Qld to install batteries at coal plants
Queensland is being ambiguous about phasing out fossil fuel energy generation, after revealing that batteries and hydrogen will be installed at coal plants.
Economy, Business and Finance
ASX down 1.1pct ahead of busy week of data
The local bourse has dropped by 1.1 per cent, as traders take a little off the table before the release of US inflation and Chinese GDP figures.
Consumer confidence falls as rates rise
Consumer confidence has dropped 19.7 per cent since December, a plunge comparable to what happened at the start of the pandemic and the global financial crisis.
More Australian workers looking west
Western Australia's tough border policies throughout much of the COVID-19 pandemic have not deterred workers from heading west in record numbers.
Monthly family petrol bill soars to $300
Petrol prices are closing in on highs seen earlier this year as new figures show a tightening in the jobs market ahead of official jobless data.
Ex-Queensland journo jailed ahead of death crash sentence
A former Channel 7 journalist who admitted killing his friend in a crash after a daytime drinking session, has been taken into custody to await his sentence.
Trade surplus hits record $16 billion
Payroll jobs rose have risen, while booming coal and natural gas exports drove an increase in the trade surplus in May.
Qld govt downplays Japan coal tax concern
Queensland's resources minister has brushed off the Japanese ambassador's criticism of the state government's recent coal tax hike.
Job ads show first fall in five months
Ahead of the release of payroll figures and the latest data on Australia's trade surplus, job advertisements are showing potential signs of decline.
Confidence in Aust energy system plummets
New data shows a "stunning collapse of confidence and trust" in the energy system, Energy Consumers Australia says.
Reserve Bank hikes cash rate to 1.35 pct
The Reserve Bank of Australia has announced a 50 basis point rise to the cash rate, taking it to 1.35 per cent.
Big four banks pass on full rate rise
All four of Australia's largest lenders have increased variable home loan rates by 0.5 per cent following the RBA's decision to lift interest rates further.
Home lending rises 1.7 per cent in May
The Australian Bureau of Statistics says the value of new housing loan commitments rose 1.7 per cent to $32.4 billion in May.
Qld to expand ban on single use plastics
Queensland will expand its single-use plastics ban, with cotton buds, microbeads and mass balloon releases the next to go, and coffee cups in the cross hairs.
House prices in descent as rates rise
Home values fell across the country in June, particularly in Sydney and Melbourne, after the central bank raised interest rates for the second month in a row.
Aus energy grid needs urgent upgrades
The power market operator AEMO has released a roadmap for the sector as it continues to transition to more renewable and gas energy sources.
Nanotech to help fight against flystrike
Tiny nano-particles are providing a promising new method to protect sheep against deadly flystrike, according to University of Queensland researchers.
Post-pandemic tourism rakes in $18 billion for Queensland
Queensland is leading Australia's tourism industry out of the COVID-19 downturn with domestic visitors staying longer and spending more in the Sunshine State.
Queensland plan to decarbonise agriculture
An emissions-reduction plan for Queensland's agriculture sector focuses on advancements in feed for livestock and green ammonia for fertiliser.
SA company fined over power rules breach
A Federal Court judge has ordered the operator of South Australia's Tesla big battery to pay a $900,000 fine over breaches of the national electricity rules.
Moody’s affirms Australia’s AAA rating
Treasurer Jim Chalmers has welcomed Moody's affirmation of Australia's AAA credit rating.
Qld-NSW floods were 3rd costliest disaster
The unprecedented floods that swept through southeast Queensland and northern NSW earlier this year caused $4.8 billion in insured damages.
Sentiment lifts from the depths of despair
Consumer confidence has improved for a second consecutive week after a slump earlier in the month as a result of a large rise in interest rates.
Believe in RBA to avoid recession: Lowe
Australians must trust in the Reserve Bank's plan to lead inflation back down to regular levels, or risk triggering a recession, RBA governor Philip Lowe says.
Booze now, pay later apps prompt concern
Experts are worried people using buy now, pay later services for alcohol will lead to "financial hangovers".
Positive signs ahead for motorists
Easing global oil prices on fears of an economic slowdown could help motorists with their seemingly ever growing petrol bill.
Metcash lifts FY profit amid inflation
Metcash's full-year sales have risen 6.4 per cent to $17.4 billion, while underlying earnings jumped 17.7 per cent to $472.3 million.
Greens war on tax cuts ahead of budget
The Greens are going to war against tax cuts for higher earners that were locked in by the coalition, saying they have no place in Labor's first budget.
Qld expands grid storage with big battery
A new 400MWh battery in southeast Queensland is the latest in a series of announcements as the state government investigates more energy storage options.
Qantas flags bonuses, eyes fare increases
The airline is offering a one-off cash bonus to thousands of staff if an enterprise agreement can be struck as it prepares to increase fares.
Farmers join forces in environmental push
An Australian first farming mutual has launched focused on rewarding producers financially for the environmental improvements made to their land.