Campaign starts with tax attack
The Prime Minister releases Treasury costings of Labor policies in the first salvo of the campaign.
US seeks extradition for Julian Assange after arrest
After his dramatic arrest at the Ecuadorian embassy, the WikiLeaks founder now faces charges over massive leaks of US Defence Department documents in 2010.
Why industry super funds are demanding a seat at the table
It's hard to underestimate the power that the not-for-profit industry super funds have over Australian financial markets.
The ASX is set to climb despite Wall St losses
The ASX is set to open higher despite Wall Street slipping overnight amid thin trading as investors await the start of US earnings season.
Labor's negative gearing numbers in question again
More evidence shows Labor's view on how much negative gearing is going into existing property should be questioned.
Possible Crown buyers also eye Japan
Investors are betting a Crown Resorts buyout is still on the cards, but they must factor in medium-term strategic shifts as Japan opens up to its first casinos.
- Opinion
- Climate policy
Rio puts Minerals Council on notice
The contest over coal advocacy reveals again how climate and carbon debate has become Australia's Brexit.
Business
BOQ may need to merge itself out of trouble: Citi
A leading analyst says BOQ will need to merge with Suncorp or Bendigo to lift investment for a digital future but its CEO is unsure scale is the answer.
Industry funds warn boards on exec pay
AustralianSuper's Andrew Gray warns boards against collapsing long and short-term incentives into so-called balanced scorecards which have been a flop with investors.
- Exclusive
- Rare earths
Wesfarmers boss bites back at Lynas attacks
Rob Scott says Lynas kept talking to the WA conglomerate for weeks after it knew a joint-venture proposal had become a takeover bid.
- Exclusive
- Federal election
Carmichael approvals should take weeks: Adani
Adani Mining chief executive Lucas Dow said political candidates should pledge to support Queensland's multibillion-dollar coal industry.
China's coal import restrictions not political
China's coal import restrictions have indirectly hit Whitehaven Coal, despite none of the company's product being sold there.
IAG faces class action over 'misleading' sales tactics
Insurance Australia Group faces a Federal Court class action over alleged "misleading and deceptive conduct" during the sale of add-on car insurance.
APRA's Hayne referrals threat
The prudential regulator says it is working on referrals made by the Hayne inquiry, but says civil and criminal penalties are not available.
Markets
What treasure will Labor inherit if it wins the election?
Unemployment is at an eight-year low and budget surpluses are locked in, but Chris Bowen will have to navigate falling house prices and slow wage growth to join Peter Costello in the budget surplus club.
Reserve Bank defies the doves, bolstered by brighter data
The RBA has refused to bow to the market's fiercely dovish positioning, and the improved data has repaid its faith in patience.
BOQ, Qantas lead ASX lower
Australian shares closed firmly lower on Thursday with Qantas falling following the unexplained departure of the CEO of Qantas International.
- Opinion
- M&A
One last blow to the equity derivative
New guidance from the Takeovers Panel imperils "the sexier end of pre-bid planning and hedge fund strategies," M&A lawyers from King & Wood Mallesons write.
‘Rocky waters’ for global middle class
The middle classes in developed nations are under pressure from stagnant income growth, rising lifestyle costs and unstable jobs, and this risks fuelling political instability.
Opinion
The next five weeks will pull Morrison in all directions
Stark philosophical differences between the major parties will confront a nation more divided than it has been in a long while, writes Phillip Coorey.
Political Editor
A referendum on national prosperity
Bill Shorten's plan is quite at odds with the national economic successes of the last three decades.
Editorial
On a political wing and a prayer
Scott Morrison and Bill Shorten are going for broke. They have nothing to lose and everything to prove.
Columnist
BoQ needs board accountability
Following the Hayne royal commission, shareholders are unlikely to tolerate poorly thought-through strategies or badly executed strategies. This will put pressure on the bank's board to lift its game.
Columnist
Politics
Labor 'highest taxing government': Frydenberg
The Morrison government has latched on to Treasury analysis to claim that Labor would be the biggest-taxing government in history.
The key issues of the election
A quick guide to the key issues that will define the federal election.
