Today
IMF warns Chalmers; Origin’s hydrogen blow; OpenAI’s $229b moment
Read everything that’s happened in the news so far today.
IMF puts Chalmers on notice over rates, super tax and spending
In its annual health check of Australia’s economy, the International Monetary Fund said more unexpected expenditure rises will force the RBA to keep rates high.
- Michael Read
Who’s up and down in this year’s Power List – and who wanted to get out
This week on The Fin podcast, political editor Phillip Coorey and AFR Magazine editor Matthew Drummond take us behind the scenes of the 2024 Power Issue.
This Month
Big-box chains not like Coles and Woolies, business warns MPs
Furniture giant IKEA says its business model did not allow deceptive price setting and it treats suppliers of live plants and food market items co-operatively.
- Tom McIlroy
Debt hits seven-year low before decade of deficits
Federal government net debt has fallen to its lowest level since 2017, but economists say the coming decade of deficits will send borrowing levels higher.
- Michael Read
Chalmers digs in on negative gearing advice
Treasurer Jim Chalmers again hedged when questioned if he had asked officials to model changes to tax concessions for property investors.
- Updated
- Tom McIlroy
September
- Opinion
- The AFR View
Chalmers isn’t a fair dinkum fiscal repairer like Keating and Walsh
It’s not unfair to look through Dr Chalmers’ two vanishing surpluses to the bigger budget picture: not enough has been done to tackle Australia’s long-term spending.
- The AFR View
- Opinion
- Federal budget
Why budget surplus is up, up, up
Jim Chalmers is claiming credit for delivering two budget surpluses in a row. He’s less keen to explain how much the high level of income tax helped.
- Jennifer Hewett
Lending laws locking out home buyers: Bendigo bank
Treasurer Jim Chalmers has rebuffed calls to ease mortgage lending laws after Coalition MPs and ANZ warned prospective home buyers were struggling to get finance.
- Michael Read and Lucas Baird
- Opinion
- Federal budget
Spending pressures make third surplus unlikely
The treasurer has delivered a solid second budget surplus of $15.8 billion on the back of booming income tax receipts, but future spending pressures are emerging.
- John Kehoe
ASX hits fresh record; Dutton calls for arrests; Five bubble dangers
Read everything that’s happened in the news so far today.
China stimulus should stabilise iron ore price, says resources minister
Resources Minister Madeleine King says China’s latest stimulus package was unlikely to push prices higher, but it should help arrest the one-third fall seen since the start of 2024.
- Ronald Mizen
Negative gearing explodes | Coles’ and Woolies’ dodgy discounts | The corporate Power list
This week on the Chanticleer podcast, James and Anthony look at how the supermarket giants were accused of dodgy discounting, ask who will win the brawl over negative gearing, and examine the corporate Power list.
Labor won’t pursue negative gearing changes, Shorten predicts
The former Labor leader says he is sure the government won’t take changes to property investor tax breaks to the next election.
- Phillip Coorey
- Updated
- Australian economy
China’s stimulus blitz ‘very very good’ for Australia: Chalmers
The treasurer, who is on a visit to Beijing, says iron ore exporters will remain under pressure amid slowing housing and infrastructure projects in China.
- Updated
- Jessica Sier
Star dives 50pc; Endeavour CEO exits; Negative gearing admission
Read everything that’s happened in the news so far today.
Australia’s 10 most powerful people in 2024
There are three new faces on the Power list – plus some big swings in the ranking.
- Tom McIlroy
Woolworths and Coles could be ‘innocent’: Samuel
Graeme Samuel says the higher prices charged by the two major supermarkets could have been caused by suppliers, as the ACCC found the retailers have increased their earnings and operating margins over the past five years.
- Carrie LaFrenz and Tom McIlroy
- Opinion
- Canberra Observed
Resorting to riddles on negative gearing treats voters as mugs
This week showed the government’s performance remains far from polished when events wander off script.
- Phillip Coorey
- Opinion
- Negative gearing
Labor’s smoke and mirrors on housing
Jim Chalmers and Anthony Albanese face much tougher questions about their economic agenda than the confusion about negative gearing and capital gains taxes.
- Jennifer Hewett