economy
Rate cuts on horizon in mixed 2025 for the economy
1 January
Australians have endured taxing economic conditions in the past calendar year, but there is cause for cautious hope in 2025. Long-awaited interest rate cuts are broadly expected in the first half of the year, providing household budgets with...[Read More]
Welfare payments, wage theft laws to change in new year
1 January
MAJOR CHANGES TO PAYMENTS AND REGULATIONS AFFECTING AUSTRALIANS IN 2025: * Wage theft laws will come into effect, meaning employers who underpay workers will be committing a criminal offence * More than one million Australians will see government...[Read More]
Carer, student, youth support payments set to grow
11 December
More than one million Australians will soon receive a hip-pocket bump as their support payments increase. From January 1, payments for young people, students, carers and others will be indexed to keep up with inflation. Jobseekers, students,...[Read More]
Thousands wiped off student debt in pre-Christmas gift
27 November
Millions of university graduates and students will soon wake up to an early Christmas present after the government wiped thousands of dollars off their debts. Laws to cap the indexation rate for the Higher Education Loan Program at either the rate...[Read More]
Social cohesion holds despite inflation, high migration
20 November
The vast majority Australians still view multiculturalism and immigration favourably despite growing concern about the number of new arrivals. Almost half of those surveyed in the 2024 Scanlon Mapping Social Cohesion report said migration into...[Read More]
Bonus to stick with army helps Australia to stay ready
6 November
Cash bonuses for serving personnel will do little to improve retention rates, a veterans’ welfare organisation warns. The Albanese government on Tuesday announced a $600 million package to keep people in the military, while releasing the 2024...[Read More]
Signs of slow build back with home approvals sluggish
31 July
A sharp fall in approvals for apartments and townhouses has dragged total building approval numbers lower, interrupting four months of gains. Higher interest rates and pricey materials, labour and other costs have been weighing on home building,...[Read More]