Carbon offsets seemed like an environmentally savvy investment for food packaging firm BioPak when the company invested in a solar power project in Southeast Asia. But over more than a decade, the project’s price rose, its transparency fell and Gary Smith’s firm started to question whether...
A jump in the cost of building and renovating homes is not helping the case for more rate cuts. Headline inflation remained steady at 2.4 per cent in the 12 months to April, the Australian Bureau of Statistics reported on Wednesday. But the result was higher than...
A bid to increase taxes on wealthy Australians’ superannuation has been paved with good intentions, but there are warnings it may create unfair outcomes. The federal government is hoping to pass a bill to impose a 15 per cent tax on super balances higher than $3...
Beneath its robust facade, deep-seated cracks threaten the integrity of Australia’s jobs market. Wages are growing in real terms, unemployment is historically low and falling interest rates bode well for further jobs growth. But employment growth has been lumpy, with investment in government-reliant industries such as health...
Stamp duty would be scrapped for first homebuyers spending up to $1 million under a state election pitch that creates a $1 billion budget shortfall. In his budget reply speech, Victorian shadow treasurer James Newbury unveiled a policy to lift the stamp duty exemption for first...
Picking up the phone to negotiate a better deal rather than languishing on standing offers could save households as much as $700 on their power bills. Electricity price increases of somewhere between 0.5 per cent and 9.7 per cent can be expected from July 1 by...
Anthony Albanese has warned the recovery from overwhelming floods could take months but has promised less red tape and more money for those affected The prime minister visited Milton Johnson’s dairy farms, as well as overalls-clad emergency members and army troops at Taree – the epicentre...
Australia must cut the “red and green tape” around gas projects and allow more exploratory drilling to secure the nation’s energy and exports, a conference has been told, despite an election result endorsing a move to renewable energy. Former ambassador to the United States Joe Hockey...
Cheaper jet fuel and more seat availability have driven down prices for Australian jetsetters and the price relief is expected to continue. Domestic economy airfares were 12 per cent cheaper in the first two months of 2025 than the same time last year, data compiled by...
America’s first self-made female billionaire – often hailed as the original global influencer – Martha Stewart has hit the stage at Sydney’s Vivid festival. The home-making icon has had an extremely full life, including publishing more than 100 books, hosting Emmy award-winning television shows and running...