Land levy planned despite anti-‘forever tax’ pledge
20 May
Property owners in Australia’s most populous state could pay an annual levy of up to $600 under a proposal to change the way emergency services are funded. NSW is the only mainland state that funds emergency services by taxing property insurance...[Read More]
Why ditching car park rules could make homes cheaper
20 May
Changing car parking requirements could shave about $70,000 off the cost of building a typical two-bedroom apartment in Sydney. A report from the Grattan Institute revealed more than $1 billion is wasted on building off-street car parks that go...[Read More]
Aussie artificial intelligence may give robots a leg up
20 May
A team of robots will soon be able to make better decisions and make them faster using on-site artificial intelligence developed for Australia’s largest robotics research lab. National science agency CSIRO unveiled a small, energy-efficient data...[Read More]
Middle ring could be ‘hollowed out’ by tax overhaul
20 May
Rental supplies in the middle ring of Australian capital cities could be hollowed out by changes to investor tax concessions in the federal budget. Real estate agents expect investor interest in established properties to crater after Tuesday’s...[Read More]
Rent hikes, more homelessness as climate change bites
20 May
Climbing insurance premiums and other economic symptoms of climate change are expected to push rents higher and drive homelessness without well-targeted intervention. Under a high-emissions future, characterised by the ongoing dominance of fossil...[Read More]
How housing became a generational budget battleground
20 May
Young homeowner Mika likes Jim Chalmers’ housing policies but the treasurer’s preferred choice of coffee is a problem. “Does anyone know how to make a long black?” she asks media and ministerial staff waiting in her small Canberra apartment...[Read More]
Budget brawl escalates over rival tax cut proposals
20 May
A row has broken out over the cost of cutting taxes for millions of Australians as Labor and the opposition try to sell rival economic plans to voters. After a week dominated by the state of the nation’s finances, Prime Minister Anthony Albanese...[Read More]
Climate agencies to ask AI to predict future disasters
20 May
Australia’s leading climate authorities plan to deploy artificial intelligence to help forecast natural disasters, including what might happen if a tropical cyclone hit a major city. But they warn early attempts to expand predictions using AI will...[Read More]
Oliver’s insights – Investment outlook Q&A – oil, bond yields, the Budget and the RBA
20 May
Key points The oil supply shock remains a significant threat to economic growth and shares – particularly with the Strait of Hormuz remaining closed and oil reserves running down. It’s contributing to rising bond yields and putting pressure...[Read More]
Investment markets and key developments – Weekly market update – 15/05/2026
20 May
US share markets hit a new record this week but lost most gains on Friday after the Trump-Xi meeting yielded no major deals and Iran tensions remained unresolved. All sectors posted losses over the week except for energy. Around the globe,...[Read More]
‘No whammy’: businesses hit back at budget tax overhaul
20 May
States and territories are being urged to slash stamp duty for small businesses and families to help them handle the fallout of a contentious overhaul of tax on investments. The federal government has flagged some GST relief for Australians affected...[Read More]
Tax, migration and NDIS in coalition’s economic sights
20 May
Australia’s tax system would be overhauled, welfare restricted to citizens and immigration slashed under a future coalition government. In his first budget reply speech, Angus Taylor has conceded the Liberals and Nationals still have a long road...[Read More]
Mixed results from first post-budget auction weekend
20 May
All eyes were on the auction market to see the response to negative gearing and capital gains tax changes in the first weekend after the federal budget. The results were mixed. The volume of homes that went to auction across the capital cities fell...[Read More]
Fuel excise extension weighed as states look to supply
20 May
An extension to Australia’s fuel tax discount is still being weighed up as disruption to global oil shipments drives states to chase more control over petrol and diesel supplies. The federal government’s three-month cut to the fuel excise kicked...[Read More]
Budget time is review time: why professional advice matters
14 May
The Federal Budget is more than a political announcement. For many Australians, it is an important reminder to stop, review and ask a simple question: are my financial, lifestyle and tax strategies still working in my favour? Budget changes can...[Read More]
