Finance
Doctors pitch federal budget remedies for health issues
20 March
DOCTORS’ PRIORITY ISSUES * More than half of patients waiting for urgent care in emergency departments are not seen within a recommended 30-minute window * One in three patients languish in emergency departments for more than four hours * More...[Read More]
Australians spend less, more often in online shop surge
20 March
Baby boomers have taken to online shopping in droves while younger shoppers are cutting back amid cost-of-living pressures. An increasing number of parcels are also heading to regional and rural areas, fuelled by population growth since the COVID-19...[Read More]
China talks could put Aussie wine and beef on the menu
20 March
Australian producers are hopeful a visit from the Chinese foreign minister could see an end to punitive trade barriers. Despite China easing trade sanctions against Australia, several tariffs and impediments remain, primarily targeting wine, lobster...[Read More]
Voters open-minded on investor tax break reform
20 March
Three in five Australian voters favour scaling back negative gearing and the capital gains tax discount, new polling suggests. One in five want investment property tax breaks to stay the same, according to the polling by independent consultancy...[Read More]
Calls for four-year forecast in GST carve-up
20 March
Four-year forecasts for state and territory shares of GST are being sought as the pushback against the annual carve-up of the tax continues. A longer forecast window from the Commonwealth Grants Commission would help secure budget bottom lines and...[Read More]
Rates on hold but RBA ‘not ruling anything in or out’
20 March
The Reserve Bank has left interest rates at 4.35 per cent for the third meeting in a row in an almost universally expected move reflecting inflation that is cooling but still too high. The board came to its decision on Tuesday after two days of...[Read More]
Rate peak to buoy confidence and possibly home prices
20 March
Another month on hold and growing expectations the next interest rate move will be down could add to already robust housing demand and keep pressure on home prices. Following the Reserve Bank’s widely expected decision to leave interest rates...[Read More]
Online shopping is forcing down prices by $1100 a year
20 March
People are saving more than $1100 a year due to the increasing popularity of online shopping, with the biggest savings coming from growing competition in the market, a study has found. But research from consulting firm the Mandala Partners also...[Read More]
Rising price of instant coffee a bitter blend
20 March
The cost of a morning brew came under fire in parliament as it was revealed a tin of coffee has almost doubled in price within a year at some major supermarkets. Labor MP Steve Georganas lifted the lid on the price hike of Nescafe-branded coffee...[Read More]
Marvels of mastery: Exploring the Eight Wonders of the Ancient and Modern World
14 March
The concept of the “Wonders of the World” has evolved over time, with various lists compiled to encompass the world’s most spectacular natural sights and human-built structures. The traditional list of the Ancient Wonders of the World...[Read More]
What does ethical investing mean? How does it relate to ESG investing?
14 March
Investing is typically perceived as a wealthy-only pastime with no regard for the environment or social issues. However, that is not always the case, and the old mindset of making money for its own sake doesn’t need to stay. People have become...[Read More]
Are the Lipstick and Beer Indexes Reliable Measures of Consumer Behaviour?
14 March
Traditional indicators such as GDP, unemployment rates, and inflation indicators are used to measure the health and performance of an economy. These are commonly used by economists and policymakers in gauging a country’s economic growth and...[Read More]
How to ask your boss to work remotely
14 March
The remote work trend has gained significant momentum in recent years, offering employees the flexibility to maintain a healthy work-life balance. If you’re planning to join the ranks of remote workers, convincing your employer to grant you...[Read More]
Oliver’s insights Bitcoin to infinity and beyond…again!
13 March
Key points – Bitcoin has made it to new record highs, helped recently by the advent of ETFs that invest directly into it. – While blockchain technology has promise, the use case for Bitcoin is hard to determine making it impossible to...[Read More]
Swifties boost spending
13 March
The Australian economy got a leg up from Taylor Swift concerts but the much-anticipated visit was not enough to counter penny pinching elsewhere. Spending as tracked by Commonwealth Bank has been generally subdued and fell 0.3 per cent over the...[Read More]