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The search is on for the 2025 Best Places to Work.

Nominate now.

Shadow treasurer Angus Taylor and Liberal parliamentarians Andrew Bragg, Keith Wolahan, Maria Kovacic, Jenny Ware and Aaron Violi

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.

The ASX 200, along with other global sharemarket indices, has shown a healthy uptrend since the beginning of the year.

ASX set for fresh record as investors bank on China and rate cuts

Futures indicate the S&P/ASX 200 Index is poised to advance 0.3 per cent at the opening bell, enough to reset Friday’s record high.

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese.

Labor members want negative gearing changes in ambitious housing plan

Labor for Housing, a national group of members, wants Labor to adopt an 80 per cent homeownership target by 2040.

Queensland Labor on track for electoral wipeout

The LNP is nearing just its third election victory in Queensland since 1989, according to new polling, as the election campaign officially kicks off this week.

Ozempic alternatives flood the Australian market

The number of Australians taking weight-loss drugs is growing as new medicines hit the market. MPs warn the influx must be managed carefully.

Billionaire Bruce Gordon retires from WIN as succession questions loom

The future of billionaire Bruce Gordon’s expansive estate – regional broadcaster WIN, 25 per cent of Nine Entertainment, and countless properties – is anyone’s guess.

Di Pilla’s $50b funds dream inches closer with major mall deal

If it is finalised, the deal for a stake in the Sydney mall will be a fresh expansion of the rapidly evolving funds platform that went public five years ago. 

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Edition

AFR Magazine – Power 2024

The hotly anticipated lists of Australia’s most powerful people in 2024.

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Companies

Rooftop solar has flooded the energy grid.

Payments for rooftop solar slashed as energy grid overloads

Households with rooftop solar will get up to a third less for supplying their energy to the grid as retailers cut rates in response to an oversupply.

A security guard at the Tavan Tolgoi development in Mongolia, where Jade Gas says it will drill for gas.

Drifting former telco turned Austrian miner gets unstuck in Mongolia

Jade Gas has bounced around for three decades, and is trying its luck with coal seam gas in the ex-communist country. Could this be the ASX’s next gas giant?

On July 26, Resources Minister Ms King decided ERA should not be granted a 10-year extension over the Jabiluka lease.

Minister was told ERA wouldn’t fight Jabiluka decision before it sued

Advisors to Resources Minister Madeleine King thought it “doubtful” Energy Resources of Australia would pursue legal action if she decided to cancel its mining permit.

Boral chief executive Vik Bansal has also been chairman of ASX-listed LGI for two years. The stock is up 83 per cent since its IPO.

Investors in Vik Bansal’s biogas side hustle are up 85pc

The Boral CEO is also chairman of ASX-listed biogas group LGI, which has 32 waste landfill sites and supplies electricity into the grid when returns are highest.

Open banking limps to life with ANZ customers seeking full picture

ANZ is the first major bank to use open banking to aggregate multiple accounts through its app. Ultimately, it will be used as a tool to lure new customers.

PFAS foam leaks on Transurban’s Brisbane toll road rankle council

Transurban’s maintenance practices are being reviewed by Brisbane’s city council after fire-fighting foam spilled from a tank into a pump station in the company’s Clem Jones Tunnel.

‘At tipping point’: Inside one of Australia’s busiest hospitals

Doctors and nurses in Australia’s busiest emergency ward say the system is under unprecedented pressure amid a surge in mental illness and geriatric patients with nowhere else to go.

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Markets

Billionaire David Tepper is buying “everything” China-related.

The Australian sharemarket’s ‘switch from hell’ has only just begun

The dominance of the banks over the miners in 2024 has been off the charts. But developments out of Beijing could be the catalyst for a final quarter comeback.

There is a real risk of Australia falling into a technical recession.

There’s a ‘very real’ chance of two rate cuts by Christmas

Momentum is critical and right now, Australia’s economy is at genuine risk of stalling. It’s no surprise then that the bond market has already priced in rate cuts.

The New York Stock Exchange.

Dow resets record high, S&P 500 drifts lower

The S&P 500 ended the final trading session of the week modestly lower. Iron ore extends rebound, for now. Bitcoin holds above $US65,000.

