Rents to income levels shoot up to near decade highs
Rental demand is fast outrunning supply and low-income households are bearing the brunt of the rental affordability crisis, analysis shows.
politics
‘Exhausted’ McGowan calls time in shock politics exit
West Australian Premier Mark McGowan is stepping down after shepherding the state through the COVID-19 pandemic and leading his Labor party to dominance.
WA Labor split as leaders emerge in race to for premier
Ministers Roger Cook and Amber-Jade Sanderson have each secured the backing of key unions in their bid to succeed Mark McGowan as Western Australia's premier.
PwC narrowly dodged criminal probe five years earlier
Investigations into the PwC scandal started as early as 2016 when the tax office noticed multinationals restructuring their affairs to work around new laws.
Nine PwC partners stood down after tax advice scandal
PwC acting chief executive Kristin Stubbins has apologised for the tax advice scandal embroiling the consulting giant and stood down nine partners.
PM and health advocates call for calm on voice debate
As debate over the Indigenous voice continues in federal parliament, Anthony Albanese says scare campaigns need to be called out.
Premier tours new hospital in pre-budget health blitz
Queensland's premier and new health minister have toured a recently completed satellite hospital as part of pre-budget focus on health care.
Vic Nats to oppose voice as Reconciliation Week begins
The Victorian Nationals have voted to oppose the national referendum to enshrine an Indigenous voice to parliament, falling into line with the federal party.
‘Formidable woman’ to fill Jim Molan’s Senate vacancy
The NSW Senate seat held by the late Jim Molan will be taken up by former NSW Liberal Party president Maria Kovacic, who was preselected at a party meeting.
economy, business and finance
electricity production and distribution
energy
environmental issue
politics
AGL has ‘time tunnel’ to Australia’s energy transition
The energy transformation is playing out on a small island in South Australia's industrial heartland, where one of the biggest emitters is shaping the future.
Greens ‘no different’ on racism: Lidia Thorpe
Independent senator Lidia Thorpe has accused the Greens of racism, and is considering abstaining from a crucial vote for the Indigenous voice to parliament.
Senators to grill RBA boss ahead of June cash rate call
The top line items for Australian economy observers this week include the central bank governor's appearance at a committee hearing and monthly inflation data.
Biden says debt deal ‘very close’ ahead of new deadline
US President Joe Biden is expressing optimism about reaching a deal on the country's debt ceiling, while the default deadline has been extended by four days.
Greens seek to release list of names in PwC tax leak
A Greens attempt to publicly release a list of names of people the party says were involved in the PwC tax leak has been temporarily stymied pending advice.
Tenants win in revamp but no-grounds evictions remain
West Australian renters will be given greater freedom to keep pets and modify their homes but the state government has stopped short of changing eviction laws.
Dutton shoots down overseas plan for defence vehicles
Australian companies should be used more to help build defence projects, the federal opposition leader says.
Calls for more gas in energy grid amid power bill rise
As thousands face a surge in their power bills, Opposition Leader Peter Dutton has called for more gas supply to ease price hikes.
Referendum working group returns to base camp at Uluru
Six years on from the First Nations National Constitutional Convention at Uluru, members of the referendum working group are gathering at base camp again.
Identity protection to go for sexual offences in Qld
Identity protections for those charged with serious sexual offences in Queensland will be scrapped by the government through a bill tabled in parliament.
Economic momentum starting to ebb across all states
All states and territories are experiencing worsening economic performance led by a slowdown in consumption and home building activity.
Australia calls out China for cyber espionage
The home affairs minister says the federal government will not hesitate to out the parties behind cyber attacks, amid warnings China is beefing up its offence.
Illegal tobacco crackdown in tough Qld smoking reforms
A licensing scheme, the expansion of smoke-free areas and tougher restrictions are all part of legislative reforms passed by Queensland parliament.
DNA boss formally sacked after months on suspension
The scientist in charge of Queensland's embattled state-run forensic laboratory has been sacked after months on suspension.
US Navy to commission new warship in Australia
The US is celebrating the first warship commissioned in an allied country, as Australia's trade minister visits America to boost investment and collaboration.
PwC staff involved in tax leak cut from public work
Troubled consultancy firm PwC has promised to keep any staff involved with the tax leak scandal away from Commonwealth contracts.
PM makes plea to opponents to back Indigenous voice
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has urged coalition MPs to back the Indigenous voice to parliament, saying the body would provide meaningful action.
Power bills to surge for thousands under new price cap
Customers on the default electricity market offer will be slugged with price rises of up to 25 per cent because of high wholesale energy costs.
DeSantis enters presidential race, Trump showdown looms
Florida's Governor Ron DeSantis has officially entered the 2024 presidential race.
Qld gov defends putting patients up at Sea World Resort
Queensland's opposition has attacked the Palaszczuk government for moving stable patients to hotels to ease capacity on overstretched hospitals.
All signs point to lower economic growth than usual
The national economy is tracking toward a contraction in activity, with the patchy performance expected to continue into next year.
Albanese, Modi seek to score runs on migration, energy
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese and Indian counterpart Narendra Modi have agreed to work together on people-to-people links and clean energy.