In the political bubble, Prime Minister Anthony Albanese's ability to strike a trade deal with US President Donald Trump has been framed as a huge test. But economists are far less concerned.
Australian politics
The industry minister defended the National Reconstruction Fund after the opposition called its lack of a formal investment strategy “deeply concerning”.
As Anthony Albanese prepares for a fourth meeting with Xi Jinping, his long-awaited first handshake with Donald Trump is still out of reach.
The Albanese's flagship reconstruction fund has been rebuked for lacking a formal financial strategy and for other lapses, though its governance is "largely sound".
Jim Chalmers has opened invitations to his economic reform roundtable, but the absence of tech voices raises questions about the path to productivity.
The Albanese government insists it can deliver AUKUS and keep Washington happy without lifting defence spending — but a new NATO benchmark is raising the stakes.
The Opposition leader has pledged to overhaul the Liberal Party’s internal policy processes after key economic proposals were rejected before the last election.
They campaigned on accountability and transparency, but only one independent opted to have their policies costed by the Parliamentary Budget Office.
Commentators have missed the deeper shift behind Labor’s economic agenda — one that challenges old assumptions on progressive policy.
High wages aren’t the real productivity problem. It's the outdated and overly complex award system that's holding back growth.
Security experts fear Donald Trump's move to bomb Iran's nuclear facilities will inflame tensions across the region, as Australia's top political parties appeared to split on the issue.
The US President has followed through with earlier threats to attack Iran in a move that could lead to further volatility for markets and the global economy.
Anthony Albanese campaigned on stability, but with a reform summit on the horizon and Jim Chalmers talking ambition, Labor could be preparing to shift gears.
The investigation into the $15 billion National Reconstruction Fund (NRF) shows why innovation bodies can't afford to make governance mistakes in Australia's political environment.
A US lobby group representing multi-nationals including Amazon and Meta says Australian tax rules are becoming harder to navigate, discouraging global companies from investing.
Shadow Minister Alex Hawke has demanded the government address governance issues at the $15 billion NRFC following revelations of an investigation into whistleblower claims.
The National Reconstruction Fund is set to play an enormous role in the innovation ecosystem and the future of the Australian economy. Despite its worthy goals, it deserves serious scrutiny.
Anthony Albanese came to Canada ready to talk tariffs and submarines. But Donald Trump skipped town to deal with the turmoil in the Middle East instead.
