No zealot about cutting company tax, Ken Henry despairs about Australia's politicians
Former Treasury chief and National Australia Bank chairman Ken Henry is far from a zealot on cutting company tax rates.
The Economy
Cut the company tax rate and push up the GST, says Henry
Former treasury boss Ken Henry has backed the government's 10-year plan to cut the company tax rate, saying it should be done even sooner.
Business investment looks set to fall fifth consecutive year
Plans for mining investment are down 20 per cent and plans for manufacturing investment are down 1.2 per cent.
It's what they wanted, but it hurts
Low wage growth is what the Coalition wanted. Within weeks of being sworn in as employment minister in 2013 Eric Abetz warned "weak-kneed employers" not to cave in to unreasonable demands.
RBA's hands tied as wage growth hits new record low
Private-sector wage growth has slid to record low of just 1.8 per cent, throwing into doubt budget projections and confounding the Reserve Bank, which would prefer not to have to cut interest rates again and run the risk of reigniting house prices.
'Difficult to ignore': RBA concerned about high household debt
The head of Australia's central bank said on Wednesday the risks of encouraging more borrowing by already heavily indebted households argued against seeking a faster return of inflation to its target band, another sign rate cuts were off the table.
RBA sees rising resource exports, waning drag from mine-boom end
The Reserve Bank predicts rising resource exports in a more positive global environment will spur growth as the drag from falling mining investment wanes.
'That bus has gone': EU sees no Brexit U-turn now
Tony Blair wants fellow Britons to "rise up" and block or soften Brexit, but it may now be out of their hands - many Europeans just want them to get on and get out.
One way to fix an ageing society - get old later
When do you become a senior citizen? It might be time to think of people younger than 74 as "pre-old", medical experts in Japan say.
Calm down on housing affordability, says Reserve
Declining rates of home ownership aren't necessarily a bad thing, according to the Reserve Bank.
How Australia can avoid becoming the 'white trash' of Asia
I know how Jules Verne must have felt. My recent trip to New York plus three days in Israel and two more in London was a fascinating circumnavigation but thanks to Qantas and the LLJets I did it quicker than 80 days in a balloon.
Full-time jobs plunge as unemployment rate ticks down to 5.7%
Full-time employment collapsed to its weakest point in 16 months in January after two months of gains were reversed, leaving Australia with 56,100 fewer full-time workers than in January 2015.
Look! ScoMo unleashes a Liberal revolution
The federal Treasurer and the Finance Minister threw several years of Coalition dogma out the window and it's been reported as if it's just another day at the office.
Lara moved in on Friday. On Monday she had to move out again
The first ever national survey of renters' experiences has uncovered widespread fear and anxiety.
CEOs divided on civic impact of globalisation
Their businesses may rely on it, and most support it, but one in two Australian CEOs surveyed by PwC reject the assertion that globalisation has helped reduce income inequality.
Rates steady, economy weaker than RBA expects say experts
Australia's leading forecasters don't believe the Reserve Bank when it says the economy will grow 3 per cent this year and 3.25 per cent in 2018. The forecasts, in Friday's "Statement on Monetary Policy", are well above the median forecasts of 2.4 per cent and 2.8 per cent released by the Australian Business Economists executive committee on Tuesday.
Business confidence unexpectedly soars
The stars are aligning for the economy: business conditions and confidence have unexpectedly jumped, with employment conditions particularly encouraging.
The end of Australia's political consensus
Government at any price is the lowest common denominator of politics. The nation ends up paying for it.
Memo Scott Morrison: there ain't no jam jars
What's this about a "locked box"?
Labour 'flexibility' has come at a cost: underemployment
For all the signs that our economy is on the mend, two influential reports on Friday highlighted the soft underbelly of Australia's labour market.
'Snails eat our mail': The best excuses the ATO hears
Top excuses for why people did not lodge a tax return on time included: "My client can't lodge because she is currently at the North Pole".
Reserve Bank chief gently reproves Turnbull's failings
Reserve Bank chief gently reproves Turnbull's failings.
Why your name may be ruining your life
Does a name's position in the alphabet affect anything outside the Yellow Pages? The idea isn't so far-fetched, new research shows.
Australia's new political divide: 'globalists' versus 'patriots'
There is a new political fault line emerging in Australia, and it cuts across the traditional progressive and conservative divide.
Reserve Bank, Treasury, IMF at odds over growth, in accord over company tax
The Reserve Bank's assessment came as the International Monetary Fund called on the bank to keep interest rates "accommodative" and to be prepared to ease further, if warranted.
'Stand ready': IMF calls for vigilance on housing risks
Tougher restrictions on bank lending may be needed if Australian house prices or mortgage debt accelerate again, the International Monetary Fund says.
RBA chief predicts Trump could boost economy
Reserve Bank governor Philip Lowe has implored Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull to borrow more to spend on infrastructure.
The $63b question: What Trump's tax plan means for Apple
Apple was slugged with an $18b fine by the EU last year but the company will be smiling if Donald Trump's US tax plan gets off the ground.
Mining tailwind to benefit households
Households, particularly those in Queensland and Western Australia, will see some benefits of the lift in commodity prices, HSBC says.
Guard dogs, Xbox consoles: hot tax breaks claimed by small business
Guard dogs and x-box consoles are among the items that over 154,000 small businesses have claimed as tax breaks for equipment used in the workplace.
Small Business
Penalty rates cut 'evens up the playing field' for small business
Small business owners have backed the Fair Work Commission's decision announced on Thursday morning to slash Sunday penalty rates.
Plants in the post a growing business
Purchase a plant with the click of a button.