Retail sales dip as shoppers hold off for Black Friday
Consumers hit the pause button on spending in the lead up to the Black Friday sales period, official retail trade data suggests.
economy, business and finance
Cultural stigma holds workplaces back as pay gap falls
An increase in the number of women in leadership roles has helped reduce the gender pay gap but cultural change is needed to eliminate it entirely, data shows.
Financial hardship creeping into higher income brackets
More Australians are struggling to meet financial obligations such as paying for food and basic goods, mortgage repayments, or funding an emergency.
UK central banker nabbed to take over as RBA deputy
Bank of England's Andrew Hauser will be the next deputy governor of Australia's central bank, bringing a "fresh, global perspective" to the key institution.
Croppers warn winter harvest is not looking great
As the winter crop harvest winds up earlier than usual, the nation's biggest wheat producer WA is reporting lower than expected volumes with some yields halved.
Insurance Council warns higher prices ‘baked in’
The Insurance Council of Australia chief says households and businesses are feeling the squeeze, with more people forced to forego or reduce insurance coverage.
SA puts deadline on silicosis-causing engineered stone
Engineered stone could soon be ditched in South Australia if a national ban is not enforced, with state and territory leaders set for further talks.
Gladstone Hydrogen project gets $228 million in funding from Fortescue
Fortescue Energy, has approved a $228 million investment in its hydrogen project in Gladstone, Queensland as part of The CQ Hydrogen Hub.
Feds ‘supercharge’ clean energy build to keep lights on
Clean energy sources will take over from ageing coal power stations under a supercharged federal scheme, but critics say household bills will rise without gas.
Why further RBA interest rate hikes are less likely now than even 1 week ago
Since Australia’s Reserve Bank hiked interest rates two weeks ago, there have been two important developments – one in the United States and the other in the United Kingdom. If it’s not clear to you why events overseas influence Australia’s interest rates, which are meant to be set to control Australian inflation, read on.
economy, business and finance
electricity production and distribution
energy
energy and resource
manufacturing and engineering
politics
transport
Hydrogen cars next cab off the rank as demo servo opens
The national science agency has achieved a key milestone in the development of a local hydrogen industry with the opening of a refuelling and research station.
Albanese defends inflation-busting plan amid blowback
The federal government has backed its inflation-fighting policies as the opposition says Labor's perception of price pressures is at odds with the Reserve Bank.
RBA stares down ‘increasingly homegrown’ inflation
The head of Australia's central bank says the drivers of inflation are shifting and that means it will be harder to combat price pressures in the economy.
company information
economy, business and finance
electricity production and distribution
energy
metal and mineral
mining
Fortescue hit with first strike, unveils green spend
Fortescue Metals Group has received a "first strike" on executive pay as the iron ore miner unveiled plans to splash $1.1 billion on green hydrogen.
RBA hones in on domestic demand in inflation fight
The Reserve Bank fired off an interest rate hike last month to take out insurance against lingering inflation risks, minutes from a board meeting confirm.
Subdued 2024 for property as rate pain hits home
A mixed year is expected for Australian property markets, with SQM Research expecting strong growth in Brisbane and Perth but weaker performance elsewhere.
Embattled Optus CEO resigns after fraught 18 months
Optus CEO Kelly Bayer Rosmarin has stepped down after a challenging 18 months marked by two of the telco giant's worst and most public disasters.
More cash on offer for first home buyers
The Queensland government is doubling grants to first home buyers in an effort to get thousands more people into the property market.
All eyes on RBA messaging for hints on rates outlook
Public appearances from senior Reserve Bank officials should shed some light on the future outlook for interest rates as the tightening cycle nears its end.
APEC leaders divided on Ukraine, Gaza, back WTO reform
APEC members went into the US-hosted summit divided over the wars in Ukraine and Gaza and that is how they left, but they did unite behind reforming the WTO.
Biden tells APEC leaders US is committed to the region
President Joe Biden has told the APEC summit the United States is 'not going anywhere' in its commitment to the Pacific region.
Indo-Pacific agreement on clean energy, anti-graft
A US-led grouping of Indo-Pacific countries has agreed to cooperate on clean energy, anti-corruption and supply chains, but have not reached a trade pact.
Four in five Australian housing markets in growth mode
The rebound in home prices has reached most parts of the country although the pace of growth varies across cities and regions.
agriculture
economy, business and finance
electricity production and distribution
energy
energy and resource
environmental issue
manufacturing and engineering
metal and mineral
mining
politics
transport
Battery economy: From ‘dig-and-ship’ to ‘mine-and-make’
Some $2 billion in capital and other sweeteners could turn Australia from the world's quarry into a "mine-and-make''nation driving the battery supply chain.
air transport
breaking_news
crime, law and justice
economy, business and finance
health and safety at work
unions
Qantas guilty over treatment of virus-concerned worker
A court has found Qantas guilty of breaching NSW workplace health and safety laws after it stood down a worker who raised concerns about COVID-19.
Billions slashed from rail and road projects
Dozens of state projects have had their funding axed as the federal government scrambles to address a multi-billion dollar infrastructure cost blowout.
Jobs market ‘defies gravity’ but weakening on horizon
The unemployment rate moved higher last month but is still well below historical norms, with more jobs added to the economy than expected.
Wall St rallies, data suggests rate hikes may be over
US indices have made their biggest gains since late April amid indications interest rate hikes may be at an end.
Social fabric strained amid growing financial pain
Australia's social cohesion is under pressure on multiple fronts, including financial stress and worsening economic inequality.
Growth forecasts take shine off bumper pay packets
Worker pay packets recorded the biggest quarterly jump in the history of the official wage price index survey, but annual growth is still trailing inflation.
‘Not happy’: states to pay more for infrastructure
States will be required to go 50-50 with the federal government on infrastructure projects, angering premiers who believe the changes are unfair.