Opinion
Tax reform
The tax office could send you cash each year. Instead, we’ve got more accountants than farmers
Australians are among the highest users of accountants for personal tax in the world, beaten only by Italy and its byzantine tax system.
- by Shane Wright
Latest
No ‘super nerds’ to set rates: Revolt over Reserve Bank reforms
Former treasurer Peter Costello told a Senate inquiry that parliament would surrender its sovereignty if the treasurer lost the power to overrule the bank.
- by Shane Wright
Updated
Wage growth
Real wages grow for first time in nearly three years
Australians’ wages rose by 4.2 per cent over the year to December - the highest annual growth since March 2009.
- by Shane Wright and Rachel Clun
We need our own tax cops to chase cheats: ATO chief
The retiring head of the tax office, Chris Jordan, says the organisation needs more powers as criminals attempt to fleece taxpayers and steal their identities.
- by Shane Wright
Exclusive
Property development
Pledge to build 1.2 million homes needs a major renovation: Property Council
The Albanese government has offered the states $3 billion to build 1.2 million homes. The Property Council says the incentives need to be double that.
- by Shane Wright
The migrant boost: How immigrants to Australia are lifting wages
Amid a growing debate about Australia’s population and migrant intake, four new research papers show immigrants are boosting wages.
- by Shane Wright
PM set for clash with big business over competition reform
Anthony Albanese has signalled a fresh push to lift competition to help consumers, farmers and small businesses, but large firms are concerned over new rules covering mergers.
- by Shane Wright
Sharp slowdown in jobs market as economy feels pinch from rate hikes
NSW, the nation’s largest economy, is at the epicentre of a slowdown in the jobs market as high interest rates weigh on households.
- by Shane Wright
Tax chief says COVID handouts pushed thousands into ‘horrifyingly bad’ TikTok scam
The head of the Australian Tax Office has admitted that the agency’s systems for “identifying fraud at that scale was not fit for purpose”.
- by Shane Wright
Opinion
GST
Dog of a deal means we’ll all pay $50 billion to keep Western Australia happy
WA has a gold-plated begging bowl being filled with taxes from all Australians. This dog of a policy cannot be allowed to happen.
- by Shane Wright
Exclusive
Wage growth
Job handcuffs costing workers $7500 a year in lower wages
One of the best ways to get a pay rise is moving to another company. But contract clauses are on the rise that are shackling workers to low-paying employers.
- by Shane Wright