Iron ore’s ‘fundamentals’ still point to lower price: Goldman

The steelmaking material surged more than 10pc on news of China’s latest efforts to stoke its flailing economy. But Goldman says the advance will prove fleeting.

Bullishness persists in what BofA calls a ‘bubble dream’

US equities traded sideways to end the week, however, optimism about the outlook has the S&P 500 on a path to more record highs this year.

Opinion

No end to Australia’s love affair with solar

Rapidly declining solar feed-in tariffs could change the way Australian households manage their renewable energy. That is bound to be good for the grid.

Tony Boyd

Contributor

Tony Boyd

Queensland wipeout good for Labor’s federal election chances

The LNP small target strategy is politically effective. It’s on track to take out an unpopular Labor premier and, in the process, give a Labor prime minister a better chance of keeping his job.

The AFR View

Editorial

The AFR View

Will Steven Miles be Albanese’s sacrificial anode? Labor hopes so

Feds beware: Miles has shamelessly thrown money at the cost of living and no-one has thanked him for it.

Phillip Coorey

Political editor

Phillip Coorey

What J.D. Vance and Tim Walz need to do to get Trump or Harris elected

In the vice presidential debate on Wednesday, the Democrat’s message needs to be about the economy. The Republican needs to just repair his image.

Ava Kalinauskas

Research associate

Ava Kalinauskas

Want to stop an Israel-Hezbollah war? Look to Tehran

If the US and the West want calm on the Lebanese border, it needs to find the will to make Iran pay the price for its proxy warfare.

Bren Carlill

Middle East expert

Bren Carlill

Why competition laws could increase the risk of blue screen attacks

We should beware of one-size-fits-all technology policies that could open smart devices to the third-party vulnerabilities that caused the CrowdStrike outage.

Reports

Technology - Valuation shift

This special report looks at shifting valuations for tech companies in public and private markets, plus how AI will change work.

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Politics

Treasurer Jim Chalmers, Resources Minister Madeleine King and Prime Minister Anthony Albanese.

China stimulus should stabilise iron ore price, says resources minister

Resources Minister Madeleine King says China’s latest stimulus package was unlikely to push prices higher, but it should help arrest the one-third fall seen since the start of 2024.

Getta Betta Co owner Rob Aumend says Townsville businesses are desperate for an improvement in crime.

The hot topic poised to swing a dozen Labor seats in Queensland

The opposition Liberal National Party has committed to its path to winning the coming state election using one burning issue.

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‘The kingmaker seat’: The former Uber exec tasked with taking on the teals

Returning to Australia after almost a decade as an executive with Uber in Asia, Liberal candidate for Curtin Tom White says the ride-share giant helped shape his free market approach to politics.

Keep Bunnings and Chemist Warehouse out of supermarket wars: industry

As Labor considers tough powers for retailers abusing market share or mistreating suppliers, the food sector has warned against expansion of a key code of conduct.

ACCC supermarket case won’t hurt view of big business: AFR readers

Allegations Coles and Woolworths misled consumers with fake discounts have not significantly undermined confidence in big business generally, according to a new poll.

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World

Israel Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu addresses the United Nations General Assembly.

How Netanyahu crippled his enemy and put region on the brink

The assassination of the long-standing Hezbollah leader is the latest step in a plan that has sparked panic and mayhem.

Lebanese and Palestinian men hold portraits of Hezbollah leader Sayyed Hassan Nasrallah as they protest his death in the southern port city of Sidon.

Shaken Iran left vulnerable after Hezbollah chief’s killing

Leaders in Tehran suggested it would be the Lebanese militia, not Iran itself, that would strike back at Israel after Hassan Nasrallah’s assassination.

A woman holds a poster of Hezbollah leader Sayyed Hassan Nasrallah to protest his death in Istanbul.

Israel delivers spectacular blow, but it’s far from over

After failing badly on October 7, Israel’s military and intelligence agencies have turned things around, sending a strong message of deterrence to their enemies.

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.

Hurricane Helene kills 64 in US, leaves $37b damage bill

Hurricane Helene has killed dozens of people and knocked out power to millions across several US states, as the threat of flooding and dam bursts continues.

