The search is on for the 2025 Best Places to Work.
Iran, Israel and the rising threat of an Iranian nuclear bomb
Iran’s supreme leader may decide that the only way ahead for the regime - despised by its own citizens and vulnerable to Israeli attack - is nuclear weapons.
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.
- Opinion
- Chanticleer
Why no one will mourn the death of this $12b deal
For the second time this year, an attempt by an ASX giant to buy a British target has fallen over. But REA walks away from Rightmove with its head held high.
- Opinion
- Leading Indicators
The NDIS-ification of the economy is in full swing
A scheme only ever meant to cost $22 billion is underwriting a once-in-a-generation rise in government spending that rivals the mining boom in terms of scale, writes Michael Read.
WiseTech billionaire pushes to suppress stoush with Sydney beautician
Richard White is pursuing wellness entrepreneur and Real Housewives of Sydney contender Linda Rogan for bankruptcy. She says there is more to it.
- Live
- Markets Live
ASX 1pc down; retail sales bounce, Sigma Healthcare rallies 14pc
Miners give back gains. Qantas slips on Qatar-Virgin deal. Powell tempers rate cut hopes. REA investors welcome Rightmove decision. Follow updates here.
The five crossbench MPs who could make Peter Dutton PM
South Australian independent MP Rebekha Sharkie says her constituents would expect her to negotiate with Peter Dutton first in a hung parliament. These are the MPs he would be calling on.
- Gadgets With John Davidson
- Digital Life
Ocean cruising too slow? Try an action cam
Get our expert take on the race to the White House plus receive our weekly World View newsletter to make sense of the global impact. Exclusive to subscribers.
The hotly anticipated lists of who wields the most overt, covert and cultural clout in Australia.
Companies
- Exclusive
- Pubs
Paradise lost: Virtical pub empire’s problems have roots in Eden
Neil Rankin thought he would fund his retirement after selling a small-town pub to a company involving John Palasty. Instead, it turned into a lengthy legal battle.
EY’s local strategy division appoints deals veteran as leader
Clients are willing to pay a premium for strategy advisers who are also experienced industry experts, says the new managing partner of EY’s local strategy arm.
Chartered Accountants demand changes to revised tax agent rules
The accounting body fears that proposed laws to rein in rogue tax agents would erode “the relationship between a taxpayer and their agent”.
Qatar Airways to buy 25pc of Virgin Australia, funding big expansion
The deal with Bain Capital will allow the Gulf carrier to effectively bypass government approvals for more flights, creating a formidable rival for Qantas.
Sigma offers pharmacies exit plan in Chemist Warehouse deal
Sigma Healthcare says its franchised pharmacies will be allowed to leave the wholesaler without being penalised if it secures its merger with Chemist Warehouse.
Credit score agencies combine, creating Australia’s newest duopoly
Experian has completed its $820 million acquisition of Illion, which Experian’s CEO says will help banks assess credit risk more dynamically.
News Corp chief says higher Rightmove bid would have been ‘foolhardy’
The Murdoch family-controlled giant owns 61 per cent of REA, which had lobbed a $12 billion takeover bid for its British rival. But the offer was rebuffed.
Companies in the News
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Markets
ASX has best September quarter since 2013 amid worries it has peaked
More certainty of interest rate cuts and big economic stimulus sent the local sharemarket 6.5 per cent higher. But lower earnings growth is worrying investors.
Iron ore rockets 10pc as ASX, China records tumble
The price of Australia’s key export soared above $US110 a tonne on Monday, extending a rally in mining stocks and lifting the sharemarket to a record.
What happened overnight? S&P 500 ends its quarter on a positive note
The US benchmark equity index rose as Fed boss Jerome Powell reassured markets that lower rates lie ahead, albeit he signalled cuts will probably be at a moderate pace.
- Opinion
- Chanticleer
The ‘everything bubble’ is back. Here are five dangers to watch
Thanks to the Fed and China, markets are back at the levels reached during the 2021 frenzy. But it might not take much for investors to let a little air out.
- Opinion
- Sharemarket
Markets are on their best behaviour as the bulls take charge
The Fed is cutting interest rates and China’s policymakers are pumping its economy with money. Is there anything standing in the way of global sharemarkets?
Opinion
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.
Former RBA official
Rate cuts likely to save Albanese in 2025
The budget is back in the black and prices are easing. Interest rate relief in the lead-up to the election will complete the prime minister’s winning hand just as it hurt Scott Morrison in 2022.
Former Labor adviser
Japan’s incoming PM has barely the concept of a plan
Faced with the option of a successor to Shinzo Abe or his polar opposite, Japan’s ruling party has broken with more than a decade of orthodoxy.
Contributor
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.
Columnist
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.
