Today
Government to help buy ‘shiploads of fuel’ under new powers
The government will use taxpayer funds to underwrite the purchase of critical imported fuel as the conflict in the Middle East threatens national supplies.
Wall St plunge, bond ‘crisis’ show investors are losing faith in Trump
The president’s sprinkles of compromise are no longer enough to override the realisation that the economic effect of the war – and the fighting – will stick around for a while yet.
‘It will affect everything’: This was the week the war hit home
The war is no longer distant. From farms to supermarkets, the shock is spreading through the economy, and Australia could be pushed towards recession if it drags on.
Yesterday
EV tax break to roll on as sales soar
The Albanese government is reconsidering plans to scale back the $1.3 billion-a-year fringe benefits tax exemption for electric vehicles.
Australia’s fuel crisis is just the first domino to fall
Rebuilding our lost sovereignty will require government to rein in profligate spending on industry losers and stop treating the budget as a bottomless well.
Fuel supply now guaranteed until May, after which uncertainty looms
The prime minister says there will be a nationally consistent response to the fuel crisis and not a rerun of the COVID-19 fiasco where states went their own ways.
Oil crisis flows through to Australian dinner plate
Rising costs and budget-wary consumers are squeezing restaurant owners like Sam Young, as farmers warn high fuel prices mean worse to come.
Iran war price shock, private credit pain and WFH battle reignites
James and Anthony tackle global energy volatility, credit market cockroaches and take a question on oil companies and their super profits.
Middle East conflict could push inflation to mid-sixes by June
A swift resolution to the war won’t be enough to stop prices marching higher, economists warn.
Bin the rubbish tax amid fuel crunch, waste industry pleads
The peak industry group is pleading with the City of Melbourne to scrap its $3750 tax on waste trucks in the CBD and warns it will exacerbate impacts of the fuel crisis.
Cyclone forces WA LNG shutdowns, worsening global gas crunch
More than a quarter of global LNG supply has been knocked out by the suspension of exports from Qatar and disruption to WA operations from Cyclone Narelle.
Safe corridors and surcharges: The new maths of international travel
As designated tour guide for his family’s vacation, Justin Smith is making contingency plans as the Middle East conflict plays havoc with flights.
‘Don’t get up at 2am’: Exhausted fundies sit on cash as war rages
As stocks and bonds swing wildly and traditional haven assets slump, investors are sitting on the sidelines as fatigue sets in.
The US won’t protect you, top diplomat warns Australia
Former DFAT boss Peter Varghese has urged the Albanese government to pursue a more self-reliant defence policy, arguing US global primacy is not a key interest.
Why the super sector should be doubly worried about Iran
The superannuation sector hopes the Iran crisis is solved quickly so it can avoid the risk of a nasty bear market colliding with persistent operational issues.
After Trump’s rebuke, Washington insider backs Albanese’s war effort
The US president hit out at Australia’s war effort, as he again extended a deadline for Tehran to open the Strait of Hormuz or face strikes on its power plants.
PM says fuel supply ‘remains secure’; NextDC ices $500m deal; 24 days to disaster
Read everything that’s happened in the news so far today.
Solar for Cuba: How Xi is turning Trump’s war into a China win
The carnage unleashed by the US-Iran conflict has exposed the fragility – and concentration – of fossil fuel supply chains. One country is winning from the chaos.
24 days to disaster: Trump’s new deadline won’t change oil shock maths
It’s hard to avoid thinking Trump’s fresh cut-off for a deal with Iran wasn’t prompted by a sell-off on Wall Street. Whatever the case, he’s running out of time.
Is Iran holding back its deadliest missiles?
Tehran’s unused arsenal has played on the nerves of Gulf states. It may have been destroyed, or will only be used when adversaries run short of interceptors.
