Shorten digs in over franking 'gifts'
Bill Shorten has doubled down on plans to end cash refunds for excess franking credits, saying the election was a choice between funding such "gifts'' and better health care.
NAB bid to stop meltdown in mortgage broker business
CBA and Westpac are grabbing market share from NAB for fixed, variable and refinancing mortgages.
- Opinion
- Hayne fallout
Political parties split on implementing Hayne recommendations
As both parties go into the election campaign, the key difference is the Coalition sees the royal commission as the end process of bank reform, while Labor sees it as the beginning.
ASIC doubles wealth investigations
ASIC is investigating 90 cases as part of its crackdown on problems in the wealth management and financial advice businesses of large banks.
Woolies result highlights surge in green bonds
Woolworths $400 million green bond closed more than five times oversubscribed, as global green bond issuance is expected to hit $US250 billion this year.
- Opinion
- Federal election
A highly taxing campaign for voters
There are now fundamental and sharply defined differences in philosophy driving both sides of politics – and the voters who follow them.
Selling the election message
The challenge for campaigners will be selling two relatively unpopular products.
Business
Brown Brothers and CSIRO look to climate-proof grapes
In an industry sensitive to climatic changes, Brown Brothers has invested in CSIRO research to develop new grape varieties that boast a higher tolerance to dry, hot weather.
Miners unwilling to repeat historic mistakes, holding back investment
Deloitte Access Economics warns that miners will be cautious about investing, because they have squandered a commodity boom before.
Due Diligence: Santos making good on Harbour rejection arguments
Kevin Gallagher has a way to go to justify the Santos board's rejection of a $14.4 billion takeover offer, but is making headway.
Sonic's US lab pays €2.5m over misread smear test
The unnamed Irish mother in her 40s is the latest to settle and gain payment from Sonic's US subsidiary over the false negative screening scandal that has gripped Ireland.
South Australian gas cache owner battles market sceptics
A controversial project tapping the east coast's second-biggest source of gas reserves is flying under the radar as it works to prove its credentials.
Eagle Boys founder snubbed by Retail Food Group
He's one of the best-known names in franchising but when Eagle Boys founder Tom Potter knocked on the door of Retail Food Group they wouldn't let him in.
Free TV miffed by government's 'iceberg of policy in a sea of nothing'
Free TV is frustrated the government has failed to address longstanding issues with content regimes in Australia.
Markets
- Opinion
- Fixed income
Why the plumbing of FX hedging matters for bond investors
More and more global capital is chasing currency-hedged returns rather than taking on currency risk.
JPMorgan boss rules out US recession
Jamie Dimon has set the tone for an upbeat set of results from Wall Street, declaring there is no reason for the US economic expansion to end.
It's too calm for US rates investors to let their guard down
The lockstep movement of German and US benchmark yields is evidence of how closely tied their economic fortunes are right now.
- Opinion
- Monetary policy
Phil Lowe's big call on housing slump
The RBA is pinning its hopes on low unemployment and low interest rates as home owners equity goes backwards.
- Opinion
- Specialist investments
Magellan: mitigate LIC mis-selling risks
With fund managers using LICs and LITs to circumvent conflict of interest rules, advisers are incentivised to move retail investors into riskier products, writes Christopher Joye.
Opinion
A highly taxing campaign for voters
There are now fundamental and sharply defined differences in philosophy driving both sides of politics – and the voters who follow them.
Columnist
When defamation is a tax on free speech
More than ever, reputations are won and lost in the marketplace of free speech, regardless of what judges might decide
Editorial
Political parties split on implementing Hayne recommendations
As both parties go into the election campaign, the key difference is the Coalition sees the royal commission as the end process of bank reform, while Labor sees it as the beginning.
Business columnist
This could be the meanest campaign yet
Both Bill Shorten and Scott Morrison began this campaign on the offensive because "decades of experience shows going low works", writes Phillip Coorey.
Political Editor
Politics
Warm welcome for Morrison in the Sunshine State
Prime Minister Scott Morrison is getting a good reception from the public but will it translate to votes?
Election campaign is backroom boys' time to shine
Andrew Hirst and Noah Carroll are running their first federal election campaigns. Only one will prevail.
