Opinion
NACC
Amid champagne gifts and shameless rorting, one institution is fighting back
The national audit office has released a series of scandalous reports that show our public bureaucracy falling apart, at a cost to us all.
- by Shane Wright
Latest
A toothless cop on the corporate beat: ASIC ‘has failed’
In most cases, the nation’s corporate regulator responded with an automated “no further action” email within 40 seconds of a complaint being received.
- by Shane Wright
Early end-of-financial-year sales help lift retail spending
Retail turnover rose by 0.6 per cent in May following two sluggish months of consumer spending.
- by Rachel Clun and Shane Wright
Analysis
Interest rates
The only certainty for your mortgage rate – Reserve Bank uncertainty
The Reserve Bank is supposed to have a handle on how the economy will perform over the next two years. Its minutes show it doesn’t.
- by Shane Wright
Analysis
Political leadership
King’s representative calls for an end to constant battle royal in parliament
As governor-general, Sam Mostyn is King Charles’ representative in Australia. But she has signalled a much broader remit.
- by Shane Wright
Exclusive
Tax cuts
Value of stage 3 tax cuts will be gone soon after next election
Australians will start to see their pay packets improve from Monday as the stage 3 cuts begin, but more tax cuts are needed to stop tax rates climbing higher.
- by Shane Wright
Analysis
Income tax
Sugar hit from stage 3, but the country needs a tax reform diet
From July, $23 billion will flow to hard-pressed Australians as the stage 3 tax cuts begin. But they’re a long way from solving the nation’s biggest tax issues.
- by Shane Wright
Third-largest budget surplus soon to turn into a sea of red ink
Lower spending has helped the budget show the third-largest surplus on record. But it is likely the nation’s finances will shift from the black into the red.
- by Shane Wright
Rate rises hit the jobs market as ‘help wanted’ signs disappear
The Reserve Bank has said it wants to bring down inflation and keep the jobless rate as low as possible. Now job vacancies are starting to fall sharply.
- by Shane Wright
A budget forever in the red: Beating bracket creep will cost billions
Without big spending cuts or tax increases, the budget faces “forever” deficits if governments try to deliver further tax cuts to working Australians.
- by Shane Wright
August rate rise on RBA agenda after inflation increases
Even though prices fell in May, overall inflation has lifted to a six-month high of 4 per cent. Mortgage holders face a nervous wait for the Reserve Bank’s next meeting.
- by Shane Wright