This Month
More budget measures to come before the election: Labor
The government will spend the summer finalising new initiatives to woo voters, while striving not to further worsen the budget position.
- Updated
- Phillip Coorey
- Opinion
- Federal budget
Budget update sounds a clear warning
Jim Chalmers is good at relaxed rhetoric about the economy. The mid-year figures are much tougher to explain.
- Updated
- Jennifer Hewett
- Opinion
- Federal budget
Early election or not? MYEFO keeps us guessing
We enter the Christmas break none the wiser whether the government will hand down another budget before going to the polls.
- Phillip Coorey
Departments pushed to defer spending to shrink deficits
Bureaucrats say they are being asked to “re-profile” expenditure to minimise the size of deficits in time for the federal polls.
- Phillip Coorey
Dutton’s nuclear plan a $4trn hit to the economy: Chalmers
Last week’s long-awaited release of the nuclear policy costings has had no immediate impact on the popularity of the energy source.
- Phillip Coorey
Trump wins $24m defamation claim against ABC America
The settlement related to his felony conviction; Britain joins CPTPP; Jim Chalmers says Coalition nuclear plan willcut growth by $4 trillion. How the day unfolded.
- Updated
- Andrew Hobbs
Opposition sets up election row on childcare
The Coalition has indicated it will not support Anthony Albanese’s plan to abolish the activity test for childcare eligibility.
- Phillip Coorey
Public sector jobs surge props up economy
Employment in the public sector is growing at double the pace of the private sector.
- John Kehoe
- Exclusive
- Federal election
More power bill discounts likely in new cost of living package
The Albanese government is mulling a third round of power bill discounts to take to the next election.
- Phillip Coorey
Cbus’ Swan has ‘serious questions’ to answer: Coalition
Fundamental transparency and accountability failings at the industry super fund may yet claim the scalp of its chairman.
- Michelle Bowes, Joanna Mather and Lucy Dean
November
Chalmers commits to ‘first class’ RBA appointees
Jim Chalmers has pledged to put first-rate appointees on the new RBA board, as economists urge him not to put any Labor-aligned figures on the committee.
- Michael Read
Coalition wants to dilute lending laws to pump up first home buyers
An opposition inquiry will call for an overhaul of how banks and the prudential regulator treat prospective first homebuyers.
- Michael Read
Coalition’s nuclear power plants to add to off-budget spending boom
Experts called on both parties to stop funnelling taxpayer money into loss-making investments, with off-budget spending to reach $87 billion in the next four years.
- Michael Read
Rise in underlying inflation to keep rates pressure on RBA
Trimmed mean inflation increased to 3.5 per cent in October from 3.2 per cent in September, even as headline inflation remained unchanged at 2.1 per cent.
- Updated
- Michael Read
Systemic customer failings in super, says ASIC
The opposition has accused the Albanese government of looking after super funds rather than their members, as ASIC warns more prosecutions are afoot.
- Hannah Wootton
October
- Analysis
- Australian economy
The economy has a problem. Can Angus Taylor fix it?
The shadow treasurer gave his most significant economic speech this week, but the Coalition will need to deliver on the rhetoric.
- John Kehoe
- Opinion
- Monetary policy
Why the RBA has a massive public education job to do
Inflation is high because of the stimulus that Canberra and the RBA poured on in the pandemic. But the public struggles to understand this.
- Michael Stutchbury
Taylor takes a swipe at RBA, Treasury for missing inflation outbreak
Shadow treasurer Angus Taylor also says the expansion of Jim Chalmers’ “care economy” – such as the $49 billion NDIS – has contributed to a productivity slump.
- John Kehoe and Michael Read
September
- Exclusive
- Home loans
Own home becoming ‘just for rich’: Coalition weighs lending overhaul
Housing has become a key battleground for the major parties, as record prices and high interest rates combine to significantly reduce affordability.
- Michael Read
Electricity bills to surge 47pc next year as government support ends
The Albanese government has hinted it could extend the federal government’s $300 electricity bill rebate to avoid a sharp rise in out-of-pocket energy costs.
- Updated
- Michael Read