This Month
- Perspective
- Industrial relations
Wage wars: Chaos as salary demands push state budgets to the brink
This week, simmering tensions between essential workers and cash-strapped governments caused mayhem around the country. Can leaders contain the fallout?
- Michael Read
Rishworth takes NDIS in Labor reshuffle, Wells promoted to cabinet
Anthony Albanese praised Aged Care Minister Anika Wells for securing the sector’s most significant reforms “this century” as he announced her new position.
- Ronald Mizen
- Opinion
- Federal election
Coalition government will go back to basics on fiscal responsibility
Economic theory and empirical evidence demonstrates that a responsible approach to managing the nation’s budget is a prerequisite for prosperity.
- Jane Hume
- Exclusive
- Federal budget
Please explain: Treasury and Finance in hot seat over $7.4b black hole
The heads of Treasury and Finance are being urged to explain why no extra money was set aside to pay for public servant wage increases over the next three years.
- Updated
- Michael Read
- Exclusive
- Federal budget
Tax surge puts shock third budget surplus within reach
Soaring tax revenue so far this financial year has shrunk the federal budget deficit to half the size it was expected to be.
- John Kehoe
- Analysis
- Federal budget
With a $7.4b black hole, Gallagher tries to explain the unexplainable
Budgeting no money for public servant wage rises may have made sense under a stingy Coalition, but it makes no sense under a Labor government hiring like mad.
- Michael Read
$12b blowout in public servant wages since election
Labor is on track to spend at least $12 billion more on public servant wages than it forecast in its first budget, but says it has clawed back $4 billion by cutting down on outsourcing.
- Michael Read
- Exclusive
- Federal budget
Labor’s $7.4b black hole from public service budget blunder
Labor has put aside almost no money for public sector wage rises despite already agreeing to increase the salaries of 185,000 public servants.
- Michael Read
Cash for campaigns: Labor’s $251m ad splurge sparks criticism
Ad spending surged 40 per cent last year, as Labor spent millions publicising policies such as tax cuts, urgent care clinics, and fee-free TAFE courses.
- Michael Read
- Exclusive
- Future Fund
Future Fund opposed investing in Future Made in Australia
Papers also reveal the $230b fund has been told to consider the government’s priorities of renewables, housing and infrastructure when voting on companies it invests in.
- John Kehoe
December 2024
Sydney train strikes to cause Christmas commuter chaos
Workers can resume industrial action after court win; Victoria’s assistant treasurer is brutally demoted. How the day unfolded.
- Updated
- Lucy Slade and Timothy Moore
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
Labor is losing control of a broken budget
Despite near-record government revenues, a spending surge is causing a big blowout in budget deficits over future years.
- John Kehoe
Tax rise on $3m-plus super accounts ‘unfinished business’: Chalmers
Jim Chalmers says he’ll keep pursuing higher taxes on $3 million-plus superannuation accounts, but won’t go after negative gearing.
- 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
- 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
November 2024
Labor wants to ram 36 bills through Senate today. This is the list
The government has dropped plans to rush through its electoral donations changes before the summer break, but could secure other big wins in a day of frenetic votes.
- Tom McIlroy, Michael Read and Jessica Gardner
- Analysis
- Future Fund
‘Like bears to a honey-pot’: how the Future Fund got political
Treasurer Jim Chalmers’ planned changes to the nation’s $230 billion savings account might be unfinished business for Labor.
- Tom McIlroy
October 2024
‘She likes the attention’: Growing anger over Thorpe protest
The Coalition is seeking legal advice on whether the Victorian independent senator was rightfully sworn into parliament.
- Tom McIlroy
September 2024
The 10 most covertly powerful people in Australia in 2024
Those who wield the most clout behind the scenes in the nation’s business and politics.
- Tom McIlroy