Cargo ship secured for national emergency fleet
A cargo ship able to transport fertiliser and emergency equipment will be the first of 12 vessels to make up a strategic fleet.
Economy, Business and Finance
‘I take accountability’: top advisory firm leader quits
The head of KPMG Australia has resigned after the corporate regulator publicly confirmed in real time it is probing registered company auditors at the firm.
Retailers under attack from weak demand, rising costs
Australia's retail sector faces a pincer attack as the war in the Middle East increases costs and pushes consumers to the brink.
Diesel boost on the water for bottlenecked regions
The federal government has secured additional diesel to help ease Queensland's regional supply bottlenecks.
GDP data tops the economic agenda, RBA officials speak
Reserve Bank governor Michele Bullock will get a chance to react to Wednesday's economic growth figures when she fronts a parliamentary hearing in Canberra.
Labor shrugs off claim tax shift will sink house prices
The government is selling controversial investment tax changes as an attempt to rebalance the playing field between young and old Australians.
‘Huge mistake’: how Howard spurred Boomer investors
The share of property investors older than 60 has more than doubled since the capital gains discount was introduced, Reserve Bank of Australia research shows.
‘I’m so scared’: jewel fraudster jailed for sham heist
The owner of a jewellery store and a man he hired for a fake robbery in a $2.5 million attempted insurance fraud could both walk free from jail in months.
Electric truck U-turn could let them pull their weight
Australian companies are missing out on opportunities to save money and pollution with electric trucks due to a lack of support and inconsistent rules.
Taco ’bout a bad time: Aussie chain ditches US ambition
Shares in an Aussie-born Mexican fast-food chain have surged after it ditched its plan to crack the competitive US market, where Chipotle and Taco Bell rule.
Temporary fall in inflation won’t ease RBA fears
A short-lived reduction in the fuel excise has provided some momentary price relief but inflation will only worsen without a resolution to supply blockages.
Investor tax cut call as opponents fight Labor plan
A Labor plan to reduce investor incentives has been branded a "productivity tax" as opponents call for lower taxes for those with money to put aside.
Power bill relief as energy caps slashed in one state
Cheaper electricity bills are in store for hundreds of thousands of households and small businesses in one state under a lowered benchmark power price.
Labor happy with softer housing market since budget
Tax changes in the federal budget are already helping to level the playing field, according to the housing minister.
Renewable projects set records but still face headwinds
Wind farms and solar panels are producing more of Australia's electricity than ever, but slow approvals and investment commitments could stall progress.
Renewables pushing out rivals to give power bill relief
Solar and batteries are helping to deliver households relief on their electricity bills, but elevated network costs are thought to be tempering price falls.
‘Surprisingly dehumanising’: AI pioneer has boundaries
The head of one of the world's biggest pure-play AI developers says even he's had times when using the groundbreaking technology just wasn't going to happen.
Falling fuel prices bolster hopes for RBA rate reprieve
A cut in the fuel excise caused annual headline inflation to fall, but the underlying impulse for price pressures is still gathering steam.
Banks on notice as Westpac fined for failing clients
Banking giant Westpac has been slugged with a $26 million penalty for failing to support customers in need, a decision an expert says sends a clear message.
The $180m bill to calculate the Inland Rail blow-out
The man who first pitched Inland Rail wants a quick private sector takeover, as it is revealed consultants were paid $180m to estimate the budget blow-out.
Treasurer hoses down calls to carve up his tax revamp
Business groups are urging the federal government to have a major rethink over its capital gains tax measures but Jim Chalmers is remaining steadfast.
Treasury chief defends Labor’s beleaguered budget
Controversial budget changes would have cut the lifetime tax benefits for the top one per cent of earners by $400,000 if implemented in 2000, Treasury says.
Teen allegedly made to-do list before hijacking attempt
Fresh details of a teen's alleged attempt to hijack a plane have emerged a day after prosecutors pushed to have the case heard in a higher court.
Hanson lashes gas tax ‘vandalism’, reveals energy plan
Australia should look to Norway to shore up sovereign wealth through gas, One Nation says, as the coalition urges the resources industry to "fight like hell".
Concerns, doubts over Tasmania budget cuts
Rating agency S&P Global says Tasmania's budget repair carries "high execution risk," doubting the government will follow through on $1.47 billion in cuts.
‘God help us’: warning as alcohol tax calls spill over
Calls are growing for the federal government to overhaul alcohol taxes to avoid a repeat of the black market takeover of cigarettes.
Con-woman Caddick victims share ‘small pot’ last cash
Investors conned by fraudster Melissa Caddick will receive a final payment from receivers but those who benefited from a class action settlement will miss out.
Superyacht operator’s son guilty of cocaine smuggling
The son of a superyacht tour operator is behind bars after a jury found he aided with a plot to retrieve cocaine from a cargo ship's hull that turned fatal.
Island state to cut, cut, cut its way back to the black
Tasmania will spend more on servicing debt in 2026/27 than on police, fire and emergency services, showing the scale of the state's borrowing challenge.
Beef lovers steer it home for billionaire-backed firm
Australian Agriculture Co has delivered its highest annual operating profit after strong consumer demand for Aussie beef pushed up prices, despite flood losses.
Airport bomb scare over hot chocolate container find
An airport has reopened after being plunged into lockdown by the discovery of a suspicious item hidden within a hot chocolate container.