Latest
Household spending gives economy push to full recovery
The economy has climbed back to within 2 per cent of its pre-pandemic levels following a stunning surge in December quarter GDP that smashed economists’ expectations.
- 6 mins ago
- Matthew Cranston
Victoria’s spending surge great news for yoga instructors
Household spending by Victorians increased 10.4 per cent in the December quarter as tough lockdown restrictions were lifted and people could head back to spending on services such as yoga.
- 1 hr ago
- Matthew Cranston
Super performance test ‘sets wrong priority’
The government’s Your Future, Your Super reforms will push super trustees to choose short-term investment strategies over long-term options that generate higher returns for members, new research finds.
- Ronald Mizen
States in the dark over vaccine rollout
NSW didn’t know about a Commonwealth plan to use the defence force for the vaccine rollout and doesn’t know how many nursing homes in the state have received the jab.
- Updated
- Finbar O'Mallon
Google baulks at proposed online safety bill
The search giant’s local branch says shorter timeframes to remove harmful content could result in the company pulling offline whole websites to meet deadlines.
- Finbar O'Mallon
Financial regulators monitor surging house prices
They will more actively target credit growth, not house prices, when considering if they need to put the brakes on real estate loans.
- John Kehoe
Opinion & Analysis
How to turn the economic rebound into a solid recovery
The Australian economy has surged forward with a huge shot of stimulus. But we need some real changes to lock in the gains.
Editorial
Recovery on track, but more mediocrity awaits
A powerful V-shaped economic rebound now seems assured, but the economy will not coast to a new post-virus nirvana.
Senior writer
Rest should give ASIC sob story a rest
Perhaps the most extraordinary part of the civil action launched by the corporate watchdog against superannuation giant Rest is the industry fund’s reaction to it.
Columnist
Take away the punch bowl Dr Lowe, it’s making us sick
The RBA governor is the ring leader of another house price party. But he does not have the control that everyone thinks.
Contributor
More From Today
- Opinion
- The AFR View
How to turn the economic rebound into a solid recovery
The Australian economy has surged forward with a huge shot of stimulus. But we need some real changes to lock in the gains.
- The AFR View
- Analysis
- Australian economy
Recovery on track, but more mediocrity awaits
A powerful V-shaped economic rebound now seems assured, but the economy will not coast to a new post-virus nirvana.
- Updated
- John Kehoe
- Opinion
- Chanticleer
Rest should give ASIC sob story a rest
Perhaps the most extraordinary part of the civil action launched by the corporate watchdog against superannuation giant Rest is the industry fund’s reaction to it.
- Updated
- James Thomson
- Opinion
- Monetary policy
Take away the punch bowl Dr Lowe, it’s making us sick
The RBA governor is the ring leader of another house price party. But he does not have the control that everyone thinks.
- Andrew Mohl
How everyday objects become powerful protest symbols
The most unlikely items and gestures, from peace signs to shoes, rubber ducks and pink woolly hats, can become highly potent signals of dissent.
- Matthew Sweet
How 15-minute tests could prepare Australia for third wave
Although less accurate than standard swab tests, rapid COVID tests that report in 15 minutes could be very useful should Australia be hit by a third wave.
- Jill Margo
Police and big tech clash on new digital warrants
The government is proposing three new digital warrants for law enforcement, but the proposed changes are not without controversy.
- Max Mason
Yesterday
Tom Harley’s Dragoman hurriedly updates Foreign Influence register
Dragoman is the French government’s agent of foreign influence, but not its lobbyist. Got that?
- Joe Aston
- Analysis
- Interest rates
Lowe gives first signal more QE is coming
A third round of quantitative easing is all but locked in for later this year, but RBA governor Philip Lowe has shown he will not be pushed into perpetually increasing the size of its bond purchases.
- John Kehoe
RBA holds nerve on rates, bond buying
The central bank has held the cash rate at 0.1 per cent but has brought forward some bond buying to restore functionality to the market.
- Matthew Cranston
Import surge triggers GDP upgrades, but debt hits $1.17trn
A jump in imports in the December quarter points to better consumption and business investment.
- Matthew Cranston
- Analysis
- Monetary policy
Why the RBA should go ‘longer for longer’
Instead of focusing its buying on short-dated bonds, the RBA is more likely to buy longer-dated bonds, UBS strategist Giulia Specchia says.
- Updated
- Matthew Cranston
Three ways business can fast-track recovery: Nev Power
Businesses should be ready to roll out their own COVID-19 vaccination programs in the same way as the flu to fast-track economic recovery.
- Patrick Durkin
- Opinion
- Aged care
Aged care tax doesn’t add up politically, economically, morally
The royal commission makes the case for change but it gives the government no political cover for more self-funding to pay for a better system.
- Pat Garcia
States in the dark on vaccine rollout: Berejiklian
Australian business lays out a three-stage plan out of the pandemic as NSW calls for more information from the federal government on the vaccine rollout.
- Finbar O'Mallon
This Month
Jobs, housing and profits lift GDP estimates
Job advertisements have now hit their highest level since October 2018, while the latest corporate profit figures indicate the December quarter GDP will be stronger than previously expected.
- Updated
- Matthew Cranston
Draft partnership profit guidelines won’t please everyone: ATO
The instructions will be closely watched by partners in law, accounting, engineering, architectural and medical firms.
- Tom McIlroy
Berejiklian in the dark on vaccine rollout
NSW says it’s not prepared for the rollout of the coronavirus vaccine beyond the next two weeks and wants more information from the federal government.
- Finbar O'Mallon
- Opinion
- Home loans
FOMO returns to Australian property market
Prospective buyers are turning up in droves to bid at auctions and house prices are rising rapidly. But the Reserve Bank and the Morrison government are not worried – yet.
- Jennifer Hewett
