consumers

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Car sales accelerate, with hybrids leading the charge

More drivers are getting behind the wheel of a new car but preferences are changing, with hybrids speeding up and petrol cars slowing down.

auto trends automotive equipment consumer goods consumers economic policy environmental issue environmental politics environmental pollution politics (general) pollution road transport transport

Hitting the brakes: hybrid sales clouded by tax cut end

A tax concession for plug-in hybrid electric vehicles has come to the end of the road and experts say it could affect future car sales and emissions.

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Call for household battery help to plug energy concerns

Cutting the price of solar batteries would lower household bills while easing pressure on the energy network, say groups pushing for a national scheme.

computing and information technology consumer goods consumers health health treatment medical conditions medical research research research and development science and technology technology (general)

Hearing aids to heart monitors: tech is going healthy

More consumer technology is being approved for medical use in Australia, from earbuds that work as hearing aids to smartwatches that test for heart problems.

consumer goods consumers culture (general) customs and tradition indigenous people it/computer sciences research research and development software technology (general)

Indigenous lands to be put on the map in Australia

Aboriginal place names, protected lands and reserves will be shown on mapping, weather and other apps in Australia as the result of a four-year project.

auto trends automotive equipment consumer goods consumers energy (general) energy saving environmental issue environmental pollution pollution road transport transport

Tesla Cybertruck named the hero of motor show comeback

It is large, futuristic and not ready to drive on Australian roads but Tesla's Cybertruck will be the centrepiece of the first Melbourne motor show in 15 years.

consumer goods consumers economy, business and finance food - consumer goods inquiry politics report retail shopping

Coles, Woolies guilty of increasing margins: watchdog

Treasurer Jim Chalmers promised a crackdown on major supermarkets following a consumer watchdog report, but warned breaking them up would be counterproductive.

consumer goods consumers economy, business and finance food - consumer goods inquiry politics report retail shopping

Watchdog unveils plan to end supermarket shrinkflation

The competition watchdog has resisted calls for powers to break up major supermarkets in a report, while calling for more transparency to tackle price-gouging.

automotive equipment consumer goods consumers disaster (general) electricity production and distribution energy energy (general) energy and resource energy resources energy saving renewable energy road transport transport

Why electric cars can be uncommonly useful in cyclones

As Queenslanders prepared for a tropical cyclone, an Australian electric car company raced to fulfil an influx of orders to keep lights and fridges working.

computing and information technology consumer confidence consumer goods consumer issue - lifestyle and leisure consumers economy (general) software technology (general) wireless technology

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.

auto trends automotive equipment consumer goods consumers economy (general) environmental issue environmental politics environmental pollution politics (general) pollution road transport transport

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.

air pollution auto trends automotive equipment consumer goods consumers economic policy energy (general) energy saving environmental issue environmental politics environmental pollution money and monetary policy politics (general) renewable energy road transport transport

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.

consumers economy, business and finance politics telecommunication service television industry

‘More gaps, more drop-outs’: rise in complaints post-3G

Telcos have been urged to do better in rural Australia, with continued reports of poor mobile service and new black spots after the 3G mobile network closed.

air transport consumers economy, business and finance politics (general) transport

More flights on horizon as airline deal set to take off

Passengers could benefit from more choice and improved convenience as the consumer watchdog provides a green light for a Virgin-Qatar Airways alliance.

company information consumers economy, business and finance electricity production and distribution energy energy and resource natural gas

Origin bets on gas and batteries to keep the lights on

Leading energy retailer Origin Energy says it is "well-placed" to benefit from the energy transition as it bets on big batteries to help keep the lights on.

automotive equipment consumer goods consumers energy energy (general) energy and resource energy resources energy saving environmental issue environmental politics renewable energy research road transport transport

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.

business (general) computing and information technology consumers economy (general) internet it/computer sciences online politics politics (general) satellite technology science and technology technology (general) wireless technology

The cost of broadband is rising, but so is its speed

Australians are paying more to access the internet but thousands more households are getting access to faster download speeds.

company information consumers economy, business and finance electricity production and distribution energy energy and resource environmental issue natural gas

AGL slams nuclear option, doubles down on big batteries

Australia's biggest emitter AGL Energy will build "a whole range of assets", but not nuclear reactors, to support the closure of 50-year-old coal power plants.

air pollution auto trends automotive equipment consumer goods consumers diesel fuel energy (general) environmental issue environmental pollution petrol pollution research road transport transport

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.

consumer issue - lifestyle and leisure consumers electricity production and distribution energy energy (general) energy and resource energy saving politics renewable energy road transport technology (general)

How electric cars could drive down Aussie power bills

It's been sold as the technology that could turn your electric car into a money spinner but experts say vehicle-to-grid could be much more than a side hustle.

automotive equipment consumers energy (general) environmental issue environmental politics pollution renewable energy road transport transport

Kerbside charging boost to curb electric car concerns

Hundreds of electric vehicle chargers will be installed on power poles across three states in a bid to remove concerns about swapping to next-gen transport.

consumers economy, business and finance electricity production and distribution energy energy and resource environmental issue nuclear power politics

Australia tops index as virtual power plants take shape

Australia is poised for virtual power plants that connect households and slash bills but an expert warns nuclear reactors could force users off rooftop solar.

consumers economy, business and finance electricity production and distribution energy energy and resource environmental issue international (foreign) trade natural gas politics

‘Golden age of gas’: households, manufacturers miss out

Households and manufacturers have been left worse off by the east coast gas bonanza, and exporters face new competition from cheaper sources, a report warns.

auto trends automotive equipment consumer goods consumers diesel fuel economy (general) energy energy (general) environmental issue renewable energy road transport transport

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.

alternative energy consumer goods consumers energy energy (general) energy and resource energy resources energy saving environmental issue environmental politics politics renewable energy

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.

computing and information technology consumer goods consumer issue - lifestyle and leisure consumers health health treatment internet medical research research software technology (general)

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.

consumer goods consumers economy, business and finance education politics school

‘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.

computing and information technology consumers international law internet lifestyle and leisure litigation and regulation online regulatory policy and organisation social issues (general) software technology (general)

Aussie TikTok users brace as clock ticks down to US ban

An exodus to other Chinese apps, a jump in prominence but a dive in content: speculation is raging over what a US TikTok ban will mean for its Aussie users.

auto trends consumers energy (general) energy and resource energy resources environmental issue environmental politics politics (general) regulatory policy and organisation road transport transport

Government urged to put brakes on fast EV charging plan

Allowing energy networks to install hundreds of car chargers could present problems, one firm warns, unless they are made to follow the same rules.

computing and information technology consumer goods consumer issue - lifestyle and leisure consumers internet research and development science and technology technology (general)

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.

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