Economy

Back in businessBorder changes “early Christmas present” for businesses

WA businesses are gearing up to tap much-needed Eastern States workers, and retailers are hoping for a Christmas spending boost, when the harder border with NSW and Victoria comes down next week.

Meilin Chew

Dire predictionRBA chief saw pandemic lockdown coming

As the coronavirus ricocheted from China through South Korea, Iran and Italy in late February, Reserve Bank of Australia Chief Philip Lowe knew his economy wouldn’t be spared.

Economic boostRBA holds rates, signals recovery is under way

The Reserve Bank has left its suite of monetary policy measures unchanged at its final board meeting of the year.

Colin Brinsden

EconomyRental stress drives up poverty

Rising rental prices across the nation, coupled with job losses, are forcing more people into poverty.

opinion
opinion
Meilin Chew
opinion
How you can support ethical business by shopping around

With only a few weeks to go until Christmas, spare a thought for where you choose to buy your gifts this year.

Meilin ChewFinance News Presenter

Wine warTreasury diverts Penfolds from China as tariffs bite

Treasury Wine Estates has unveiled an emergency plan to find new markets for its best-known labels, including Penfolds, after China imposed crippling anti-dumping duties of 169 per cent on its wine.

Economic outlookAustralia faces ‘hard and bumpy’ road out of recession

Treasurer Josh Frydenberg says while economic recovery is “well under way”, there are some jobs that can’t be saved.

Sarah Ison

EducationHundreds of schools smashed by disasters

The one-two punch of bushfires and COVID-19 took an immense toll on NSW schools, a new report has found.

Anton Nilsson

opinion
opinion
Airport development
opinion
Perth parallel runway will ensure our State’s future

After decades of research and analysis, WA’s economic development is future-proofed with a second parallel runway approved for Perth Airport.

Geoffrey ThomasAviation Editor

exclusive
exclusive
Jobs boost
exclusive
Building grant extension to ‘keep tradies on the tools’

New home builders or renovators rushing to access a HomeBuilder grant before the end of the year have been given a three-month reprieve under changes to the Morrison Government’s stimulus scheme.

Linda Silmalis

Wine warFears for WA wine industry after China tariff blow

China’s decision to place massive tariffs of up to 212.1 per cent on all Australian wines will ‘inflict significant pain’ on the WA industry, worried local producers have said.

Ray Jordan and Lanai Scarr

Optimistic outlookWA small businesses look to expand as confidence grows

WA small business owners are feeling optimistic about the future as the state continues to make up ground lost during the pandemic.

Meilin Chew

Upbeat outlookWA revenue optimism shines through COVID gloom

WA small businesses are the most optimistic in the country concerning revenue prospects in 2021, new research shows.

Paul Osborne

Roaring startJoe trumps Donald in market reaction rankings

It’s obviously very early, but the market reality has been the opposite of what Donald Trump predicted for his rival — a crash.

Vildana Hajric and Lu Wang

Cost pressuresYoung consumers worse off during COVID-19

A growing number of young people are failing to service their debt and missing other payments as the pandemic downturn drags on.

Hannah Ryan

Raw ambitionWomen work at busting the ‘E’ myth

WA business owners are busting the myth that women leave traditional nine-to-five roles to start their own venture for ‘lifestyle reasons’.

Meilin Chew

Cultural shiftOut of office employees the workplace of the future

Three-quarters of employers now offer flexible hours in a work-life ‘industrial revolution to help more Australians juggle work and family life — but men are still pocketing a ‘blokes’ bonus’.

Natasha Bita, Rhianna Mitchell and Kate Purnell

Emergency paymentsCoronavirus cash splash saved 500,000 households

New WA university research shows nearly half a million Australian families have been spared losing their homes or mortgage stress thanks to JobKeeper, JobSeeker and Coronavirus Supplement payments.

Bouncing backAustralia’s pandemic recovery sustainable: Moody’s

The ratings agency says Australia is unlikely to suffer a lasting drop in economic growth, despite being hit by its largest economic contraction on record.

Colin Brinsden

Monster savingsThe best Black Friday specials and where to find them

Retailers are beginning to reveal the lucrative deals on offer for the monster Black Friday and Cyber Monday sales.

Gerard Cockburn

Amanda RishworthAustralian youth must be the focus and we need action

Amanda Rishworth reveals why she wants the Federal Government to deliver a youth recovery strategy which gets young people through the pandemic and secures their long term futures.

Amanda Rishworth

GFC lessonsRBA warns against withdrawal of COVID support

The Reserve Bank of Australia is warning against winding down pandemic support measures too soon, fearing it could risk dropping Australia deeper into recession.

Sarah Ison

Short and sharpSA lockdown brings down the mood

It ends a record-breaking run of 11 consecutive weekly gains for the ANZ-Roy Morgan consumer confidence index that took it to its highest level since February.

Colin Brinsden

Respected figureBiden taps ex-Fed chair Yellen to lead treasury

Janet Yellen, who is widely admired in the financial world, would be the first woman to lead the Treasury Department in a line stretching back to Alexander Hamilton in 1789.