Year-long inquiry into CFMEU ‘thuggery’ begins
A prominent industrial relations lawyer has kicked off an inquiry into allegations of criminal links and workplace harassment in a construction union.
construction and property
Prefab house ferried to island by night wins top award
A house built in a factory and ferried to one of the nation's favourite holiday islands has won Australian House of the Year at the 2025 Houses Awards.
Airbnb hosts say caps won’t shift them to rental market
Short-term rental hosts would be more likely to leave their properties empty than list them on the long-term rental market to aid supply, a survey shows.
Slow start fears in race to build 2032 Olympic venues
The clock is ticking for the 2032 Olympics with a report claiming Brisbane Games projects may not be delivered on time by an ailing construction industry.
Trump and Powell bicker over cost of Fed building reno
President Donald Trump and Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell are bickering face-to-face over the cost of the building renovations.
Trump arrives in Scotland for golf and diplomacy
US President Donald Trump has touched down in Scotland, ahead of four days of golf and diplomacy. But it the trip won't be all play and no work.
Trump golfs in Scotland as Epstein questions persist
US President Donald Trump has worked on his golf handicap in Scotland, as his presidency hits the rough over Jeffrey Epstein questions.
Tourist mecca fighting to turn tide on Mother Nature
The Gold Coast could be pushing sand uphill as it works to restore beaches eroded by ex-Tropical Cyclone Alfred.
West is best economically as eastern states left behind
Western Australia remains the top economic performer in CommSec's State of the States rankings, but its "breakneck" growth is starting to lose momentum.
Rising cost to build a wake-up call on housing dream
Australians looking to build their own homes are facing a reality check as construction costs rise, with the increase likely to also weigh on inflation.
House values break ceiling in almost half of suburbs
An upswing in home values has broadly eased, but almost 45 per cent of Australian suburbs are at record-high dwelling values after sustained growth.
Pedal to the metal for home prices as rates fall
Sydney and Melbourne are expected to be the fastest-growing property markets in 2025/26 as mortgage rates fall, Domain forecasts shows.
Sunny outlook: big solar farms given tick by neighbours
Living near a large-scale solar project is not a problem for most residents, with a study finding 82 per cent of neighbours would allow more to be built nearby.
‘Parliament tower’ approval a tall order for opponents
Approval for a capital city's tallest commercial building, just metres from its heritage-listed parliament, disrespects history and heritage, opponents say.
Construction company building purpose for youth
Providing youth with valuable work and skills while repairing homes that may otherwise have been neglected is a double virtue of one Indigenous venture.
CFMEU boss to step away from national leadership post
The CFMEU's national secretary Zach Smith has told staff he will step back from the role but continue to run one of its state branches.
Mind the gap: $1 million homes driving up wealth divide
Home ownership rates continue to decline as more homes crack $1 million in value, making it harder for young Australians to keep up.
‘Like a bomb hit it’: disaster season damage revealed
Devastated towns are still picking up the pieces as the full extent of a state's disaster season was revealed, with the damage bill at $2 billion and counting.
Rate cut could fuel further ‘modest’ house price growth
Australia's house prices continue to climb across every capital city after a recent interest rate cut, despite a slump in auction clearance rates.
Towns get ‘down payment’ to shoulder renewable change
More than 40 areas nationwide are being considered for clusters of renewable energy projects, with the first zone receiving $60 million for locals to benefit.
Brick by brick, parties build election housing pitches
Tackling housing instability is key to securing an election win, with Labor vouching for build-to-rent while the coalition says Australians should own a home.
Mafia-style laws mooted to stop construction ‘rip-off’
The opposition wants US-style laws to jail organised crime bosses it says are pulling the strings of alleged construction sector corruption.
Doubling housing supply incentive could help renters
Australia is expected to fall hundreds of thousands of homes short of its housing target but reforms could bring it back up to speed and help renters.
Post-pandemic property price roller-coaster to flatten
There are signs the housing market in normalising five years after the COVID-19 pandemic sent home values soaring across Australia.
Date finally set for Brisbane Olympic stadium reveal
A 2032 Olympic stadium plan is set to finally be revealed, ending years of speculation over what will take centre stage as the Brisbane Games' marquee venue.
Australia must build out of crisis amid shocking data
Red tape must be ripped down to boost productivity in a bid to fix the nation's housing crisis, with shocking new data showing the slowing rate of construction.
Retiring renters face homelessness as ownership falls
As home ownership falls, rents grow and the cost of living continues to surge, older renters will need more help when they enter retirement, a report has found.
House prices expected to rise amid supply challenge
Housing will remain a key policy battlefield at the election with prices expected to continue increasing and efforts to boost supply lagging behind targets.
Fresh data to shed light on retail, housing strength
Australians are expected to have pulled back on retail spending after major sales, with the latest data unlikely to shift the dial for the Reserve Bank.
Apprentice incentive not enough to meet housing targets
Despite the Albanese government's well-meaning rhetoric, its policies and results reveal a failure to fix housing affordability, a housing expert says.
Home construction rises but target remains out of reach
High costs, labour shortages and low productivity are limiting the sector's ability to build new homes as construction activity remains below required levels.