Hayne should probe this fee gravy train
Disclosures in the federal budget about excessive superannuation fund charges imposed on low income earners and young members should be brought to the attention of Commisioner Kenneth Hayne.
One Nation holds key to tax-cut plan
The federal government could secure Senate support for its entire $140 billion income tax cut package from the crossbench but needs to persuade Pauline Hanson who is demanding cuts to immigration.
'All bark, no bite': Shock $26m budget cut for ASIC
ASIC's permanent funding will be cut from $346 million to $320 million and staff numbers slashed by 30, in a cut described as shocking by insiders as the Hayne inquiry adds to the regulator's workload.
Budget to send life premiums up 30pc
Superannuation fund members might end up paying 30 per cent more for their life insurance cover under the government's plan to help younger savers.
M&A; frenzy kicks off bankers' 2018
Investment bankers need the strong start to the year for local deal volumes to fill their fee coffers after last year was mixed.
BHP shale sale gets a Trump up
Andrew Mackenzie's luck has finally turned on BHP Billiton's $US30 billion investment in US shale oil.
Morrison's delivered an election-winner
It's a brilliant budget that could be a game-changer by tapping into the deep discontent the public has with political weasel-words.
Law firm files $2b action against AMP
Class action law firm Quinn Emanuel has raced to file the first class action against AMP on the eve of the company's annual meeting.
CEOs optimistic on budget, but not R&D; cut
Leading CEOs are cautiously optimistic that income tax cuts will boost consumer confidence, but the budget measures are not enough to commit to increase their investment.
CBA punished for big third-quarter profit miss
CBA shares sunk after a third-quarter trading update that missed expectations on softer revenue and higher costs.
Government pressure on gas giants not enough: Incitec
Government efforts to secure domestic gas supplies have not been enough to substantially reduce prices and guarantee the survival of manufacturing plants like Gibson Island.
CBA pays $25m to settle bank bill swap rate case
CBA will admit to attempting to engage in unconscionable conduct as part of its settlement, and acknowledge its systems weren't adequate to monitor staff.
AAA still vulnerable, warns S&P
The government has been told its economic outlook is too rosy and leaves the nation vulnerable to a sudden downturn.
Treasury's forecasts ahead of market: economist
The budget papers take a more optimistic view on growth than the market does, but Treasury is not as bullish as the RBA.
ASX climbs to three-month high
A rise in commodity prices helped boost the Australian sharemarket to its highest close since early February.
Why Trump is great for US microcaps
America's microcap stocks are thriving under the Trump administration.
Opinion
Shorten pays the price of political expediency
The unwelcome prospect of Labor having to contest a spate of byelections in its own seats next month is the price it must now pay for its political expediency.
It's the 'politics of envy' V 'the economics of opportunity'
This budget is the government's best and probably last chance to try to cement the public image of Labor as the high-taxing, high-spending alternative ahead of the real election.
BHP shale sale gets a Trump up
Andrew Mackenzie's luck has finally turned on BHP Billiton's $US30 billion investment in US shale oil.
The Senate can end Labor's tax hypocrisy
Workers will thank the Senate if it passes a new tax system that Labor has proposed previously.
Shorten leadership test after Labor's dual citizen debacle
Bill Shorten faces the toughest test of his leadership yet with four simultaneous byelections in Labor-held seats within weeks after the High Court's latest ruling.
'Highly optimistic': Tax valuations inflated by $66b
The federal government's budget move to tighten the thin cap rules follows a $66 billion blowout in asset revaluations made by one partner at a major accounting firm.
Call for referendum on dual citizenship
The High Court's strict interpretation of the constitution has sparked concerns that people from a migrant background will not want to run for Parliament.
Senate drop-in Tim Storer rules out horse trading
The new South Australian senator wants better engagement with Asia and more uptake of electric vehicles.
Off-budget accounting surges to more than $70b
Off-budget accounting could surge to more than $70 billion after Tuesday's budget left the door open to a $5 billion taxpayer cash-for-equity swap to fund the Melbourne Airport rail link.
'Good old Donald' was a very, very good Russian spy
The Cambridge Five's penetration of the British intelligence service was extraordinarily complete but Donald Maclean was the only one to enjoy the inevitable life in exile when his spying days were done.
The Cold War: What Russia wanted, what the US did
Historians think the US did a better job dealing with Russia during the Cold War than it has since but many other mistakes were made in the post-WWII period.
The art of the regime change
Donald Trump's withdrawal from the Iran nuclear deal has one goal in mind - and no plan to achieve it.
What next for Iran?
Iran is ready to stick to the deal. But it is also ready to resume uranium enrichment should the accord no longer offer benefits.
World powers regret US pullout from Iran nuclear deal
World powers involved in the Iran nuclear deal expressed regret at Donald Trump's decision to pull the US out of the landmark pact.
Personal Finance
Tax planning less attractive with flatter rates
Grouping the vast majority of workers into one mega 32.5 per cent tax bracket will not only minimise bracket creep, it will discourage tax avoidance, experts say.
Low and middle earners' $530 tax offset explained
Workers taking home about $90,000 will benefit most from the new tax offset.
Ageing in place v housing affordability
Federal budget 2018 policies to keep the elderly at home longer will impede the recycling of housing stock.
EatNow millionaires' fear of irrelevance spurs start-up
They could be on a beach somewhere, instead they just raised $1.2 million from the Leibovich brothers.
Migrant workers needed to train tradies
Some TAFEs only have one or two people qualified to teach trades and the only option is to look overseas.
Amber Harrison found in contempt of court
Justice Michael Pembroke said he could sympathise with Amber Harrison for speaking out, but could not excuse her.
Warnings R&D; could move offshore as incentives slashed
Australia is at risk of losing research and development done by manufacturers and mining companies to other countries after the budget slashed $1b a year from the R&D; tax incentive scheme.
Lifestyle
Biodynamic mumbo-jumbo? These wines defy the sceptics
They may use offbeat methods, but Alois Lageder estate in north-east Italy and Weingut Loimer in Austria produce superb wines nevertheless.
