Today
‘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.
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.
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.
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.
This Month
Labor’s wage rise plan amid oil spike risks ‘stagflation’
Economists fear a decision to increase minimum pay could aggravate impacts of the energy price shock, push inflation higher and put more people out of work.
Full speed ahead on Qld’s Taroom Trough oil amid fuel security fears
Oil from 3 kilometres underground in south-east Queensland could flow to Ampol’s Brisbane refinery within two years, helping cut reliance on imports.
‘Needless secrecy’: Government resolves to be upfront over fuel crisis
National cabinet will meet next Monday to discuss the crisis, amid some internal frustration over the government’s tone and messaging to date.
‘Really escalating now’: Lobster prices to rise before Easter
Fuel insecurity is driving up prices for lobster fishers and prompting some West Australian farmers to delay seeding ahead of the first autumn rain.
This PE boss thinks Iran war fallout will shake out ‘zombie’ rivals
Per Franzen, CEO of Swedish private markets group EQT, says he’s on the hunt to snap up assets left behind by thousands of firms he expects to falter.
Markets just keep ignoring the energy shock that is already here
There are better signs out of the Middle East, but even peace tomorrow won’t stop the existing oil and gas crisis. So why don’t investors care?
Stand up to whinging gas giants
Readers’ letters on a controversial drawing in The Australian Financial Review, gas tax, replacing Jacinta Allan, and self-managed superannuation funds.
War will keep inflation ‘higher for longer’: Chalmers
New data from the period before the Iran conflict broke out shows headline inflation in Australia remained high and outside the Reserve Bank’s target range.
Markets are gripped by an alarming cognitive dissonance
Many traders are sitting desks away from commodity analysts discussing the disastrous consequences of Hormuz staying shut. What on earth is going on?
Iran may have just de-escalated. Here’s what investors must do
Markets are wary about Donald Trump’s declarations about the war ending. But one strategist says they should also watch Tehran’s actions, not its words.
Chalmers warns CEOs against premature optimism on Middle East peace
The treasurer says the degree of damage Australia sustains depends on how long the war lasts and how quickly the global economy rebounds afterwards.
Banks rebuff work from home calls as Wesfarmers pauses business travel
Australia Post joins Qantas and Virgin in hiking prices, while the big four lenders are holding firm against union demands to allow staff to log in remotely.
The town where you can buy only enough fuel to get to the next stop
A service station owner in a remote Queensland town has started imposing limits on passing customers, who are already paying $3.25 a litre for diesel.
