China trade not comprising Australia’s interests: PM
Australia must balance its relationship with China and the US despite the countries' "very different" political systems and values, the prime minister says.
economy, business and finance
Trump joins Musk, Kid Rock in New York for UFC fight
Donald Trump has returned to the scene of a controversial campaign rally in New York to watch UFC 309 with Elon Musk, Kid Rock and Robert F Kennedy Jr.
Economists look to RBA minutes for clue on future rates
Public appearances by Reserve Bank officials will be scoured for clues to where interest rates might be heading next and how they view the economy.
‘I never took my time for granted’: retiring Labor MP
A number of politicians are farewelling the parliament ahead of their retirement next year, as Labor and the coalition look to end the year on a high note.
Developer malaise means Woolies is behind more malls
Woolworths has cast itself as being in competition with cake shops and newsagents, while also showing the might of its construction arm.
Premier flags tax stability for multinational miners
A mining boss has labelled Queensland's coal royalty scheme a 'sugar hit' as the premier looks to incentivise business with fewer taxes and regulation.
Cash flows but small business fears paying the price
Small businesses want an exemption to laws protecting the use of cash for essential items as the treasurer finds a fit for banknotes in a digital economy.
Social cohesion holds despite inflation, high migration
Australians are able to disentangle how they feel about higher migration levels from their appreciation of diversity and multiculturalism, research suggests.
‘Guarded references’: Door opening to rate cuts
The Reserve Bank of Australia remains 'vigilant to upside risks to inflation' but has stepped through a number of scenarios allowing it to cut interest rates.
G20 spotlights Global South, bracing for Trump’s return
The G20 summit highlights a shifting global order as leaders of major economies try to shore up consensus before Donald Trump returns to the US presidency.
Eyes on Trump’s China hawks as Australia quells tension
Tensions between Australia and China continue to cool, but President Xi Jinping has cautioned the diplomatic thaw must be managed "with great care".
Discount class action fresh headache for grocery giants
Australia's two major supermarket chains say they will defend against class action lawsuits brought over allegations of misleading promotional price practices.
Australian finance to spark Indo-Pacific climate action
Cheap finance for climate projects is on offer from Australia for small businesses across the Pacific, Southeast Asia and South Asia.
Coles calls out ‘politicisation’ of cost of living
Politicians are unfairly attacking supermarket chains to provide answers to difficult questions about inflation, grocery giant Coles says.
Consumer confidence rebound wobbles following Trump win
The recovery in consumer confidence is gathering steam despite a blip following the United States election result last week.
‘It’s a lifeline’: relief as government hands Rex $80m
The federal government will provide up to $80 million to keep Rex regional routes operating, a relief for rural communities fearing for their future prosperity.
Pay growth running faster than price rises
Workers have logged another quarter of real wage growth that, thankfully, is not strong enough to push back interest rate cuts.
Jobless rate holds at 4.1 per cent for the third month
Roughly 15,900 jobs were added to the economy last month, falling short of expectations, as the jobless rate remained steady at 4.1 per cent.
Climate change fuelling insurance cost-of-living crunch
More than two-thirds of parents are worried about rising insurance costs pushed higher by climate change.
Jobs still bright spot despite softer employment growth
There may be cracks appearing in the labour market but it's still strong compared to pre-pandemic norms and taking a long time to unwind.
EU fines Meta $A1.3b over Facebook’s classified ads
Meta is expected to appeal a $A1.3 billion fine over abusive practices benefiting its classified ads on Facebook Marketplace.
Crackdown efforts start on dodgy business practices
Dynamic pricing and subscription service traps are in the sights of the federal government, as consultation starts on efforts to ban them.
Jobs market in focus as investors chew Trump triumph
Donald Trump's return is having no immediate impact on central bank inflation outlooks but domestic jobs figures could change the calculus for the RBA.
Australian economy prepared for Trump: Chalmers
Treasurer Jim Chalmers believes Australia is well placed to deal with global financial shocks despite the looming threat of US tariffs.
Aldi banks on winning customers over opening new stores
The nearest supermarket rival to Coles and Woolworths says it's focused on trying to woo new customers rather than expanding its chain of Australian stores.
Households face more bill stress as energy prices rise
Energy debt is expected to escalate even more than anticipated, sparking a review of payment difficulty protections for households and small businesses.
Heat on Nine directors over toxic company culture
The new chair of Nine has fielded questions about a toxic culture at the media giant, as investors deliver a strike against director pay packets.
Immigration debate looms as flashpoint in election
After a hotly-contested debate surrounding immigration in the US, Australia is being urged to discuss the issue with facts during its upcoming election.
Farmers fear being frozen out by supermarket giants
Produce growers face limited export opportunities, low bargaining power and high costs to supply Australian supermarket giants, an inquiry has heard.
Light rail to slow to a crawl as union ramps up demands
Sydney Commuters face frustratingly slow light-rail trips as industrial action linked to a wages dispute between drivers and a major private operator heats up.
Albanese sees sun breaking through dark economic clouds
The prime minister strikes an optimistic tone in a speech to the business crowd, saying the worst economic storms are over and the future may be much brighter.