Today
- Opinion
- Monetary policy
Don’t turn the RBA’s private talks into a fishbowl
Not allowing the central bank to test its thinking with people in financial markets will leave us with much less well-informed monetary policy decision-makers and, thus, worse monetary policy decisions.
- 40 mins ago
- John Simon
Lending rules creating forever renters, realtor giant says
Stringent lending rules could be preventing developers from building more homes and forcing some Australians to continue renting, REA Group says.
- 1 hr ago
- Michael Read
- Exclusive
- RBA
RBA gives RBC Capital Markets private briefing, bars bank after leak
The incident is the second off-the-record discussion between the central bank and traders that has been made public. It was held after a February rate decision.
- Mark Di Stefano and John Kehoe
Yesterday
- Opinion
- Federal budget
Our fiscal strategy strikes the right balance
We are repairing the budget without hurting an already weak economy, putting people under more pressure or ignoring urgent and unavoidable spending.
- Jim Chalmers
- Opinion
- Federal budget
Why budget surplus is up, up, up
Jim Chalmers is claiming credit for delivering two budget surpluses in a row. He’s less keen to explain how much the high level of income tax helped.
- Jennifer Hewett
Lending laws locking out home buyers: Bendigo bank
Treasurer Jim Chalmers has rebuffed calls to ease mortgage lending laws after Coalition MPs and ANZ warned prospective home buyers were struggling to get finance.
- Michael Read and Lucas Baird
- Opinion
- Federal budget
Spending pressures make third surplus unlikely
The treasurer has delivered a solid second budget surplus of $15.8 billion on the back of booming income tax receipts, but future spending pressures are emerging.
- John Kehoe
- Opinion
- Chanticleer
Why the strong housing market is still a problem for the RBA
Booming credit demand from wealthier borrowers is more proof that housing is still humming along. That could crimp the RBA’s ability to cut.
- James Thomson
Income tax hits 25-year high in Chalmers’ surplus
The treasurer’s second budget in the black has been underwritten by the highest share of wages taxation since before the GST was introduced in 2000.
- John Kehoe and Michael Read
- Exclusive
- Home loans
Own home becoming ‘just for rich’: Coalition weighs lending overhaul
Housing has become a key battleground for the major parties, as record prices and high interest rates combine to significantly reduce affordability.
- Michael Read
September
How a love of luxury may bring down New York’s mayor
Eric Adams was elected partly on the strength of his origin story, a narrative that shrouded questions of his character, judgment and associates.
- Nicholas Fandos, Eliza Shapiro and Emma G. Fitzsimmons
Negative gearing explodes | Coles’ and Woolies’ dodgy discounts | The corporate Power list
This week on the Chanticleer podcast, James and Anthony look at how the supermarket giants were accused of dodgy discounting, ask who will win the brawl over negative gearing, and examine the corporate Power list.
- Opinion
- The AFR View
Keeping vigilance over our big super risks
Australians now have a mountain of capital saved in their super system. But size brings its own challenges.
- The AFR View
- Opinion
- RBA
RBA’s Bullock now has a bigger megaphone. But what should she say?
It’s possible the inflation problem is not about overheated demand, but rather the supply bottlenecks caused by lagging productivity.
- Michael Stutchbury
- Analysis
- Australian economy
Albanese and Chalmers: negative gearing’s odd couple
The prime minister and the treasurer are chalk and cheese on negative gearing. Some of the differences are generational, some look more philosophical. But how will they play out as the election looms?
- John Kehoe
- Opinion
- Supermarkets
Supermarket pile-on is going to cause real harm
If the supermarkets are guilty, then throw the book at them. But it’s populist politics that is really at work here.
- Graeme Samuel
Donald Trump a threat to Australia’s economy: McKibbin
Long-term damage to Australian fortunes could result if the Republican nominee wins the US election and implements tariff hikes on China, new research suggests.
- John Kehoe
NDIS cost blowout adds to inflation and rates pressure
A blowout in government spending on the $49 billion National Disability Insurance Scheme is adding to inflation pressures, economists say.
- John Kehoe
- Opinion
- Negative gearing
Labor’s smoke and mirrors on housing
Jim Chalmers and Anthony Albanese face much tougher questions about their economic agenda than the confusion about negative gearing and capital gains taxes.
- Jennifer Hewett
Rate cuts may trigger unsustainable property price boom: RBA
Falling interest rates could lead to a rising market that encourages households to take on too much debt, raising the risk of a damaging downturn, the bank warns.
- Michael Read
