Our Journalists

John RolfeSenior reporter

John Rolfe focuses on white-collar crime, consumer affairs and the cost of living. He was formerly The Daily Telegraph’s national political editor and chief of staff. He is best known for his efforts on behalf of readers through the Public Defender column, for which he was recognised by News Corp Australia as the Specialist Reporter of the Year.

@publicdefender

John Rolfe

Latest

Interest Rates

General view of NAB signage at the company's head office in Melbourne, Tuesday March 17, 2020. NAB employees have been evacuated from the head office following a staff member being confirmed as positive to coronavirus today. (AAP Image/James Ross) NO ARCHIVING

ANZ and NAB drop rates as banks offer $8b lifeline

Banks have slashed interest rates and will freeze small business loan repayments for up to six months amid the coronavirus pandemic, in a move worth millions of dollars to operators.

National

Prime Minister Scott Morrison with the Treasurer Josh Frydenberg and the Chief Medical Officer Brendan Murphy during a press conference at Parliament House in Canberra. Picture Gary Ramage

PM’s new $250b debt limit and indoor gathering rule

Scott Morrison has announced a new indoor gathering limit for Australians after he delayed the Federal Budget. It comes after NAPLAN tests were scrapped and Australia’s death toll climbed to seven.

Opinion

TOPSHOT - Members of a medical assistance team from Jiangsu province chant slogans at a ceremony marking their departure after helping with the COVID-19 coronavirus recovery effort, in Wuhan, in China's central Hubei province on March 19, 2020. - Medical teams from across China began leaving Wuhan this week after the number of new coronavirus infections dropped. China on March 19 reported no new domestic cases of the coronavirus for the first time since it started recording them in January, but recorded a spike in infections from abroad. (Photo by STR / AFP) / China OUT

China’s cover-ups could cost us $5000/person

The coronavirus could cost the federal budget $5000 for every man, woman and child in Australia. How much of that should we bill to China, asks John Rolfe.

NSW

Government fires '$105b bazooka' to save homes - story

$105b to stop banks foreclosing on home loans

The federal government has joined with the Reserve Bank to fire a ‘$105 billion bazooka’ into the business borrowing market and prevent foreclosures on mortgagees who lose their jobs as a result of the coronavirus crisis.

National

*WARNING CONTACT HERALD SUN PIC DESK BEFORE USE* 2020 AFL Captains Day at Marvel Stadium. Richmond's Trent Cotchin and Carlton's Sam Docherty. Picture: Mark Stewart

Empty streets, ghost malls – thank heavens for the footy?

There’s chaos at the supermarkets, the city is deserted and many Victorians are holed up in their homes as measures to stop the spread of coronavirus ramp up, but there will be light at the MCG with the AFL season starting tomorrow.

NSW

Coronavirus fears have impacted travelers within Australia with Qantas canceling services and the domestic airport nearly empty during Tuesday afternoon. Picture: Toby Zerna

$715m bailout for Australian airlines

Struggling airlines have been granted some but not all of their wishes in a $715 million bailout that temporarily wipes security charges and aviation fuel taxes.

NSW

Prof Brendan Murphy - Australian Chief medical officer during a Press conference about the ongoing Coronavirus COVID-19 crisis, in Sydney CBD, today.Picture:Justin Lloyd

Forget ScoMo, why Brendan Murphy holds the power

Few knew who Brendan Murphy was this time two months ago, or what he did. Now we know the Chief Medical Officer can get the police to detain us if we refuse to self-isolate. THE REAL CANBERRA POWER LIST REVEALED

News

Market gains and loses are displayed on the Australian Stock Exchange (ASX) indicator trading board in Sydney, Thursday, January 16, 2020. (AAP Image/Bianca De Marchi) NO ARCHIVING

RBA to slash rates after horror day for ASX

The Reserve Bank of Australia is set to cut the official interest rate to the lowest level it can as soon as Thursday as Australia’s share market suffers its worst day in history.

NSW

Screen grab of the Trivago TV advert that has misled people.TRIVAGO faces a fine of $10 million or more after admitting it misled Australian consumers in as many as 400,000 TV ads by falsely claiming highlighted hotel deals were the best price. It has also confessed to displaying dodgy discounts by comparing prices between standard and luxury rooms without telling users.

Trivago appeals court loss against ACCC

Trivago is appealing a landmark court ruling that it deceived users into believing its top offer was the cheapest. Find out the grounds for appeal.

NSW

Gladys Berejiklian (second from right) is pictured during a press conference announcing that all mass gatherings of 500 people or more are cancelled from Monday 16th of March. Picture: AAP

Premier under fire over Cabinet meeting decision

Premier Gladys Berejiklian has come under fire for cancelling the full meeting of Cabinet on Monday with just a handful of ministers set to attend the scheduled Narooma gathering. It comes as NSW Health confirms 20 additional cases of coronavirus in NSW since Friday.

Original URL: https://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/journalists/john-rolfe/page/71