Property

Artist impression of townhouses planned for the first stage of North-West Dubbo Urban Release Area

Developers head to the regions to deliver housing

Many developers are seeing opportunities to build much-needed housing in regional areas experiencing strong population and economic growth.

A render of the proposed nine-storey hotel at Howard Smith Wharves, recently submitted to Brisbane City Council.

The $620m makeover for Manly, Howard Smith wharves

Plans are afoot to transform the faded glory of waterside venues at Manly and in Brisbane to bustling tourist destinations. The locals have had their say, too.

A natural swimming pool designed by Water Artisans.

Swimming ponds are status symbols for  UK’s wealthy families

Wild swimming has become the trend du jour with wellness junkies. Now there’s a safer way to do it.

Treasury sells Karadoc winery near Mildura to wool brokers

The Karadoc winery, which made brands like Wolf Blass and Yellowglen, has been sold to the managing director and chief financial officer of Quality Wool Group.

The plan for the most ambitious skyscraper renovation

HSBC is leaving its home in London’s Canary Wharf for new digs in the City. The move has prompted a dramatic overhaul of the signature tower.

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Wealth

Colonial First State super CEO Kelly Power says the digital advice tool is for unadvised clients.

Financial advice for $88: Super funds launch low-cost tools

Superannuation funds have ramped up their financial advice offerings, but the type of advice they can provide remains limited.

Parents’ eye-watering education bills don’t end with school

Helping kids get started in life has arguably never been more expensive. Plan and save early, experts say. We’ve also found the most generous scholarships available.

Rich Lister wealth secrets revealed after 30-year loophole ends

Two years after removing an exemption that allowed Australia’s richest families to keep details of their private companies secret, their financials are filtering through.

Technology

Startmate CEO Michael Batko says the fund is beating the top quartile of global VCs every year.

Cannon-Brookes’ Startmate cybersecurity bet pays dividends

Startmate’s $35,000 stake in cybersecurity company Bugcrowd is now worth $2.1 million, delivering eye-popping returns for its billionaire backers.

Sam Altman founded the company in 2015 as a non-profit research organisation with the goal of building artificial intelligence that would be safe and beneficial to humanity.

Fast-growing OpenAI is burning through truck loads of cash

As the company looks for more outside investors, documents reveal consumer fascination with ChatGPT and a serious need for more money.

The global IT crisis was the result of a software update provided by CrowdStrike,

Why competition laws could increase the risk of blue screen attacks

We should beware of one-size-fits-all technology policies that could open smart devices to the third-party vulnerabilities that caused the CrowdStrike outage.

Work & Careers

CFMEU delegates investigated over ‘steeling’ claims

One of the union delegates under investigation for allegedly selling steel from a major government site is a former member of the infamous Bra Boys surf gang.

Qantas engineers strike goes national, targets peak-hour flights

Qantas engineers critical to aircraft maintenance will stop work at major airports around the country next week, threatening to disrupt peak-hour flights at the start of school holidays.

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Life & Luxury

Approaching Madeira, a volcanic island with a mountains and caves.

Small ship, big adventures: Island-hopping in Portugal and Spain

This voyoage aboard Windstar Star Pride included plenty of time ashore to explore volcanoes, deserts and tucked-away beaches.

Quark’s Ultramarine.

This really was a discovery expedition

Helicopter flights from a ship exploring the Chilean Fjords revealed glaciers not previously charted.

  • Drinks With Max Allen
  • Japan
Nikka Yoichi whisky distillery in Hokkaido, Japan.

Heading to Hokkaido? The Nikka distillery is a must

When Masataka Taketsuru returned to Japan from Scotland a century ago he brought the expertise to make great whisky, a love of all things Caledonian and a wife.

Street Style outside the Spring/Summer Fashion shows in Europe. Hermes paired cashmere cardigans with sandles. Alejandro Acero wears black shiny leather Izmir sandals from Hermes.

Your feet are killing me

This summer, the men of New York broke with convention by ditching closed shoes for sandals, slides and slip-ons. But should you be flaunting your toes in city streets?

Models walk the runway as part of  Paris Fashion Week.

Everyone’s on Ozempic, so why won’t anyone ‘admit’ it?

The fashion world is embracing weight-loss drugs – but very discreetly.

From the gallery