Financial Review - Business, Finance and Investment News | afr.com

‘Begin to believe again’: Taylor’s $22.5b tax appeal to voters

The opposition leader says workers would be $1000 a year better off at the end of the first term of a Coalition government under a pledge to index tax brackets to inflation and end bracket creep.

The budget’s weirdest twist? Both sides think it will save them

For Labor, this is the real deal, fulfilling a longstanding agenda. Meanwhile, the Coalition, especially the Liberal Party, believes it has been thrown a lifeline.

KPMG admits partner used confidential Lendlease files in Westpac pitch

The firm, which had audited the property development giant’s accounts for six decades, had previously said the allegations could not be substantiated.

The $17b hole in this ASX tech darling isn’t just about AI

Xero is taking a pragmatic approach to the threat of artificial intelligence and its core business keeps growing. But investors don’t want to hear about it.

Anthropic threat clouds Xero’s outlook, as US expansion drags down profit

Xi warns Trump of ‘clashes’ if Taiwan is mishandled in ‘red-line’ talks

Power is shifting in CSL’s horrible, no good, very bad week

Lunch guest that stunned Qantas rivals

Political crisis deepens in UK as health minister quits to challenge PM

Health Secretary Wes Streeting became the first senior minister to quit Keir Starmer’s cabinet in preparation for a leadership tilt as the Labour Party reels from a local election disaster.

Public service costs blow out by $20b, despite redundancies

The huge cost overrun chews up more than half of the $37.8 billion the government expects to save from cutting the National Disability Insurance Scheme.

Labor considers tweaks to CGT for start-ups

The government is unlikely to carve out the start-up industry from its controversial capital gains tax changes despite outrage from the technology industry.

Developers ready for investor switch into new housing

Federal budget changes to property taxation designed to steer investors toward new housing could make more projects viable, developers say.

Chalmers’ tax relief for workers to be swallowed by inflation

Average tax rates for high-income earners will continue to rise as Chalmers’ new $250 tax offset does little to address bracket creep

NDIS shake-up gives Butler sweeping powers to cut scheme

Labor’s legislation to slash the disability scheme’s runaway growth is in a race against the clock as a Senate inquiry looms.

How Labor is killing family trusts – starting with the bucket company

Cult tailor Christian Kimber turns up the heat for Sydney

Gold chains, karaoke and burgers: China’s netizens poke AI fun at Trump

MSO assures donors: your money won’t go to court fight with pianist

Deutsche lines up $365m for MoneyMe from securitisation markets7.01pm

Deutsche lines up $365m for MoneyMe from securitisation markets

Nordic bonds are hot. But National Group’s foray is struggling5.56pm

Nordic bonds are hot. But National Group’s foray is struggling

Suitors lob first-round bids in $3b sale for Ausgrid’s Plus Es4.02pm

Suitors lob first-round bids in $3b sale for Ausgrid’s Plus Es

The $17b hole in this ASX tech darling isn’t just about AI

Power is shifting in CSL’s horrible, no good, very bad week

What really brought Coles down in dodgy discounts case

The ‘Down Down’ jackpot heading to government (and lawyers)

Lunch guest that stunned Qantas rivals

Scott Farqhuar and Robyn Denholm’s bespoke budget

Boost Juice’s Allis fears budget will break ‘the core’ of Australia

Co-founder Janine Allis warns that the proposed tax overhaul could deter entrepreneurs, as industry bodies sound the alarm on behalf of small businesses.

The great Australian dream has become a great Australian tax rort

We should be arguing about what credible channels can be created to enable home owners investing in property to instead invest in business growth in Australia.

Chalmers’ tax relief for workers to be swallowed by inflation

Average tax rates for high-income earners will continue to rise as Chalmers’ new $250 tax offset does little to address bracket creep

This is not a bad budget for climate

Green groups were quick to point out the many climate shortcomings of the budget. But Energy Minister Chris Bowen has clearly chosen to pick battles he can win.

The eight reasons Treasury is gutting landlord tax breaks

Treasury says negative gearing and the CGT discount fuel debt, favour older, wealthy Australians and make it harder for younger buyers to enter the housing market.

Jessica Gardner on Donald Trump’s visit to China, the cost of the Iran war, and what it means for the US midterm elections and the rest of his presidency.

Is China quietly winning the Iran war?

Coles used sham discount offers to trick shoppers, Federal Court rules

The Australian Competition and Consumer Commission will seek a “substantial penalty” after the court ruled 13 products were sold at sham discounts.

