Australia's new population milestone to reignite debate
Sometime around lunchtime today, Australia's population will hit the 24.5 million mark. What's unusual is the increasing questioning of immigration's role in that growth.
The Economy
Victorian town pulls together to support locked-out timber workers
For nine weeks hundreds of families in a small north-east Victorian town have been without a pay check, after the area's biggest employer locked out its entire workforce in April.
Firers and hirers: Australia's fastest growing jobs
Australia is shedding jobs for retailers and farmers by the tens of thousands as we become a country of carers and builders.
The great Australian property 'illusion' exposed
This podcast will draw on Fairfax Media's crack team of economics experts to help you get a better understanding of the things that affect your job, your mortgage and your family budget.
The danger in the NSW budget
While there are many good things about this budget keeping the state's economy humming, there is one big danger.
Senate committee calls for ATO review amid $130m tax fraud case
A parliamentary committee has called on the Inspector-General of Taxation to conduct a review into the ATO following the alleged abuse of position by one of its highest-ranking officers.
Jobs, housing still in focus for Reserve Bank
The RBA kept its focus on employment and housing markets at its latest board meeting, even as signs emerge of improvements in both.
The risks lurking in our $1.5t mortgage market in six charts
The decision by Moody's Investors Service to downgrade the ratings of Australia's largest banks has focused attention on the risks lurking in the country's $1.51 trillion of mortgage loans.
The company where women get promoted while on maternity leave
In corporate Australia where there are just a handful of female CEOs on the ASX 200, and 13 of the nation's largest boards still without any women on it, male chiefs need to push women to climb the corporate ladder.
Business leaders slam visa changes
Business leaders and one of the world's top economic experts have savaged the federal government's visa changes, accusing them of threatening the economy and labelling foreigners as barbarians.
Australians fear 'foreigners and robots', says the RBA
Australians are worried about foreigners and robots, the Governor of the Reserve Bank says, creating the "real crisis" in the economy.
Moody's downgrades Australian bank credit ratings
Credit rating agency Moody's has downgraded a dozen Australian banks, including the big four, citing increased risks in the nation's increasingly indebted households.
How to make money by giving it away
The 3 per cent of tax payers in the top tax bracket have an extra incentive to play philanthropist before June 30 – their donations will be worth 2 per cent more for them than on July 1.
Gen Y turns to shares to get on the property ladder
A growing number of young Australians are stashing their cash in the stock market in a bid to build wealth and get a foot on the property ladder.
Strong jobs growth takes interest rate cuts off table
Changes in the workforce have meant that it now takes a much lower jobless rate to create the same inflation pressure.
Ten years since the GFC, world suffers 'debt overhang'
Almost 10 years since the global financial crisis, in a world of sub-par economic growth even the optimists are downbeat.
Unemployment rate beats expectations 'by a country mile'
The number of hours worked by Australians has surged by the most in a decade after the unemployment rate fell to its lowest level in four years on Thursday.
Australia's gender shame: 13 ASX 200 boards with no women
There are still 13 companies on the ASX 200 that have no female directors.
Disclosure on way as Aldi signs up to tax code
ALDI Australia has signed up to the federal government's voluntary Tax Transparency Code, which will require the retail giant to give taxpayers some level of disclosure about its highly secretive tax affairs.
Consumer pessimism takes hold as women grow weary
A measure of Australian consumer sentiment fell for a third straight month as disappointing news clouded the outlook for the economy, a survey showed on Wednesday. Interestingly, all the deterioration in June came from female respondents,
RBA chief Philip Lowe proves he's chatty not nutty
When Philip Lowe, in his first statement as Reserve Bank governor, said the bank wasn't full of "inflation nutters," he added some rare colour to the often dry world of central bank speak. Nine months on, he has continued to show he's a good talker.
The RBA theory that isn't working
As the gap between Australian and American rates narrows, other things being equal, the Aussie dollar should weaken against the greenback. The problem is that the theory isn't working.
Business conditions remain upbeat
A measure of business conditions eased just a touch from decade highs in May with growth reported across all sectors.
Australia, Canada: Worlds apart, same sad story
The abrupt end to the commodities supercycle drove the RBA to join the global currency war.
News Corp loses $15 million tax case appeal
Australia's highest-risk taxpayer has lost an appeal in the Federal Court on a $15 million tax bill relating to interest income.
Stormy times for an economy in the doldrums
There's no denying the economy has slowed down, by far more than we were expecting. But don't conclude it's likely to subside into recession any time soon.
Home loans fall for third month in a row
The fall is fuelling speculation of a property downturn following a crackdown on investor loans.
Trade surplus walloped by Cyclone Debbie
Australia's trade surplus collapsed in April as damage wreaked by a massive cyclone in Queensland almost halved exports of coal.
Concerns grow about house prices slide as economic growth sinks
OECD names house prices as the biggest domestic threat to Australia's economic growth.
Australia breaks GDP record
Australia has broken the record for the longest run of uninterrupted growth in the developed world, figures released by the Australian Bureau of Statistics have revealed.
Small Business
Unemployment in men wreaks havoc on their female partners
Long-term unemployment can be a debilitating experience for the entire household.
Why would anyone download Spinder: a dating app for spiders?
Australian universities are battling it out to ensure their students don't miss out on "innovation culture", with start-ups feeding in and out of the tertiary ecosystem.