Bitcoin crosses $US64,000 to reach all-time high
Bitcoin has touched an all-time record of $US64,829 ($85,051). The past 20 days have been generally a period of recovery for the digital coin, which had dropped to a low of $US51,000 on March 25….
Energy prices are falling. But consumers aren’t seeing all the benefits
Here’s the good news: Energy prices should crash this year as wholesale prices for electricity and gas continue a welcome decline. There’s an average of $126 in savings up for grabs in electricity bills alone,…
Regional and vulnerable communities left behind as banks close branches
Banks have permanently closed almost 300 branches since the onset of the pandemic as customers switched to their phones and computers. The nation’s largest institutions have described the trend as a natural response to the…
‘Made in Australia’ is making a comeback as reshoring takes off
‘Made in Australia’ is making a post-pandemic comeback as some businesses turn back the clock on decades of offshoring jobs. Manufacturers looking to avoid supply chain turmoil caused by COVID-19 are leading the charge, cashing…
Michael Pascoe: The federal government doesn’t care at all about the housing crisis
On these pages on Monday, the Grattan Institute burned Tim “Look-At-Me” Wilson’s Home First, Super Second campaign and buried the ashes. But that still leaves room to drop a boulder on the site lest Mr…
A $4.1 billion bungle: Vaccine delay ‘devastating’ for economic recovery
The Morrison government’s bungled vaccine rollout could cost Australia up to $4.1 billion from extra coronavirus lockdowns, economists fear. That’s because it could now take up to 12 months longer for Australia to reach COVID-19…
Uber, Deliveroo and Ola pay average hourly rates that would be illegal for casuals: Inquiry
Gig economy giants Uber, Deliveroo and Ola are paying contractors average hourly rates that would be deemed illegal for casual staff. That’s what was revealed during a set of extraordinary Senate hearings on Monday, as…
Menulog to pay minimum wage, trial direct employment in Australian first
Menulog will pay its drivers a minimum wage, leave entitlements and superannuation in a break from the meal delivery industry that will see gig economy workers directly employed for the first time in Australia. In…
Grattan Institute and WWF clash over renewable energy targets
Australia could switch to 70 per cent renewables by the 2030s and achieve net-zero emissions without threatening affordability or reliability of supply, according to new research by the Grattan Institute. But the think thank argues…
The way we buy cars could be about to change forever
Some car companies could simply refuse to sell you a new car under a new set-price, no-haggling policy that is about to start rolling out in Australia. Top 10-selling brand Honda is set to junk…