Budget spending stokes fears of further rate rise pain
13 May
Treasurer Jim Chalmers is defending an extra $18 billion in government spending next financial year despite warnings it will make the Reserve Bank's fight against inflation harder.The federal budget on Tuesday revealed government spending will...[Read More]
Business sector urges Canberra to tackle red-tape cuts
13 May
The federal government must crack on with harmonising regulations so that businesses like retailers, airports and farmers can avoid costly red tape, a major business lobby says.The Alliance of Industry Associations, representing 30 groups...[Read More]
Investors left guessing on corporate climate costs
13 May
Two-thirds of Australia's largest companies are owning up to material climate risk but only a third have put a dollar figure on exposure.The few big firms that have crunched the numbers suggest global temperature rise and decarbonisation will...[Read More]
Super shake-up wins support as budget savings spruiked
13 May
Superannuation performance test changes are being flagged as a way to boost Australia's lagging productivity rate, as the federal treasurer promises more budget savings.First signalled during Jim Chalmers' economic reform roundtable in August,...[Read More]
Budget lacks energy for big renewable project reforms
13 May
Australia's growing throng of solar panels, batteries and electric cars will be managed by a new regulator in a multimillion-dollar budget commitment welcomed by investment and climate groups.The change will come in addition to support for...[Read More]
Noisy, smelly and thirsty: call to pause data centres
13 May
Australia's data centre gold rush is putting communities at risk due to poor planning that is causing blackouts, noise and air pollution, an inquiry has been told.Community concerns about their construction have become so widespread that one...[Read More]
Canberra embraces AI data crunch for medicines to tax
13 May
Artificial intelligence will be deployed across the federal government for everything from evaluating medicines to identifying tax fraud in a bid to boost the nation's productivity.A long list of AI trials were named in the federal budget on...[Read More]
Targets and tests firm up for migrants under budget
13 May
Skilled migrants already onshore are set to benefit from changes to how Australia processes arrivals from overseas, the federal budget reveals.Of the 185,000 places allocated for permanent migrants, more than 70 per cent of those will be skilled...[Read More]
Australians move to regions seeking affordable housing
13 May
House prices in the regions are growing faster than the capitals as Australians abandon big cities in search of affordability.In the three months to April, regional dwelling values increased by 3.3 per cent, outpacing the 1.1 per cent rise...[Read More]
Aussies reliant on crucial medicines to save on scripts
13 May
More Australians will be able to pick up their prescriptions for less money, as the government boosts medicine subsidies in the federal budget.The Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme, which regulates prices of life-saving medications, will be...[Read More]
Electric car owners dodge road charge but pay more tax
13 May
Australia's electric car drivers may escape a road-user charge for another year but will pay more tax under measures revealed in the federal budget.The changes are part of several reforms to support low-emission vehicles in the budget, including...[Read More]
Labor tucks away $77b war chest for further tax cuts
13 May
Tax changes in the budget give the government scope to direct more relief to workers in future, raising the prospect of a 2028 pre-election sweetener.While higher taxes on assets will be returned to workers via tax cuts in the short term,...[Read More]
‘These geniuses’: PM’s generational housing gamble
13 May
Anthony Albanese is playing "gutsy" politics with sweeping changes to tax concessions for landlords but risks offending established investors who may not have expected the overhaul, an expert in politics says.From July 2027, negative gearing...[Read More]
Green groups warn climate courage missing from budget
13 May
Climate wins on bike lanes and batteries have been overshadowed by a failure to capture fossil fuel revenue and rein in off-road diesel credits, environment groups say.The lead up to Tuesday's federal budget was dominated by a campaign to hike...[Read More]
Rural leaders see budget shortfalls for health, roads
13 May
Australia's regions will benefit from funding to bolster fuel supplies and public hospitals, but investment in rural health reform, better connectivity and safer country roads continues to fall short, according to industry groups.The federal...[Read More]