This Month
Soft wages, growth revive chances of first RBA rate cut in February
The Reserve Bank has signalled it could be ready to cut the cash rate early next year if upcoming data meets expectations, bolstering Labor’s re-election prospects.
IMF calls for home lending crackdown when rate cuts arrive
The International Monetary Fund says regulators should consider tightening Australia’s already-stringent home lending laws, pushing back on a Coalition plan.
‘Significant risk’ Australian inflation might stop falling: IMF
The IMF says the still-strong jobs market and rapidly rising government spending could cause disinflation to stall, leading to calls for fiscal restraint.
Toorak cricket club to Ukraine war zone: Russia takes Aussie prisoner
Melbourne man Oscar Jenkins may be the first Australian captured by Russia while fighting for Ukraine, and the government is urging Russia to respect international laws.
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JobKeeper saved jobs but killed productivity, says commission
Pandemic-era policies abated unemployment but kept workers attached to dud employers, the Productivity Commission says.
Coalition nuclear fund would deepen $90b off-budget blowout: Chalmers
A record $90 billion of spending over four years will be obscured in off-budget funds, but Treasurer Jim Chalmers says it would be worse under the Coalition.
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Capital gains benefit spikes to $22.7b as property investors sell out
Treasury estimates forgone taxes from the capital gains tax discount in 2024-25 have more than doubled since the last estimate in February 2023.
Star pick for RBA board backed lower interest rates
Renee Fry-McKibbin was a monetary policy dove in 2022, according to Barrenjoey, backing in a low cash rate even as the central bank delivered supersized hikes.
Chalmers brings former bank CEO, economist on board in RBA overhaul
The appointment of ANU professor Renée Fry-McKibbin and former Bendigo Bank boss Marnie Baker sets the scene for the biggest shake-up of the central bank in decades.
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- Exclusive
- Interest rates
Treasury breakdown reveals culprits in $20b state spending splurge
The top spending jurisdiction was Queensland, which accounted for $6 billion of the $20 billion worth of extra spending commitments that Treasury missed.
RBA could accept lower unemployment without inflation risk: economists
Others warn the jobs market may now be running too hot, and a longer period of elevated interest rates will be required.
‘Bye-bye’ February rate cut as unemployment rate falls to 3.9pc
More than 35,000 people found jobs in November, pushing the unemployment rate below 4 per cent for the first time since March.
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Bullock opens door to February rate cut as RBA pivots
RBA governor Michele Bullock says she has more confidence inflation is returning to target, reviving the prospect of a pre-election interest rate cut.
Union growth is back under Labor after a decade of decline
The ACTU says a return to collective bargaining under the Albanese government has helped unions increase their membership to 13 per cent of the workforce.
- Opinion
- Leading Indicators
How Victoria became one of the rich world’s most indebted states
Victoria is the fourth-most indebted advanced economy state government outside the US. It may soon find there’s a fine line between nation-building and overbuilding.
- Exclusive
- Australian economy
Australia is now an economic ‘problem child’: McKinsey
Business investment is at recession levels as the country’s productivity growth slumps to 30th out of 35 rich countries, says a new report.
You’re part of the growth problem, business leaders tell Chalmers
The bosses of BHP and Wesfarmers have called on Labor to overhaul the uncompetitive tax system and reverse changes to IR laws if it wants a private sector recovery.
Chalmers admits business must pull Australia out of growth slump
Jim Chalmers says record government spending is stopping the economy from shrinking, but economists say it is delaying rate cuts and crowding out the private sector.
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Record government spending props up GDP
Public servant pay rises, energy bill subsidies, discounted transport fares and infrastructure spending pushed government spending to a fresh record last quarter.
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Private markets to boom amid AI and net zero transition
The sector has emerged as a cornerstone of investment strategies as investors chase outsized returns and diversify their portfolios beyond traditional assets.