Federal treasurer
Chalmers isn’t a fair dinkum fiscal repairer like Keating and Walsh
It’s not unfair to look through Dr Chalmers’ two vanishing surpluses to the bigger budget picture: not enough has been done to tackle Australia’s long-term spending.
Editorial
Politics
It’s tree changers v farmers in Queensland’s battle for the bush
A small community in north Queensland has become a combat zone over energy policy in the state election campaign.
- 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.
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.
Pro-Hezbollah protesters could evade punishment
The Albanese government is under pressure to take a hard line on supporters of Hezbollah following protest rallies at the weekend.
Australia favourite to host COP31 climate talks
A growing coalition of countries is backing Labor’s plans for the 2026 summit to be hosted in concert with Pacific countries.
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World
Nasrallah’s funeral could coincide with IDF invasion
The Hezbollah leader’s funeral – like his speeches – is likely to garner considerable attention across the region and may be exploited by anti-Israeli forces.
Britain calls time on coal power, steel mills
On a single day, the UK closed its last coal-fired power plant and its largest carbon-munching steel mill.
Israel widens war as Iran vows to punish ‘criminal acts’
Dozens of Israeli planes hit targets in Houthi-controlled Yemen while also continuing to kill militant commanders in Lebanon.
SoftBank to invest $721m in OpenAI
The move is part of a funding round that would value the artificial intelligence start-up at an eye-watering $US150 billion.
- Analysis
- Manufacturing
Are Chinese cars spying on you?
Security experts say there is a genuine growing fear that the West is becoming exposed to Chinese components under the hood as vehicles become more connected.
Property
Sydney’s home values on course to fall in the coming months
The sharp rise in listings along with high interest rates and worsening housing affordability has slowed price growth across the board.
Ontario Teachers, Hines buy two BTR projects in Brisbane for $350m
Despite headwinds in the build-to-rent sector, institutional investors remain interested and a wave of consolidation is under way.
China removes curbs on homebuyers, sparking stock market surge
Officials are trying to reverse a grinding property downturn and broader slowdown in growth that has afflicted every corner of the Chinese economy.
Canada’s housing affordability crisis to linger ‘for a decade’
Interest rates are just one factor keeping Canadians out of housing and cheaper money alone won’t shift the dial, experts say.
Sumitomo Forestry to pay $115m for majority stake in Metricon
The home-builder deal is the latest by a Japanese property company looking to offset the effects of a shrinking population at home.
Wealth
How to know if it’s time to sell shares
Sometimes it’s best to sell slowly; at other times quicker is better. Experts weigh in on how to know when it’s time to sell.
- Opinion
- ETFs
Why thematic ETFs are usually duds
Thematic exchange-traded funds – think electric vehicles, renewable energy or AI – promise to cash in on exciting trends, but are often disappointing.
- Exclusive
- Superannuation
AustralianSuper ESG option invested in nuclear weapons: report
Australia’s 14 biggest superannuation funds are investing about $3.4 billion in nuclear weapons despite many promising to avoid controversial arms.
Technology
- Gadgets With John Davidson
- Digital Life
Ocean cruising too slow for you? Speed things up with this action cam
DJI’s Osmo Action 5 Pro has features that will turn even the most sedate sojourn into a white-knuckle adventure.
- Opinion
- Digital Life
Why the Series 10 is now Apple’s best watch
The Watch Ultra 2 is still Apple’s most expensive watch, but the new Series 10 betters it in some (but not all) ways that matter.
- Exclusive
- Start-ups
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.
Work & Careers
- Exclusive
- Workplace disputes
Brookfield fired manager on maternity leave, kept replacement: lawsuit
Kelly Dyball, who the property giant featured in the media to boost its women-in-leadership profile, was made redundant while on maternity leave and replaced by the man hired to act in her job, a lawsuit alleges.
- Exclusive
- CFMEU
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.
Life & Luxury
Melbourne dining powerhouse wins award for country’s best wine list
Gimlet’s head sommelier says the key to success is paying the same level of attention to someone drinking by the glass as to a high-roller ordering a $12,000 bottle.
Eight experts pick the best cruises for 2025
It seems no waters are uncharted these days. We tapped eight cruise leaders for their favourite itineraries.
One bike is more than enough for this cycling-mad executive
It just has to be the right bike, says digital marketing specialist Dan Copsey.
How Zimmermann brought surf and sun to Paris Fashion Week
Now a permanent fixture on the Paris calendar, the Australian brand has found its feet, and is giving them brand new shoes.
Unlimited ice baths and saunas: LA-style wellness lands here
Super Young’s most expensive membership package includes unlimited access to red light therapy, hyperbaric chambers and cryotherapy. All for $15,000 a year.
