Economy
Debt concerns: treasurer’s era of cheap-money ending
30 September
Because everyone wants your money, you can charge them more for it.That’s the issue facing governments forced to pay investors more for borrowing cash in the form of bonds.The eye-watering sums being raised by artificial intelligence...[Read More]
Soft landing botched: IMF backs more rate rises
23 September
A global financial body has given the Reserve Bank the green light to hike interest rates and urged Treasurer Jim Chalmers to be bolder on tax reform.With a break-out in price growth hitting Australians’ living standards, returning inflation to...[Read More]
Australians are ‘furious’ about inflation: RBA deputy
10 September
Australians are “furious” about inflation and it will take the nation years to fully get on top on higher post-pandemic living costs, the Reserve Bank’s deputy governor says. Ahead of the central bank’s meeting later this month on interest...[Read More]
Foreign property purchases fall as home buyer ban bites
26 August
Purchases of Australian property by overseas investors have plunged after the government announced a ban on foreigners buying Australian homes.The number of investment approvals fell by more than 22 per cent to 5284 in 2024/25, the Productivity...[Read More]
Early days but a door is opening for first home buyers
20 August
A dive in new home loans to property investors is an “encouraging sign” Labor’s changes to negative gearing and the capital gains discount are working as intended, Treasurer Jim Chalmers says.The number of investor loans fell 8.6 per cent in...[Read More]
AI boom, productivity malaise making RBA’s job harder
20 August
The surge in artificial intelligence investment and Australia’s sluggish productivity growth rate are forcing the Reserve Bank to keep interest rates higher, a top central bank official says.Speaking two days after the RBA kept the cash rate...[Read More]
Tax push renders budget surplus forecasts ‘unrealistic’
16 July
More tax cuts for workers would keep the budget in deficit beyond the next decade, the agency that assesses the nation’s finances warns. The outlook for the federal budget has improved over the past year, despite economic headwinds from the Middle...[Read More]
Tax cuts, pay rises and text message changes on the way
2 July
WHAT IS CHANGING ON JULY 1? * About 2.7 million workers on award wages will get a 4.75 per cent pay bump, while workers on the minimum wage will get a six per cent pay rise, following a Fair Work Commission decision * Workers will also receive super...[Read More]
Freefall: home prices notch biggest drop in years
2 July
Home prices have recorded the biggest monthly fall in almost four years as tax changes accelerate Australia’s housing downturn. Sydney’s median home price fell 1.2 per cent to $1,265,608 in June, leading a nationwide decline of 0.4 per cent,...[Read More]
Treasurer responds after budget attack by ex-RBA head
1 July
The treasurer has hit back at attacks to budget tax changes from a former Reserve Bank governor after the contentious laws passed parliament. Ex-RBA governor Philip Lowe said changes limiting negative gearing and the capital gains tax discount would...[Read More]
Labor identifies businesses to be exempt from new tax
25 June
A budget backlash has prompted Labor to announce new carve-outs for innovative firms from the capital gains tax, as well as a backdown on a minimum tax on testamentary trusts. WHAT DID LABOR ANNOUNCE IN THE BUDGET? * The existing 50 per cent...[Read More]
What Labor agreed to in order for tax change support
25 June
WHAT THE GOVERNMENT WANTS PASSED * Laws stemming from the federal budget would limit negative gearing to new builds from July 2027, while scrapping a 50 per cent discount on the capital gains tax and replacing it with a minimum 30 per cent rate tied...[Read More]
Better but ‘not perfect’ tax reform wins expert support
18 June
Parliamentarians are being urged to pass laws limiting tax breaks for property investors and not “let the perfect be the enemy of the good”. Looming tax reforms would help make the tax system more equitable, independent economist Saul Eslake...[Read More]
Fresh warnings migration cuts could make housing worse
18 June
Migration opponents are being warned big cuts to Australia’s intake numbers would cause havoc for the economy and impact housing targets. Immigration and housing numbers were out of balance with each other but dramatic cuts were not the solution,...[Read More]
Get back on the tools and fix housing, government urged
18 June
The Commonwealth must return to its historical role as a home builder rather than a protector of huge profits made by banks and developers. It’s advice that’s been overlooked but a warning that cannot continue to go unheeded, senators have been...[Read More]