Death toll rises from disease linked with heavy rain
More people have died and others are suffering from a disease associated with heavy rain in a region lashed by floods and tipped to cop even more downpours.
economy, business and finance
Wages slowdown boosts case for more rate cuts
Treasurer Jim Chalmers says ongoing growth in real wages is a good thing, but the RBA will be more encouraged that wage rises are showing signs of slowing.
Polluter pays: Greens’ enter fray on insurance costs
Forcing gas and coal firms to contribute to disaster resilience and the reinsurance pool is the latest suggestion from a political party to bring down premiums.
One rate dip won’t cut it with voters who want action
Most Australians blame big corporations and not government for the rising cost of living so a lone interest rate cut won't sway their vote, polling indicates.
Steelworks forced into administration to ‘save’ future
South Australia has ended months of uncertainty over a critical steelworks by placing the plant into administration.
Robust job data unlikely to spook Reserve Bank on rates
Ongoing tightness in the labour market won't overly concern the Reserve Bank in its fight against inflation, says one economist after surprising jobs figures.
‘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.
Taxpayers to the rescue of Aussie steel
Safeguarding sovereign steel production is a key factor in a $2.4 billion government package to keep a major steelworks running while a new owner is found.
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.
Trump outlines roadmap for reciprocal US tariff plan
US President Donald Trump says the United States will charge all other countries with the same tariffs as they charge on imports of US goods.
Billionaire to sell coal mine to prop up steelworks
Proceeds from a coal mine sale will be used to pump cash into the troubled Whyalla steelworks in a major debt deal.
Almost 10,000 fired as Trump, Musk cut US agencies
Workers at US agencies are grappling with the Trump administration's aggressive effort to shrink the size of the federal workforce.
Economists less confident of RBA rate cut than market
An AAP survey of 32 leading Australian economists has tipped the Reserve Bank to cut interest rates this week, but more than one in five remain unconvinced.
US pitched deal to access Ukraine’s rare earth minerals
President Volodymyr Zelenskiy says he directed his ministers not to sign off on a proposed agreement to give the US access to Ukraine's rare earth minerals.
Caution urged over polls as Labor bleeds support
A warning has been issued over election polling as tightly clustered results in a close race may not reflect Australians' votes.
Dutton prays for rate cut as RBA enters conclave
Economists say a major reduction in mortgage rates this year is unlikely, even though the Reserve Bank board is widely tipped to deliver a cut on Tuesday.
Falling Star offered $650m lifeline for ailing casinos
With its shares in the doldrums and questions over its operations, Star has been offered a conditional lifeline through a five-year financing proposal.
Climate risk main reason premiums are rising: insurers
Breaking up big companies is no silver bullet to keep insurance premiums affordable, the sector says.
Rates cut at last but ‘no victory on inflation yet’
Australia's big four banks are already promising to pass interest rate cuts on in full after the Reserve Bank lowered the cash rate by 25 basis points.
PM denies rate cut will impact election timing
Anthony Albanese remains coy on when Australians will head to the polls, after the Reserve Bank delivered cost-of-living relief for mortgage holders.
‘Governments shouldn’t own airlines’: Rex rescue panned
A possible government takeover of failed airline Rex has come under fire, with the sector declaring a taxpayer lifeline would create an uneven playing field.
‘No-brainer’ home ownership boost for HECS debt Aussies
Australians saddled with student debt who want to enter the housing market will be given a helping hand, under changes to lending requirements.
Aussies opt for regional living, pushing up home prices
A continued shift of Australians moving to regional towns for lifestyle reasons has boosted property prices at the expense of capital city values.
‘Strong ally’: Australia won’t return fire on tariffs
The clock is ticking for Australia to secure an exemption to Donald Trump's steel tariffs after he accused leaders of breaking their word on an export deal.
USAID watchdog fired after sounding alarm about funding
The inspector general for the US Agency for International Development has been fire, after he warned that billions of dollars in unspent aid was untrackable.
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.
Taxpayers take risk on Rex if ailing airline can’t sell
Experts are questioning why taxpayers should be placed on the hook for bailing out Rex through a government takeover if buyers are unwilling to take the risk.
Australia rejects ‘killing’ the US aluminium market
Australia has denied exploiting tariff exemptions granted by the first Trump administration despite claims aluminium sales have been "killing" the US market.
White House considering exemptions on tariffs: Johnson
US President Donald Trump may consider exemptions to reciprocal tariffs, US House of Representatives Speaker Mike Johnson says.
Dutton weighs in on RBA amid banana price rise warning
Floods in Australia's north are expected to cut economic output and nudge up banana and sugar prices, as the opposition weighs in on a forecast rate cut.
Sony PlayStation Network outage angers gamers worldwide
Sony's PlayStation Network has experienced a major outage across the world, leaving tens of thousands of gamers unable to access online services.