Today
- Opinion
- Canberra Observed
Both sides are pushing buttons on migration, one is being more subtle
Migration long ago became a lazy method, adopted by both sides of politics, to generate growth in the absence of any reform or productivity agenda,
- 10 mins ago
Gas to firm renewables until nuclear is ready: Dutton
Peter Dutton has countered claims his plans for nuclear energy were a front to keep coal in the system for longer.
Yesterday
Nuclear power will be cheaper than CSIRO estimates, Libs insist
The Coalition agrees with the CSIRO about the construction cost of a nuclear power station, but not the price of electricity it would produce.
Coalition shifts goalposts on immigration cuts
During a National Press Club address, shadow treasurer Angus Taylor said the Coalition would cut both permanent migration and net overseas migration.
- Exclusive
- Federal budget
BCA quits big-spending welfare advisory board
The Business Council, representing top 100 CEOs, has left the government’s Economic Inclusion Advisory Committee, arguing it put insufficient priority on workforce participation.
Nuclear could cost up to $17b and take until 2040 to build: CSIRO
The nation’s first large-scale nuclear power plant could cost as much as $17 billion and not be operational until at least 2040, the CSIRO says.
This Month
Coalition to bring back tax and spending limits: Taylor
The Coalition will reintroduce speed limits on tax and spending, and implement reform to encourage investment and aspiration.
Voters like gas better than wind power but solar is still king
A slide in support for wind farms has allowed gas to become entrenched as the nation’s preferred energy source after solar, an AFR/Freshwater Strategy poll has found.
- Opinion
- AFR Freshwater poll
Punters are not convinced by Labor’s budget
The budget had two main political aims: to help further with the cost of living; and, in doing so, buy a pre-election interest rate cut. The punters are not convinced it will achieve either, polling finds.
Underwhelmed voters fear budget will lift rates
Almost 40 per cent of voters think last week’s big-spending federal budget increases the chances of another interest rate rise, and just one quarter believe they will be better off, the latest poll shows.
- Opinion
- Canberra Observed
This budget sees the return of government as saviour
Two decades ago, Australia was poised to shed the hard-done-by battler mindset. Now it is more entrenched than ever.
Dutton to slash migrant intake, ban foreign property buyers
The opposition leader has vowed to slash permanent migration by a quarter and ban foreign investors buying established homes for two years.
Dutton rejects ‘Rich Lister’ tax cuts
The opposition has blasted $27.8 billion in production credits in the budget as “tax cuts for billionaires”, vowing to repeal them if elected.
WA GST deal to cost federal taxpayers $53b and rising: budget
The deal will cost $44 billion more than originally promised, but neither side of politics dares change it for fear of losing seats in the west.
Spending addiction fuels a new decade of deficits
This pre-election budget includes $300 in power bill discounts for every household, $1.9 billion in rent assistance and $14 billion in tax credits for critical mineral miners and green hydrogen producers.
- Opinion
- Federal budget
Chalmers crumbles and gives up spending restraint
Jim Chalmers is like a bloke who successfully dieted for two years but crumbled after someone shoved a bucket of KFC under his nose.
Budget surplus of $9.3b and then a sea of red ink
Tuesday’s federal budget will forecast a surplus of $9.3 billion for this financial year, after which the bottom line will plunge into successive deficits.
- Exclusive
- Federal budget
Budget to extend $20,000 business tax breaks
Businesses with a turnover under $10 million a year will be able to claim a $20,000 tax deduction for the cost of assets including cars, computers or R&D, under an extension of the ‘instant asset write-off’ in Tuesday’s budget.
Budget tips fast inflation fall, reviving rate cut hopes
Treasurer Jim Chalmers says measures in Tuesday’s federal budget will help bring inflation down to within the Reserve Bank’s target band by Christmas.
- Opinion
- Federal budget
Why did Labor drop a big policy change at 6pm last Friday?
While the media scrambled to get across a housing announcement late Friday, the government quietly dropped long-awaited changes to foreign student numbers.
