Tariff defiance begins with call to buy Australian made
Shoppers have been urged to buy locally made goods with extra funding for Australian-made campaigning as US tariffs hit steel and aluminium exports.
consumer goods
Energy bill jolt: price rises power up living cost pain
The threat of further energy bill increases of up to $200 annually following a regulator's decision has put the spotlight back on federal energy policy.
Cheaper but smarter: smartphones target budget buyers
Three smartphone makers are launching cut-price versions of their flagship devices but experts say their biggest battle might be over AI features.
New vehicle sales stuck in slow lane, even popular SUVs
Hybrids are among few vehicles to withstand a continuing slowdown in new vehicles sales, with one model racing into the top ten.
Plug-in hybrid car tax breaks about to hit the skids
Drivers have one month left to claim a tax break on plug-in hybrid electric vehicles, amid calls for Labor to give the fuel-saving cars more support.
Household solar panels create a ‘worry’ for energy boss
Australian households may face changes to the way rooftop solar is handled as electricity grids adapt to more renewable energy created during daylight hours.
Big changes needed to connect cars to the power grid
Most Australians want to turn their electric vehicle into a battery on wheels in future but there are still speed bumps to making the technology work.
‘Like winning lottery’: Graziers salute flood impact
Instead of being devastated by his property being hit by floodwaters in western Queensland, a tourist attraction owner has compared it to winning the lottery.
Small cars show a big thirst for petrol in road tests
Three popular small cars, including a hybrid model, are among the latest vehicles found using more fuel than expected in Australian road tests.
Tesla slump and falling prices set to change EV market
Lower prices, more competition, and a market leader's fall in popularity could prove a tipping point for sales of electric vehicles in Australia.
Electric vehicle sales brake as car market slows again
Australians bought fewer new cars in January, with electric car sales more than halving despite growing price competition and new limits on vehicle emissions.
Curtain call: basic energy upgrades may save households
Hanging heavy curtains and swapping gas for electric hot water could save Australians a motza and solar systems could cut household energy bills even further.
Diet time: why a watch may tell if you’re eating greens
Health sensors could track even more vital signs from your skin in future, including your blood sugar levels and vegetable intake.
‘Mum guilt’: parents battle growing school costs
As Australian parents deal with the ballooning cost of school supplies amid other cost-of-living pressures, a minor party is promising relief.
Friendly robots, AI litter boxes: the new tech frontier
Wild, weird and unexpected gadgets have been shown in Las Vegas as part of an annual tech fest, with AI powering some household devices for the first time.
CES 2025: tech firms promise AI robots, cars, fridges
Robots, self-driving cars and AI-powered work colleagues may not be far away, according to predictions aired at the Consumer Electronics Show.
Rough road ahead despite record-breaking new car sales
Aussie motorists bought a record number of new vehicles during the year but experts warn the path ahead is rocky as momentum is already slowing.
Pharmaceutical giant sued over ‘ineffective’ cold drugs
Pharmaceutical giant Johnson & Johnson is facing a class action concerning cold and flu medication known to be "ineffective".
Laws to rev up electric car race at starting line
Australia's automotive industry will look different in 2025 after a change in laws inspires a long list of electric and plug-in hybrid challengers.
Drop test: tech giant to ditch single-use plastic packs
More Christmas gifts purchased online will arrive in recyclable packaging this year after a two-year research project into making envelopes green.
Apple launches its big AI push but is it too late?
Features launching on Apple devices will write a story, draw an image and summarise articles but the AI push helped by ChatGPT arrives after those of rivals.
Push to spark up EV policy to drive net zero ambitions
Misinformation and an early end to state subsidies has slowed electric car adoption and may mean Australia misses its climate goals, a study has found.
Drivers hit the brakes on car buys as economy slows
New vehicle sales continue to slow down in Australia, in what industry experts say is a 'disturbing trend' and a sign the cost of living is biting.
Indigenous winemakers pouring culture into every drop
An Indigenous-owned wine company is celebrating its success, as it expands internationally and gives back to community.
Insurers ‘price gouging’ with secret premium hikes
Millions of Australians are being overcharged by health insurers using a loophole to dodge the rules against raising premiums.
Exhausted: Australia lags Europe, US on car pollution
Vehicles are getting bigger but more efficient, a transport study has found, but Australia is still being lapped by other nations on low-emission cars.
The 50 million reasons Woolies wants blockade to end
Woolworths says strike action has cost the company $50 million as it lodges an urgent application to ban workers from blocking access to its warehouses.
Consumer group sees red over ‘greenwashing’ claims
Appliances should receive a repair rating to help consumers navigate vague claims and invest in genuinely sustainable products, a consumer group says.
Coles holds 17 sites with no DAs, denies land-banking
Grocery giant Coles has held one site for 16 years without building a supermarket, but the firm has rejected allegations of anti-competitive land-banking.
Coles denies unhappy suppliers cop ‘holiday’ check outs
Supermarket giant Coles rejects punishing fresh produce suppliers who disagree on pricing, as the company is grilled at an inquiry into the sector.
Woolies denies gouging suppliers in skewed relationship
Representatives from supermarket powerhouse Woolworths deny its huge market share is costing suppliers an opportunity to negotiate when selling products.