- Opinion
- Canberra Observed
It’s not just the Greens on notice over climate change
The minority party might opt once more for sanctimony on the 2030 target but, meanwhile, it is Peter Dutton’s edict that is causing unrest in the Coalition ranks.
- Opinion
- Corruption
Examples of political bad behaviour keep on coming
The Albanese government has promised a national anti-corruption commission, but it’s at state level where the most egregious examples of unacceptable political behaviour are on regular show, writes Jennifer Hewett.
Draghi resigns as PM, throwing Italy into political chaos
His resignation brings an end to a government seen to have had a once-in-a-generation opportunity to unlock the nation’s economic potential and set it on a higher growth trajectory.
- Opinion
- Chanticleer
Big lessons in Link’s bid saga
Should public companies be pressured into offering bidders seemingly endless due diligence? That’s the question being raised by Link chairman and former banker Michael Carapiet.
Taxing the family home would fill a $64b gap: OECD
The OECD’s latest report makes a proposal that even a leading critic of tax breaks says would be political suicide.
Liberals poised for divisive internal debate on climate
Some moderates have left open the option of crossing the floor and others say Peter Dutton should not have ruled out support for the policy in advance.
China slowdown, inflation hamper Asia’s recovery
The Asian Development Bank has cut its forecast to 4.6 per cent for the region, down from the 5.2 per cent it predicted in April.
House prices, rental returns and the latest commercial property deals. In your inbox every Thursday.
REVIEW
- Opinion
- UK politics
Britain still can’t look beyond Oxford for its leader
Rishi Sunak and Liz Truss depart from the white male prime minister tradition, yet they both possess an educational credential that keeps them in the UK political mainstream.
The towns where living to 100 is good for the economy
Two small Italian towns are battling for the brand distinction of having the longest-living residents, including one that holds the Guinness World Record.
Putin finds a new ally in Iran, a fellow outcast
A three-way summit in Tehran between the leaders of Russia, Iran and Turkey sent a clear signal that Vladimir Putin is pushing back against being ostracised by the West.
- Opinion
- Mental health
Young people are suffering a social recession
While many worried at the start of the pandemic about loneliness among the old, perhaps the wellbeing of teenagers is the more pressing problem.
Victoria’s Secret wants to rebrand - but does it have wings?
Two years after its CEO stepped down, and the company attempted to right its wrongs, the world has forgotten why it needed to change in the first place.
Companies
Gas flows south as depletion of reserves at Iona slows
Queensland producers have increased gas shipments south, easing pressure on the Iona storage plant that has had a slowing rate of depletion.
Australia could be ‘Saudi Arabia of green energy’: E.ON
The country can be a global powerhouse for green hydrogen supply if it plays its cards right, says Patrick Lammers, COO at the major European energy utility.
Childcare giant G8 CEO to quit, big pay for Big W replacement
After almost five years, Gary Carroll is leaving as CEO of Australia’s biggest listed childcare operator.
Rex forms deal to convert planes to electric
Regional Express is planning for a future when its propeller-driven aircraft are no longer powered by fossil fuels.
Zip shuts Singapore, scraps business products to get to profit
Buy now, pay later company Zip Co is getting out of overseas markets and scrapping products as it desperately tries to get itself into the black before it runs out of cash.
- Exclusive
- Carbon challenge
Regulator zeroes in on hedging positions of energy retailers
Energy retailers in Victoria will be required to submit information on hedging positions as regulators heighten scrutiny following a string of collapses.
Amazon gains on Prime Day shopping event
The two-day shopping event is now a prominent day in the retail calendar, and the online giant’s website visits further increase.
Companies in the News
Search companies
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Markets
ASX gains 0.5pc as ZIP drives tech sector rally
Australian shares edged higher on Thursday as falls in energy and materials stocks were offset by an afternoon rally in the tech and healthcare sectors.
ECB to join rate rise camp, BoJ stands firm
The European Central Bank is preparing to raise interest rates for the first time in more than a decade on Thursday in an effort to arrest crippling inflation nearing double-digits.
- Opinion
- Managed funds
Why listed fund managers have turned out to be duds
GQG Partners has done everything that its faithful investors could have asked of it. Yet, they’re nursing a 25 per cent loss, writes Jonathan Shapiro.
Return of Russian gas to Germany eases growth fears
Nord Stream gas transmission to Germany resumed on Thursday, but Europe faces the prospect of slowing growth as it combats inflation and high energy costs.
Tech sector extends rebound; Telix soars 20.7pc, Woodside loses 5pc
Tech stocks extend rebound. Tesla sells 75 per cent of bitcoin, Musk says lithium price ‘insane’. Zip moots Quadpay impairment. BoJ holds rates. ECB decision ahead. Follow here.
Opinion
Victoria: the export gas guzzling state
It’s rich to expect the gas export market to bail out state governments that have sanctimoniously, and unscientifically, refused to develop their own ample onshore reserves.
Editorial
Stench of malpractice in Victoria and NSW
Despite the anti-corruption body findings, there are still grey areas in how best to protect public integrity.
Editorial
Examples of political bad behaviour keep on coming
The Albanese government has promised a national anti-corruption commission, but it’s at state level where the most egregious examples of unacceptable political behaviour are on regular show.
Columnist
Gender inequality in spotlight as retail vacancies soar
As retail vacancies soar, retailers need to look at internal factors that have contributed to the shortage of staff and the dearth of women in senior roles.
Columnist
Why isn’t wage restraint chorus calling for dividend restraint?
