Bankrupt, bust or giving up: Businesses shutter at pandemic levels
Data shows more than one in 20 businesses across the country is failing as consumer spending dries up and high costs hit their bottom line.
- by Shane Wright
Latest
No tax relief for you: Deficits, cost put cuts in too-hard basket
Neither major party will try to win over voters at the federal election with an offer of substantial tax relief.
- by Shane Wright
Shops to be forced to accept cash for basic supplies and services
The use of physical currency has plummeted in recent years, but Australians will still be able to use it to buy essential items into the future.
- by James Massola and Shane Wright
‘It’s not money’: Bitcoin has ‘no role’ in the Australian economy, says Bullock
RBA governor Michele Bullock has dismissed claims that cryptocurrency is an “alternative currency”, even as the price of bitcoin soars to a high.
- by Shane Wright and Millie Muroi
Exclusive
Income tax
The half trillion-dollar tax headache facing Australia
Anthony Albanese and Peter Dutton face a half trillion-dollar tax problem – without a change, Australians will face a generational high tax hit.
- by Shane Wright
Analysis
Political leadership
A treasurer stares at a government’s political mortality
Jim Chalmers has used an off-the-cuff speech to rally Labor supporters … while also exposing the government’s fears.
- by Shane Wright
Real wages are growing at highest rate since 2020. But it’s unlikely to last
After years of wage rises lagging behind inflation, they rose more than inflation in the year to September – but wage increases have already started to slow.
- by Shane Wright and Millie Muroi
Opinion
Australian economy
The three F-words that sum up Australia’s economic malaise
For years, governments have focused on population, productivity and participation. But as the US election shows, they need to start paying attention to the letter F.
- by Shane Wright
Chalmers’ $900m carrot to convince states to rip up red tape
Treasurer Jim Chalmers will unveil plans, mirroring reforms used by Paul Keating and John Howard, to get the economy running faster and cheaper.
- by Shane Wright
A sky full of profits: Qantas blames Coldplay for airfare surge
The competition watchdog has revealed prices on some flight routes more than doubled in the months after Rex Airlines’ collapse and the demise of budget carrier Bonza.
- by Shane Wright and Millie Muroi
The mortgage or the baby? Fertility dropping to record low
Births have fallen to a 15-year low and skyrocketing property prices are being blamed. Now there are calls for new policies to help people have children.
- by Shane Wright
Original URL: https://www.smh.com.au/by/shane-wright-h170pw