Yesterday
Labor’s manufacturing fund takes stake in quantum tech company
The National Reconstruction Fund has taken a $13 million stake in Quantum Brilliance, which aims to build an Australian-first facility to make diamonds used in quantum computers.
- Ronald Mizen
- Opinion
- Interest rates
There’s a compelling case for RBA reducing interest rates on Tuesday
The board has created expectations of no rate cut at the final meeting of 2024. That’s the mirror of its 2021 error when it implied there would be no rise.
- Ross Garnaut
This Month
- Opinion
- Opinion
Public sector is strangling economy to death
Like a parasitic twin, the healthy economy is sucking the life out of the sick economy. Something has to give.
- Steven Hamilton
- Opinion
- Interest rates
The markets have got it wrong (again) on rate cuts
Bond traders are fully priced for some relief by April 2025 thanks to a couple of surprising data points. But it’s always the coldest just before sunrise.
- Warren Hogan
‘Darn sensible’ Labor states outcompete Victoria, says top Liberal
Shadow treasurer Brad Rowswell has been in Britain looking at how the state might get in on the AUKUS action, and ruing the salesmanship of rivals NSW and SA.
- Hans van Leeuwen
- Analysis
- Interest rates
Australia’s economic problems have been brewing for years
We are in the most prolonged downturn since the 1991 recession. It’s time for a treasurer to do something about it.
- John Kehoe
- Exclusive
- Productivity
Australia is now an economic ‘problem child’: McKinsey
Business investment is at recession levels as the country’s productivity growth slumps to 30th out of 35 rich countries, says a new report.
- John Kehoe and Michael Read
- Opinion
- Opinion
Five reforms Chalmers must tackle to kickstart growth
Taking on big reforms may entail political risks, but the alternative is to continue on a path of genteel decline.
- David Alexander
- Opinion
- Chanticleer
Wesfarmers CEO: ‘We can’t just wait around for rates to fall’
As Rob Scott says goodbye to an unsung hero of his own investment success, he says Australia’s tepid GDP growth can be a rallying point for the private sector.
- James Thomson
You’re part of the growth problem, business leaders tell Chalmers
The bosses of BHP and Wesfarmers have called on Labor to overhaul the uncompetitive tax system and reverse changes to IR laws if it wants a private sector recovery.
- Michael Read, Carrie LaFrenz, Elouise Fowler and John Kehoe
- Opinion
- Monetary policy
Michele Bullock could be the Maradona of Australian central banking
The Reserve Bank governor is weaving through the inflation challenge with a hawkish comment here, a dovish quip there and a steady interest rate.
- Paul Bloxham
Chalmers admits business must pull Australia out of growth slump
Jim Chalmers says record government spending is stopping the economy from shrinking, but economists say it is delaying rate cuts and crowding out the private sector.
- Updated
- Michael Read
CBA hires Treasury deputy as chief economist
Luke Yeaman is the latest hire for the big banks out of the government department or the Reserve Bank of Australia.
- John Kehoe
- Opinion
- GDP
No amount of lipstick on this pig can hide the economic stagnation
The national accounts make grim reading and are indisputably worse than expected.
- Updated
- John Kehoe
- Opinion
- Chanticleer
This is the problem that CEOs have with GDP
Another tepid set of growth numbers will heap more pressure on the government. But it’s the next 20 years that both sides of politics need to think about.
- Updated
- James Thomson
- Opinion
- Interest rates
The Reserve Bank is not smashing the jobs market
Claims the central bank is needlessly throwing vulnerable Australians out of work are not backed up by the statistics.
- John Kehoe
BCA scorecard ranks the best and worst states for business
The report names Victoria as the worst state or territory to run a business, with its onerous regulations acting against growth and investment on many measures
- Patrick Durkin and Gus McCubbing
- Opinion
- Federal budget
Labor has wasted its budgetary luck, and now it’s running out
The luckiest government Australia has seen did not take the opportunity to get the national budget better prepared for the long haul.
- Chris Richardson
Chalmers has spent $60b more than he has saved, damaging the budget
Veteran budget watcher Chris Richardson says Labor has announced $104 billion in new spending over four budget updates, but raised only $44 billion in extra revenue.
- Michael Read
- Opinion
- Investing
Independents do government a favour by refusing to support super tax
Taxing unrealised gains would harm savers and investors in high-growth companies such as Canva and harm the economy by removing much-needed risk capital.
- Geoff Wilson
