Latest
Fire threat rises amid worst conditions since 2019 Black Summer
Damaging winds are fanning extreme fire danger as hot and dry weather envelops large parts of Victoria, south-west NSW and much of eastern South Australia.
- William Ton and Samantha Lock
Soft wages, growth revive chances of first RBA rate cut in February
The Reserve Bank has signalled it could be ready to cut the cash rate early next year if upcoming data meets expectations, bolstering Labor’s re-election prospects.
- Michael Read
IMF calls for home lending crackdown when rate cuts arrive
The International Monetary Fund says regulators should consider tightening Australia’s already-stringent home lending laws, pushing back on a Coalition plan.
- Michael Read
‘Significant risk’ Australian inflation might stop falling: IMF
The IMF says the still-strong jobs market and rapidly rising government spending could cause disinflation to stall, leading to calls for fiscal restraint.
- Michael Read
Power findings show ‘failure of privatisation’: SA energy minister
Minister Tom Koutsantonis says the behaviour of large power generators reported by the Australian Energy Regulator is “extremely concerning”.
- Angela Macdonald-Smith
Chook awards for 2024 and stock picks for 2025
James and Anthony bring 2024 home to roost with the Annual Chook Awards. Plus get some sharemarket tips from a fund manager with a nearly $8 billion portfolio.
Opinion & Analysis
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.
Foreign policy expert
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.
Editorial
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.
Contributor
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.
Columnist
This Month
- Opinion
- Foreign relations
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
- Exclusive
- Energy security
Energy grid’s power imbalance could blow out bills, AER warns
In a review to be released on Friday, the energy regulator also said the government should consider the need to diversify ownership as it underwrote projects.
- Angela Macdonald-Smith
- Opinion
- The AFR View
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.
- Opinion
- Global economy
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.
- Jennifer Hewett
- Opinion
- Nuclear energy
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
The CEOs are tripping. Can psychedelics help the C-suite?
A growing cottage industry is dedicated to the theory that mind-altering drugs can improve business leadership.
- Emma Goldberg
JobKeeper saved jobs but killed productivity, says commission
Pandemic-era policies abated unemployment but kept workers attached to dud employers, the Productivity Commission says.
- Michael Read
- Opinion
- Nuclear energy
Why the critics are wrong about nuclear costings
I stand by the analysis that shows on a system-wide average economic cost basis, including nuclear remains cheaper than a renewables only system.
- Danny Price
Australia has the global solution to nuclear waste
Readers’ letters on Peter Dutton’s nuclear power plan, renewable energy, the economy and living standards.
Coal demand hits record with Australia bulking up
Australia is over-represented on the world stage as a source of new coal output, the International Energy Agency found.
- Angela Macdonald-Smith
- 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.
- Jennifer Hewett
- Opinion
- Chanticleer
MYEFO has short-term gain and long-term pain for investors
Growing government spending will help prop up tepid ASX profits. But investors should fear the longer-term issues that are being created.
- James Thomson
Coalition nuclear fund would deepen $90b off-budget blowout: Chalmers
A record $90 billion of spending over four years will be obscured in off-budget funds, but Treasurer Jim Chalmers says it would be worse under the Coalition.
- Michael Read
Cruises diverted as aid is rushed to quake-struck Vanuatu
At least 14 people were killed and hundreds injured in two earthquakes in the South Pacific nation, and Australian rescue crews and medical teams are being urgently deployed.
- James Hall and Tom McIlroy
- Opinion
- Interest rates
Why RBA rate cut could come from Jim Chalmers’ subsidies
There is a quirk in the measurement of underlying inflation in the December quarter that may put pressure on the RBA to cut interest rates early next year.
- John Kehoe
- 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
Trump won’t torpedo AUKUS subs deal, says Marles
Despite fears the president-elect will cool on the pact as the US struggles to produce enough submarines, the Australian defence minister says he will back the deal.
- Hans van Leeuwen
- Opinion
- Tax avoidance
ATO warnings will send shivers down the spines of private companies
The ATO has released its first two taxpayer alerts for the 2024 calendar year. Each a warning to private groups.
- Mark Molesworth
- Opinion
- The AFR View
US extremism shows Australia’s health system gets the balance right
The critical question is how best to maintain the sustainability and affordability of private healthcare amid the stoush between health funds and hospital operators.
- The AFR View