This Month
- Opinion
- Governance
Corporate advocacy isn’t passing the pub test
Controversy over business hand-wringing about Australia Day shows why taking public stances is fraught.
- Patrick Langrell
November
- Opinion
- US election
Identity politics lessons for Democrats and Dutton
The anti-incumbent message sent by the US election is primarily about economic concerns. There is a risk the opposition leader overplays the ‘war on woke’ message at the next election.
- Lidija Ivanovski
October
- Opinion
- Royal family
Charles III will find republicans who missed their best chance
The vibrant republican sentiment of the 1980s has been replaced by a dour, downbeat guilt-ridden version in the 2020s.
- John Roskam
August
- Opinion
- Federal election
Labor losing ground on left and right
Labor’s fury at Greens MP Max Chandler-Mather over his CFMEU support is a convenient political distraction.
- Jennifer Hewett
- Updated
- Earnings season
Woolworths loses ground to Coles after tumultuous year
The major retailer recorded a slight fall in underlying profit, which were all but wiped out by a big write-down in its New Zealand business.
- Updated
- Carrie LaFrenz
April
A judge may decide if Pauline Hanson is a white supremacist
The far-right senator’s career of racial commentary is on trial in the Federal Court.
- Aaron Patrick
Coles wants suppliers’ help in cutting prices as shoppers seek deals
The supermarket chain’s sales rose 5.1 per cent in the third quarter but liquor sales fell as consumers cut spending by looking for cheaper alcohol options.
- Carrie LaFrenz
- Opinion
- Social media
Surge of violence tests policy tolerance of social media
The Coalition in particular has to ask tricky questions of when enough is enough on social media platforms.
- Laura Tingle
Woolies cuts prices in bid to catch Coles’ growth
A JPMorgan survey of private label products shows the supermarket giants are competing more aggressively on price, closing the gap with discount retailer Aldi.
- Carrie LaFrenz
March
Inside Advance Australia’s referendum victory lap
The conservative lobby group is literally mailing out its playbook, soliciting future donations by showing how effectively it spends what supporters have given.
- Myriam Robin
February
- Opinion
- Earnings season
CEOs under pressure to get the balance right
As the political temperature heats up, chief executives have to weigh conflicting demands. Coles CEO Leah Weckert and Woodside’s Meg O’Neill insist their companies are getting it right.
- Jennifer Hewett
- Exclusive
- Retail
Woolies CEO says shoppers want ‘value’ not ‘broader conversations’
After a bruising political bunfight over Australia Day merchandise, the Woolworths boss says shoppers want the retail giant to “focus on delivering value”.
- Carrie LaFrenz and Jemima Whyte
January
- Analysis
- Anzac Day
Australia Day has always been controversial
It’s nothing new for the national holiday to be plagued by debates over its meaning and significance. Indeed, that’s become part and parcel of the day itself.
- Updated
- James Curran
The full list of Australia Day 2024 honours
Here is the full roll-call of Australians who were given awards, from Sandra Sully to Fiona Wood.
Honours winner Catherine Livingstone says Australia hard on failure
Catherine Livingstone and Barrenjoey co-founder Guy Fowler were among the business leaders recognised in this year’s Australia Day honours.
- Aaron Weinman and Michael Bleby
Scientists, women lead honours list, amid unease about holiday date
Deborah Terry, Brett Sutton, Paul Briggs and Christina Matthews are among those on the Australia Day honours list. But some question the meaning of the national holiday.
- Maxim Shanahan
Scientists who saved thousands of lives named Australians of the Year
Professors Georgina Long and Richard Scolyer helped thousands of people survive skin cancer with their revolutionary melanoma treatment.
- Tess Ikonomou
What does it mean to be Australian?
The Financial Review invited the PM, a Nobel Prize-winning scientist, an Indigenous leader, a businesswoman and a mining billionaire to crack a drink and throw a few snags on a virtual grill.
- Patrick Durkin and Hans van Leeuwen
A really inclusive national day
Any celebration should represent the important elements of this nation: the original inhabitants, the British settlers and the more recent immigrants from all over the globe.
- The AFR View
This migrant community has more than one reason to celebrate January 26
Perth’s Goyal family says many Indian migrants would not want to change the date of Australia Day because it coincides with Republic Day.
- Tom Rabe