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Professor Max Lu takes over the University of Wollongong during a troubled period in its history.

‘It’s difficult times,’ new uni boss admits

If Professor Max Lu has a sense of deja vu, it’s understandable. He’s been through Brexit, but now he’s got to untangle Wollongong from its many troubles.

Australia’s offshore wind industry has not yet moved beyond the planning phase.

NSW offshore wind blown off course amid global uncertainty

A global renewables developer recently targeted by the Trump administration has delayed its Australian offshore wind plans.

Private sector-led recovery in doubt as companies hold back investment

The OECD has urged the federal and state governments to repair their budgets, as new data shows record growth in welfare spending and business investment languishes.

Trump’s tariffs could hit growth and spark sell-off: RBA

Donald Trump’s trade war could force businesses to shelve hiring and investment plans and prompt consumers to rein in spending, RBA chief economist Sarah Hunter says.

DFAT offers easiest management consulting gig yet

A US firm is so confident of getting the contract, they advertised for staff before the tender process even closed.

Australia’s top university on global ranking revealed

The University of NSW has leapfrogged Melbourne and Sydney to take top Australian university on a global ranking.

Opinion & Analysis

Chalmers’ spending transition in doubt

The treasurer’s hope for the economy to shift from government spending to business-led growth may be on shaky ground.

John Kehoe

Economics editor

John Kehoe

Why Trump demands more from Australia’s defence budget

Increasing Australia’s defence budget to 3 per cent of gross domestic product would be acting in our own interests.

What’s holding us back from a better housing, transport and clean energy future

Australia doesn’t lack ideas for solving problems in housing, transport and clean energy, we lack institutions that can follow through and create change.

Andrew Leigh

Assistant Minister for Productivity, Competition, Charities & Treasury

Andrew Leigh

Tuvalu said gas project decision was a matter of trust. Then it wasn’t

A small Pacific Island nation came out firing against Labor’s North West Shelf call. Then it backtracked.

Ryan Cropp

Energy and climate reporter

Ryan Cropp
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Yesterday

Treasurer Jim Chalmers.

Chalmers’ spending transition in doubt

The treasurer’s hope for the economy to shift from government spending to business-led growth may be on shaky ground.

Australian Deputy Prime Minister and Defense Minister Richard Marles attends a meeting with Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth, not pictured, at the Pentagon, Friday, Feb. 7, 2025, in Washington. (AP Photo/Manuel Balce Ceneta)

Why Trump demands more from Australia’s defence budget

Increasing Australia’s defence budget to 3 per cent of gross domestic product would be acting in our own interests.

In some parts of Australia, getting approval for a modest townhouse now takes longer than building one used to.

What’s holding us back from a better housing, transport and clean energy future

Australia doesn’t lack ideas for solving problems in housing, transport and clean energy, we lack institutions that can follow through and create change.

This Month

Climate change poses an existential thread to Pacific Island countries.

Tuvalu said gas project decision was a matter of trust. Then it wasn’t

A small Pacific Island nation came out firing against Labor’s North West Shelf call. Then it backtracked.

President Donald Trump speaking at US Steel Corporation’s Mon Valley Works-Irvin plant on Friday in Pennsylvania.

Trump tests the world’s nervous system – again

The president’s fury at being mockingly labelled TACO on tariffs may be enough to ensure that he proceeds on schedule.

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Interest rates

Why low interest rates aren’t coming back

Cheap money isn’t coming back. Bigger deficits, the energy transition and investment in AI mean the cost of borrowing will be higher in the years ahead.

Michael Stutchbury will be the Centre for Independent Studies’ next executive director.

Michael Stutchbury appointed to lead Centre for Independent Studies

The Financial Review’s former editor-in-chief said he was excited to join a think tank that had made major contributions to policy from housing to education.

Negative emissions technologies play a crucial role in the energy transition. And they need to be supported by a well-functioning “carbon offset market”.

Bad carbon credits are undermining climate progress

One thing both the left and right ought to be able to agree upon is that an effective market for high quality carbon credits is important.

By shifting to renewables companies can lower costs, reduce strain on the system, and help accelerate their transition to net zero.

Flexible energy use lowers business costs and emissions

As Australia’s energy grid undergoes a major transformation, businesses must balance energy costs with sustainability goals.

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When Minister Rishworth speaks of encouraging “open dialogue” between the government, unions and business, she will need to remember that a similar dialogue was offered last time, but was merely a front for the ACTU to have the Government endorse its legislative agenda.

Are Labor’s industrial relations summits a union power grab?

The last time Labor held an “open dialogue” summit, it was merely a front for the ACTU to have the government endorse its legislative agenda.

The Greens’ proposal could affect fewer people than Treasurer Jim Chalmers’ super tax

Labor’s $3m super tax to hit more people than Greens’ alternative

The less punitive Greens policy is fuelling calls for the government to index its controversial super tax to spare more workers being slugged. 

Carolyn Evans, vice chancellor Griffith University.

Unis rake in record foreign student revenues ahead of crackdown

New figures reveal record highs in both the number of overseas students enrolled in 2024, as well as the cash flowing to some universities from tuition fees.

Hungry Panda, Online food delivery in Sydney.

Food orders on HungryPanda delivery app come with a side of black market vapes

New laws are designed to restrict sale to pharmacies, but vapes are “as easy to buy as sweet and sour pork” on one popular food delivery app.

Trump is Tariff Man, but he may be reduced to imposing them on sectors rather than countries.

Will Albanese stand up to Trump on trade and defence?

If played carefully, the US will have to accept Canberra can’t be kicked around, if for no other reason than they need the military bases on Australian soil.

Exclusive Subscriber Offer - Higher Education Summit

Financial Review subscribers receive a 15% discount on in-person tickets to this event on August 19, 2025.

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Deputy Prime Minister Richard Marles and US Secretary of Defence Pete Hegseth in Singapore.

The burning questions Hegseth left unanswered on the China challenge

The US defence secretary’s speech has helped to address, but will not silence, lingering questions about the Trump administration’s commitment to Asia.

The Coalition must be relentless in holding the government to account for and offer an alternative plan for making Australia grow again.

3 ways the Coalition can fight back and restore Australia’s prosperity

The opposition should focus on solving three of the country’s biggest problems: housing, energy and tax.

Donald Trump has doubled tariffs on steel and aluminium.

Retaliation ‘not the right way’: Farrell calls for tariff reversal

Trade Minister Don Farrell is calling on the Trump administration to drop all levies on Australian steel and aluminium.

Shadow finance spokesman James Paterson with Peter Dutton in February. Patterson now says the Coalition must always have a stronger budget position than Labor.

Liberal admits ‘tactical errors’ on tax and spending

Shadow finance minister James Paterson has admitted it was a mistake to oppose Labor’s income tax cut at the election and says the Coalition must re-establish its economic credentials.

May

ATO puts wealthy families on notice over $3m super tax

The new tax is not yet law but the ATO wants to understand the “behavioural responses” to the planned tax that might already be occurring.

Original URL: https://www.afr.com/policy