Economy

GDP growthV-shaped recovery powers on

Bumper iron ore prices have played a starring role in a record-breaking December quarter as the Australian economy shrugged off the wind-back of the JobKeeper program to extend its recovery.

Sean Smith

Fresh approachHealthy state of sales for WA retailers

Western Australia’s success in keeping the State mostly COVID-19 free has been a win for bricks and mortar retail but experts predict the shift towards online spending is set to strengthen.

Meilin Chew

EconomyCOVID-19 speeds up shunning of cash in Aus

Australia's economy will be 98 per cent cashless by 2024, new research suggests.

Hannah Ryan

Strong reboundRecord-busting growth shot in arm for recovery

It is the first time in the more than 60-year history of the national accounts data that GDP had grown by more than 3 per cent in two consecutive quarters.

Gerard Cockburn and Finn McHugh

Breaking barriersTime to invest in skills: WA female tech stars

WA’s rising female tech stars want to see investment in professional development and innovation to avoid squandering unique opportunities presented by COVID-19.

Meilin Chew

New directionCOVID brings career change for West Aussies

The COVID pandemic has led many West Australians to rethink their careers with a recent survey showing more than half want to change jobs for better work-life balance.

Meilin Chew

Economic recoveryNev Power’s call to arms for businesses

The chair of the national COVID-19 Commission Advisory Board, Nev Power, has implored business to do everything in its power to support the vaccine rollout and encourage employees to get immunised.

Danielle Le Messurier

Ahead, steadyRBA sticks with record low rate support

Governor Philip Lowe says the economic recovery is well under way and has been stronger than was earlier expected.

Colin Brinsden

$170b riskPlea to restart travel as vaccination numbers grow

The Business Council of Australia wants certainty on a staged reopening of domestic and international borders in line with the number of people being vaccinated against COVID-19.

Sarah Ison

Bottom line hitProfits drop as JobKeeper stimulus fades

The end of JobKeeper is expected to take a toll on company profits in coming months, with new data revealing cuts to the Federal Government’s wage subsidy has already started to bite.

Meilin Chew

Redress neededLack of compensation a “slap in the face” to businesses

The McGowan Government is being urged to dig deeper to compensate small business owners, saying it should deliver adequate compensation for loss of revenue in line with Victoria.

Meilin Chew

HeadwindsWA economy ahead but faces hard year

Maintaining WA’s economic strength will be a challenge this year, experts predict, after a report revealed the State and NSW are the only economies performing above trend and accelerating.

Meilin Chew

mining impact‘Tiff with China may never be repaired’

A global mining expert has warned it is not a given that Australia and China will repair their strained trade relations as he signals the clock is ticking to find a solution.

Kate Purnell

Workers neededPush for foreigners to fill these ‘severe’ skill gaps

About 40,000 are Australians stuck overseas. But workforce shortages are driving a push to get more foreigners into the country.

Jade Gailberger

COVID crunchFashion retailer Mosaic closes more stores

The fashion retailer behind Katies and other well-known brands has shut dozens more stores, surviving its toughest ever trading period with big help from JobKeeper.

Rebecca Le May

Currency jittersWhy the RBA fears Aussie’s creep towards US80¢

Trade statistics show that exporters with limited market dominance are already impacted by the eroding competitiveness.

Michael Heath

Spin offWoolies sets date for $10b hotels, drinks demerger

Woolworths has revived plans to spin off its Endeavour Group hotels and drinks business, which has been buoyed by soaring demand for beer, wine and spirits.

Daniel Newell

New directionWA students choose health, education over mining

West Australians are shunning potentially lucrative jobs in mining and resources in favour of education and health-related occupations, according to a new report

Meilin Chew

Competition issuesAviation and travel a focus for consumer watchdog

The head of Australia’s competition watchdog has outlined his priorities for 2021, which will include a strong focus on travel and the COVID-hit aviation industry.

Danielle Le Messurier

More supportCoalition set to lock in permanent dole rise

New move expected to lock in permanent rise in JobSeeker payments.

Jade Gailberger

opinion
opinion
Housing squeeze
opinion
Who are the first homebuyer grants really helping?

With rampant panic-buying, most land available to buy at least an hour from the city, and no help available to buy an established home, maybe it’s time to re-think how we help first homebuyers.

Rangi Hirini

Upside identifiedAussie finance bosses see better things ahead

A survey by Deloitte shows the nation’s chief financial officers are much more optimistic than they were six months ago.

Stuart McKinnon

analysis
analysis
State Election 2021
analysis
Labor making very safe bet on what WA wants

Mark McGowan and Labor know what the voters want — the familiar. At today’s launch, the Premier strode to the stage with AC/DC blaring, centring his pitch on the safe bet of job creation.

Josh Zimmerman

Future focusCOVID challenge for women in STEM

WA’s leading women in STEM have described the impact of the COVID pandemic as a “double-edged sword”, causing widespread disruption to the disciplines, while creating new challenges and opportunities.

Meilin Chew