Latest
State spending splurge could delay interest rate cuts, warns Westpac
Governments are planning to inject more than $50 billion of stimulus into the economy in the year ahead, adding to inflation pressures, the bank has warned.
- 1 hr ago
- John Kehoe
- Exclusive
- Income tax
How much extra tax you stand to pay because of bracket creep
The average taxpayer will lose $2000 to the so-called stealth tax in the next four years, which will deliver the federal government an extra $29 billion in revenue.
- Michael Read
Towns at ground zero say if nuclear means jobs, bring it on
People in Morwell and Traralgon, at ground zero of the nuclear debate, say the need for new jobs could win them over to Peter Dutton’s nuclear energy plans.
- Gus McCubbing
Super funds fall short on unlisted asset valuations: APRA
Super funds are not revaluing their $650 billion unlisted asset portfolios enough, potentially hitting the prices paid by customers and their returns, APRA has warned.
- Hannah Wootton
Locals might prefer nuclear to renewable poles and wires
Peter Dutton’s nuclear energy plan could win support from communities concerned about major infrastructure upgrades needed to get solar and wind power into the grid.
- Tom McIlroy, Gus McCubbing and Brad Thompson
China’s ‘predatory’ tactics justify critical mineral subsidies: Kennedy
Treasury secretary Steven Kennedy says China’s dominance of critical minerals justifies the government’s taxpayer support for rare earths the world needs.
- John Kehoe
Opinion & Analysis
Why Australia needs to stop being PNG’s payday lender
It might seem a good, neighbourly thing to do. But loans can be damaging as poorly tied aid. The alternative is subsidising direct Australian business investment.
Commentator
Why I welcome a nuclear power station in my backyard
I have never been against some solar and wind power. My message is that we need a balanced mix of energy types.
Australian senator
Time to promote a woman as deputy chief of Navy
The officer second in charge of the Royal Australian Navy will shortly rotate, opening the way for a historic first appointment of a female.
Defence expert
End the nuclear ban. Don’t stop renewables
There is a case for considering zero emissions nuclear power but as part of a technology-neutral energy approach to generating reliable baseload power and firmed wind and solar generation.
Editorial
More From Today
- Opinion
- China relations
Why Australia needs to stop being PNG’s payday lender
It might seem a good, neighbourly thing to do. But loans can be damaging as poorly tied aid. The alternative is subsidising direct Australian business investment.
- Carolyn Blacklock
Yesterday
- Opinion
- Nuclear energy
Why I welcome a nuclear power station in my backyard
I have never been against some solar and wind power. My message is that we need a balanced mix of energy types.
- Matt Canavan
- Opinion
- Royal Australian Navy
Time to promote a woman as deputy chief of Navy
The officer second in charge of the Royal Australian Navy will shortly rotate, opening the way for a historic first appointment of a female.
- Jennifer Parker
This Month
- Opinion
- The AFR View
End the nuclear ban. Don’t stop renewables
There is a case for considering zero emissions nuclear power but as part of a technology-neutral energy approach to generating reliable baseload power and firmed wind and solar generation.
- The AFR View
- Exclusive
- Interest rates
‘World-leading deficits’: Australia’s state debts could hit $800b
They are on track to triple by 2028 relative to pre-pandemic levels, warns S&P, amid a spending binge that economists say is making the RBA’s job harder.
- Michael Read
- Opinion
- China relations
Li’s visit may be as good as it gets for China ties
Dialogue is vital. But the reality for Labor’s “stabilisation” is that the strategic environment will continue to breed black swans and black elephants crises in the Sino-Australian relationship.
- Rory Medcalf
- Opinion
- JobKeeper
Why JobKeeper may be part of our productivity problem
An anxious Reserve Bank of Australia is hoping for a pick-up in labour productivity this year to help alleviate the economy’s inflation problem.
- John Kehoe
- Opinion
- Culture wars
The educated elite is destroying America
Progressive culture has spread from the universities to national life, triggering a backlash that benefits political populists such as Donald Trump.
- David Brooks
- Opinion
- The AFR View
RBA holds, but has it done enough?
Even with this tightening bias, the longer inflation remains above target, the more the Reserve Bank’s credibility is challenged.
- The AFR View
Fights over pay rises challenge a bold prediction in NSW budget
A $10.7 billion windfall from soaring property taxes will pay for more public servants but won’t stop NSW posting deficits for nine straight years and risking its AAA credit rating.
- Updated
- John Kehoe and David Marin-Guzman
- Analysis
- NSW budget
NSW budget shows a $6b GST hit, but Mookhey says it’s double
NSW Treasurer Daniel Mookhey insists the state budget has been “ripped off” $12 billion in GST, even though his budget papers show a shortfall of half that amount.
- John Kehoe
- Opinion
- Chanticleer
RBA’s narrow path is getting narrower. Blame the housing market
The RBA’s concern is that rising household wealth – thanks in large part to strong house price growth – could keep inflation stickier than it wants.
- James Thomson
- Opinion
- China relations
Albanese elevates diplomacy over the drum beat of war
Few can doubt the success of ‘stabilisation’ for the Australia-China relationship, but how might it work when applied to the region?
- Updated
- James Curran
- Opinion
- NSW budget
Mookhey may need a wages miracle to land this budget
NSW is sucking extra tax out of the asset-rich, property-owning class that has enjoyed a massive asset price boom, to spend more on government services, housing and public sector employees.
- John Kehoe
- Opinion
- Interest rates
The RBA is refusing to act like inflation is a problem
Apparently the Reserve Bank thinks raising rates would trigger a technical recession, so don’t expect our inflation-driven cost-of-living crisis to end soon.
- Richard Holden
RBA warns on budget spending surge
The board warned that big-spending government budgets risked stoking demand, and conceded inflation was proving stickier than expected.
- Michael Read
- Opinion
- Interest rates
Jobs boom means rate rise will be close call
It is becoming increasingly clear that a critical reason the economy is proving resilient to tighter monetary policy is a chronic shortage of labour.
- Warren Hogan
- Opinion
- The AFR View
Albanese ‘renews and revitalises’ ties with a very different China
It remains in Australia’s national interest to deepen both economic and diplomatic ties with our major trade partner, and continue to welcome China’s rise behind a rules-based order.
- The AFR View
- Analysis
- China relations
Li’s visit shows Australia and China are trying to move on
The first visit of a Chinese Premier to Australia since 2017 revealed two countries straining to have a normal diplomatic relationship.
- James Curran
- Exclusive
- NSW budget
The secret reason behind NSW’s ‘nonsense’ claim on $12b GST shortfall
NSW’s AAA credit rating is on the line. The federal government, other states and rating agencies believe NSW made an error forecasting GST revenues.
- John Kehoe
