Australia’s economy slowed significantly despite surging data centre investment, but interest rate rises and the effects of the Iran war mean a downturn may be inevitable. Gross domestic product grew at 0.3 per cent in the first three months of the year, down steeply from the...
Australia’s peak artificial intelligence safety agency will operate on a fraction of the funding provided to similar organisations overseas, a senate committee has heard. But the minister in charge of the newly established body has defended its capability, saying it would have comparable features to its...
Contentious changes to taxes on property investments won’t be the main driver of expected falls in prices, the housing minister says. As auction clearance rates hit lows not seen since the COVID-19 pandemic, Clare O’Neil said it was unclear how much the planned changes to negative...
Start ups and small businesses will be forced to wait longer to find out if they will get special treatment from looming tax changes, as the government looks to enact the measures within weeks. Measures in the federal budget limiting negative gearing to new properties from...
Workers facing the threat of artificial intelligence-driven job losses are set to be protected under a multimillion-dollar state government rescue package. The Victorian government on Sunday unveiled the $14 million plan which includes $8.2 million for a career rescue scheme designed to support workers in at-risk...
Australian businesses are under fire from both sides as conflict in the Middle East drives up prices and weakens demand. After first lighting a fire under fuel costs, the impacts of the US-Israeli-led war in the Middle East have begun flowing through the rest of the...
The race to build data centres in Australia could force household electricity prices up by as much as 26 per cent within a decade, a study has found. The artificial intelligence hubs could also use as much electricity as all homes in the state of Victoria...
A record number of Australian drivers are choosing electric and hybrid vehicles, with the low-emission cars closing in on half of all new vehicles sales for the first time. Motorists are slamming the brakes on petrol and diesel cars, with their purchases dropping by as much...
Thousands of Australian small businesses are falling behind on electrification, weighing on national climate goals and leaving manufacturers exposed to gas market volatility. Many small and medium-sized businesses that rely on gas-powered heat to manufacture food, beverages, paper, cardboard and textiles have financially-attractive electric technologies available...