This Month
Who’s leading in the polls, plus everything else you need to know
With campaigning well under way, here’s the full rundown on the 2025 federal election.
March
What I’m watching for in this year’s budget
The Financial Review’s economics editor’s six go-to measures to look for in Tuesday’s budget, which is Treasurer Jim Chalmers’ fourth one and precedes the election.
Victoria’s energy challenge explained (in 7 charts)
The state has been powered by vast reserves of cheap oil, gas and brown coal. But it faces blackouts in coming years – here’s how that happened.
How to get a tax break on your EV before it’s too late
The tax break means car buyers can afford an EV that’s $20,000 more expensive than the petrol version. Here’s how to take advantage of this perk.
February
Trump’s trade war: Who pays? Is it legal? Will Canada go into recession?
Here’s what to know about who pays, whether the tariffs are legal and what the impact may be.
January
How TikTok, YouTube and X police their platforms
Meta will replace its professional fact-checkers with a “community notes” system. How do other social media companies moderate content?
Should you be worried about the HMPV virus spreading in China?
Here is everything you need to know about the respiratory infection and why it’s very different from COVID-19.
December 2024
Google announces quantum computing breakthrough. Should we be excited?
Google has built a quantum processor called “Willow” that can solve a problem in five minutes that regular supercomputers would take longer than the lifetime of the universe.
November 2024
Bitcoin’s wild ride towards $US100,000 – and why it matters
The flagship cryptocurrency has resumed its advance this week as investors took advantage of a sharp sell-off. Analysts say volatility is to be expected.
Worried about the social media ban for kids? Read this
The pioneering age-limit laws are set to be approved by the Senate on Thursday. Here’s what we know (and just as importantly what we don’t know) about how they will work.
When will we know the results? Plus everything else you need to know
Your key questions on the US election answered, including who is leading the polls, how voting works, and which states to watch.
Bullock says the economy is hot. Chalmers says it’s not. Who is right?
It is rare for a treasurer and a central bank governor to be at odds over the economic outlook, but that is precisely what is happening right now.
October 2024
The algorithm that decides what uni course you get
Year 12 students applying for university this year will be allocated to courses based on a famous algorithm called “deferred acceptance”.
Trade wars, market jolts: What a Trump win means for Australia
The tax and economic policies of Donald Trump and Kamala Harris will have profound effects for Australian investors, exporters and US subsidiaries.
September 2024
The cost of sending your child to a private school – in seven charts
Just one year of tuition at a top-range private school will set you back at least $40,000, but demand keeps growing.
The new corporate ladder is flatter than ever
What are the skills a modern-day executive needs, and if you have aspirations for leadership, how do you go about making it to the top?
How much water does nuclear really need?
The Coalition’s plan for atomic energy has raised concerns about the amount of water that reactors will use in a hotter and drier Australia.
Inside the high-tech sheds worth $24b to AirTrunk
From a single room holding a hard-working mainframe, data centres have evolved into major pieces of high-powered, high-tech infrastructure.
How to sue your boss for getting fired, even if you earn $175,000-plus
If you’re paid more than that amount a year and aren’t covered by an award, you can’t bring an unfair dismissal claim. But that doesn’t mean you can’t act.
August 2024
The two words you should always treat with caution in business
Sentences which begin “Studies show...” are often followed by a description of a correlation interpreted as if it were a causal relationship - when it’s not.