Fire ants in coal mine sound agriculture alarm
Biosecurity authorities are on alert after destructive fire ants were found at a coal mine 800 kilometres from the previous infestation zone.
Economy, Business and Finance
PM to walk diplomatic tightrope in crucial China visit
Business opportunities will rub up against security and ideological tensions as Prime Minister Anthony Albanese leads an Australian delegation to China.
Trump intensifies trade war with threat of new tariffs
In an escalation of the global trade wars, US President Donald Trump has slapped the EU and Mexico with 30 per cent tariffs.
Clouds of war shroud PM’s sunny China tourism pitch
The prime minister has called on an ex-Socceroo and a Chinese film star to promote Sino-Australian ties while facing an untimely reminder of regional tension.
Political tensions muddy PM’s Chinese green steel push
Efforts to end Chinese ownership of an Australian port highlight challenges to the prime minister's ambition to grow business ties between the two nations.
Olympic city house values join the million-dollar club
Interstate migration and the allure of warmer weather have contributed to a city's house prices surging past the million-dollar mark.
Wanted official got gold after kickbacks ‘went crazy’
An ex-transport official received gold as part of a corrupt multimillion-dollar scheme that inflated fees for roadworks services, an inquiry has been told.
Consumer win in card surcharge cut as business bristles
Scrapping surcharges could save Australians about $1.2 billion, but small businesses think they will have to foot the bill.
Flipping heck: tech giant wants to upsize your phone
After 15 years of research and development, the world's most popular folding smartphone is about to get bigger, but its competitors are far from rolling over.
Trump threatens Aussie medicines with bitter tax pill
One of Australia's biggest US exports has been threatened with hefty tariffs, but many doubt whether Donald Trump will actually impose the measure.
Direct route for scammers as Qantas hack scale revealed
Almost six million Qantas customers could experience phishing scams for months to come as they learn what personal data has been exposed in a cyber attack.
Power up: boost for roadside electric vehicle chargers
Electric vehicle drivers will be able to recharge in more places after a substantial infrastructure investment designed to generate wider adoption.
Australia’s biggest peanut supplier set to shut down
Bega Group will close the 101-year-old Peanut Company of Australia, leading to the expected loss of 150 jobs.
‘Legendary’ Cold Chisel rocker cops speeding warning
The guitarist from classic Australian rock band Cold Chisel has overturned a conviction for speeding after a magistrate heard how much he did for charity.
‘Grave concerns’ over radio king’s sexual abuse case
A lawyer for Alan Jones has raised concerns about the legality of a police investigation as the ex-broadcaster prepares to defend sexual abuse allegations.
Qantas’s two-day hack delay fuels customer scam fears
Australia's biggest airline could face a repeat of the hack that exposed millions of customer details, one expert says.
PM puts lid on GST hikes, pledges boost for business
Clearing red tape for businesses will be a key part of Prime Minister Anthony Albanese's productivity push, but raising the GST is unlikely to be on his agenda.
Green hydrogen powers back up with major funding
The federal energy minister is not giving up on Australia's green hydrogen dream despite setbacks, with a new project in line for government incentives.
Back-to-back rate cuts tipped when Reserve Bank meets
The Reserve Bank of Australia's interest rate meeting is set to take top billing as markets expect the board to hand down another cut.
Rates hold call cuts deep but bank governor offers hope
The central bank has defied expectations of an interest rate cut as it keeps its sights on inflation and jobs figures, but relief might not be far away.
‘Not all bad news’: the Aussie upside of Trump tariffs
While Donald Trump's harsh tariffs on imports from Australia's key trading partners will whip up uncertainty, there could be an upside for consumers.
Bright spots in agriculture amid market volatility
Demand for Aussie beef looks set to remain strong, with reason for "cautious optimism" across agriculture after months of extreme weather and trade uncertainty.
Australia’s US tariff fixation ‘missing bigger picture’
Engaging with the US on issues such as critical minerals and supply chains rather than President Donald Trump's tariffs is the way to go, one expert reckons.
Telco misdeeds sharpen case for Indigenous leadership
Repeated misconduct by major telcos in selling to remote communities highlights the need to embed Indigenous leaders, a corporate adviser says.
US Senate struggling to pass Trump’s $5 trillion bill
Voting continues into a second day as senators try to pass President Donald Trump's tax-cut and spending bill, which will add $5 trillion to the US's debt.
Avo production smashed, but still 20 for every Aussie
Millennials don't have to mourn the loss of their beloved smashed avo toast, with lower production of the fruit expected to be short-lived.
Submarine deal left treading water after key US talks
The foreign minister's talks with her US counterpart have not clarified whether America will continue to play its part in the AUKUS agreement.
Woodside activists vow to fight on despite jail terms
Two climate activists have been handed suspended prison terms for their "harmful" act of letting off stench gas at Woodside's headquarters.
Utes dominate vehicles sales and push BYD past Tesla
Australia's love affair with the ute has dominated new vehicle sales during June, but one hybrid model has had an unusual impact on Australia's auto market.
Australians warned to not jump the gun on tax return
The national tax office has warned Australians to be patient in lodging their tax returns as the financial year comes to an end.
Retail spending tipped to stay soft as home prices soar
Housing prices are expected to climb ever higher, even as a predicted recovery in dwelling consents shines a ray of hope on Australia's supply ambitions.