Economy
Better but ‘not perfect’ tax reform wins expert support
17 June
Parliamentarians are being urged to pass laws limiting tax breaks for property investors and not “let the perfect be the enemy of the good”. Looming tax reforms would help make the tax system more equitable, independent economist Saul Eslake...[Read More]
Fight and flight: tax inquiry fuming just a smokescreen
17 June
Concerns controversial tax changes are being rushed have been hosed down as experts dismiss claims businesses will flee overseas due to the measures. Under changes proposed by the federal government, the capital gains tax discount of 50 per cent...[Read More]
‘Reform is always hard’: PM coy on tax carve outs
10 June
Startups may be able to claim greater tax concessions than initially announced in the federal budget as the government grapples with blowback to its economic reforms. Treasurer Jim Chalmers is in talks with businesses about allowing startups to keep...[Read More]
Tax changes push biotech and health sectors offside
10 June
Some of Australia’s leading health and life sciences organisations are urging Treasurer Jim Chalmers to review the changes to research and development taxes proposed in his budget. Sector advocates say while they’re concerned over a number of Dr...[Read More]
Interest rate impact hits housing approval levels
3 June
Rising interest rates have been blamed for a downturn in housing approvals, but tax changes in the federal budget could lead to an uptick. Figures from the Australian Bureau of Statistics showed the total number of dwellings approved in April fell...[Read More]
AI risks deepening divide between investors and workers
3 June
The divide between people who earn income from investments and those who work for a living could be exacerbated by the artificial intelligence revolution, economists at Australia’s largest business lender warn. While the adoption of AI is expected...[Read More]
Treasurer hoses down calls to carve up his tax revamp
27 May
Changes to capital gains taxes should still be broad to ensure one issue with the housing market isn’t replaced by another, Treasurer Jim Chalmers says, despite business groups urging the reforms apply only to property. The federal government will...[Read More]
Investor tax cut call as opponents fight Labor plan
27 May
Investor incentives should be increased, not cut, a senior Liberal says, as Labor moves to rush its once-in-a-generation tax overhaul through parliament. Business leaders have warned the measures, laid out in the federal budget earlier in May, will...[Read More]
Governments warned not to hold back AI, tech start-ups
27 May
Australia is well-positioned to take advantage of the global boom in artificial intelligence but governments and regulators need to get the policy settings right so they don’t stifle start-ups. That’s the message from two of the country’s...[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]
‘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]
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]
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]
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]
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]