PM hauls in bank chiefs
The Prime Minister and Treasurer have hauled in Australia's big four bank chiefs and warned them not to pass on to customers additional costs arising from a $121 million funding package for the corporate regulator.
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James Massola
James Massola is chief political reporter in the Canberra bureau. He was a Walkley finalist in 2015 and has worked in the federal press gallery for eight years, including stints for The Australian Financial Review and The Australian before joining the Sydney Morning Herald and The Age.
Big companies to pay $330m a year to fund ASIC
Australia's financial sector will pay more than $300 million a year in new charges as corporate regulator ASIC moves to a full user pays model, delivering a budget saving of more than $1 billion in the four years from 2018-19.
Banks to pay $121 million to boost ASIC
Australia's banks will cough up $121 million to boost the resources of corporate regulator ASIC and ensure it is a "tough cop on the beat".
Fifty leading Australians urge PM to put budget fairness before tax cuts
Fifty prominent Australians have written an open letter to Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull declaring "Australia doesn't need lower taxes" and calling for the federal government to place fairness at the heart of the 2016 federal budget.
Federal budget 2016: Scott Morrison signals tough approach focused on spending cuts
Treasurer Scott Morrison has given the clearest signal yet his election year budget will place spending restraint front and centre, with the prospect of "big bang" tax reform rapidly receding.
Turnbull contradicted by own office on tax changes
Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull has been contradicted by his own office on possible changes to capital gains tax discounts, underscoring the deepening policy confusion in Coalition ranks over tax reform.
Coalition considering a crackdown on dodgy bosses exploiting foreign workers
The federal Coalition is considering new measures that would crack down on dodgy bosses who exploit foreign workers, including introducing bigger fines and beefed-up law enforcement measures.
Former deputy PM to reboot media reforms
Former deputy prime minister Tim Fischer has been drafted in by regional TV networks to take on the Abbott government over stalled media reform plans.
Hockey unveils GST on digital downloads and crack down on big companies avoiding tax
Treasurer Joe Hockey has unveiled two new measures to crack down on tax avoidance by multinational companies and extend the GST to digital downloads.
Go spend, Hockey urges after rate cut
Treasurer Joe Hockey has urged Australian households and businesses to borrow and invest money ahead of a "terrific" second budget, following the Reserve Bank's decision to cut the cash rate to a new record low of 2 per cent.
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