Analysts slash CBA forecasts after post-budget share price beating

The Commonwealth Bank appeared to be the first high-profile victim of Treasurer Jim Chalmers’ long-expected assault on property investors.

Disgraced silk gets 600 hours’ community service for pensioner fraud

Blue-blood Melbourne barrister Norman O’Bryan has avoided jail time for attempting to grossly overcharge his clients during the Banksia class action.

GrainCorp boss unhappy with investor ‘short-termism’ as shares take hit

A global grain oversupply crunched margins at the biggest grain handler on the east coast, triggering a big sell-off in its shares.

Anthropic threat clouds Xero’s outlook, as US expansion drags down profit

Sukhinder Singh Cassidy took home $6.1 million last year, as AI threats and big acquisitions weighed on the accounting software firm’s share price.

Metcash settles stoush with senior executives over sackings

Two former executives who alleged they were illegally sacked and bullied have settled with the hardware chain and food wholesaler and withdrawn their allegations.

Ampol sees big opportunity in Labor’s $10b fuel reserve plan

The fuel refiner has spoken with Energy Minister Chris Bowen “just about every day” to help create a government-owned stockpile.

This fundie sees a SaaSpocalypse silver lining for software stocks

ECP Asset Management’s Andrew Dale details how the sell-off in tech stocks has affected the fund, and tells why he dropped Domino’s Pizza Enterprises.

Bond investors go hunting for ways around endless inflation curse

Inflation-linked bonds have always been a fraction of the total debt market. But higher oil prices and government spending is making them more attractive.

Lithium prices rocket 50pc in a month as oil spike fuels EV boom

Continued disruption to oil supplies is accelerating the shift away from petrol vehicles, with the price of the battery commodity almost at a three-year-high.

Fundies warn retail sector a ‘graveyard’ despite SkinKandy IPO buzz

But several major investors took part in the piercing chain’s float, saying its young customers were not as sensitive to interest rates as other consumers were.

Budget turns Australia into ‘belle of the ball’ for global bond buyers

An attempt at structural reform, a triple-A credit rating, and higher inflation are creating an attractive market for traders seeking returns and security.

Taylor pits Liberal aspiration against Labor’s tax redistribution

For the $22.5 billion Liberal tax policy to be credible, real and verifiable savings need to be detailed to show where the necessary fiscal headroom will come from.

Coles lost ‘Down Down’ fight but won Canberra’s price gouging war

It is ironic that the supermarket giant has been found guilty of moving too fast to provide cost-of-living relief to shoppers at a time of rapid inflation.

This tech giant founder’s warning is something that should worry every Australian

Australia needs a tax system that moves capital into the businesses that will pay tomorrow’s wages, not away from them.

Bracket creep will swallow Labor’s workers’ tax offset

Jim Chalmers ignores that the vast majority of the “asset class” have worked their way to wealth through years of disciplined saving and delayed gratification.

Keating on ‘banana republic’: ‘The truth of it lifted a weight off me’

It’s been 40 years since I warned Australia risked becoming a “banana republic” while standing in a clanging hotel kitchen talking to John Laws at the time.

Rubbery figures sell the dream to a nation obsessed with housing

Jim Chalmers argues his budget is promoting aspiration by making it easier for younger generations to purchase a home. The figures tell a different story,

Watchdog dismissed as joke as MPs claim $100k for fundraiser travel

Senior government ministers billed taxpayers for flights, hotels and car transport during a trip that involved a Labor fundraiser at Melbourne’s Ritz-Carlton Hotel.

Allan dismisses concerns Vic doesn’t have power for data centre surge

Victorian Premier Jacinta Allan says data centres are critical to the state’s economic prosperity and more renewable energy is being brought in to power them.

Former Jacqui Lambie MP jumps to Labor to secure ‘seat at the table’

It is the second time this term a senator from outside Labor has joined the government’s ranks, after former Green Dorinda Cox announced her defection in 2025.

Former Qld premier’s partner ‘detained woman, raped her’

Charges of rape and sexual assault against Vahid Reza Adib were heard in court for the first time.

Need to Know Live

Taylor vows to scrap net zero, slash immigration in budget reply

Angus Taylor has promised to get rid of Labor's net zero emissions policy, saying it is destroying the economy, while the Coalition will cap immigration numbers depending on the number of new homes built. Follow updates.

Xi tells Musk, Huang that China will ‘open wider’ for business

American business leaders have told the Chinese president that they attach “deep importance” to the giant Chinese market.

The ‘quiet’ Australian who could bring down a second UK PM

British MP Catherine West was largely unknown until last Saturday. Now the Australian-born former minister may be about to help bring down Keir Starmer.

