Sledgehammer to crack a walnut: Why caps are not the fix for unis
Universities have plenty of problems, but plans to limit international students look like a political answer to a much more complex problem.
Labor wiped out in Northern Territory electoral drubbing
Chief Minister Eva Lawler has lost her seat as the Country Liberal Party claimed victory in the top end.
- Exclusive
- Superannuation
Keating warns on Labor’s $3m super tax
Jim Chalmers’ refusal to index the $3 million threshold for the tax hit has been described as “unconscionable” by Paul Keating in private talks with the industry.
- Opinion
- Chanticleer
Rate cuts locked in, but be careful what you wish for
Jerome Powell gave the market the green light on rate cuts, and stocks rallied. But investors’ extreme positioning ignores an unpredictable market backdrop.
- Analysis
- Interest rates
Uproar over RBA deputy’s speech reveals a lot about Australia
What was supposed to be a measured commentary on economic uncertainty ended up offending economists, politicians and commentators. But did they miss the point?
Native title stoush stands in the way of BHP’s SA copper dream
SA Supreme Court will next week hear a battle for control of the native title group that holds the key to BHP’s dream of expanding its Australian copper mines.
- Analysis
- Building Bad
CFMEU’s administration orders biggest event in construction since 1986
Many industry leaders believe the CFMEU being out into administration has the potential to radically reshape the construction industry.
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smart investor
How to work less, help the kids and do the job you always wanted
A transition to retirement pension offers opportunities to revamp your lifestyle, pay down debt or gift a home deposit. Here’s how to take advantage.
The tools showing retirees they have more to spend than they thought
Retirement income modelling is advancing rapidly, giving people an unprecedented ability to plan their own financial futures.
- Opinion
- Inflation
Lower inflation could pressure RBA to cut rates
Very low inflation readings in the coming months will change the interest rate debate, writes Christopher Joye.
- Opinion
- Financial planning
This wealth book has great advice – so why do I dislike it?
Scott Galloway is a superstar when it comes to wealth creation. The problem is, he knows it.
With $3.2m super, this couple wants a transition to retirement
Where one person is already retired and the other is still working full-time, what is the best way to manage retirement savings?
weekend reads
- Analysis
- Diversity
Is this the end of the line for diversity policies?
One of the most important management trends of the past decade may no longer be equal to the occasion.
The 47 seconds that saved Kamala Harris’ political career
A long-forgotten moment at a debate nearly 14 years ago stands out as one of the least known yet most consequential pivots in her journey.
For Kamala Harris, just being ‘presidential’ might be enough
The fight for voters is less about a revolution than the vice president presenting herself as a viable alternative to Trump and as a safe pair of hands for the country.
- Analysis
- Refugees
Why Gaza visa attacks could backfire on the Coalition
The opposition is focusing on Gazan visas to chip away at Labor’s national security credentials – but do voters even care while hip pocket pain remains acute?
Meet the man fighting for our miners
Minerals Council CEO Stephen Galilee is in a unique position of running a major lobby group as a long-time former Liberal Party staffer in a Labor state.
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Companies
APRA slaps ANZ with tougher capital charge, board warning
The regulator has forced an extra $250 million capital charge on the bank as the bond trading and workplace culture scandals take a toll on the company.
Native title stoush stands in the way of BHP’s SA copper dream
SA Supreme Court will next week hear a battle for control of the native title group that holds the key to BHP’s dream of expanding its Australian copper mines.
The big names to watch as craft beer stages a comeback
Comedians, UFC fighters, an ex-NAB chief executive and an NRL superstar are among those backing craft brewers in tough times. There’s plenty of fight left in the industry, with diversification into ready-to-drink spirits one of the weapons.
Blundy’s Accent Group misses lofty expectations
After a tough 2023-24 when sales rose just 2.4 per cent and earnings fell, the new year began slower than investors expected, pushing shares down 16 per cent.
