December 2024
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.
- John Kehoe and Michael Read
September 2024
- Opinion
- The AFR View
Retail politics of ACCC Coles and Woolies case are bad for business
The investor reaction underlines challenges facing the business community which has tried to push back against the populist anti-big business bashing in Canberra.
- The AFR View
- Opinion
- Energy transition
Dutton’s nuclear folly is an economy wrecker
Under the Coalition, Australian manufacturing would face a decade of uncertainty and taxpayers would finance the renationalisation of electricity generation.
- Craig Emerson
- Opinion
- Australian economy
Rate decisions have to follow the data, not the dogma
Leading economic indicators have to be our guide, and they are all pointing towards an avoidable recession.
- Craig Emerson
July 2024
- Opinion
- Australian economy
Economic logic always trumps junk politics
Brexit, MAGA trade policies, and the Coalition’s nuclear power push will fail because they make no economic sense.
- Craig Emerson
June 2024
- Opinion
- Supermarket inquiry
The big lie of the big-stick code is lower grocery prices
By adding cost and complexity, these reforms may well increase the cost of doing business and this could be passed on to consumers at the checkout.
- Robert Hadler
Fruit and veg price transparency needed: Woolies
The supermarket giant says progress on an industry or government-led review into the prices paid to suppliers is overdue.
- Tom McIlroy
- Opinion
- Supermarket inquiry
Why this is a practical, workable supermarket code of conduct
The new code offers the best of both a mandatory and voluntary system of compliance for the supermarket giants.
- Craig Emerson
Coles, Woolies face multibillion-dollar fines under new mandatory code
Treasurer Jim Chalmers has agreed to adopt all 11 recommendations of Craig Emerson’s review into the Food and Grocery Code of Conduct.
- Ronald Mizen
May 2024
- Opinion
- Australian economy
We must protect Australia’s free and open economy
Australia prospered in an open postwar world economy. But a new generation has less faith in it.
- Craig Emerson
April 2024
- Opinion
- Monetary policy
RBA must ignore the band of economists pushing a rate rise
The Reserve Bank should not be firing up its interest rate models on the strength of inflation that is now steadily dropping into target range.
- Craig Emerson
Woolies cuts prices in bid to catch Coles’ growth
A JPMorgan survey of private label products shows the supermarket giants are competing more aggressively on price, closing the gap with discount retailer Aldi.
- Carrie LaFrenz
- Updated
- Supermarket inquiry
Woolworths, Greens in fiery clash on profits
Outgoing Woolworths boss Brad Banducci was threatened with six months in jail for contempt of the Senate, in a fiery Senate hearing that went off the rails on Tuesday.
- Carrie LaFrenz and Tom McIlroy
- Opinion
- Supermarkets
Emerson review has no evidence to support mandatory supermarket code
Amazon and Bunnings aren’t covered because consumers love them. That shows it is all about political cover to bash Coles and Woolworths for inflation.
- Robert Hadler
Bunnings may be caught by tougher grocery code
The hardware giant controls 70 per cent of the retail horticulture market, more than Woolworths’ and Coles’ 65 per cent share of supermarkets, prompting suppliers to raise concerns about its buyer power.
- Ronald Mizen
March 2024
The shrinking small business ombudsman
While politely ignoring Bruce Billson, the government is handing Craig Emerson more appointments than a bulk-billing doctor.
- Myriam Robin
February 2024
Woolworths chief Brad Banducci’s ominous temper flare
A Four Corners slip has made the Woolies CEO’s upcoming Senate appearance compulsory viewing.
- Myriam Robin
- Opinion
- Monetary policy
Why it’s vital that the RBA cuts rates at mid-year
The central bank is at great risk of overshooting its policy settings into higher unemployment and it is workers and small business who will cop it.
- Craig Emerson
Supermarket review considers ramping up fines for code breaches
An assessment of Australia’s food and grocery regulations will consider increasing penalties on the supermarket giants for bad behaviour.
- Tom Rabe
January 2024
- Opinion
- Future Fund
Future Fund critics owe Costello an apology
The former Coalition treasurer had to fend off critics when he set the fund up, and is right to defend it now.
- Tom Switzer