Today
Treasury boss warns PM: ‘Enormous benefits’ from Chinese solar panels
Commenting on the government’s Future Made in Australia green industrial subsidies, Steven Kennedy says Australia ‘must not be distracted by ideas, frankly, over many decades, have been shown won’t work’.
- John Kehoe
GDP growth tipped to slump to 1.1pc, but don’t expect a rate cut
Economists expect GDP figures next week could show annual growth slumped to just 1.1 per cent in March, after consumer spending and home building went backwards.
- Michael Read
Inflation ‘clearly’ still strong: RBA chief economist
Sarah Hunter says price pressures remain strong, after hotter-than-expected inflation data led investors to push rate cuts to December 2025.
- Michael Read
Yesterday
- Opinion
- Chanticleer
The ASX is waking up to the RBA’s wicked inflation problem
Equity market valuations assume a soft landing, but inflation data suggests the RBA has a big problem on its hands, as CPI remains sticky despite weak spending.
- Updated
- James Thomson
- Opinion
- The AFR View
Global expansion vision survives Lendlease exit
It’s a myth that Australian companies don’t do well overseas. Yet, it is hard not to be disappointed at this ebbing of an Australian company with vision in its blood from the start.
- The AFR View
- Opinion
- Australian economy
Why rate cuts look even further away
The latest inflation figures look like bad news for interest rates, even if the government doesn’t agree.
- Jennifer Hewett
- Updated
- Interest rates
No rate cuts until December 2025 as inflation stops falling
Investors have pushed back the timing for the RBA’s first cash rate cut after inflation edged higher for a second straight month.
- Michael Read
- Opinion
- Population
How the world went from baby boom to baby bust
Helping people have the children they want in ways that fit with their plans should be a focus of policy. It is essential to help women combine careers with children.
- Updated
- Martin Wolf
This Month
- Opinion
- The AFR View
Husic’s corporate tax call revives Hawke-Keating Labor spirit
Rather than have his office rebuke his cabinet colleague for comments made at the Summit, the treasurer should start making the pro-business and pro-worker case for reform.
- The AFR View
Pub would have to charge $20 a beer to survive. It’s closing instead
Popular watering hole The Carringbush Hotel in Melbourne’s inner city is closing down under the weight of rising costs.
- Gus McCubbing
RBA’s asbestos-ridden HQ shouldn’t be sold, MPs say
The cost of renovating the RBA’s Martin Place headquarters has blown out fourfold to $1.1 billion, but forging ahead with the refurb is still the cheapest option.
- Michael Read
Corporate tax reform needs to be on the table, says Husic
This is an edited and abridged transcript of a speech followed by a question and answer session given by Minister for Industry and Science Ed Husic at The Australian Financial Review AI Summit.
- Ed Husic
- Opinion
- Indonesia
Forget defence, agriculture is key to Prabowo’s Indonesia
Indonesia is obsessed with food self-sufficiency, and free lunches for children was a key election promise from the new president. Australia can help him with both.
- Robert Law
- Opinion
- Global economy
Why inflation will be back, sooner than you think
Central banks cannot be as independent as we like to believe. And they would always rather avoid a recession than avoid inflation.
- Kenneth Rogoff
- Updated
- Interest rates
Cautious consumers to trigger more profit warnings
Economists warned of more softness in consumer spending until tax cuts and government stimulus breathe new life into the economy amid a string of corporate profit warnings with more to come.
- Michael Read and Simon Evans
Securing Australia’s Asian destiny
The Asia Summit provides fresh perspectives on how Asia is transforming Australia’s future through geopolitical competition, economic growth, technological innovation and social change.
Tax cut ‘surprise’ could pump $10b back into economy
A surprisingly large number of people are unaware of the stage three tax cuts, which may make them more likely to spend their share of $23 billion, adding pressure to inflation.
- Michael Read
Recruiter questions can exclude skilled migrants
Readers’ letters on employer discrimination; NSW battery rebates; nuclear power; slow digital services rollout; raiding super for housing; Rishi Sunak’s early election; and Joe Biden’s meme manager.
Australia among biggest losers if US-China trade war flares
Australia would suffer a $30 billion income hit – the second-largest fall in the world – if tensions worsen and countries try to manufacture more at home, the OECD says.
- John Kehoe
- Opinion
- Australian economy
We must protect Australia’s free and open economy
Australia prospered in an open postwar world economy. But a new generation has less faith in it.
- Craig Emerson
