Frugal Kiwi government takes axe to central bank budget
The Reserve Bank of New Zealand is "redesigning" its operations after the government announced funding cuts of 25 per cent from July.
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Greens pushing Labor to scrap property tax breaks
Federal Labor has ruled out changes to property tax handouts, but the Greens will try to force the party to act on the issue if there's a hung parliament.
Coalition energises race for votes with gas and petrol
The coalition have pledged gas investment to bring down power prices as they position themselves as stronger leaders for the nation ahead of the election.
Labor gets tick on tax cut, Liberal fuel plan sputters
Labor's election tax cuts will provide a "meaningful" boost to the economy, while the coalition's fuel excise cuts have been labelled economically "silly".
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Cheaper power bills pledge as Dutton spurs gas supply
Opposition Leader Peter Dutton's budget reply has outlined an alternative vision to drive down energy costs and ease pressure on household budgets.
No respite from tax burden on younger workers in budget
Young income earners will be increasingly called upon to fund rising public spending unless structural tax reforms are made in the next term of government.
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Labor ‘unashamed’ in pitch for cost of living vote
The federal budget will deliver help for working people, Anthony Albanese declares, as Labor tries to draw the opposition into revealing its hand.
Public service jobs on line as poll battlelines form
The coalition has doubled down on plans to axe public service jobs if elected as the prime minister goes into bat for Australians working from home.
Pauline Hanson eyes cuts on grog tax, climate spending
Pauline Hanson is taking aim at climate change spending, public servants and First Nations agencies in a bid to address the cost of living.
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Cyclone’s blow to budget as food, building costs hit
The full impact of the destruction wrought by Cyclone Alfred is being assessed, with grocery and construction prices under pressure.
Feds accept GST recommendation despite state pressure
A controversial GST carve-up will go ahead as a federal minister says his government will not overrule an independent body's recommended funding for states.
Sunshine State dark as mining boom costs GST billions
One state has gone backwards in the latest recommended GST revenue carve-up with billions of dollars flowing to another as its population booms.
US budget deficit hits record $US1.147 trillion
The Treasury Department reports the US deficit in February rose $US11 billion from the same month in 2024.
Labor set for budget boost thanks to higher tax take
Australia's bottom line will be $11 billion better off, if the government releases a budget before the election, a leading economist predicts.
Public service jobs face axe in fresh bid to fix budget
Up to 3000 public service jobs are set to be slashed as a state seeks to burst its ballooning wage bill ahead of the budget.
Credit rating outlook downgrade rests in state’s hands
A state government can fix a credit rating outlook downgrade in its first budget after an international agency identified "significant fiscal deterioration".
State at war with watchdog over $11.7b budget blowout
The Victorian government is questioning the integrity of the financial watchdog in a bid to dismiss billions of dollars in updated major project cost figures.
Ex-Liberal spared conviction on personal tax offences
Former Tasmanian MP Adam Brooks has been spared a conviction on personal tax offences, while a company he directed was fined $5000 for failing to file returns.
Ballooning capital works blamed for budget blowout
A state will be in the red for some years as its government flags swelling infrastructure costs, as the opposition warns of the risk of potential spending cuts.
Budget blues in the most populous state as rates weigh
Government finances are wobbling in Australia's most populous state as stubbornly high interest rates weigh on home building and consumer spending.
Potential credit rating drop keeps government dangling
Project cost blowouts and extra government spending could put too much pressure on a state's budget for it to retain its longstanding AA+ credit rating.
Hint of consumer recovery to keep RBA focused on prices
Australia's retail sales enjoyed a boost from an early start to Black Friday discounting and recovering bank balances following tax cuts.
Grave robbery: state accused of death tax by stealth
Wealthy families are being targeted for a massive hike in fees for settling inheritance after the death of a loved one.
Miners dominate company tax list as others pay zero
A corporate income tax haul of almost $100 billion is being hailed as a "great result" but almost a third of major Australian companies avoided a tax bill.
No spending free-for-all: treasurer sets election tone
Any further cost-of-living relief will need to be balanced carefully against budget constraints and economic circumstances, the federal treasurer says.
Tax reform may be shunned in state economic growth plan
The Victorian government has been warned businesses will flee interstate if it turns its back on loosening tax settings in an upcoming economic growth plan.
Australian-first Airbnb bookings tax clears last hurdle
Holidaymakers will soon have to pay an extra 7.5 per cent fee on Airbnb and Stayz bookings under an Australian-first levy ticked off by Victorian parliament.
‘Knocked on the head’: Labor rebuffs property tax moves
After days of discussions over curbing property investors' tax concessions, the government has firmed its stance against the rumours.
Price mystery as Metro tunnels into more taxpayer cash
Spending on the Melbourne Metro Tunnel has blown out again with the latest hike costing taxpayers $837 million, with the total now put at $13.48 billion.
No negative gearing reform on cards for election: PM
The prime minister has hosed down suggestions Labor will take changes to negative gearing to the election, amid warnings it could hike up rents.
Downsizer tax break not ruled out under housing reform
The Property Council argues stamp duty is a major barrier for downsizers, while Victoria's premier did not rule out a one-off exemption to free up family homes.