Latest
Scramble to set up camp ahead of extreme fire danger
The Wimmera region is slated to have catastrophic fire danger on Wednesday, while extreme fire danger is predicted for five of Victoria’s nine weather districts.
- 1 hr ago
- Callum Godde and Cassandra Morgan
Smaller minimum wage rise needed to fight inflation: business
The Australian Chamber of Commerce and Industry is preparing to argue for a smaller increase in the minimum wage than it was prepared to accept last year.
- Michael Read
- Exclusive
- University
Unis that would pay the most – and the least – under ‘envy tax’ plan
Just six of the country’s 41 universities would bankroll half of the annual contributions to the higher education future fund proposed in the Albanese government’s universities accord.
- Julie Hare
‘Paradigm shift’: How to switch to spending in retirement
After decades spent saving, lean into the fear, plan obsessively and let go of the guilt, experts say.
- Joanna Mather
- Exclusive
- Inflation
Wage growth drives inflation, average pay tops $100k
Treasury analysis shows that decade high wages growth that has pushed the average fulltime pay above $100,000 is now the biggest driver of consumer price inflation.
- Ronald Mizen
- Exclusive
- Climate policy
BCA demands 12-month delay in climate reporting
The Albanese government “should be taking the time to get it right”, argues Business Council of Australia boss Bran Black.
- Patrick Durkin
Opinion & Analysis
Keating’s strategic illusion dies hard
The former prime minister’s timid isolationism, leaving others to do the heavy lifting, has its roots deep in Labor’s history.
Historian
As budget bonanza flows, fiscal caution is the first casualty
The rivers of resources gold coming into the government’s coffers are turning into most expensive marginal seat strategy in the nation’s history.
Economist
University success starts with fixing school performance first
The Universities Accord social equity aspiration depends on students being ready to study at a higher level after year 12.
Editorial
The universities accord is like one giant déjà vu
The report has big ambitions. So did the 2008 Bradley review. They are not too dissimilar in scope and intent.
Education editor
More From Today
- Opinion
- Defence
Keating’s strategic illusion dies hard
The former prime minister’s timid isolationism, leaving others to do the heavy lifting, has its roots deep in Labor’s history.
- Alex McDermott
- Opinion
- Federal budget
As budget bonanza flows, fiscal caution is the first casualty
The rivers of resources gold coming into the government’s coffers are turning into most expensive marginal seat strategy in the nation’s history.
- Chris Richardson
Yesterday
- Opinion
- The AFR View
University success starts with fixing school performance first
The Universities Accord social equity aspiration depends on students being ready to study at a higher level after year 12.
- The AFR View
- Opinion
- University
The universities accord is like one giant déjà vu
The report has big ambitions. So did the 2008 Bradley review. They are not too dissimilar in scope and intent.
- Julie Hare
Marles rips into defence ‘culture’
Defence Minister Richard Marles has sharpened criticisms of his own department, arguing there are “issues of culture” which need challenging.
- John Kehoe
10 big ideas in the universities shake-up
From doubling the numbers of students to a ‘Robin Hood’ tax on rich institutions: Here are some of the biggest recommendations in the universities accord and what they mean.
- Julie Hare
Bright, poor students guaranteed a uni spot
Aspiring university students whose families earn less than $54,000 a year will be guaranteed a place in a degree if they meet admission benchmarks.
- Julie Hare
- Opinion
- Keating at 80
Keating’s quaint defence of Australia doesn’t grasp regional power politics
Labor has put aside two absurd features of the Keating era: a defence policy designed to deal with direct invasion and the diminution of our US alliance
- Alexander Downer
- Exclusive
- Tax disputes
Atlassian pays $92m tax bill after years of ATO talks
The software developer has struck a transfer pricing agreement with the Tax Office and has agreed to retain intellectual property in Australia that it will pay future tax on.
- John Kehoe
- Opinion
- University
Universities accord report highlights funding shortage
If Australia is to have a world-class university system to sustain our standard of living in a highly competitive world, we are going to need to invest far more in it.
- Mark Scott
‘Wealth tax’ for top unis in $10b funding shake-up
A major review of higher education has recommended a return to demand-driven funding to get more poor students into university; a $10 billion infrastructure fund; an independent tertiary education commission; and bonuses paid based on graduation.
- Updated
- Julie Hare
- Analysis
- Education
Universities’ accord ‘blueprint for the next decade’: Clare
It will need political buy in, not just to get legislation passed in the coming months and year, but over the long-term – over successive governments and economic roundabouts.
- Julie Hare
This Month
- Opinion
- Russia-Ukraine war
The sad reality is that Ukraine is outgunned and outmanned
Strategic analysts were adamant either that Ukraine would fall or Russia would buckle. Two years later, neither has happened.
- James Curran
High tax rates fuelling avoidance schemes
High personal tax rates are spurring the use of trusts, companies, SMSFs and negatively geared property to minimise tax, accountants and tax practitioners say.
- John Kehoe
The economic boost from Taylor Swift is a lot smaller than you think
Despite the media hype around “Swiftonomics” and “Swiftflation”, the Australian leg of the Eras Tour is expected to add just $10 million to the economy.
- Michael Read
Navy shipbuilder Austal flags settlement to avoid US litigation
The shipbuilder has enlisted the US and Australian defence departments for support in its negotiations with the DOJ and SEC.
- Brad Thompson
- Opinion
- International affairs
What’s Plan B if America never goes back to normal?
Paul Keating has once again asked whether the US alliance shapes Australia’s view of the world more than it should.
- Bec Strating
- Analysis
- Income tax
Divorce, trusts and negative gearing: the price of high taxes
High tax-paying families are increasingly exploring extreme strategies – including divorce – to make it easier to qualify for subsidies and benefits, writes John Kehoe.
- John Kehoe
Firefighters battle ‘potentially catastrophic’ breakdowns in Vic blaze
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has thanked Victorian firefighters as another blaze ripped through the state’s west, forcing thousands to evacuate.
- Gus McCubbing
- Opinion
- The AFR View
Bold navy plan needs backing with hard cash
Australia reaped a resources bonanza from China’s rise as the workshop to the world. Now some of that needs to be redirected as a national security insurance premium.
- The AFR View
