NewsBite

Opinion

Featured Opinion

Why the world’s leading democracies are in crisis

The majority of G7 governments are now so burdened with domestic political problems that they are incapable of steering their own countries, writes Gideon Rachman.

The Fed's reversal is toxic for stocks

The US central bank’s belated acknowledgement of re-accelerating inflation and the risks flowing from Donald Trump’s policies could trigger a sustained market downturn.

Labor has left it too late for an early election this time

This year, the polls, the economy and the budget have all got worse for the government, and it has run out of room to go to voters before the end of its term.

Laura Tingle

Columnist

Laura Tingle

Why governments should fund think tanks that make life difficult for them

Without allowing some unencumbered funding and a safe space for free thinkers within the system, we will be poorer for it in a policy sense.

John Lee

Foreign policy expert

John Lee

Political class must heed lessons of Trump’s comeback

Will our leaders heed the warning that the best defence against populism is to take the hard decisions needed to restore the prosperity most Australians seek?

The AFR View

Editorial

The AFR View

Dutton not match fit after dodging the pack, or so Labor hopes

When the opposition leader has made a foray into policy detail, he’s found himself on the sticky paper.

Phillip Coorey

Political editor

Phillip Coorey

Churches sowed the seeds of antisemitism but have lost control of field in post-Christian age

The shift in Christian teaching can have a limited effect when the worst prejudices come from the radical, secular left.

Inflation risk crashes into political risk

Market tantrums and the fall in the Australian dollar in response to the US Fed show that next year is likely to be even more volatile.

Advertisement

Yesterday

Three of the best US podcasts, as nominated by the New York Times: Critics at large from The New Yorker, Cement City and The Nameless Man from Pushkin.

The best (US) podcasts of 2024

From chat shows to true crime, here’s a pick of the 10 best Americans series released this year.

  • Reggie Ugwu

This Month

Taleb al-Abdulmohsen, suspected of carrying out the attack.

Why did Germany’s bizarre terrorist send me angry messages?

Little did I know that the sender would end up being the main suspect in Friday’s Christmas market attack in the eastern city of Magdeburg.

  • James Jackson
The critically acclaimed second season of ‘Hacks’ just wrapped up on Stan.

Comedy series Hacks shows a new way forward for the workplace

The TV show has triumphed because it shows that regardless of age, we can always learn if we talk and listen.

  • Andreea Papuc
A worker checks solar panels at a factory in Jiujiang in central China. The country has emerged as an industry leader in green energy sectors.

This is how China could lift growth while cutting global emissions

A shift towards green development could help stabilise the Chinese economy while supporting the world’s energy transition.

  • Yiping Huang
  • Gadgets With John Davidson
  • Review
Apple Mac mini.

These were our favourite gadgets of 2024

Last year might have been the year AI made it into the public consciousness, but 2024 was when the new technology made it into devices.

  • John Davidson
Advertisement
China’s advanced manufacturing muscles have exploded in size, sophistication and quantity.

China’s staggering manufacturing muscle needs to be seen to be believed

Since Trump was last in office, Beijing has doubled down on its efforts to gain global supremacy in electric cars, robots and rare materials. America could be toast if it doesn’t respond.

  • Thomas Friedman
Macquarie’s Viktor Shvets says investors face plenty of uncertainty in 2025, but not as much risk as they think.

Macquarie’s Viktor Shvets nailed 2024. Here’s what he thinks will come next

No economic cycles? No mean reversion? Macquarie’s top global strategist’s radical view of markets challenges investors to consider how the world has changed.

  • James Thomson
Robin Khuda, Julie Coates, Shayne Elliott, Chris Ellison, Richard White,  Mike Sneesby.

The good, the bad and the ugly of corporate Australia in 2024

Big deals, big names, big disasters. From AirTrunk to Woolies to our own Nine Entertainment, here are the biggest moments of the year.

  • James Thomson
Israeli soldiers fire a mortar shell from southern Israel towards the Gaza Strip on Wednesday. Ireland’s full-throated support for Gaza sets it apart from other European countries.

The most anti-Israel country in Europe risks harming itself

Ireland has drawn a false equivalence with Northern Ireland and Palestine, and its hard-fought reputation as the world’s tiniest superpower is threatened.

  • Finn McRedmond
Trump’s DOGE is a good first step toward stopping the rot.

I’m the guy Barron’s called the Bond King. Here’s why US debt is a problem

There is the real possibility of a quasi-default by the Treasury and few are likely to be spared from the resulting upheaval.

  • Jeffrey Gundlach
While many in their 30s may not realise at the time, this decade presents significant wealth-building opportunities.

What to do in each decade of life to build wealth

It can be difficult to know what to do to get ahead financially as you age and your circumstances change. Here’s a quick guide.

  • Rob Pizzichetta
These conversations can be some of the most difficult we ever have.

Give the gift of difficult conversations this Christmas

The festive season is an opportunity to initiate important family conversations about will-making, aged care and funeral costs.

  • Jenneke Mills
Frontier’s modelling has also flipped the script about uncosted energy policy.

Nuclear costings put heat on uncosted renewables plan

Both sides of politics should end the charade of promising cheaper power prices while debating the least costly transition to a net zero economy.

  • The AFR View

Super fund boards need separation of powers

Readers’ letters on superannuation fund governance, universal childcare, Peter Dutton’s stance on a two-state solution for the Middle East, the federal budget deficit and housing reform.

The $121 billion figure touted by Energy Minister Chris Bowen for the energy transition may be much too low.

Frontier’s modelling exposes flaws of Labor’s renewables policy

The reality dawning on Australians is we don’t have any energy plan close to giving us an honest picture of our future power prices.

  • Michael Wu and Zoe Hilton
Advertisement
Plenty of CEOs have been to the US to consider how AI could change their businesses this year.

How CEOs are using AI, from driverless forklifts to bird counts

Everyone’s doing it, but are they doing it properly? Here is a fascinating snapshot of what Australian companies are doing with artificial intelligence.

  • Anthony Macdonald and James Thomson
Moira Deeming (left) with her barrister Sue Chrysanthou, SC, outside the Federal Court in Melbourne during her defamation trial against John Pesutto.

Vic Libs must return to economic liberalism and social conservatism

The Moira Deeming disaster reflects the party’s domination by socially progressive moderates believing the path to winning is to out-Labor Labor.

  • Terry Barnes
The RBA is reviewing how surcharging works after complaints that it was a growing and hidden cost of buying goods and services.

There are more hidden costs to payments than people think

Consumers should not pay excessive surcharges, but a total ban will not lower the expense of card payments for businesses.

  • Jon Davey
ANZ boss Shayne Elliot has taken another hit from angry investors.

Elliott’s bonus hit shows how grumpy ANZ investors really are

Local fund managers are clearly unhappy with the board’s approach to risk management. Shayne Elliott is wearing a lot of their grief. 

  • James Thomson
US Federal Reserve chairman Jerome Powell was recast as The Grinch.

The Fed just killed the Santa rally

Jerome Powell gave investors a rate cut. But what sent Wall Street plunging was his message for 2025.

  • James Thomson

Original URL: https://www.afr.com/opinion