomed into the building.

Announcement of a New Policy:  From 2027, tens of millions of American workers will be offered a new retirement savings plan, with a matching government contribution up to $1,000 a year.

 

New regulations: Congress cannot profit from using insider information.

Corporate America will not be allowed to buy up single-family homes as investments.  Mr. Trump pointed out that these homes are for families and those seeking to buy their first home to live in.

Curiously, no mention of ICE or the Epstein files.

Several people were recognised for their bravery during times of conflict, in natural disasters, attacks & accidents.

 

SOMETHING TO THINK ABOUT

Niccolo M. Mottola (Global AE at Marcus Evans)

A Family Office in North America Lost Millions to a Deepfake Voice Call

Here’s Why 43% Have Been Hacked.

Attackers cloned a family member’s voice using minutes of audio.

A wire transfer was approved over what sounded like a legitimate phone call.

It was AI.

43% of family offices globally have experienced a cyberattack in the last two years.

In North America, that jumps to 57%.

The numbers are shocking:

83% are concerned about deepfakes and AI impersonation
Only 60% are confident that employees can detect AI-powered attacks (vs 78% for RIAs)
Just 8% outsource cybersecurity management
67% cite legacy infrastructure as a barrier to recovery
Global cybercrime losses projected to surpass $10 trillion in 2025
Only 17% plan to prioritize employee training in 2026

Why Family Offices Are Perfect Targets:

The Reuben Brothers run a £1B+ Piccadilly Estate redevelopment in London. Their family data spans continents.
Fisher Brothers manages Manhattan office towers.
Their digital footprint is enormous.
High-value + small teams + low visibility = maximum opportunity for attackers.

The Attack Surface Goes Far Beyond the Office:

Smart home systems in Aspen and the Hamptons
Connected cars in London and Geneva
Family travel itineraries across 5+ countries
Children’s social media
Household staff devices in multiple residences

The Real Threat Isn’t Money, It’s Trust:

A cyberattack destroys trust between family members, between principals and staff, between families and advisors.

What Leading Family Offices Are Doing:

Multi-layer verification for wire transfers (two separate staff confirmations)
Quarterly simulated attack exercises
Extended security perimeters covering homes, yachts, and travel
Zero-trust architecture across all systems
Board-level cyber governance, not delegated to IT

Is your family office treating cybersecurity as a board-level priority?

References:

Simple — Family Office Security & Risk Report 2025: https://lnkd.in/eDQJTEsJ

Institutional Investor — Family Offices Unprepared for Cyber Threats: https://lnkd.in/eUTHEwet

Omega Systems — Cyber Threats Facing Family Offices: https://lnkd.in/eHy4w8zJ

 

 

 

Cheers

Jacquie