Fisher & Paykel ups earnings guidance as hospital rates rise
The New Zealand company says margin improvements and growing demand for its products from hospitals is driving earnings.
- Updated
- Interest rates
CBA cuts interest rates for new borrowers
The country’s largest lender lowered variable rates for new owner-occupiers by 0.25 of a percentage point, and up to 0.35 for some investment loans.
SQM warns of price barrier beyond lithium JV with Rinehart
Lithium heavyweight SQM says new projects are not viable at today’s prices just months after joining a major WA acquisition and the start of production at the Mt Holland mine.
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Markets
Former Nvidia bulls sell down ahead of next week’s result
The AI darling has consistently smashed analysts’ expectations, but some fund managers warn the days of massive beats could be over.
Jackson Hole gathering reveals fresh concern for central bankers
Officials from three of the world’s major central banks have signalled they are on course to lower interest rates emerging weakness in labour markets and growth become the chief threat for policymakers.
‘Time has come’: Powell says Fed must cut rates
Federal Reserve chairman Jerome Powell said “the direction of travel is clear” and markets leapt anticipating an interest rate cut next month.
S&P 500, $A, bitcoin rally after Powell cements rate pivot
US stocks were higher after the Federal Reserve boss said the time “has come” to cut interest rates. $A nears US68¢. Bitcoin tops $US64,000. Tesla, Nvidia pace tech.
Wall Street sees strong case for quarter-point cut
For the Federal Reserve to cut rates by 50 basis points, most economists and strategists think August’s jobs report will have to be a major disappointment.
Opinion
CFMEU’s administration orders biggest event in construction since 1986
Many industry leaders believe the CFMEU being out into administration has the potential to radically reshape the construction industry.
Workplace correspondent
Democrats put Donald Trump on notice
Vice President Kamala Harris has been miraculously reborn as the candidate of change, of a new generation, of hope and light against the old, dark, divisive past.
Columnist
Harris and Trump policies will only do more economic harm
Both US presidential candidates are offering counter-productive or fringe economic policies. That is bad for the US and the world.
Editorial
After the convention, Harris has to turn the vibe into votes
The more the vice president has to campaign on policy rather than personality, the harder it is to keep the Democrats’ fractious voter base together.
US political commentator
It’s time to civilise the inquisition of Senate estimates
Hearings that were meant to drill into policy detail have become a scattergun questioning of officials used to settle scores, or make cheap political points.
Columnist
Mark Scott failed to lead when radicals took over Sydney campus
The University of Sydney vice chancellor has sent the clearest possible message: he is prepared to accept some violence and hatred to appease extremists who threaten more violence and hatred.
Contributor
Reports
Higher Education Awards
The Higher Education Awards highlight the tremendous contribution that the Higher Education sector makes to Australian capability, prosperity and society.
Politics
High Court asks: If a judge punched a lawyer, could anyone be sued?
The question of what a judge has to do in order to be sued was at the heart of a High Court hearing that pondered a $300,000 payout against a judge for wrongly jailing a family law litigant.
Coalition not convinced on RBA board split
Shadow treasurer Angus Taylor is hosing down expectations of a deal on the government’s stalled reforms to the central bank.
Domestic violence calls for help going unanswered: report
Crisis support services are so stretched that some victims never receive a response, an expert review has told the government.
Tough fight for Labor in Northern Territory election
Chief Minister Eva Lawler promises focus on crime and economic growth if she wins Saturday’s election, but Country Liberal Party’s Lia Finocchiaro says there is a mood for change.
Building super funds challenge APRA’s CFMEU concerns in court
But Cbus, which was also ordered to review the fitness of its union-appointed directors last week, is standing by its pledge to work with the watchdog.
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World
Robert Kennedy Jr drops bid for presidency, backs Trump
Robert F. Kennedy Jr abandoned a campaign that he began as a Democrat trading on one of the most famous names in American politics.
