Banning sheep exports will kill towns, inquiry told
Farmers have gathered to protest a ban on live sheep exports, with witnesses at a fiery public hearing saying towns will die when the ban comes into effect.
economy, business and finance
Home prices in three cities are outpacing their peers
Australia's housing market is made up of laggards and leaders in home price growth and the gap is expected to linger in the coming months.
Weakness creeping into labour market as hiring slows
Australia's labour market is slowly softening but the Reserve Bank is unlikely to be bothered by the latest jobs numbers ahead of its next board meeting.
PM weighs in on fresh push for free or cheap childcare
Anthony Albanese has welcomed an expert proposal for free or low-cost childcare but parents hoping for an immediate reprieve are likely to be disappointed.
Dry weather in some states dampens farmer confidence
Farmer confidence has taken a U-turn in the latest quarter in the face of economic pressures and mixed seasonal conditions across Australia.
consumers
economy, business and finance
electricity production and distribution
energy
environmental issue
natural gas
politics
Not the size of the energy build, but how we use it
Many households are reducing their carbon footprint but without efficient homes or smart meters they may not be getting the best value out of clean energy.
central bank
economy, business and finance
inflation and deflation
money and monetary policy
politics
Chalmers eyes soft landing amid budget criticism
The pressure on Australia's economy from higher interest rates justifies the decision not to deliver a "slash and burn" budget, Treasurer Jim Chalmers says.
Households keep falling behind as rate increases bite
Most borrowers are adapting to tough financial conditions but the number of people in hardship or struggling to meet repayments is growing.
States at odds over coal royalty revenue, GST cut
Queensland Treasurer Cameron Dick has hit back at his NSW counterpart over a proposed overhaul of coal royalty revenue in GST calculations.
PM blasts opposition for shifting goals on climate
An opposition plan to rework interim climate commitments has attracted the ire of the prime minister, who says 2030 goals are achievable.
New night life boss ‘crucial’ to live music economy
The Queensland government's decision to appoint a night life economy commissioner has been welcomed as a boost for the future of the live music industry.
Weekend city visits lift but workers still shun the CBD
The number of people visiting Australia's largest cities still remains below pre-pandemic levels but weekends are beginning to buck the trend.
Cheaper rego, sports vouchers in latest budget promises
Queenslanders will get cheaper car registration in the state government's latest cost-of-living budget announcement.
Australians need assurance on ‘toxic’ inflation: RBA
The RBA's strategy of bringing down inflation gradually to protect the jobs market is a different tactic but it has worked, the central bank's new deputy says.
Tourism bounces back after destructive cyclones
Tourists are flocking back to north Queensland, months after two cyclones caused destruction in the region.
Women are reaching economic equality but femicide rises
Rising economic equality traditionally reduces gender-based violence but an expert fears this correlation may no longer be true in Australia. She explains why.
Record $26b green energy boost for emissions target bid
Queensland Labor has earmarked huge funds for green power, storage and transmission projects to support the state's emissions targets.
Lending to property investors jumps amid rising rents
A pick up in investor lending and housing-related loans more generally comes even as interest rates stay elevated and cuts remain in the distant future.
‘Barely growing’: economy limping as rate pain builds
The economy is still expanding - but only just - after households opened the purse strings for concerts and other one-off events in the March quarter.
Cost-of-living relief as SA keeps budget in surplus
South Australia's treasurer says the state is gearing up to benefit from "transformative economic developments" after delivering another budget surplus.
Reserve Bank keeps options open on interest rates
Interest rates could go higher again if inflation proves stickier than expected or moves higher, the head of the Reserve Bank of Australia says.
Social media giants told to pay price, play by rules
For years, social media companies have been accused of acting above regulation but a top media boss says they must play by the same rules as everyone else.
Wanted: funds to pollinate climate, nature start-ups
Investors are being tapped for funding for early-stage companies tackling the climate crisis, the energy transition, new foods and cleaner industry.
Climate change puts the heat on Aussie ski resorts
Popular Australian ski resorts could find themselves on death row without urgent action on climate change, new modelling suggests.
Strong pickings as agriculture in for ripe harvest
The gross value of Australian agriculture, fisheries and forestry is set to come in at just under $90 billion, the third-highest figure on record.
coal
economy, business and finance
electricity production and distribution
energy
energy and resource
environmental issue
metal and mineral
natural gas
nuclear power
politics
Energy storage sites earmarked to keep the lights on
More power storage rather than nuclear reactors or gas will be crucial for long-term energy security, the industry says, with six more sites up for development.
Wages bump unlikely to concern Reserve Bank: economists
A 3.75 per cent boost to minimum wages and awards will deliver a small real gain to millions of Australian workers without throwing fuel on the inflation fire.
Treasury boss backs the young to navigate housing mess
The ever-increasing cost of housing is one of the big challenges facing young people but their future is not bleak, the Treasury secretary says.
Blaming lowest-paid workers for inflation ‘disgusting’
Australia's lowest-paid workers, who will soon receive a 3.75 per cent pay bump, should not be blamed for continued inflation challenges, a minister says.
National accounts likely to reveal a subdued economy
The Australian economy will probably post a weak economic growth result for the first three months of 2024 to reflect ongoing interest-rate pain.
Charm offensive on Aussie carbon dump for net-zero Asia
Costly carbon capture and storage could be the price Australia must pay for retaining emissions-intensive industrial jobs without pumping out more pollution.