Product price hike fears over supermarket smash-up laws
An unlikely political alliance is stirring to push new laws that punish supermarkets for price gouging but the business lobby is warning of unintended outcomes.
Economy, Business and Finance
States in harmony on GST forecasts, discord on carve-up
Several state treasurers are calling on commonwealth officials to tell them how much GST they can expect for the next four years.
Calls to heat up competition in nation’s postal sector
A tech start-up is pushing for Australia Post's delivery network to be opened up to private players, in a bid to drive competition and boost regional economies.
breaking_news
coal
economy, business and finance
electricity production and distribution
energy
environmental issue
natural gas
politics
Relief for some as power prices drop, but not for all
Regulators have released draft recommendations on what consumers in Australia's east will pay to keep the lights on. One state will see a big drop.
Renters sweating on rules to cool their homes
It's hotter inside some rental properties than outside for 8 hours a day in summer but renters are increasingly powerless due to cost of living pressures.
Rates on hold but RBA ‘not ruling anything in or out’
Interest rates have been left steady for another meeting and the Reserve Bank has kept its options wide open when it comes to future moves.
Wine being chilled to toast possible end to China beef
There is cautious optimism from Australian producers that a landmark visit by China's foreign minister could signal the end of punitive trade barriers.
Extra paid parental leave welcomed but unions want more
An increase in paid parental leave to 26 weeks from mid-2026 has been welcomed but there are calls to further reform the scheme.
Google and Apple challenged in Epic court showdown
Apple and Google profited from "anti-competitive, unconscionable" restrictions on apps that financially impacted consumers, the firm behind Fortnite says.
Australians spend less, more often in online shop surge
Baby boomers are increasingly shopping online but have a way to go before out-spending their millennial children as cost-of-living pressures shrink baskets.
alternative energy
auto trends
automotive equipment
consumer goods
energy
energy (general)
energy and resource
renewable energy
research
research and development
road transport
transport
Electric vehicles threaten to overtake hydrogen promise
The popularity of hydrogen cars is dropping in Australia and overseas, leading many experts to question the role it will play in the future of transport.
Amazon plans to recruit ‘a handful’ of small businesses
US retail giant Amazon has revealed plans to expand its delivery network in Sydney, Melbourne and Brisbane using local small businesses.
auto trends
automotive equipment
consumer goods
consumers
environmental issue
environmental politics
environmental pollution
road transport
transport
Electric vehicles double amid calls for faster progress
Almost 100,000 new electric cars hit Australian roads last year but a new report is calling for faster adoption to meet climate targets.
Significant failures in youth detention system: report
Queensland's youth detention system is failing with more children behind bars than in the rest of the country, the Child Death Review Board has found.
Tabcorp CEO resigns after alleged offensive comment
Tabcorp chief Adam Rytenskild says he doesn't remember making the alleged comment but is stepping down immediately.
PM denies ‘favourites’ in under-fire GST carve-up
A GST carve-up system lambasted by a state treasurer as "absurd" does not play favourites despite repeat claims of unfairness, the prime minister insists.
Myer names ex-Qantas exec Olivia Wirth as its next CEO
The former chief executive of Qantas Loyalty will become the next Myer chief executive when current CEO John King retires in June.
Tariffs, human rights on agenda for Chinese visit
Foreign Minister Penny Wong will host Chinese counterpart Wang Yi as Beijing prepares to remove trade impediments against Australian wine.
No budget ‘cash splash’ as inflation still main game
Treasurer Jim Chalmers has managed expectations for cost of living relief ahead of the May budget and played down the possibility of a sizeable second surplus.
‘No care factor’ as banks abandon remote communities
Business owners are having to fly with bags of cash to city banks after a remote branch closed its doors, amid reports of robberies, scams and elder abuse.
Full steam ahead, again, for Palmer’s Titanic dream
Clive Palmer's pipe dream to sail a replica Titanic from the UK to the US is no longer on ice, according to the mercurial mining magnate.
Hundreds of jobs axed with PwC to ‘simplify’ business
Big Four consultant PwC has made hundreds of jobs redundant and accelerated the retirements of more than 30 partners in an effort to streamline its structures.
Unpaid invoices surge as small business owners struggle
Businesses are feeling the crunch from cost of living pressures as new data shows payment defaults from business-to-business transactions are at record highs.
Climate assessment details grim risks for Australia
Australia's first climate risk assessment is grim reading and outlines the threats people could face if the nation fails to prepare well for what's ahead.
Coles faces competitive pressure from online retailers
The head of one of Australia's two big supermarkets says the sector is becoming increasingly competitive and online retailers are part of the story.
WA cut off as dangerous floods inundate roads, rail
Flooding caused by heavy rainfall and thunderstorms has closed the main road and rail routes connecting Western Australia to the rest of the country.
WA ranked first, Vic last on economic performance: IPA
A new report has ranked states on their performance across 10 economic indicators, crowning WA as the nation's best performer while Victoria came last.
Aust shares plunge 1.8 pct in worst loss in a year
Every sector has lost ground in broad-based selling ahead of another important US inflation readout seen as key in determining the speed of rate cuts.
Chinese ambassador says wine tariff review on track
The Chinese ambassador and the Australian trade minister are both hopeful a Chinese review into tariffs on Australian wine is moving in the right direction.
Investment expert warns prices ‘rollercoaster’ possible
Unwinding pandemic effects will cause inflation to fall quickly, a key investment strategist expects, before supply shocks keep it higher over the long term.
House prices surge in years since pandemic
House prices have risen by more than 30 per cent across Australia in the four years since the outbreak of COVID-19, a report has revealed.