‘Trade-offs’ on cards to get productivity back on track
Australians are being warned to prepare for trade-offs in areas such as housing if the nation’s productivity push is to be successful. Productivity Commission chair Danielle Wood is calling on…
Trump to check out Federal Reserve’s pricey renovations
President Donald Trump plans to step foot in the Federal Reserve as his allies scrutinise its expensive building renovations, a highly personal and confrontational escalation of his campaign to pressure…
Rejected 200+ times, Ghost Cities wins major book prize
Brisbane writer Siang Lu has won the Miles Franklin Literary Award for his comical novel Ghost Cities, after more than 200 publishers rejected the manuscript. And the 39-year-old author isn’t…
RBA not swayed by jobless spike as next rate call looms
Hopes of near-term relief for borrowers have taken a hit after the Reserve Bank’s governor said it wouldn’t have cut interest rates even with a surprise jump in unemployment. Michele…
Pacific nations applaud ‘lifeline’ climate ruling
Australia and other nations have an obligation to curb carbon emissions and to redress climate change damage in other countries, an international court has found. The non-binding advisory opinion by…
Axing of US beef ban sparks call for independent review
The speed of Australia’s decision to lift restrictions on US beef has raised eyebrows in the cattle industry, breeding calls for an independent, scientific review. The federal government has revealed…
Aboriginal women’s service tackling financial abuse
A longstanding inner-city support hub for Aboriginal women will get a big cash injection to protect them from financial abuse. The Mudgin-gal centre in Sydney’s Redfern has operated for more…
Low-paid workers optimistic as wages bill introduced
About one in seven Australian workers will have their penalty rates increased and their employers will not be able to reduce them, under changes proposed by the Albanese government. One…
Jobless rise ‘no surprise’ for watchful Reserve Bank
A recent jump in the unemployment rate took most economists by surprise but not the Reserve Bank, its governor says. Tightness in the labour market was a key concern of…
Copper smelter rescue talks approach melting point
Closing a copper smelter that employs hundreds of people would be a “national disgrace”, a state government claims. Queensland Treasurer David Janetzki has told miner Glencore and the federal government…