Latest
World Bank slashes global growth forecast as trade tensions bite
The bank stopped short of forecasting a recession, but said global economic growth this year would be its weakest outside of a recession since 2008.
Shipbuilder Austal’s Korean suitor clears key hurdle for bid
Hanwha has received approval from the Committee on Foreign Investment in the United States (CFIUS) to go to 19.99 per cent or even 100 per cent of Austal.
A battle is on to own pole-mounted EV chargers – and make users pay
Rollout of chargers could be accelerated by networks, but charging companies warn all electricity users and non-EV drivers will pay the price.
Australians are upset about gas prices. This chart shows why
Western Australia reserves a portion of its export gas for domestic use – and has some of the lowest prices in the world.
Markets lock in July rate cut amid fears RBA waited too long
A week of underwhelming economic data has economists questioning whether the central bank is late in reducing interest rates.
Rio pushes for ‘eye-watering’ Tomago bailout
Australia’s largest electricity user is seeking billions in direct government support to cover spiralling power costs.
Opinion & Analysis
Six tax changes Labor can (and should) implement
Anthony Albanese’s plan to host a productivity roundtable is an opportunity to put overdue tax reform on the government’s agenda.
Economics editor
AI robots and smarter tech could be our economic lifeline
We must avoid following the misguided European path of innovation-killing regulation that sees every technological advance as a threat.
Economics professor
Why most people overpay for residential property at auctions
Thanks to the “Winner’s Curse”, winning an auction or making an acquisition is a recipe for failure if you’re not careful.
Economics professor
‘Best of the best’: New Treasury boss takes helm in historic move
Jenny Wilkinson, a “level-headed and sensible” economist, succeeds Steven Kennedy who will shift to secretary of the Department of Prime Minister and Cabinet.
Economics editor
More From Today
Six tax changes Labor can (and should) implement
Anthony Albanese’s plan to host a productivity roundtable is an opportunity to put overdue tax reform on the government’s agenda.
AI robots and smarter tech could be our economic lifeline
We must avoid following the misguided European path of innovation-killing regulation that sees every technological advance as a threat.
Why most people overpay for residential property at auctions
Thanks to the “Winner’s Curse”, winning an auction or making an acquisition is a recipe for failure if you’re not careful.
Yesterday
‘Best of the best’: New Treasury boss takes helm in historic move
Jenny Wilkinson, a “level-headed and sensible” economist, succeeds Steven Kennedy who will shift to secretary of the Department of Prime Minister and Cabinet.
Opportunistic tax hikes will just finance lazy spending
Jim Chalmers should take up the offer of Coalition finance spokesman James Paterson to consider genuine and substantial tax reform.
Don’t let rich old men tell you the planned super tax is good
Once the government opens the door to taxing unrealised gains, there’s little stopping it from extending this logic to other areas.
This Month
Three big ideas Treasury should put to Albanese on economic reform
This is a rare opportunity to go beyond short-term politics and deliver bold, long-overdue economic reform to secure Australia’s long-term prosperity.
NIMBYism and construction costs are why you can’t own a home
The enabling of new planned cities and exurbs with greater density and outstanding amenities may be the best of the worst alternatives.
Three reasons why you should ‘chill out’ over Labor’s super tax
The super tax on unrealised gains is part of the long-overdue and necessary process of tax reform that many have been urging over decades.
Labor is adrift on gas policy. Here’s why that’s bad
Without a clear strategy, Labor leaves the field open to those who insist we should stop all gas now, and those who argue that gas will be around for many decades yet.
Three reasons why Labor’s housing policy won’t revive the Australian dream
Labor faces two key tests: Can it build new houses? And can it facilitate more Australians to become first-home owners?
Are you ready for the AI boom? | Virgin winners | Trump v Musk
This week, James and Anthony try to explain what’s coming from the AI revolution, reveal the biggest winners from the float of Virgin, and you’ll never guess: Tump and Musk’s bromance is over.
‘Nonsense’: Super calls out Chalmers on tax claims
Suggestions that no alternatives were put forward to calculate the new tax on super balances above $3 million have been slammed.
‘Not about being dishonest’: D’Ambrosio says grid bill still unknown
Victorian Energy Minister Lily D’Ambrosio says cost of the multibillion-dollar renewable energy plan will be known only when all contracts are signed over the years.
The current moment feels like the 1970s (not in a good way)
Key indicators echo the second half of the 1970s when Australia was a second-rate, over-regulated and over-protected economy.
Victoria to spend $81m on advisers. Eslake says he’ll do it for free
Victorian Treasurer Jaclyn Symes has set aside more than $81 million for economic and policy advice this year. Economist Saul Eslake says she could’ve given him a call.
Musk-Trump fissure raises prospect of higher rates
The breakdown in relations between the US president and the world’s richest person could push long-term interest rates a lot higher.
Why we shouldn’t celebrate Commonwealth Bank’s $300b value
Five of the 10 most valuable companies on the ASX are banks. That says something about Australia’s productivity and dynamism – and it’s not good.
The One Big Beautiful Bill that split Trump and Musk
Elon Musk has finally discovered what the rest of us have known for a while: the Republicans no longer care about fiscal responsibility.
The enduring legacy of the late Stanley Fischer, a giant of macroeconomics
Stan was at the IMF during the Asian Financial Crisis and played the leading role in formulating the IMF’s response to the crisis.
