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Jennifer Hewett

Yesterday

RBA governor Michele Bullock

RBA won’t join desperate guessing game

Central banks are as much on edge as markets, as the world waits to learn the impact and extent of Donald Trump’s tariffs. Caution reigns at the Reserve Bank.

March

Why Albanese is confident of winning – partly thanks to Trump

The government quietly hopes the Trump effect will boost its chances, but the focus of the election campaign will be resolutely on domestic cost-of-living pressures.

Treasurer Jim Chalmers

Chalmers’ tax wedge gives Dutton licence to thrill

The Albanese government is trying to fashion a tactical victory from budget strategic failure, but Peter Dutton has a chance to turn the tables.

Treasurer Jim Chalmers is preparing his fourth budget during the Trump uncertainty.

The smallness of thinking leaves the country marooned in a sea of debt

Economic reform? Managing global risk? No, this budget is all about Labor struggling back into office with the promise of better to come.

Bill Shorten, new vice chancellor of the University of Canberra

Friendly fire hits Australian universities

Local universities are caught up in Donald Trump’s culture wars. But the threat is partly home-grown and self-inflicted.

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US President Donald Trump and Prime Minister Anthony Albanese.

Budget inaction is not what’s needed at a time of Trump turbulence

Jim Chalmers’ budget will set the scene for an election campaign dominated by global noise but domestic policy silence.

US President Donald Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin spoke for nearly two hours.

Trump’s MAGA dreams conjure a world nightmare

Donald Trump values his relationship with dictators far more than that with democratic allies, making the global economic and national security interests a combustible mix.

APRA chairman John Lonsdale at The Australian Financial Review Banking Summit.

APRA holds firm against deregulation push

The banking regulator is resisting the US push for greater deregulation to boost growth. But can that last given the international upheaval under way?

Lynas’s Mount Weld rare earth project in Western Australia.

Reality bites critical-minerals hopes

Australia’s ambition of processing critical minerals is still mostly a dream, and one that won’t persuade Donald Trump to withhold tariffs on our exports.

Energy Minister Chris Bowen.

Consumers trapped by rising cost of energy failure and power bills

Power prices will be a key election topic as Labor sells the benefits of renewables and the Coalition insists nuclear offers the only affordable answer. But under both plans, it’s customers who will pay.

US President Donald Trump and Prime Minister Anthony Albanese.

Trump’s tariffs hit markets and politics

It is now clear to world leaders and Wall Street that the president’s version of transactional politics includes the blunt reality of universal levies rather than just the threat of them as a negotiating tactic.

Liberal Leader Mark Carney delivers his victory speech condemning the actions of the US.

Canada goes hard on Trump while Australia goes quiet

The traditionally polite Canadian government is condemning Donald Trump’s America as it faces a tough election. Australia’s government is far more cautious, but can that last?

Bill Kelty is urging the Albanese government to acknowledge the people’s pain and take on the big economic reforms needed to fix things.

Labor must be straight with voters: Kelty

Economic trailblazer Bill Kelty says the government should acknowledge that people are worse off than three years ago, as Labor makes contingency plans for a May election.

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese (right) has changed his election plans.

Labor dumps April election plans, prepares March budget amid cyclone threat

The federal government is ramping up preparations for a March budget after Cyclone Alfred upended Anthony Albanese’s plan to call an election this weekend.

Just look at America under Donald Trump.

Donald Trump is the political equivalent of a natural disaster

Trump’s tariffs on Australian aluminium will have a modest economic impact, but his assault on US allies is changing Australia’s place in the world.

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US President Donald Trump departs following a joint session of Congress.

Trump’s glory moment upstages the world

The US president’s address to congress was Donald Trump’s favourite version of reality TV, featuring himself as the star.

David Solomon and Stephen Schwartzman.

Why Trump is still business gold

Major US financial executives are confident about the strength of the US economy and the benefits of the president’s deregulatory agenda. How all the rest will play out is less certain.

Donald Trump’s cabinet and congressional Republicans have adopted their familiar pattern of following this president without demur.

Trump marches on regardless of US allies

The frantic manoeuvring over Ukraine is one more aspect of the revolution the US president is imposing on a deeply worried world. What happens next?

February

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese’s government is limping to the end of a first term.

Albanese hit hard by live fire from all sides

From Chinese warships, to Trump’s tariffs, to Australia’s sense of itself, Anthony Albanese is struggling to show he has convincing answers.

Ukraine pays the price for Trump’s desire for headlines

The deal Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky is being forced to sign highlights the confusion in business and politics created by Donald Trump’s White House.

Original URL: https://www.afr.com/by/jennifer-hewett-j7gc3