Economists to pore over jobs data, Reserve Bank minutes

14 October

Unemployment data will give the Reserve Bank an idea of how its interest rate hikes are affecting Australia’s economy, as a readout of its last meeting informs economists of its thinking.The Reserve Bank’s decision to raise the cash rate to 4.6...[Read More]

‘Dog’s breakfast’: online safety laws face last hurdle

14 October

Watered-down online safeguards still face hurdles to become law after the opposition labelled them “fatally flawed” while would-be supporters called for further measures to rein in big tech.Proposed digital duty of care laws are among a number...[Read More]

Card surcharge ban will take time to work through: bank

7 October

Australian businesses will need time to adjust to the new ban on card surcharges as the major banks prepare for a potential merchant fees war.The change, driven by the central bank to give consumers transparency at the till, only came into effect on...[Read More]

Small business delivers e-safety wishlist as risks grow

7 October

Small business owners need help – not regulation – to battle growing cyber threats, industry groups say.Business representatives addressed a cybersecurity inquiry at small and medium-sized enterprises in Canberra on Tuesday, as threats from...[Read More]

Four strategies to safeguard your financial future

1 October

Financial stability doesn’t usually come by chance; it requires preparation and strategy. Most of us depend on a steady paycheck, but few consider what would happen if it disappeared suddenly. Protecting yourself against financial disaster...[Read More]

AI race sets up showdown for middle and global powers

30 September

Anthony Albanese’s face-to-face meeting with Donald Trump in New York during the UN General Assembly was fleeting.The prime minister was at the UN headquarters when the US president gave an almost 40-minute speech in which he threatened to...[Read More]

Debt concerns: treasurer’s era of cheap-money ending

30 September

Because everyone wants your money, you can charge them more for it.That’s the issue facing governments forced to pay investors more for borrowing cash in the form of bonds.The eye-watering sums being raised by artificial intelligence...[Read More]

Labour pains: jobs market too hot for inflation fight

23 September

Australia’s unemployment rate probably needs to edge a little higher to help get inflation back under control, Reserve Bank governor Michele Bullock says.Prefacing her remarks by saying the RBA does not want to see high unemployment, Ms Bullock...[Read More]

Closing, selling or passing it on: Choosing the right exit for your business

17 September

For many business owners, years — sometimes decades — of hard work go into building a business. Yet while considerable thought is often given to starting and growing a business, far less attention can be given to how that business will...[Read More]

AI boom forecast as Australia’s biggest bonanza yet

9 September

The adoption of artificial intelligence is rocketing in Australia, creating massive demand for infrastructure that will deliver jobs and economic benefits. The nation was at the “cusp of a data centre boom”, Oxford Economics head of economics...[Read More]

$20,000 instant asset write-off (IAWO) here to stay

9 September

Eligible small businesses can continue to claim an immediate deduction for assets costing less than $20,000. From 1 July 2026, the $20,000 instant asset write-off is permanent, giving eligible small businesses greater certainty when...[Read More]

Blanket bans on AI could cause ‘data centre panic’

2 September

One-size-fits-all restrictions on how artificial intelligence data centres are powered could send investment in the growing technology overseas, business groups warn.In a submission to a Senate inquiry into AI data centres, the Australian Chamber of...[Read More]

Treasury tips AI as key driver of productivity growth

2 September

Artificial intelligence could be the ticket out of stunted economic growth while risking the future of increasingly high-skilled jobs, according to Treasury advice.In a brief handed to the treasurer, AI has been characterised as a tool which could...[Read More]

Modular homes rollout to hasten build times, cut costs

26 August

A modular home factory will receive $120 million in taxpayer backing to turbocharge the fledgling industry and solve Australia’s housing shortage.The investment in Built Living – a 50:50 joint venture between Australian contractor Built and...[Read More]

Retirement savings to be ‘decimated’ under early access

19 August

Workers being able to access their superannuation early would destroy their retirement earnings, the treasurer has warned, following calls by Pauline Hanson.The One Nation leader has called for a relaxation of rules that would allow people to...[Read More]