Household energy bills soar by 25 per cent
Household and small business energy bills are soaring and the consumer watchdog is monitoring the industry for signs of price-gouging.
Economy, Business and Finance
Miners look to strike green gold out west
A gold mine in Western Australia plans to go carbon neutral by using green hydrogen to power crushing equipment, haulage trucks and generators.
PM insists ‘no change’ on income tax cuts
Senior ministers insist they're sticking to their election promise of keeping significant income tax cuts as the Greens warn the policy will restrict spending.
breaking_news
economy, business and finance
energy
environmental politics
finance (general)
industrial production
politics
Carbon credits key to industrial emissions
The federal government is playing "policy whack-a-mole" as it prepares to roll out energy and climate tools, including new credits for big emitters.
Risk Optus breach can weaken banks: RBA
The Reserve Bank of Australia is warning that large-scale data breaches and cyberattacks could destabilise financial institutions.
Engineers unlock ‘greener’ diesel trucks
Australia's diesel trucks could be retrofitted to use hydrogen in a breakthrough University of NSW engineers say could make the technology greener.
AGL dismisses billionaire’s board overhaul
AGL Energy is preparing for another showdown with billionaire shareholder Mike Cannon-Brookes after largely rejecting his plan for a board renewal.
Climate Council issues pre-budget wishlist
The government could fund electric vehicle chargers for every 12km of road with the $11.6 billion spent on fossil fuel subsidies, the Climate Council says.
Budget will balance inflation, rates: PM
The federal government has not changed its position on tax cuts legislated for 2024, the prime minister says as pressure mounts to rule out scrapping them.
Treasurer rules out Medicare levy hike
Lifting the Medicare levy to funnel more funds into the strained public healthcare system is not on the Albanese government's agenda.
Leaders urged to protect Lake Eyre rivers
Environmental groups and farmers are worried about major environmental concerns about the impact of gas developments on the Lake Eyre basin.
A class action against Optus could easily be Australia’s biggest: here’s what is involved
A settlement could well be worth billions, eclipsing the current record of $494 million paid to 10,000 victims of Victoria’s 2009 Black Saturday bushfires.
Economy woes cloud tax cut ahead of budget
Pressure is mounting to change or scrap costly tax cuts baked in by the former government as Labor prepares to hand down its budget in less than three weeks.
Petrol prices already tracking upwards
Petrol prices have already started inching upwards following the reintroduction of the fuel excise tax last week.
Telstra dials up wind power generation
Wind power in Queensland will be bankrolled by Telstra as the telecommunications giant aims to be 100 per cent powered by renewable electricity by 2025.
ASX rallies for best day in over two years
The local share market has finished 3.75 per cent higher, its best single-day performance in more than two years.
Australia’s next step on forever chemicals
The federal government has just released a new draft plan to manage so-called forever chemicals but some say not enough is being done to turn off the source.
La Nina rains on blueberry growers’ parade
Blueberry farmers are waiting to see how a third La Nina season will impact production - and whether it will lead to price rices for consumers.
Home values fall for fifth straight month
Home values have dropped in nearly all Australian capital cities as interest rate rises weigh on property prices.
Broke farmer turns to ‘rubbish’ technique
Australian farmers say a sustainable growing method from overseas has changed their lives, but not everyone is convinced by the system.
agriculture
arable farming
environmental issue
environmental politics
environmental pollution
livestock farming
New push to limit PFAS farm contamination
The federal government has proposed new limits to protect Australian farms from being further contaminated with so-called forever chemicals.
Fuel excise relief is history – so what now for petrol prices?
Over the past six months the Australian dollar’s buying power has declined from about 75 to 65 US cents (a 13% drop). But that has been offset by oil prices falling more than 30% since June.
ACCC approves campervan companies’ merger
NZX-listed THL and ASX-listed Apollo Tourism and Leisure will sell some of their fleet to Jucy in order for their merger to go ahead.
AGL Energy stakes $20b on coal exit plan
Australia's biggest carbon emitter, AGL Energy, will shut all coal-fired power plants by 2035 in response to customer, shareholder and government pressure.
Australian asks UN for livestock standards
An Australian expert says global standards around sustainability are urgently needed for livestock producers to stop companies from greenwashing.
Heavy industries grappling with clean heat
Reinventing industrial processes is a challenge for Australia's emissions heavyweights as miners and refiners figure out ways to deliver on net-zero promises.
Push to strip nuclear power ban after subs
Nationals senator Matt Canavan is pushing to overturn a ban on nuclear energy in Australia saying the industry needed time to grow before an energy crisis hits.
Optus should pay for passports: PM
Anthony Albanese has demanded Optus pay for compromised passports following the massive hack which stole the details of almost 10 million Australians.
Star’s pledge to do whatever is necessary
Star Entertainment Group is asking authorities to allow its Sydney casino to continue operating after outlining a far reaching plan to reform its operations.
Another oversized rate hike on the cards
The case for yet another large 50 basis point interest rate hike has grown a little stronger as inflation proves to be increasingly hard to shake.
Optus to pay for licence replacements
The states are moving to give people who have had their driver's licence numbers stolen in a massive data breach at Optus the chance to change their numbers.