To be intellectually consistent, those who say pay rises are inflationary should be equally worried about profit increases.
Contributor
RBA slaps down the property doomsayers
Some economists fear the Reserve’s vigour against inflation will crush the housing market. But the central bank reckons they are wrong.
Economics editor
Politics
New York on his mind as Perrottet trade mission touches down in Asia
The premier’s first day of a long-anticipated trade mission across the region was overshadowed by the jobs-for-mates fiasco.
Daniel Andrews faces more IBAC trouble
Victorian Premier Daniel Andrews faces fresh corruption investigations being exposed and pending court convictions connected to Victorian Labor and his own socialist left faction, emerging in the lead up to the November state election.
China rallies opposition to Australia’s nuclear submarine plan
A report prepared by two Chinese research bodies says AUKUS involves the ‘illegal transfer of enough weapons-grade uranium’ to make 80 nuclear bombs.
New data shows the state hospital systems under most COVID stress
NSW, South Australia and the ACT health systems are suffering the most stress, according to a new report which shows the burdens of the winter omicron wave.
- Opinion
- Interest rates
Chalmers is trying to manage the economy – and his own party
Budget and economic management has long been Labor’s Achilles’ heel in the eyes’ of voters – Treasurer Jim Chalmers can change that perception, writes Ronald Mizen.
SPONSORED
World
Chess star’s next move is to cede world title
Carlsen’s absence will leave an enormous hole at the summit of the chess world. He is the game’s biggest star by a wide margin.
Relief for Europe as Russia resumes gas supply
Germany feared a complete cut-off would plunge its economy into recession.
Japan defies wave of inflation-fighting rate increases
By standing pat, the Bank of Japan looks set to become the last holdout on rates among major developed economies.
- Analysis
- Political unrest
Turbulence returns to Italy as Draghi’s stability experiment unwinds
Mario Draghi’s departure would be a stinging blow to Italy and Europe. The former ECB president used his stature to usher in a brief golden period for Italy.
Ivana Trump’s funeral draws former president, family, fans
Ivana Trump was celebrated at a Manhattan funeral attended by her closest family members, along with fans to honour the onetime symbol of New York glamour and opulence.
Property
Rising construction costs kill $165m Perth apartment tower
A 38-level Perth block won’t be built after construction costs surged 30 per cent in a less than year.
Industrial rental growth hits 33-year high as Christmas pain looms
Industrial rents will rise even higher in the second half of the year as demand for Christmas overflow space rises, but JLL says land values have peaked.
- Opinion
- Commercial real estate
Why pub sales are hot as commercial property stalls
In the past four weeks, as other asset sales paused across the world, one broker sold more Australian pubs than in any month in the company’s history.
- Exclusive
- Construction
Multiplex pushes back against a Monday-Friday site week
The construction giant is best placed to decide what is good for its staff, says chief executive John Flecker.
- Exclusive
- Construction
Less risky business: Multiplex wants to expand into defence
The construction giant owned by Canada’s Brookfield is knocking on government doors for a new stream of work and a contracting model that shares more risk with the client.
Wealth
Alan Sugar faces call to clarify UK tax status
The British peer paid himself a £390 million dividend and has taken a leave of absence from the House of Lords.
- Opinion
- Flat Chat
ATO targets holiday rents as pollies focus on housing
As ministers meet to discuss the housing crisis, and rents rocket, one of the great taxation ironies is drawing unwelcome attention.
About to retire? Here’s why it may be worth delaying your pension
Higher inflation could mean the transfer balance cap (how much you can put in a tax-free income stream) increases from $1.7 million to $1.8 million next July.
Technology
Crypto exchange Zipmex blocks withdrawals, lays off Aussie staff
A $68 million loan to troubled crypto lender Babel Finance, and a smaller loan to bankrupt crypto bank Celsius, has blown a hole in the balance sheet of the Australia-founded exchange.
TikTok owner spends record $3.1m on US lobbying
TikTok has been the object of increasing scrutiny from policymakers and officials who have expressed concerns in recent months over data privacy.
Microsoft cuts open jobs in weakening economy
The latest slowdown impacts the company’s cloud crown jewels — a key source of growth and investor scrutiny — as well as a newer priority area in security.
Work & Careers
‘Great jobs boom’ drives bonuses of up to $10k
Desperate employers are offering sign-on benefits as they hunt for truck drivers, plumbers and nurses.
Turban-wearing law partner shows the way for Sikhs
Saranpaal Calais says the children of Indian communities tend towards medicine and accounting, rather than law.
Life & Luxury
- Opinion
- Style
Why celebrities are wearing second-hand gowns on the red carpet
Once the domain of impoverished students, used clothing is getting a reboot – and a revival in front of the cameras.
The world’s best restaurant is in a football stadium
At Geranium, the specialty is seasonal Scandi food, served on the eighth floor of a Copenhagen sports venue with views of the park.
Mulline Vintners builds on a fine start with terrific wines
Ben Mullen and Ben Hines are keen explorers, using a variety of grapes to discover “where they sit in the wine landscape”.
- Opinion
- Review
What could be better than a robot vac? The LG All-In-One Tower
Not once have I found myself stuck under a kitchen chair while vacuuming with the LG. You drive it with your own brain and your own two feet.
Reborn luxury watch brand’s ‘great ambition’ for Oz
Things are changing for this country, once regarded as a tourist market, and its values are spreading worldwide, says Piaget chief executive Benjamin Comar.