Warsh finally won the Fed job. His next fight’s probably against Trump

The new US Federal Reserve chairman got a history-making Senate confirmation, but data this week pointing to higher inflation shows he has no reason to rejoice.

Xi warns Trump of ‘clashes’ if Taiwan is mishandled in ‘red-line’ talks

China’s president made the blunt remarks after kicking off a high-stakes summit with Donald Trump, as the war with Iran and arms sales to Taiwan loomed large.

America is experiencing a productivity miracle, (it’s not due to AI)

Over the past five years, productivity has been growing at the fastest rate in two decades. It is too early to credit artificial intelligence for the success.

The brief rise and fall of Trump tower in Australia

Basic financial obligations were not met, but the developer insists it was the “toxic” Trump name that led to the project’s demise.

Budget measures will cut home-building before boosting it

The federal government modelling averages out to 3000 extra homes per year, but the increase won’t be that smooth – nor will it be quick.

Sydney’s Halo tower to go ahead after creditors take a haircut

A deed of company arrangement has been struck that will allow the 55-storey hybrid timber to get built in downtown Sydney. Not everyone is happy.

Trump abandons plan for Gold Coast tower

A proposal for Australia’s first Trump tower has been axed, months after the luxury hotel project was revealed, as the little known company involved failed to meet obligations.

Brisbane scraps Airbnb limits as CGT changes loom

Brisbane City Council has abandoned plans to rein in short-stay rentals saying more red tape on property owners is not warranted.

Gen Z the winners in anti-Boomer budget

Despite younger Australians being the supposed “winners”, the impact that policy changes will have on housing affordability is neither immediate nor direct.

Where the shrewd money may be headed after the budget

Investors will likely respond to the changes in two key ways: relentlessly upgrade the family home and buy property through superannuation.

Even the worst possible market timing beats staying in cash

Analysis of 25 years of data proves that even if the timing is all wrong, staying invested delivers significantly higher long-term wealth.

Here’s what AI thinks about Labor’s controversial budget

Experts and economists have had their say on Jim Chalmers’ biggest budget yet, but what do Gemini, Claude and ChatGPT think of it?

Why compliance admin is driving SME AI adoption

For many business owners, compliance admin remains a source of friction.

Michael Burry warns of stock crash as tech jump echoes 2000 peak

“We are getting into that rare air, so extreme that the consequences will be unavoidable, no matter where one hides,” said the investor made famous in The Big Short.

Breakfast with the Boss

Why this bank CEO visits customers in the afternoon

Tyro Payments chief executive Nigel Lee reveals his secret to emerging from the 3pm slump with more energy, and how Post-it notes help him harvest the best ideas.

Consultants are turning full-body health checks into competitive sport

The Australian arm of US consulting firm Kearney is paying $3000-a-head to get managers into top shape. Staff say it’s making a difference.

The godfather of rap had a ‘brother’, and he’s coming to Australia

In a world first, composer Brian Jackson will bring back his late collaborator Gil Scott-Heron’s 1970s soul classics, alongside the rapper once known as Mos Def.

First look at Baz Luhrmann and Catherine Martin’s new work – a train

The obsessive travellers use their experiences of the world to inspire their epic spectacles.

$60k Stella prize awarded to non-binary graphic novelist for first time

The winner of 2026’s Stella Prize, Lee Lai, has broken new ground as first winner for a graphic novel and the first non-binary winner.

The brightest star in this gorgeous misfire is not who you might think

Anne Hathaway is having a moment. And while Mother Mary will probably be the worst-performing of her films this year, it won’t be the least memorable.

Tradition-bucking auction smashes estimates despite Sydney snub

If Menzies’ decision last month to break with tradition and only show their sale lots in Melbourne was a risk, it paid off big time.

David Rowe cartoons for May 2026

The Australian Financial Review Magazine

AFR Magazine and UBS hold inaugural philanthropy dinner in Sydney

Gillon McLachlan is betting on himself

The Robin Khuda effect – why billionaires are giving it all away now

Consultants are turning full-body health checks into competitive sport

How I convinced Kerry Packer he should hire me

This exec copied her former boss’s CV. Now she runs a $1.5b company

You can now drink 100-year-old Australian cognac – no, really

This mogul wanted a place to hang with friends. He opened a jazz bar

Australia’s top furniture designers give leather a sexy makeover

Victoria’s Secret accuses Blundy adviser of corporate espionage

New accounts offer glimpse into Hemmes’ sprawling Merivale empire

Billionaire Blundy moves to oust Victoria’s Secret chairwoman

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