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Cutting excise on fuel would barely reduce prices, lift demand and make it even more difficult to get supply to those who need it.

Let’s not adopt drongo economics to deal with high-priced fuel

High oil prices are painful. But ideas to make life easier - from ending excise to free public transport - would just make the situation worse.

  • Shane Wright

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Attorney-General Michelle Rowland

Chalmers’ razor gang eyes cuts to legal services for DV victims

Two years after the Albanese government pledged an extra $1 billion in funding to combat domestic violence, a program that helps victims navigate courts is under review.

  • James Massola
Childcare misconduct reports have increased in the last year by 40 per cent while stories of abuse made national headlines in 2025.

Numbers of kids in childcare falls despite subsidy cost nearing $4b for quarter

A social research expert warned there were lessons from the latest data for the prime minister’s ambition of universal childcare.

  • Brittany Busch
Scott Morrison, with former finance minister Mathias Cormann. The PM’s GST is fracturing the budget and the federation

The GST is broken, and hurting NSW and Victoria badly

A deal to quell anger from West Australians is now a $60 billion drain on the budget and generating anger across the federation.

  • Shane Wright
Opposition Leader Angus Taylor during question time on Monday.

Taylor drops Dutton-era hostility to business, as Canavan calls for tariffs

An average Australian will be $35,000 worse off over the next decade under Labor, Opposition Leader Angus Taylor will warn in his first major economic speech since becoming opposition leader.

  • Paul Sakkal
The ending of Victorian government grants on December 31, which had supplemented NDIS payments to prop up hundreds of group homes for vulnerable Victorians, threatens the closure of many services.

Labor’s NDIS dilemma: Chasing $190,000 scams while costs spiral toward $100b

A 10-person committee – including Labor, Coalition and Greens MPs – will investigate the $50b scheme as Labor builds a case for stricter rules and tighter spending.

  • Natassia Chrysanthos
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“Too hard basket” … Independent MPs Nicolette Boele, Dai Le, Kate Chaney, Monique Ryan, David Pocock and Allegra Spender.

Chalmers must not use the Iran war to squib tough decisions

The treasurer is correct to prepare Australians for what could be a difficult couple of years. But these headwinds can’t be the excuse for policy inertia.

  • James Massola
NSW Treasurer Daniel Mookhey says the GST system is broken.

NSW warns GST system is ‘broken’, wants WA’s sweetheart deal watered down

NSW Treasurer Daniel Mookhey says the GST system is irreparably broken – and it has to be fixed or the entire federation is at stake.

  • Shane Wright
Treasurer Jim Chalmers.

‘We will make hard decisions’: Chalmers says expect a tough budget

Treasurer Jim Chalmers has warned the pace at which the economy can grow without inflation pressures has dropped, with the coming budget to reveal a substantial slowdown.

  • Shane Wright and Natassia Chrysanthos
Treasurer Jim Chalmers will on Thursday reveal the budget will have three key reform packages, saying despite global uncertainty now is the time for change.

This will be a reform budget: Chalmers vows change on May 12

Ahead of what is shaping as the government’s most important budget, Jim Chalmers will reveal it will contain three major reform packages.

  • Shane Wright