This Month
Palmer says billionaires like him shouldn’t get a break on bills
The Rich Lister, who is eligible for the power bill rebate on several of his homes, says the money would be better spent on households that desperately need it.
- Campbell Kwan and Bonnie Campbell
- Opinion
- Federal budget
Why Chalmers’ budget made me very grumpy
I’m feeling as grumpy as I appear in my headshot. That’s because the big ask of the budget was not to poke the inflationary bear. It didn’t pass that test.
- Chris Richardson
$300 off every household’s power bill in cost-of-living cash splash
In addition to a tax cut from July 1, every household will receive an electricity bill discount as part of a $7.8 billion cost-of-living package.
- Ronald Mizen and Maxim Shanahan
Spending addiction fuels a new decade of deficits
This pre-election budget includes $300 in power bill discounts for every household, $1.9 billion in rent assistance and $14 billion in tax credits for critical mineral miners and green hydrogen producers.
- Phillip Coorey
The winners and losers in the federal budget
Green business, public servants, renters and taxpayers are budget winners while consultants, the Reserve Bank and tax cheats do poorly.
- Nick Bonyhady, Maxim Shanahan and Campbell Kwan
Readers want government to cut debt, rein in spending
Almost 60 per cent readers want Treasurer Jim Chalmers’ federal budget priority to either reduce debt or reign in government spending in this year’s budget - but another 24 per cent want cost-of-living relief to be the focus.
- Edmund Tadros
April
Budget surplus of $13b tipped, but Labor needs a ‘credible’ plan
It could be the second consecutive surplus for Labor and the first time that has happened in almost 20 years. But the longer-term outlook is increasingly bleak.
- Ronald Mizen
- Opinion
- Supermarkets
Emerson review has no evidence to support mandatory supermarket code
Amazon and Bunnings aren’t covered because consumers love them. That shows it is all about political cover to bash Coles and Woolworths for inflation.
- Robert Hadler
Emerson rejects ‘populist’ supermarket break-up call
An independent review has rejected the forced break-up of Coles and Woolworths, finding the ideas backed by the Coalition and Greens lacked “credibility”.
- Ronald Mizen
Albanese looks to states for power price help
The prime minister looks set to call on state and territory governments to help deliver further household energy cost relief in the May 14 federal budget.
- Tom McIlroy
March
Wave of NSW wage claims up to 8pc could trigger broader pay rises
Unions want wage increases of up to 8 per cent as they prepare to negotiate new deals with railway, energy and health care workers in the most populous state.
- Samantha Hutchinson
Liberals to fall short of majority in Tasmania poll
The country’s only Liberal government is tipped to win more seats than Labor, but not enough to govern in its own right as voters appear set to snub both major parties.
- Updated
- Tom McIlroy
Teals back cutting HECS indexation
Independent MPs are pushing for reform of the student loans system ahead of the May budget.
- Julie Hare
- Opinion
- Chanticleer
Sydney toll agreements still stuck in coins era
If NSW is serious about rethinking Sydney’s toll roads, you can bet motorists (and voters) will be happy to see it put a bit of heat on Transurban.
- Anthony Macdonald
- Updated
- Health insurance
Private hospitals sound alarm as premiums rise
More than a dozen private hospitals have closed since last year, with NIB boss Mark Fitzgibbon warning of a structural change in the provision of medical care.
- Michael Read and James Thomson
Crime and cost of living will decide the battle for Dunkley
Voters in the crucial Dunkley byelection have two things on their mind – crime and the cost of living.
- Gus McCubbing
February
- Exclusive
- Interest rates
Household income pain to last until 2027. These three charts prove it
After eight quarters in a row of falling real household incomes, Australians will have to wait until 2027 for living standards to recover to pre-pandemic levels.
- Michael Read
Sydney could become a ‘city with no grandchildren’
Adding just three storeys to apartments built in the past six years could have saved Sydney renters as much as $1800 a year.
- Samantha Hutchinson
Why you won’t be getting a fancy St Valentine’s bouquet this year
Australians are expected to spend $20 million less on flowers on the day of romance this year, but florist Kellee Pham hopes consumer confidence bounces back.
- Gus McCubbing
Wong meets with UN’s Palestinian relief agency weeks after aid frozen
Foreign Minister Penny Wong has spoken with the head of the UN Palestinian refugee relief agency, Philippe Lazzarini, weeks after Australia froze aid. Follow updates live.
- Updated
- Gus McCubbing