Shorten's women strategy on show as campaign gets rolling
Labor's strategy of highlighting high profile women looks set to help make Bill Shorten Prime Minister.
- Analysis
- Federal election
Coalition slip-ups highlight Bill Shorten's self-discipline
Rookie errors by three top Liberal politicians show why Bill Shorten is winning the election campaign.
- Exclusive
- Federal election
Alex Turnbull's plan to 'destroy' News Corp's political influence
The former prime minister's son said he wants to help drive the rise of independent MPs across the country.
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World
Protectionist push defines Indonesia's final presidential debate
Economic nationalism could stall Australia's free trade agreement with Indonesia, as 190 million voters prepare for Wednesday's election.
- Opinion
- World election
For all his faults, Jokowi is still Indonesia’s best bet
For all his shortcomings, Jokowi is a practical and predictable politician; Prabowo, however, is an authoritarian ideologue with a volatile personality.
Jokowi rocks Jakarta as crowd cheers for secular Indonesia
President Jokowi's coalition partner Grace Natalie is young and progressive, but she may be too secular for an increasingly Islamic Indonesia.
UK pressured on Swedish claims to Assange
British lawmakers are heaping pressure on the government to make sure that the WikiLeaks founder faces Swedish justice if prosecutors there reopen a rape investigation against him.
- Opinion
- Donald Trump
Trump and the modern annihilation of shame
Once we blushed if we were caught out. The US president has heralded an era of brazen defiance instead.
Real Estate
Property industry leads on assessing slavery supply chain risks
A new disclosure regime will force companies to assess risks - and say publicly what they're doing to fix them.
Get the money, then get the people: Lessons from NYC's High Line
The co-founder of New York's highly successful High Line public park wishes he secured a share of developers' profits before it was built.
Strong response to Queensland's pilot build-to-rent program
The program is similar to NSW's first build-to-rent project at Redfern.
- Exclusive
- Sales
Belle Property and hockingstuart merge into new agency
The merger will put the Belle/hockingstuart business on the top of the leader chart as one of the few pure national agencies alongside Ray White and LJ Hooker.
iProsperity to check out of Novotel, Century City in Melbourne
An investment platform for high-net worth Asian investors, iProsperity is one of the busiest traders in the market and is now divesting a hotel and mall.
Personal Finance
- Opinion
- Pay
The worst thing we can do for the low paid in Australia
The proposal for a "living wage" will make the unions happy. But it will do nothing to help the most vulnerable people in the workforce.
Split investment strategy to counter dismal savings rates
Fed up with falling bank savings rates? We outline strategies to boost your income without taking on too much risk.
Labor's franking plan will affect those saving in super too
You're not going to escape the chop if you're in accumulation mode – not being able to use excess franking credits will lower your return.
Technology
Power grid could be hacked 'at any time'
A new report says there is very high chance of a targeted attack against a major critical infrastructure operator in Australia.
- Opinion
- Sharemarket
Technology will deliver performance, says Phil King
The sharemarket is in the midst of a structural change. And the latest indication of how quickly it will occur will happen this week.
- Analysis
- Social media
The global battle to regulate social media
After fake news scandals, suicides and the Christchurch massacre, internet groups face a profound change in mood.
Leadership
Education battleground is in skills and training
Both parties say they are spending generously on education. The real differences are in skills and early childhood
'That could have been me,' says author of George Pell book
Louise Milligan, the journalist who helped expose George Pell, still struggles with the trauma of sex abuse victims.
Lifestyle
- Exclusive
- Media & marketing
Opera House seeks new partner: don't mention the money
The Sydney Opera House is looking for a new principal partner but how much money the sponsor will spend isn't part of the initial discussion.
Vinyl revival gives second chance to lost sounds
Reissue record labels focus on finding often rare, underappreciated, beautiful music and giving it a new lease of life. Here's why they do it.
This is what the wind looks like
The movement of wind-driven drawing arms captured through long photographic exposures reveals surprising and beautiful results.
Dead funny: putting the theatre back into your final farewell
A funeral director and a performance artist have created a show that promises to change your view of dying.
The Aftermath: post-war mellow drama
Kiera Knightly is the apex of a love triangle in a tale set in the aftermath of World War II.