Where the election will be decided
This year's poll looms as series of 151 byelections as Scott Morrison and Bill Shorten battle it out seat-by-seat for your vote.
The current electoral landscape
Explore our map to see the state of the seats ahead of the May 18 election.
- Exclusive
- Federal election
Adani says approvals for mine should take weeks
Adani Mining chief executive Lucas Dow said political candidates should pledge to support Queensland's multibillion-dollar coal industry.
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World
Indonesia's Jokowi makes final push in re-election bid
The polls have him well ahead but Indonesian President Jokowi needs an emphatic victory to blunt claims over his legitimacy.
EU leaders offer six-month lifeline to Britain
Europe gives British PM Theresa May until Halloween to find a Brexit deal - if she lasts that long.
British review takes 'Year Zero' approach to audit
Sir Donald Brydon's call for submissions signals no question is too big or off-limits.
Virgin Boeing MAX jet order likely to stay, experts say
With the first 737 MAX jet on order due to be delivered to Virgin in November, industry experts say the order will not be dropped despite the safety concerns.
Consumption king for Indonesia's new middle class
A sophisticated new class has emerged in Indonesia and some are already cashing in, reports Angus Grigg.
Real Estate
5 of the most exclusive properties for sale this week
Take your pick from these executive homes in desirable locations.
There's no rush of pre-election house buyers in Sydney
Faster-than-expected declines in prices prompt lender to revise its forecasts.
Morgan Stanley warns Labor will hurt property market
Global investment bank warns no end in sight to property market slowdown.
Australia takes lion's share of capital for AsiaPac funds
The largest proportion of capital raised for unlisted funds in the Asia Pacific sector went into Australian vehicles.
LOGOS to develop $94m meat facility in Auckland
The $94million meat processing facility is the first stage in development of LOGOS's Wiri Logistics Estate in Auckland.
Personal Finance
We haven't given up on super: Spaceship
Spaceship will have another go at applying for a licence to operate its own super fund when 'time is right'.
$5m pledged for 'tax inspectors without borders'
A Labor government would help a successful OECD and UN-backed tax auditing and compliance program build roots in the Asia-Pacific region.
- Analysis
- Banking royal commission
Lawyers could get caught in net of new super laws
The new civil penalties regime governing super funds could apply to those a long way 'down the line', including legal advisers.
Technology
It's day 1 but there's already a winner on social media
Bill Shorten won Twitter on the first day of the campaign while the Prime Minister did better on Facebook, which has an older demographic.
Crypto coin sales stage a revival
But beware; there may be a reason cryptocurrency IEOs are held mostly outside the reach of US regulators.
- Opinion
- Science
Digging into our planet's history
The advance of science has accelerated from a march to a gallop.
Leadership
Pay transparency to 'transform' the workplace
Seeing what your co-workers get paid is a top trend that will shape the future of work, according to a new survey of talent experts.
'Journalism of the worst kind': wins defamation verdict
Geoffrey Rush has won his defamation battle with The Daily Telegraph, after a court found the reports "extravagent, excessive and sensationalist".
Lifestyle
Stay in the historic home of famed painter John Glover
Formerly a ruin, 19th-century Patterdale has been restored with the help of a much-loved painting by the colonial landscape artist.
Looking for love? Stop making lists
Gillian McCallum, CEO of the Britain's oldest introduction agency, says "Women are always drawing up inventories of what they require in a man and by the time they've finished you can't imagine anyone who'll qualify."
Move over, K-beauty – A-beauty is here
Exports of Australian beauty products rose to $536 million in 2018, led by a posse of self-made women who know what their customers want.
- Opinion
- Wine & spirits
Cheers to the roussanne renaissance
A growing number of producers are making and bottling this tricky to grow Rhône grape variety..
Luxury treats to spend your money on this week
Luxurious face creams and geometry-inspired bracelets are among this week’s favourite picks.
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Housing boom 'well and truly over'
Qantas refuses to explain abrupt departure of top executive
Labor's 49pc tax rate to hit middle-income earners
Flight attendant spills tray of drinks on airline's CEO
'Journalism of the worst kind': Geoffrey Rush wins defamation verdict
Elon Musk weighs into Australia's electric car debate
