economy
What’s known so far about the federal budget
6 May
Jim Chalmers is putting the finishing touches on his fifth federal budget, with some of the measures starting to be revealed. WHAT’S ALREADY KNOWN ABOUT THE BUDGET * The government has already flagged large cuts to the NDIS, with savings of $15...[Read More]
Consumers hang tough despite echoes of COVID headwinds
6 May
Australian consumers are showing resilience in the face of rising interest rates, fuel prices and other costs, according to credit agency data. Despite the headwinds, strong momentum in consumer activity in the first quarter of 2026 had provided a...[Read More]
What Australia’s new $10b fuel security plan means
6 May
WHAT HAS BEEN ANNOUNCED * The federal government has included a $10 billion fuel security and resilience package in the upcoming budget * This is in response to the fuel crisis caused by the conflict in the Middle East, which has effectively closed...[Read More]
PM rubbishes budget tax speculation as home prices slow
6 May
Tax changes in the upcoming budget are designed to help young people own a home, the prime minister says, as a downturn in Australia’s largest property markets gathers steam. Asked about reported changes to negative gearing and the capital gains...[Read More]
Job market yet to feel impact of Iran war, rate hikes
22 April
The Iran war has yet to hit Australia’s robust labour market, but a double-blow to unemployment from higher oil prices and the Reserve Bank is on its way. The jobless rate held steady at 4.3 per cent in March, despite the Middle East conflict...[Read More]
Oliver’s Insights – Nine key longer term consequences of the US/Israeli war with Iran
15 April
Key points Uncertainty remains high over the US/Iran War with a ceasefire declared but no agreement in talks so far. Tensions continue to remain high and oil flows remain restricted, with Trump announcing his own blockade on the Strait of...[Read More]
Spoils of Iran war to deliver Chalmers a budget boost
15 April
The Iran war is set to deliver a $36 billion windfall for Treasurer Jim Chalmers, but increased spending on cost-of-living measures could derail efforts to get the budget back in black. Even with a fragile ceasefire holding in the Middle East, the...[Read More]
Major capital home prices slip in two-speed market
1 April
Australia’s two largest property markets could be entering a downturn as rising inflation and interest rates squeeze prospective buyers. But while the Middle East conflict will take some steam out of price growth, Australia’s chronic undersupply...[Read More]
Spike in jobless rate unlikely to end RBA hiking cycle
25 March
Noisy jobs data has revealed a tight labour market, giving the Reserve Bank the green light to further hike interest rates despite a spike in unemployment. The jobless rate jumped to 4.3 per cent in February, despite almost 50,000 more people...[Read More]
Treasurer softens up voters for ‘hard decisions’ on tax
25 March
Treasurer Jim Chalmers is willing to anger older Australians to make the tax system fairer for younger generations. But he admitted productivity growth would take longer to recover than previously thought during a major pre-budget address to a...[Read More]
Cut price cheese and cars: What’s in the EU agreement
25 March
Australia and the European Union have signed a free trade agreement and defence and security partnership as both sides seek closer ties amid global instability. TRADE *More than 99 per cent of tariffs on EU goods coming into Australia will be...[Read More]
Unions urge five per cent pay rise as inflation bites
25 March
Nearly three million low-paid workers would receive thousands more in annual wages under a union push for a five per cent pay rise. The ACTU will ask industrial umpire the Fair Work Commission to increase the minimum wage to $26.19 per hour, up from...[Read More]
Insolvencies at record highs, set to rise on Iran war
25 March
Australian businesses are failing at record rates and soaring energy prices are set to make matters worse, putting the national economy at risk of recession. Business insolvencies and payment defaults were already at or near their highest-ever...[Read More]
How much each state will get from the GST carve-up
18 March
CHANGES IN STATE AND TERRITORY GST PAYMENTS NSW * GST payment increased from $28.1 billion to $28.2 billion * Relative share of GST compared to per capita allocation fell from 86c in the dollar to 82c * Share of GST fell from 26.7 per cent to 25.5...[Read More]
Oil shock further reason for tax reform, spending cuts
18 March
Politicians must resist the temptation to use a budget boon from the Iran war to pump the economy up with cost-of-living measures such as fuel excise cuts or energy rebates, economists say. Repeating the approach of the post-COVID-19 pandemic...[Read More]