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Senate estimates

November 2024

Michele Bullock tells senate estimates the 2022 UK pension fund scare could happen here.

UK pension fund crisis shows super risk to markets in Australia: RBA

It is the third time in as many months that Australia’s mammoth superannuation sector has been labelled a risk to the financial system.

  • Hannah Wootton
The ATO has promised a “firmer” approach to small business debt.

ATO patience runs out as small business tax debt hits $35b

The Tax Office has warned it is taking a firmer approach to unpaid debts, after going easy on stretched small businesses during the COVID-19 pandemic.

  • Tom McIlroy
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese.

US-Australia alliance ‘always bigger than individuals’: Albanese

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has addressed uncertainty over the US election during question time; Victorian Premier Jacinta Allan lashes Donald Trump’s “appalling” views on women. How the day unfolded.

  • Updated
  • Hannah Wootton, David Marin-Guzman and Gus McCubbing
Clare Thompson has been accused of “vile language” on Twitter.

AAT lawyer accused of ‘vile language’ in tweets targeting conservatives

The new Administrative Reviews Tribunal deputy president Clare Thompson allegedly abused conservatives on Twitter, and described Liberals as “misogynistic toe rags”.

  • Hannah Wootton
Matt Kean tells senate estimates that there is no economic case for nuclear power.

Nuclear a ‘rent-seeking parasite’ that will push up power prices: Kean

The former NSW treasurer said the alternative energy source was “old outdated technology” and the industry just wanted a taxpayer-funded handout.

  • Hannah Wootton
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August 2024

ABC managing director David Anderson during Senate estimates in May.

It’s time to civilise the inquisition of Senate estimates

Hearings that were meant to drill into policy detail have become a scattergun questioning of officials used to settle scores, or make cheap political points.

  • Laura Tingle

June 2024

Minister for Scam Prevention: Assistant Treasurer Stephen Jones at the Global Fraud Summit in London.

Stephen Jones dodges Dixon’s long tail of woe

The rationale is blacked out, but it’s clear that in early 2023 it was already part of the plan. 

  • Updated
  • Myriam Robin

Future Made in Australia to rely on corporate intel

Development of Labor’s manufacturing agenda will rely on closely held intelligence from private companies about their capabilities and weaknesses.

  • Updated
  • Tom McIlroy
Michele Bullock in Canberra this morning

Chalmers’ energy rebate won’t change RBA’s mind on rates, inflation

Governor Michele Bullock says the central bank won’t hesitate to raise interest rates again if inflation proves stickier than thought, and that government energy subsidies will not affect underlying inflation.

  • Michael Read and John Kehoe
ASIC deputy chair Sarah Court and ASIC chair Joe Longo during a Senate estimates hearing.

ASIC says it is probing three lenders for credit breaches

The admission comes just weeks after the corporate regulator accused lenders of creating “unnecessary barriers” that hindered under-pressure customers.

  • Lucas Baird and James Eyers
Bill Shorten and Julianne Stewart

Bill Shorten’s speechwriter earning $620,000

A former scriptwriter for soap operas Sons and Daughters and A Country Practice now earns more than a senator as “specialist speechwriter”.

  • Updated
  • Tom McIlroy

May 2024

Vincent Namatjira’s portrait of Gina Rinehart at the National Gallery of Australia.

‘Gina effect’: Gallery got 25pc bump after Rinehart portrait gripe

The fuss about an image of Gina Rinehart being included in a National Gallery exhibition did not register in the artist’s home community of Indulkana, the Senate has been told

  • Tom McIlroy
Julie Inman Grant says X has become an increasingly toxic environment, with Indigenous people under threat.

Why age restrictions on social media ‘won’t happen overnight’

Australia’s eSafety Commissioner says it is difficult to judge the correct age to ban kids from social media.

  • Tess Bennett

Labor wants a deal on more senators by Christmas

Tasmania has 402,000 voters and 12 senators; the ACT has 315,000 voters and two senators. MPs want to make upper house representation a bit more even.

  • Tom McIlroy

April 2024

ROE, ROIC or ROCE? CEOs only turn to numbers that make them shine

A Senate hearing sparked debate on how best to measure corporate profitability. But this is a deep rabbit hole that divides balance sheet scholars.

  • Jonathan Shapiro
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Brad Banducci may be leaving Woolworths later this year, but his work is not done yet.

The Senate cage match that saw Woolies CEO threatened with jail

Brad Banducci and Greens senator Nick McKim played a brutal game of verbal tennis over Woolworths’ profitability. 

  • James Thomson

February 2024

Natalie James defended the right of public servants to have work-life balance.

Public servants working from home not ‘disconnected’

The head of the Department of Employment and Workplace Relations says about one-third of her employees have flexible work arrangements.

  • Tom McIlroy and Cindy Yin

November 2023

The government had set aside some $250 million for a financial victims compensation scheme in the October budget, although the claims are expected to be higher.

Big banks, insurers on the hook to pay Dixon Advisory compo claims

The government has set aside $250 million to help victims of misconduct. But the collapsed financial firm’s clients are out of pocket by significantly more.

  • Jonathan Shapiro and Carrie LaFrenz
EY is facing further scrutiny from parliament.

Senators slam EY deal with ATO as too lenient

EY is facing further scrutiny in the wake of allegations a former partner promoted tax exploitation schemes over five years.

  • Max Mason and Neil Chenoweth

September 2023

Qantas CEO Vanessa Hudson and chairman Richard Goyder were grilled at the inquiry by Nationals senator Bridget McKenzie.

Stoic Goyder and Hudson turn heat back on to Labor

Richard Goyder and Vanessa Hudson took on limited damage before a Senate committee, but deflected heat back on to the Albanese government.

  • Updated
  • James Thomson

Original URL: https://www.afr.com/topic/senate-estimates-1nl7