India cuts consumption tax to spur domestic demand
Indian Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman has decided to cut taxes on hundreds of consumer items ranging from soaps to small cars to spur domestic demand in the face of economic…
Defence reform update reveals suicide inquiry progress
Only a fraction of more than 100 recommendations made by a defence and veteran suicide royal commission have been delivered. The federal government will on Thursday lay out its progress…
Putin says China to benefit from new gas pipeline
Russian President Vladimir Putin says a planned new Power of Siberia 2 gas pipeline will give a competitive advantage to China because the world’s biggest energy consumer would get gas…
Australia’s deportation deal with Nauru to cost $2.5b
Australian taxpayers will be slugged $2.5 billion over 30 years to deport hundreds of former immigration detainees to Nauru under a “secret” deal. The Albanese government signed a memorandum of…
Economic growth may spell the end for rate cuts
Australia’s stronger-than-expected economic growth could dash hopes for further interest rate cuts. Reserve Bank of Australia governor Michele Bullock insisted she does not know “at this stage” what the uplift…
How Billionaires Control Climate Policy | The West Report
Billionaires like Gina Rinehart, Rupert Murdoch, Gautam Adani and Clive Palmer continue to shape Australia’s climate policy from behind the scenes. While governments scrap renewable projects and hand out royalty…
‘Divisive’ coalition blamed for scapegoating migrants
The opposition has been accused of fuelling violent, anti-immigration protests while Labor’s lack of transparency has been blamed for stoking angst towards migrants. Tens of thousands of protesters marched in…
FOI amendment bill. A transparency counter-revolution.
The biggest ever assault on government transparency has been launched by Labor’s tabling of the FOI Amendment Bill 2025. Transparency warrior Rex Patrick reports. Freedom of Information (FOI) is the…
Super fund giant open to performance test tweaks
The head of Australia’s largest super organisation says he’s open to improvements to performance tests for underperforming funds. AustralianSuper chief executive Paul Schroder said it was “utterly important” for benchmarks…
Consumer boom drives surprise jump in economic growth
A jump in household consumption has driven Australia’s economic growth to the fastest rate in almost two years, offering the strongest sign yet that a long-anticipated recovery in the private…