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The AFR View

Yesterday

China could be hit with tariffs on its goods of up to 60 per cent, which will damage its economy and indirectly Australia’s too.

China should practise what it preaches on free trade

The best way Beijing can persuade the US it is playing fair is to open up its domestic market so America can share in its success.

This Month

The Bank of New South Wales opened branches everywhere, including the goldfields. Here is the tent branch at Wyalong, in the Northern Riverina, opened in 1894.

Branchless banks should not have to prop up bricks-and-mortar rivals

Before the government imposes a new levy to keep regional branches open and head off a Coalition attack, the competition and innovation effects must be weighed.

Anthony Albanese is heading for stormy waters.

Time running out as incumbents’ curse strikes Labor

According to today’s poll, 42 per cent of voters think our economy will be weaker with Trump restored to the White House. It’s a grim portent for Labor.

Voters will now get prompt information on who is financially backing election candidates.

Big parties right to set new limits on election funds

But there is still a whiff of self-interest in measures which will clip the wings of well-funded independent disruptors

Tesla founder Elon Musk is now a US government adviser.

No Musk, but creating efficiency a must in Australia too

At least the US president-elect is prepared to take serious economic problems head on, even if in unorthodox ways.

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ASIC is taking action against Cbus, chaired by former Labor treasurer Wayne Swan.

Corporate watchdog puts big super’s service failures on notice

Revelations that Cbus has cheated members on death and disability benefits has now surfaced a new systemic issue.

Rex’s core business is in the bush, where many voters would expect the government to ensure the continuation of what they consider an essential transport service.

Bailout keeps Rex flying until after election

The $80 million, handed out with little detail, has to go towards making Rex a sustainable player again. The government needs to make a better case for how that will happen.

Transurban CEO Michelle Jablko says that assest privatisations reflect governemnt priorities at the time.

Inflation shadow falls over privatised infrastructure model

The political fallout from privatisation colliding with a temporary cost of living crisis could end up gumming up the pipeline of public works in the longer run.

Prime minister Anthony Albanese has seized upon a barbecue stopper issue.

Social media age ban is good for kids and parents

Labor’s move to now run hard on the issue of young peoples’ safety online will resonate with millions of average mums and dads.

The US election result enters our political debate

Australia must learn the right lessons from US election

Inflation cut across all other issues for US voters, regardless of race, gender and age. What should that be telling us?

David Rowe

Transactional Trump could leave a vacuum in Asia

Trump would find that turning his back on allies was a more costly transaction than he thought.

Yet there is little that is normal about Trump returning to the White House.

This election, it’s different, for American exceptionalism

The verdict of the American people will be seen as speaking to America’s continuing decline during the Trump era.

David Rowe

Higher interest rates are partly Labor’s doing

The unfortunate truth for Prime Minister Anthony Albanese is that the elevated interest rates will play a big part in next year’s election.

 Founder and chief executive Chris Ellison will leave the iron ore and lithium company. Or at least he will in 18 months time.

Ellison’s long goodbye shows MinRes’ founder problem lives on

The lesson for directors is that transparent and accountable governance is truly indispensable for properly run companies of all kinds.

Labor has now come up with a political sugar hit to win over university-educated younger voters who are repaying what used to be known as the HECS debts.

Labor’s uni debt election bribe trashes fairness

The principle of ensuring fairness all-round will be trashed by handing out a 20 per cent debt cut regardless of income. It is middle-class welfare on steroids.

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Trump remains the greater risk in this election.

Trump’s flaws make Harris the best choice for Australia

Trump’s trade wars will damage Australian interests, and his lies, vulgarity and conspiracy theories taint democracies everywhere.

October

Republican presidential nominee former President Donald Trump talks to reporters as he sits in a garbage truck Wednesday, Oct. 30, 2024, in Green Bay, Wis. (AP Photo/Julia Demaree Nikhinson)

Inflation now all about the timing for Labor

If interest rate relief comes too late for the election, too bad. What’s really needed is reform of our tax, workplace and regulatory settings.

The authoritarianism extended to overreach such as bans on public gatherings that saw police order people sitting alone on beaches to ‘disperse’.

Don’t suppress democracy in a pandemic

Not even a public health crisis should justify suppression of the normal rules of democratic debate about government actions and policy alternatives.

Commissioner Simone Constant of the Australian Investments and Securities Commission warned that the regulator is now embarked on a multi-year program to look at super fund service levels.

Lack of advice remains super system’s diminished return

For three decades the super system has been focused on building up assets for members. Less so on creating the infrastructure to service customers in retirement.

Albanese’s relationship with Qantas is now a national story because of Joe Aston’s new book, The Chairman’s Lounge.

Is disclosure enough to clear Albo’s Qantas flights with benefits?

Some might say upgrades are just a perk of the office. But the counterargument is that MPs should be removed from the special type of soft power Qantas seems to wield.

Original URL: https://www.afr.com/by/the-afr-view-h0w04x