Double whammy: food prices warning over war fuel shock
Panic buying has forced some regional service stations to impose fuel restrictions as farmers warn shoppers to brace for grocery price hikes.
Economy, Business and Finance
‘Significant spikes’: servos to face huge gouging fines
Service stations could face $100 million fines for intentionally ripping off customers as panic buying places consumers under pressure at the pump.
Waterlogged city waits to learn extent of latest floods
Hundreds of homes have been hit by flooding at a regional community but the full extent of the damage may not be known for days.
Iran conflict raises spectre of triple RBA rate hike
Households are being warned to brace for a second interest rate rise in as many months as three big banks react to comments from a top Reserve Bank official.
ASX edges higher on hopes of record oil reserve release
Volatile oil prices continue to dictate stock market sentiment with the local bourse trading higher on hopes tapping reserves could shore up crude supply.
Designer delights in dark horse victory over Katy Perry
An Australian fashion designer is "over the moon" after winning a years-long trademark battle against pop star Katy Perry.
Massive robotic warehouse to deliver thousands of jobs
Construction has begun on the biggest warehouse ever constructed in Queensland - a robotic customer fulfilment centre for Amazon Australia.
Owl be damned: regulator stops short of rat poison ban
Conservationists are pushing for a regulator to outlaw a common class of rodenticides having pervasive effects on owls and other native animals.
‘Fear is stalking markets’: ASX plunges amid Iran war
The ASX200 has dropped almost three per cent, wiping out all its gains for the year amid the spiralling war in Iran.
Tech giants present local face to snare state contracts
A bid to tip more public funding into local businesses has driven several multinational giants to represent themselves as Australian.
Energy rating report card urged for all Aussie homes
More than seven million homes will be eligible to receive a mark out of 10 for their energy efficiency but experts say the assessments should become mandatory.
Australian spy plane to watch Middle East battle space
Australia will deploy an advanced spy plane to the Middle East to defend against Iranian attacks, although critics warn the nation is being drawn into the war.
Aussie researchers create a robot vacuum for oil spills
A prototype is no larger than a shoe but Australian engineers plan to supersize their oil-consuming robot to tackle sea pollution.
Aussie shares claw back losses but Iran conflict weighs
Strength in energy, mining and consumer staples stocks has capped the impact of US-led attacks against Iran on the local bourse, but major uncertainty remains.
Casino operator’s cash stocks dwindle after big loss
Casino operator Star lost $53 million on its operations in the six months to December 31 and has $130 million left in available cash as it struggles to survive.
Grapes wither on the vine as record rain risks harvest
Flash flooding has hit Australia's table grape hub after record rainfall at the peak of harvest season, threatening to inflict major losses.
Rate hike odds spike for ‘live’ March RBA meeting
The battle to tame inflation has been thrown into more uncertainty by conflict in Iran and the Middle East, the Reserve Bank governor says.
No small business exemption to work-from-home laws
A legal work-from-home mandate will apply to businesses big and small as a state government eyes productivity and political gains.
Good news is bad news: GDP growth fuels inflation fears
Australia's economy expanded by 2.6 per cent over 2025, above Reserve Bank forecasts, raising fears of an impending interest rate hike.
‘See you in court’: fight looms over work-from-home law
An Australian-first legal right to work from home might not be shielded from a constitutional challenge by the use of anti-discrimination laws.
Lutnick, Goldman Sachs’ lawyer to testify on Epstein
The US government committee probing the Jeffrey Epstein files will question Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick and a Goldman Sachs' former top lawyer.
Tributes flow after final call for king of one-liners
A renowned broadcaster, famous for having a one-liner ready to go, and whose voice became an integral part of the Australian sporting lexicon, has died aged 76.
Wavering households ease urgency for more rate hikes
Economic data released this week will leave the Reserve Bank a little less concerned about underlying momentum in consumer demand, an economist says.
Canada’s call for Australia to exploit ‘rare power’
The Canadian prime minister has made a direct pitch to Australian leaders to help his nation and other "middle powers" counter superpowers' coercive influence.
GPs disturbed by latest contraceptive pill ‘shortcut’
Australia's top doctors' group has lashed a state government's move to allow women seeking the contraceptive pill to bypass general practitioners.
Middle East war wipes $120b from local share market
Australia's share market has posted its worst weekly drop in almost a year, as oil prices continue to surge on the back of widening conflict in the Middle East.
US tariff refund system will be ready ‘in 45 days’
A US customs official says a system is being prepared to process refunds on illegally collected tariffs in 45 days without requiring importers to sue.
Liberals going digital to bring new life to party brand
The Liberal Party needs to reach new voters in the digital realm if it is to stand any chance at the next election, federal leader Angus Taylor says.
Net zero could put Woodside in the red in five years
Australia's biggest oil and gas producer has posted record output, but a global supply glut and the energy transition could hinder future profits.
Skyscraper scrap: mixed reaction for Trump tower plan
Rival petitions have been launched over a proposed 340-metre, 91-storey Trump tower at a holiday hotspot that's been billed as Australia's tallest building.
All aboard: fast rail gains momentum after false starts
A high-speed rail network linking major cities in Australia would come at a huge cost but is gaining momentum as experts tout the cost savings for commuters.