September
Review urges free childcare for some at $5b-a-year cost
The Productivity Commission has rejected Labor’s goal of universal childcare, but still wants the country’s poorest families to get three days a week for free.
- Julie Hare
August
Date night swapped for meal kits as consumers feel the pinch
“We have cut back on everything,” says Alexis Hurditch, who now prefers to spend Friday night eating meals kits at home rather than heading out to a restaurant.
- Gus McCubbing
Pressure on power grid eases as EV uptake falters
The Australian Energy Market Operator also cited softer economic growth and the bigger size of rooftop solar systems for the cut in forecast demand from the grid.
- Angela Macdonald-Smith and Ben Potter
July
Gas bill rises hit households despite east coast price caps
Increases of up to 11 per cent from the biggest retailers will saddle families with steeper energy costs despite a mandated pause in electricity tariff rises.
- Angela Macdonald-Smith
- Exclusive
- Insolvency
Labor reveals personal bankruptcy overhaul
The threshold for involuntary bankruptcy will rise to $20,000 and Attorney-General Mark Dreyfus will also launch consultations for a mini-bankruptcy regime.
- Ronald Mizen
June
- Updated
- Israeli-Palestinian conflict
Albanese banishes rebel Labor senator
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has suspended Senator Fatima Payman indefinitely from Labor’s caucus after she defied his leadership by vowing to cross the floor again to back pro-Palestine motions.
- Updated
- Andrew Tillett and Ronald Mizen
- Opinion
- Chanticleer
Beware the knock-on effect of ‘sensible’ decisions like Eraring
If we want private capital to transition Australia’s power grid, we need to remember the ground rules.
- Anthony Macdonald
May
Holiday home owners to get $600 in power bill discounts
Holiday and second home owners will receive multiple $300 energy bill credits, after the government says all households would automatically receive the benefit.
- Updated
- John Kehoe and Elouise Fowler
$300 off every household’s power bill in cost-of-living cash splash
In addition to a tax cut from July 1, every household will receive an electricity bill discount as part of a $7.8 billion cost-of-living package.
- Ronald Mizen and Maxim Shanahan
PM, Chalmers mull go-it-alone power price discounts
The Albanese government is considering a second round of power bill discounts, on top of $1000-per-household credits promised by the Queensland government.
- Phillip Coorey
April
House deposit or HECS debt: what’s best for the kids?
Soaring student loan debts can reduce first home buyer lending capacity by up to $140,000, according to analysis by RateCity.
- Duncan Hughes and Lucy Dean
Is this flat white really worth $500 a cup?
If you thought coffee was getting expensive in Melbourne, it’s hard to beat the eye-watering price for this Japanese-grown coffee in London’s Mayfair.
- Blathnaid Corless
Queensland to make up Victoria’s gas shortfall this winter
The outlook for July, August and September comes after the Australian Energy Market Operator last month warned of a deterioration in Victoria’s medium-term gas supply.
- Ronald Mizen
March
Transurban investors tell NSW to ‘honour’ toll road contracts
A review of Sydney’s 13 toll roads has recommended the government create a new system of “network tolls”, which Transurban would take to court, analysts say.
- Jenny Wiggins
Imports drop as households cut back on travel, cars and clothes
A sharp decline in overseas travel and a large fall in imports of consumer goods may have stopped the Australian economy from contracting in December.
- Michael Read
February
- Opinion
- Retail
Coles takes the lead. What will Woolworths pull up next?
Woolworths’ sales growth has dropped below that of Coles, prompting analysts to suggest it might need to act to improve price perceptions.
- Sue Mitchell
- 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
Power tariffs may not drop as much as hoped
Cash-strapped households can expect only a modest fall in electricity tariffs from July 1, analysts are warning.
- Updated
- Angela Macdonald-Smith
- Analysis
- Australian economy
Inflation burden to linger as mortgage relief hopes flicker to life
Labor has reset the economic debate with its blockbuster tax cuts, but will the relief last long enough that voters forget Albanese’s broken promise?
- John Kehoe
January
Power bill relief could be coming as wholesale electricity prices fall
New figures published by the energy regulator show steep wholesale price declines across the country, although this could take time to flow to retail tariffs.
- Angela Macdonald-Smith