Latest
New-generation vaccine may foil COVID-19 variants
While current vaccines direct antibodies at parts of the virus that can easily mutate, the new approach is to target a tiny part of the virus that cannot afford to change.
- Jill Margo
RBA rate rises to boost bank profits
Interest rate rises in response to inflation would boost the profit margins of banks and be partly underwritten by the RBA if borrowing costs rise before 2024.
- John Kehoe
Aware Super slashes emissions on path to net zero
Aware Super has slashed its emissions and is piling money into renewable energy, with the fund saying clarity on climate policy was key for the super sector.
- Michael Read
G20’s climate side-step casts pall over COP26 summit
The failure of leaders from the world’s 20 biggest economies to bolster their climate ambitions has cast a pall over hopes the Glasgow summit can deliver a result.
- Updated
- Hans van Leeuwen
- Exclusive
- China relations
Frydenberg warns on ‘downside risks’ from China
The Treasurer says the slowdown in the Asian nation’s economy and construction sector poses a danger to Australia, particularly on demand for iron ore.
- John Kehoe
- Exclusive
- Interest rates
Why rate rises could cost the RBA and government billions
Economists say the Reserve Bank could be forced to scrap its multibillion-dollar dividend to the government and may require a capital injection from Treasury.
- John Kehoe
Opinion & Analysis
Australia’s vaccine-led escape from the gilded cage has begun
NSW and Victoria are now showing how other states - including WA - can safely start to rejoin the world as soon as their vaccination rates catch up.
Editorial
The road to net zero passes through nuclear power
Opposition to nuclear power is on par with unscientific anti-vax conspiracy theories, and just encourages reliance on coal.
Contributor
Education establishment fails the curriculum reform test
Bureaucrats and academics stubbornly hang on to education practices and pet ideas that have no basis in evidence.
Contributor
How Morrison stifles carbon market forces
If the federal government can’t do anything constructive on climate change, it should at least get out of the way of those who can.
Columnist
Yesterday
- Opinion
- The AFR View
Australia’s vaccine-led escape from the gilded cage has begun
NSW and Victoria are now showing how other states - including WA - can safely start to rejoin the world as soon as their vaccination rates catch up.
- The AFR View
- Opinion
- Nuclear energy
The road to net zero passes through nuclear power
Opposition to nuclear power is on par with unscientific anti-vax conspiracy theories, and just encourages reliance on coal.
- Nyunggai Warren Mundine
- Opinion
- Schools
Education establishment fails the curriculum reform test
Bureaucrats and academics stubbornly hang on to education practices and pet ideas that have no basis in evidence.
- Glenn Fahey
- Opinion
- Climate policy
How Morrison stifles carbon market forces
If the federal government can’t do anything constructive on climate change, it should at least get out of the way of those who can.
- Craig Emerson
October
- Opinion
- The AFR View
COP26 won’t change Australia’s net zero challenge
Adopting a carbon price while much of the world hesitates over a credible plan for net zero would become Australia’s new competitive advantage.
- The AFR View
Australian businesses are putting on a show in Glasgow
Aussie execs are making the most of their newfound freedom to be in the UK: negotiating deals, signing pledges, networking and urging on the government.
- Hans van Leeuwen
NSW mulls early freedoms for unvaccinated
The state is considering another change to its reopening road map as regional travel returns from Monday and quarantine ends for fully vaccinated travellers.
- Finbar O'Mallon
- Opinion
- Interest rates
Why the Reserve Bank may need to be recapitalised
The central bank does not have sufficient capital if it is to increase rates any time soon.
- Grant Wilson
- Opinion
- Glasgow summit
Investors want COP26 global consensus to tackle climate risk
The future stability of the global financial system depends on ambitious targets, and clear pathways to accelerate the carbon transition, emerging out of Glasgow.
- Louise Davidson
- Opinion
- Climate policy
Credible net zero plan takes more than tech
There are practical actions that can be taken right now to bend the emissions curve without new taxes or waiting for innovation.
- Tony Wood
China’s falling factory activity a sign of economic woes ahead
Manufacturing activity contracted by more than expected in October, hurt by persistently high raw material prices and softer domestic demand.
- Reuters
- Opinion
- Global economy
Amazon’s low-cost model challenged by higher wages
The e-commerce retailer mushroomed during years of stagnating US wages. It appears to be no match for a tight labour market.
- The Lex Column
- Opinion
- Western alliance
Virtue-signalling over substance is why Ardern’s not in Glasgow
New Zealand’s climate self-righteousness hasn’t been matched by emissions cuts. No wonder the Prime Minister of our now politically distant neighbour isn’t bothering to attend COP26.
- Alexander Downer
Boris Johnson pins hopes on COP surprise from China, India
British Prime Minister Boris Johnson’s ability to pull off a successful COP26 summit looks to be resting precariously on hopes that the big hold-out countries like China and India might pull surprise new commitments out of the bag.
- Hans van Leeuwen
G20 endorses global corporate minimum tax
Leaders of the world’s biggest economies on Saturday endorsed a global minimum tax on corporations, a linchpin of new international tax rules aimed at blunting the edge of fiscal paradises amid skyrocketing profits of some multinational businesses.
- DAVID McHUGH, FRANCES D'EMILIO and SYLVIE CORBET
10 long reads for this weekend
The week the global inflation story started to get real; the 27-year-old who’s made $170 million out of Oodies; and everything you need to know before you fly overseas.
- Andrew Burke
Macquarie caught up in day of British climate protest
As CEO Shemara Wikramanayake heads to Glasgow for the COP26 summit, her bank’s involvement in a London road project drew activists to the group’s British HQ.
- Hans van Leeuwen
The week inflation started to get very real
Prices are rising at petrol stations, on construction sites, at supermarket checkouts and throughout supply chains, and wages pressures are everywhere.
- Ronald Mizen
- Opinion
- The AFR View
Reserve Bank’s chance to start getting rates back to normal
Inflation shocks and a bond market revolt provide the stage for the bank to start walking back its forward guidance the cash rate will stay nailed to the floor until 2024.
- The AFR View
CEOs up the climate ambition at Glasgow
CEOs of energy and resources companies want the COP26 climate change summit in Glasgow to accelerate progress towards net zero emissions.
- Updated
- Angela Macdonald-Smith, Peter Ker and Michael Roddan
