This Month
The wealthy families keeping their private foundations private
The Rinehart, Medich and Lowy families are among the nation’s rich listers shielding the activity of their charitable foundations from the public eye.
Treasury’s charity tax plan splits wealthy families
Australia’s richest families will be forced to distribute the $11 billion locked in private foundations at a faster rate to charities, under a federal plan.
Inside Australia’s $11b charity stockpile (that’s Labor’s next target)
A Financial Review investigation shows the nation’s wealthiest philanthropists have amassed billions in untaxed wealth in charitable trusts. Now Treasury wants charities to get a bigger slice.
Annie Cannon-Brookes cuts power to her private island
The billionaire’s builders found a novel way to help save the planet.
June
It’s boom time in (Labor) lobby land as business ‘wises up’
Lobbyists are “run off their feet” as the number of businesses seeking influence in Canberra booms. And there are huge sums up for grabs for those willing to dive in.
‘Existential crisis’: 5 charts reveal how Labor decimated Greens, Libs
The final election data reveals the rise of a “left coalition” in Australia – and the surprising voters who cost Peter Dutton and Adam Bandt their seats.
This meat just became legal in Australia (and we tried it first)
One local producer is ready to start filling restaurants and supermarket shelves with lab-grown meat, a product on the cutting edge of food technology. Would you eat it?
May
You’re probably part of Australia’s new inheritocracy
A quarter of the Rich List derived their wealth from inheritance, reflecting a wider shift as Australians start to transfer a staggering $5.4 trillion to the next generation.
Gina Rinehart tips $4b into US shares – here’s what she’s buying
Australia’s richest person is going all in on the US, shrugging off concerns her political idol Donald Trump could spell disaster for the nation’s economy.
Super giant dumps MinRes stake as board changes loom
HESTA has sold its remaining holding after it criticised the Chris Ellison-led miner for its lack of action on improving its corporate governance.
How Labor won the preference war (and screwed the Greens)
The battle further down the ballot sheet has never been more important – and it’s having unintended consequences.
Will early voting cook the democracy sausage?
More people will have voted before election day than on the day itself this year. What does that portend for our snag-related traditions?
Millions of Australians are invested in Trump (but they don’t know it)
Millions of retirement savers now own a small portion of the US president’s business empire through one of the country’s biggest superannuation funds.
April
This is the last election without caps on donations. It shows
The 2025 election will likely be the last when Australia’s wealthiest political donors can splash cash on allies without limit.
Big super is questioning its exposure to Wall Street
Regulatory filings show the country’s biggest retirement funds made billion dollar bets on American technology giants ahead of Donald Trump’s inauguration.
Young men are leaning right, but not necessarily to Dutton
Trump swept to power after winning over a new generation of young men. Peter Dutton has his work cut out for him if he hopes to follow the president’s lead.
Is your MP spending a fortune on YouTube? Check our interactive
Goldstein candidate Tim Wilson is pouring 17 times more cash into YouTube ads than his rival Zoe Daniel in an online battle for votes.
How ‘Green’ is your teal MP?
Analysis of voting records shows the teals have carved out a political space to the right of the Greens. But some teals are greener than others.
March
APRA-style term limits would wipe out up to 30pc of ASX directors
The 10-year limit outlined by the regulator on Thursday would send hundreds of directors out the door if they were introduced across industries.
These are the high-profile directors APRA is pushing out the door
Nearly a quarter of directors at the nation’s largest superannuation, insurance and banking institutions could be forced out under proposed term limits