Interest rate relief could come within weeks after a higher than expected inflation print still fell within the Reserve Bank’s target range. Underlying inflation fell to 2.9 per cent in the year to March and headline inflation held steady at 2.4 per cent, paving the way...
Oft-derided as an economic basket case whose government had driven the state’s budget into a black hole, things are looking up for Victoria. Australia’s second-most populous province is the biggest surprise in CommSec’s latest State of the States report released on Monday, jumping from fourth to...
The cost of buying an electric vehicle could rise by thousands of dollars for some motorists if fringe benefits tax rules are changed after the election. Automotive groups warn drivers in outer metropolitan suburbs could be hit hardest by the change, which would raise transport costs...
Hiking international student visa fees and trimming consultant spending are Labor’s plan to keep the budget in shape while splashing out on election sweeteners. An assurance by Treasurer Jim Chalmers that more than $7 billion in savings would offset the cost of his party’s election promises...
Early childhood education is in the spotlight ahead of the federal election but the path to high-quality, universal and affordable childcare is unclear. Minister for Early Childhood Education Anne Aly, Liberal MP Angie Bell, Greens senator Steph Hodgins-May and independent MP Zoe Daniel have taken part...
Most Australians want regulations on the use of artificial intelligence and almost half fear unchecked use of the technology could impact relationships, a study has found. But mandatory AI guardrails have not been raised as an issue during the federal election campaign despite the widespread concerns. Youth...
Australians who work from home have cut their commutes while increasing their working hours and saving money. The COVID-19 pandemic forced those who could to set up home offices and work remotely as lockdowns were implemented across the world. Five years on, 36 per cent of Australians...
They’re called the “engine room of the economy”, employing more than five million Australians, and they may have a big sway on the federal election result. Chasing the votes of small business owners, the major parties have offered a slew of promises, from tax incentives to...
The hospitality industry has defended surcharges on weekends and public holidays to help businesses cope with spiralling costs. In 2025, one in 11 hospitality businesses, a record 9.3 per cent, closed in the 12 months to February, CreditorWatch CreditorWatch data shows, as higher wages, energy and...
Worn and corroded flexi-hoses are a “ticking time bomb under the sink” causing millions of dollars in household water damage across Australia, a study warns. The average cost of a burst flexi-hose insurance claim is more than $27,500, a Suncorp Insurance survey of more than 22,000...