Harris pledges ‘new way forward’ after ‘dangerous’ Trump
Vice President Kamala Harris has accepted her party’s nomination in a speech that pledged to protect Americans from people like Donald Trump.
Final body recovered from sunken superyacht off Sicily
Hannah Lynch, the teenage daughter of British IT tycoon Mike Lynch, was the last person unaccounted for after her family’s superyacht sank four days ago.
Jake Sullivan to make first China visit as US national security adviser
The national security adviser’s visit is part of a broader effort to stabilise the relationship between the two superpowers.
China halts new steel plants as crisis-hit industry reels
China’s steel-industry woes have deepened in recent months, and a warning last week of worse to come put Australia’s iron ore miners on notice.
Property
- Exclusive
- Off-the-plan market
NRL superstar tackles developer over off-the-plan homes letdown
Tom Trbojevic, known as Tommy Turbo, said he was devastated that his parents were now priced out of their dream home because of a loophole in conveyancing laws.
How Sydney Metro’s architects made train stations people actually like
The “cathedrals of the 21st century” have united Sydney’s tastemakers and commuters, who marvelled at their new Metro line this week.
Queen’s Wharf opening to revive Brisbane – and Star Entertainment
After years under construction and a stream of opening delays, Brisbane’s mega $3.6 billion resort and casino complex will finally fling open its doors next week.
How this lifestyle queen sealed an $80m house deal
The outgoing owner of iconic eastern suburbs mansion Alcooringa, Stephanie Conley Buhre, reveals how the landmark property’s sale came about.
- Exclusive
- Luxury property
MaxCap boss relists landmark Prahran mansion with $1m discount
The non-bank lender’s co-founder Wayne Lasky and his wife Tam have listed their landmark Melbourne estate for the second time.
Wealth
Can I get a mortgage without a credit score?
Credit scores are a shortcut used by credit providers to assess your history in repaying debt. But what happens if you don’t have one?
How to work less, help the kids and do the job you always wanted
A transition to retirement pension offers opportunities to revamp your lifestyle, pay down debt or gift a home deposit. Here’s how to take advantage.
The tools showing retirees they have more to spend than they thought
Retirement income modelling is advancing rapidly, giving people an unprecedented ability to plan their own financial futures.
Technology
Forrest scores win in US Facebook scam ads case
Mining billionaire Andrew Forrest will now get chance to examine internal Meta documents and its AI software in his bid to prove Facebook helps scammers create fake ads featuring him.
Credit and payments fintech Shift raises $35m
The Funded blog is the home for news on the tech deals that are done in Australia, as soon as we hear about them.
Uber targets car rentals after Carshare failure
Uber has blamed a blow-out in operational costs for the failure of its Carshare service, which will cease business from September 12.
Work & Careers
Right to disconnect is ‘silly’ and will cost businesses extra
The new workplace entitlement gives most employees the right to ignore contact from their bosses outside normal working hours, unless doing so is unreasonable.
The right to disconnect starts on Monday. Here’s what you need to know
Contrary to what some people think, it does not mean a blanket ban on employers contacting their staff after hours.
Life & Luxury
This off-grid Himalayan walk will re-boot you from $1225 a day
Crawling not running towards the end of the year? Book this six-day trek in remote north-eastern India for a reality check, and a nature-fuelled recharge.
Sharing a $6.40 birthday cake with star Sarah Brightman
The world-famous performer is not too grand to enjoy a treat from Woolies as she promotes her role in Sunset Boulevard.
Blink Twice film review – billionaires behaving badly
Zoe Kravitz’s directorial debut stars Channing Tatum as a tech bro with dark predilections.
When you go to work are you demure and mindful?
A viral video of advice on how to dress for the office has sparked a social media storm and turned its creator into a hot property.
Why we are surrounded by kidults
In rich countries there has been a dramatic fall in the share of people who, by the age of 30, have attained the traditional markers of adulthood: leaving home, becoming financially independent, getting married, having a child.
