Latest
Players in alleged $200m GST scam turn on each other in court
Each of the two former directors of pub-owning company Virtical say the other was responsible for invoices that could reveal the biggest GST tax fraud in Australia’s history if proven.
Santos breaks ranks on Dutton’s gas plan
The gas producer looks set to emerge as a winner under the Coalition’s gas policy, despite it being widely blamed for the risk of shortages on the east coast.
Election battlegrounds, budget vote buying, do we need a DOGE?
We take an early look at the issues that should shape the election; break down the federal budget; and ask why the Reject Shop got a French champagne takeover bid.
Santos Barossa delay feared as politics envelops gas
The deferral of a ruling on the North West Shelf venture has stoked fears that other gas projects will also fall victim to the fractious politics around the fossil fuel.
‘Bonkers’: Economists slam Dutton’s fuel excise cut
The opposition leader’s promise to halve the fuel excise is a populist sugar hit that will disproportionately favour the wealthy and do little to fix the budget, economists say.
Labor quietly diverts $75m from hydrogen-powered truck scheme
Getting more hydrogen-powered trucks to carry freight was a key plank of Chris Bowen’s plan to decarbonise the road transport sector. It hasn’t turned out that way.
Opinion & Analysis
‘House of cards’: The election is missing the point on the economy
This will be a demoralising campaign for people interested in serious economic policy to revive the real incomes of millions of voters.
Economics editor
How gas turned Dutton into an accidental progressive
Peter Dutton has long been loathed by progressives. But by declaring his intention to crack down on gas exporters, he has adopted one of their favourite policy ideas.
Energy and climate reporter
Want to quit your job? Your contract may be keeping you prisoner
Non-compete clauses – now common in contracts from construction workers to hairdressers – are used not to protect secrets, but to scare people.
Assistant Minister for Competition, Charities and Treasury
Why everyone in Britain is talking about Netflix’s Adolescence
The show has captured how British society is grappling with what it means to be a boy when the loudest voices defining masculine identity belong to Andrew Tate and Donald Trump.
This Month
‘House of cards’: The election is missing the point on the economy
This will be a demoralising campaign for people interested in serious economic policy to revive the real incomes of millions of voters.
How gas turned Dutton into an accidental progressive
Peter Dutton has long been loathed by progressives. But by declaring his intention to crack down on gas exporters, he has adopted one of their favourite policy ideas.
Want to quit your job? Your contract may be keeping you prisoner
Non-compete clauses – now common in contracts from construction workers to hairdressers – are used not to protect secrets, but to scare people.
Why everyone in Britain is talking about Netflix’s Adolescence
The show has captured how British society is grappling with what it means to be a boy when the loudest voices defining masculine identity belong to Andrew Tate and Donald Trump.
Dutton’s fuel tax cut is bad economics
The pledge to temporarily cut the price of petrol exposes the Liberals for embracing a Labor-lite version of debt-funded spending, while shying away from serious tax reforms.
Why the Bendel case could lead to Division 7A’s long-overdue revamp
The big question is whether the government will apply another Band-aid solution or finally decide to simplify anti-avoidance laws.
‘The big lie’: Why governments can’t deliver cheaper power
Political leaders have been promising lower power bills for two decades, but they should come clean about its true costs.
What happens when men prefer porn?
The heterosexual man can now have what many see as a rich sex life without ever needing to deal with an actual woman.
Labor’s spending ‘diet’ not believable, economists warn
Labor’s budget forecasts for spending to decline slightly from a 40-year high are built on shaky savings assumptions economists say, and are unlikely to be achieved.
Dutton urged to index income tax brackets
“If we’re voting against Labor’s tax cut, we need to have our own tax package to reduce the burden on people and business,” one Liberal MP says.
The key change Dutton should make to bring back discipline
Something’s got to give. Indexing the tax scales would force budget discipline on the next government.
WA Labor softens criticism over North West Shelf delay
The decision on whether the huge Woodside-run gas venture can run for another 40 years could end up being made by a minority government.
Election a battle between ‘worse off’ and ‘getting better’
Australia is in a worse position today than three years ago – an economic position that is going to be difficult to sell to voters.
Inflation data brings two rays of housing crisis hope
Wednesday’s inflation data strengthened the case for another rate cut and contained another slice of good news on housing.
Is Katy Gallagher tough enough on spending to be finance minister?
The Canberran is responsible for the expenditure side of the budget. But that is at a 40-year high and there is no plan to rein it in.
What Labor got wrong about non-competes
Protecting low-paid childcare workers, yoga teachers and hairdressers makes sense, but the devil is in the detail.
Inflation slows as housing market cools
Underlying inflation has fallen to its equal lowest level since December 2021 as builders offer promotional incentives and the rental market eases.
Budget is in ‘better nick’ says Chalmers. These 8 charts say otherwise
Behind the promises and projections, the numbers paint a grim picture: rising debt, growing reliance on taxing workers, and a deficit that just won’t quit.
Gen Z’s babytalk slang isn’t just childish, it’s dangerous
Childish internet slang is undermining the increasing political and social upheaval of our time.
Doctors told him he was going to die. Then AI saved his life
In labs around the world, scientists are using AI to search among existing medicines for treatments that work for rare diseases.