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26 Oct Explainer: The RBA bought $361 billion in bonds. What did Australia get in return? 25 Oct Should Banks Pay More Tax? The UK Debate and Lessons for Australia 24 Oct Australia's Business Confidence Crisis: Why Is Western Australia So Different?

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RBA

Explainer: The RBA bought $361 billion in bonds. What did Australia get in return?

During the COVID-19 pandemic, the Reserve Bank purchased approximately $361 billion in government bonds to stabilise financial markets and stimulate the economy. In an interview published on 18 October, RBA Assistant Governor Christopher Kent acknowledged that the policy delivered relatively modest benefits compared with other monetary-policy measures. So

Should Banks Pay More Tax? The UK Debate and Lessons for Australia

Britain is considering higher taxes on banks ahead of its October Budget. New HMRC figures and a worked example reveal how much banks pay — and the economic consequences of increasing the burden.

NAB Business Survey

Australia's Business Confidence Crisis: Why Is Western Australia So Different?

Australia's business confidence is among the weakest 5% of readings in NAB's survey history. Yet capacity utilisation remains high and Western Australia is outperforming the eastern states. What explains this economic contradiction?

IMF Cost of Living Subsidies

Research Reveals the Waste Associated with Poorly Designed Government Policies

New IMF research raises important questions about Australia's $6.8 billion in electricity bill relief. Could targeted payments provide better protection at lower cost?

Gas Reservation Scheme

Australia's New Gas Reservation Scheme: Lower Prices or Less Investment?

The Albanese Government wants LNG exporters to reserve gas for Australian consumers. But latest ACCC data raises an important question: will lower prices today compromise tomorrow's supply?

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US Gas Prices

US Gas Price Update: Trump vs Biden and the Midterms

With three weeks until America's midterm elections, petrol prices are nearly 40% higher than a year ago. Updated official statistics show Trump's average price advantage over Biden has almost disappeared.

Artificial Intelligence

What's Happening with AI and Electricity Usage in the USA?

AI is transforming US electricity demand. Data centres could account for nearly 12% of national consumption by 2030, while rising wholesale prices and investment in electricity networks raise questions about who will pay for the boom.

Private Equity

Why Private Equity is Arguing Tax Retrospectivity

Understand why Australia's private equity industry says Labor's CGT changes are retrospective, with a worked example showing tax rising from 23.5% to 47%.

Tax Reform

A Trust’s $80,000 Tax Test: Student Versus Bucket Company

From 1 July 2028, the Albanese Government proposes a 30 per cent minimum tax on discretionary trusts. A simple $80,000 distribution shows why the legislation has become contentious. Assume a trust has $80,000 of taxable income in 2028–29. It allocates the entire amount either to an adult

Tax Reform

Explainer: How Australia's New 30% Tax on Trusts Will Work

Australia's proposed 30% minimum tax on discretionary trusts could substantially change family tax bills. We explain the new rules, with a worked example showing the financial impact.

US Trade Deficit

The Latest on the US Trade Deficit as We Head to the US Mid-term Elections

The US trade deficit increased 13.7% in August as imports reached record levels. Yet the cumulative deficit for 2026 is nearly 20% smaller than last year. What does this mean for Trump's tariff policies ahead of the midterms?

Labour Market

Has Australia's Jobs Market Taken a Turn? What Does This Mean for Interest Rates?

Australian employment dropped sharply in September, but trend figures tell a more complicated story. With inflation still elevated, the RBA faces an increasingly difficult interest rate decision.

Card Surcharges

Credit card surcharge ban: 7% of surveyed businesses consider refusing credit cards

A Queensland business survey finds 7% considering abandoning credit-card payments. The ATO has already encountered the same cost problem. What happens next?

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