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.
economy, business and finance
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.
Climate risk main reason premiums are rising: insurers
Breaking up big companies is no silver bullet to keep insurance premiums affordable, the sector says.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
diplomacy
economy, business and finance
international (foreign) trade
international relations
labour
politics
unions
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.
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.
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.
‘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.
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.
credit and debt
economy, business and finance
housing and urban planning
mortgages
regulatory policy and organisation
‘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.
‘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.
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.
Bank moratorium ‘too late’ for rural towns left behind
The federal government has announced a moratorium on regional bank closures, but it's cold comfort for those who have already lost their local branches.
breaking_news
economy, business and finance
international (foreign) trade
iron and steel
metal
politics
tariff
Trump raises steel tariffs, weighs Australia exemption
US President Donald Trump has announced 25 per cent tariffs on all steel and aluminium imports but is "considering" a carve-out for Australia.
breaking_news
economy, business and finance
international (foreign) trade
international relations
politics
tariff
trade agreements
trade policy
Australia must be a ‘model ally’ in US tariff talks
Australia must prove its relationship with the US is mutually beneficial to earn another exemption from steel and aluminium tariffs, experts say.
Albanese to press Trump for tariff breaks for Australia
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese will attempt to secure Australian companies an exemption from US tariffs in a direct phone call with President Donald Trump.
Trump to announce 25 per cent steel, aluminium tariffs
Donald Trump is poised to announce 25 per cent tariffs on steel and aluminium imported to the US but It's not yet clear how and if Australia will be affected.
‘Hold the line’: politicians say goodbye ahead of poll
Retiring politicians have issued rallying calls to the nation to remain optimistic about the future as they bid farewell ahead of a federal election.
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.
Economic uncertainty clouds business investment outlook
The value of planned investment projects, such as road and rail infrastructure, has fallen as businesses cut costs in response to rising economic uncertainty.
Treasurer courts business with productivity promises
Helping businesses leverage clean energy and AI will transform Australia to its "fourth economy" and improve productivity growth, Treasurer Jim Chalmers says.