Yesterday
- Opinion
- Property market
The big fail in Australia’s housing
The Albanese government’s promises of 1.2 million homes over five years are now in the realm of political fantasy, despite the billions of dollars it has pledged for housing.
This Month
- Opinion
- Australian economy
Chalmers confronts his economic critics
The treasurer insists his budget gets the balance right, even if the economists don’t agree. What will the Reserve Bank and the voters think?
- Updated
- Opinion
- Federal budget
The costs of the future still start adding up today
Jim Chalmers is betting he can get the balance right between curbing inflation in the short term while promoting growth in the longer term.
Calling time on international student numbers
Australia’s universities and colleges are fighting plans to reduce international student numbers. Spurred by the housing crisis, the government thinks it has no choice.
- Opinion
- Gas
Why Albanese is going all in on gas
The Labor government has infuriated climate activists by insisting that gas will play a crucial role in the energy transition for many decades to come. Big producers like Woodside will wait to see what that means.
- Opinion
- Critical minerals
Albanese’s troubled critical minerals dream
The Albanese government has high hopes for much more downstream processing of critical minerals. But the numbers aren’t adding up. What can change that?
- Opinion
- Interest rates
Why data-driven Bullock has her eye on the budget
RBA governor Michele Bullock says it’s too early to declare victory over inflation as she avoids the markets’ frenzied guessing game on interest rates.
- Opinion
- Aviation
Qantas’ Hudson takes the chance to shed some Joyce baggage
Vanessa Hudson has finally accepted reality by making a deal with the competition watchdog over ghost flights.
- Opinion
- Mining
BHP is betting self-interest trumps politics on Anglo American
Convincing South Africa’s government its $60 billion takeover bid for the mining multinational is politically palatable is part of BHP’s challenge in a particularly complex deal.
- Opinion
- Australian economy
Chalmers’ recipe for friendly foreign investment ignores the basics
The treasurer has a grand new take on industrial policy, but there’s little evidence of the reforms that international investors seek.
April
- Opinion
- Property development
Why Australia can’t build enough new homes
The nation’s housing ambitions are way off target. That means the price of new homes and rentals will continue to climb, compounded by still high immigration numbers.
- Opinion
- Domestic violence
Albanese confronts domestic violence crisis
Women are angry, and the prime minister is dodging criticism even as he calls an emergency meeting of national cabinet on domestic violence.
- Updated
- Opinion
- Electric vehicles
How China plans to win the global EV war
The US and European governments are increasingly alarmed at the potential for China’s EV ambitions to put their own car manufacturers at risk.
- Updated
- Opinion
- Gas
Goyder will face the music at Woodside AGM
Even if the chairman now looks certain to survive a substantial protest vote and be re-elected, it all adds up to a firm rebuff of the company’s decarbonisation plan.
- Opinion
- Australian economy
Chalmers confronts Australia’s budget dilemma
Despite the global tensions and the national gamble on the “Future Made in Australia”, the treasurer is about to hand down another surplus next month.
- Opinion
- Australian economy
Jobs numbers pose a sticky conundrum
The Albanese government can only publicly welcome the strength of the jobs market, but a receding horizon for rate cuts is always difficult for political leaders eyeing their election prospects.
- Opinion
- Defence
Subs ahoy! Marles defends Labor’s record in defence
Richard Marles argues the Labor government has delivered dramatic reform in defence to project Australia into a much changed and more dangerous region. Is that right?
- Updated
- Opinion
- Critical minerals
Where Australia is getting it wrong on critical minerals
A new report argues that the government’s focus on domestic production and exports is failing to adequately help develop a secure network of supply chains with other countries.
- Opinion
- Foreign relations
Iran’s attack opens up a new world of risk
Iran’s drone and missile strike against Israel didn’t do much damage, but the potential response is unsettling the White House as well as global markets.
- Opinion
- Australian economy
Albanese makes manufacturing his future
Labor wants to promote a future made in Australia. He knows it will have political appeal. What about the economics?
