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Supermarket inquiry ends not with a bang but a whimper

Instead of wagging fingers at the big chains for the economic challenges, politicians must get serious about tackling some of the underlying causes...

yesterday 10

Financial Review

The Afr View

Budget inaction is not what’s needed at a time of Trump turbulence

Jim Chalmers’ budget will set the scene for an election campaign dominated by global noise but domestic policy silence.

yesterday 1

Financial Review

Jennifer Hewett

Trump could target our healthcare system next. We don’t need to panic

If there are retaliatory tariffs because of standing up for our PBS jewel, so be it. That would be unfortunate and unfair, but Australia can...

yesterday 10

Financial Review

Richard Holden

It’s the private credit liquidity trap that poses real investor risk

It’s an interesting time for Brookfield-owned lender and real estate private credit firm La Trobe Financial to kick off a sale process for the...

yesterday 4

Financial Review

Joyce Moullakis

Let’s get real. Australia’s exceptionalism is being lost, not found

Tuesday’s budget will frame a narrow political contest in which the main parties avoid the decisions needed to secure what is slipping from the...

yesterday 2

Financial Review

Michael Stutchbury

Trump’s strange affair with Putin and Xi leaves allies out in the cold

The direct dealings between the American and Russian presidents in deciding Europe’s eastern front have the whiff of Yalta in 1945.

yesterday 7

Financial Review

Geoff Raby

The ‘protection racket’ theory that explains Trump’s economic strategy

There is one framework for understanding Donald Trump’s economic agenda. Its aim is to reset the global financial and trading system.

yesterday 8

Financial Review

Martin Wolf

Why bikies are laughing louder at Setka than Packer did over Bond

The criminal enterprises in Australia that connect the underworld, the CFMEU and casinos echo the world of James Bond, but the good guys don’t...

yesterday 1

Financial Review

Tony Robinson

CFMEU is still Building Bad nine months later

New reports of criminal activity underline how inadequate the measures taken have been to stamp out illegal CFMEU-linked behaviour.

previous day 2

Financial Review

The Afr View

Dark winter looms without a plan to get the budget in shape

Affordability used to matter once but not so much in the post-COVID era, and the nation seems to have lost its fear of debt and deficit.

previous day 9

Financial Review

Phillip Coorey

ACCC fails to find smoking gun on supermarket price-gouging

After a 12-month inquiry, the regulator has not been able to support claims that Coles and Woolworths are to blame for the inflationary...

previous day 1

Financial Review

Michael Stutchbury

Why Aussie consumers are losing the supermarket wars

While there is no silver bullet, the ACCC has some recommendations to improve competition in the sector.

previous day 10

Financial Review

Mick Keogh

Who really pays the price for arts philanthropy?

In the increasingly troubled relationship between donors and artists, it is becoming difficult to figure out which hand is feeding and which is...

previous day 20

Financial Review

Louise Adler

Should we deport criminal dual citizens? Dutton wants Aussies to vote

There’s a reason politicians don’t like direct democracy and why there will never be a referendum on big national debates.

previous day 9

Financial Review

John Roskam

Trump’s MAGA dreams conjure a world nightmare

Donald Trump values his relationship with dictators far more than that with democratic allies, making the global economic and national security...

previous day 8

Financial Review

Jennifer Hewett

Three questions about higher defence spending

If the Defence Department is to receive more taxpayer money, it should not be treated as a sacred cow.

previous day 8

Financial Review

The Afr View

Trump’s big trade shock is coming for Australia

A private speech by the US commerce secretary to Australian executives in Washington was a jaw-dropper and a wake-up call about the next steps in...

wednesday 20

Financial Review

John Kehoe

Budget must spend political capital on economic reform

The challenge to the major parties is there. Both of them could work with independents to guide meaningful reforms through parliament.

wednesday 10

Financial Review

Allegra Spender

Forget US-style racketeering laws, a restored ABCC can clean up CFMEU

The key tools are police access to coercive powers and a new Australian Building and Construction Commission.

wednesday 10

Financial Review

Nigel Hadgkiss

Australia must heed turning tide of banking regulations abroad

APRA’s regulatory mission creep is unlikely to help banks and insurers compete more effectively against nimble start-ups and tech giants expanding...

18.03.2025 2

Financial Review

The Afr View

APRA holds firm against deregulation push

The banking regulator is resisting the US push for greater deregulation to boost growth. But can that last given the international upheaval under way?

18.03.2025 1

Financial Review

Jennifer Hewett

Productivity problem empowers populist right

We had better get our act together in Australia or we may court the kind of poisonous politics wreaking havoc in the United States and across Europe.

18.03.2025 1

Financial Review

Richard Holden

Why the MAGA faithful could bring down Trump

The president is entering new and dangerous territory as he pushes ahead with inflation-raising tariffs that could hit US consumers.

18.03.2025 2

Financial Review

Gideon Rachman

Super fund failures could cost you big

ASIC’s assault on big super’s failings points to a new phase that will determine whether the big industry funds are best placed to help retirees...

18.03.2025 2

Financial Review

Michael Stutchbury

I’m an NDIS participant. Here’s what I’ve uncovered about this chaotic system

Missteps, miscalculations, lies and missed opportunities on the NDIS should alarm anyone who values sound economic governance.

18.03.2025 40

Financial Review

Zoe Mithen

APRA hasn’t read the room on board governance overhaul

A better option for the regulator would be to improve enforcement efforts, rather than increasing the compliance and governance burden on directors...

18.03.2025 1

Financial Review

Joyce Moullakis

Bracket creep means you keep less income. Indexation would end the stealth tax

Adjusting for inflation would not only give relief to taxpayers but allow for real reform that would enable political parties to fulfil their...

17.03.2025 3

Financial Review

Gene Tunny

How to get the budget back in shape item by item

Before DOGE was even a thing, I ran a similar operation for the NSW Coalition. Here are the three lessons I learnt.

17.03.2025 6

Financial Review

Peta Seaton

Appeal to aspiration to avert a minority government

A hung parliament would just exacerbate the populism, opportunism, and polarisation that are already destabilising the political system.

17.03.2025 2

Financial Review

The Afr View

Reality bites critical-minerals hopes

Australia’s ambition of processing critical minerals is mostly a dream and one that won’t persuade Trump to withhold tariffs on our exports, writes...

17.03.2025 2

Financial Review

Jennifer Hewett

How to spot a low performer at work

Good performance management requires the time and attention of managers, but cost-conscious companies are increasingly thinning them out.

17.03.2025 2

Financial Review

Pilita Clark

Australia must keep its hands clean and walk the talk on free trade

The government is right to reject retaliatory tariffs: international trade and investment are simply too vital to the Australian economy for this...

17.03.2025 2

Financial Review

Danielle Wood