Today
- Analysis
- Government Observed
Why measuring public sector productivity is so slippery
When Productivity Commission researchers examined past assessments of the health system’s productivity earlier this year, they were pleasantly surprised.
- Tom Burton
- Analysis
- Israeli-Palestinian conflict
In Beirut’s once-bustling suburbs, smoking rubble and eerie quiet
Most of the residents of the Dahiya – the collection of neighbourhoods on the southern outskirts of Beirut where Hezbollah is the dominant power – have fled this week.
- Christina Goldbaum and Hwaida Saad
- Analysis
- Israeli-Palestinian conflict
How Israel could retaliate against Iran
Officials say Israel’s options include attacks in Iran, such as on missile launchers or oil infrastructure, some have even called for strikes against its nuclear facilities.
- James Shotter
Yesterday
- Analysis
- US Votes 2024
Vance drops the weirdness and fends off Walz in debate
If even the slightest edge can change the voting intentions of undecideds, Republican hopeful J.D. Vance probably swung a few crucial sales in his debate.
- Matthew Cranston
- Analysis
- Israeli-Palestinian conflict
Suddenly, Israel has free rein to strike Iran hard
The damage Israel has inflicted on Hezbollah has stripped Tehran of much of its deterrence against a wider attack, say analysts and security experts.
- Aaron Boxerman
This Month
- Analysis
- Home loans
Buffer or blocker? Why APRA’s serviceability rule is so controversial
CBA boss Matt Comyn has defended APRA’s prudential settings from political attacks, saying housing policy must focus on supply.
- James Eyers
- Opinion
- Leading Indicators
The NDIS-ification of the economy is in full swing
A scheme only ever meant to cost $22 billion is underwriting a once-in-a-generation rise in government spending that rivals the mining boom in terms of scale.
- Updated
- Michael Read
What do we know about Qatar Airways?
The acquisitive operator started only two decades ago, and now flies to more countries than almost any other. But it has had its fair share of controversies.
- Ayesha de Kretser
- Analysis
- UK politics
‘Do you miss me yet?’ Britain’s zany ex-PMs back on centre stage
Boris Johnson and Liz Truss return to the limelight, as Prime Minister Keir Starmer’s travails leave Tories daring to dream of a swift resurrection.
- Hans van Leeuwen
September
- Analysis
- Manufacturing
Are Chinese cars spying on you?
Security experts say there is a genuine growing fear that the West is becoming exposed to Chinese components under the hood as vehicles become more connected.
- James Titcomb
- Analysis
- Middle East tensions
Who will replace Hezbollah’s Hassan Nasrallah?
With Israel eliminating the Iran-backed group’s senior leaders seemingly at will, whoever takes the helm will have few illusions about their life expectancy.
- Adrian Blomfield
How Israeli spies penetrated Hezbollah
The depth and quality of Israeli intelligence helped Netanyahu’s forces turn the tide against the Lebanese militant group.
- Mehul Srivastava, James Shotter and Raya Jalabi
- Analysis
- Israeli-Palestinian conflict
Israel delivers spectacular blow, but it’s far from over
After failing badly on October 7, Israel’s military and intelligence agencies have turned things around, sending a strong message of deterrence to their enemies.
- Updated
- Andrew Tillett
- Analysis
- Federal election
Labor, the Greens and the threat of minority government
Labor is struggling to keep everyone happy as the election nears, but courting both miners and environmentalists looks like a near-impossible task.
- Phillip Coorey
- Analysis
- Inside China
China’s stimulus no bazooka, but urgency has arrived
China’s efforts to stimulate its economy this week were welcomed and the fight against a slowing economy appears to be on.
- Jessica Sier
- Analysis
- Australian economy
Albanese and Chalmers: negative gearing’s odd couple
The prime minister and the treasurer are chalk and cheese on negative gearing. Some of the differences are generational, some look more philosophical. But how will they play out as the election looms?
- John Kehoe
- Analysis
- Middle East tensions
Why Netanyahu is Harris’ election nightmare
The Israeli prime minister continues to thumb his nose at Washington, and a wider war might well be the very October surprise Kamala Harris fears.
- James Curran
Fight or fold? Coles, Woolies face the angry shoppers they ‘fooled’
With its bombshell allegations this week the ACCC has given the big supermarkets two options, neither particularly palatable. Do they fight or do they fold?
- Patrick Durkin
- Analysis
- Israeli-Palestinian conflict
Calmness in Jerusalem belies the fact Israel is preparing for war
While an invasion of southern Lebanon is seemingly inevitable, there is a sense of calm in the Israeli capital.
- Updated
- Andrew Tillett
- Analysis
- UK politics
Why Britain’s PM faces political firefights on all fronts
A combination of bad politics and unpopular policy has left Sir Keir Starmer on the back foot. And there isn’t even a Tory opponent who can lead the attack.
- Hans van Leeuwen