

Australia's unemployment rate drops by 0.2 per cent and underemployment drops to its pre-pandemic level as the economic recovery from coronavirus continues.

As a pause on home loan repayments begins to lift, banks are asking customers to make large lump sums or add $1,000 a month to their repayments to clear up what they owe in arrears.

Businesses reliant on interstate travel want states to make more effort through the National Cabinet process to synchronise their border rules.

If the Reserve Bank has no more three-year government bonds to buy by mid-2021, it may no longer be able to put downwards pressure on the benchmark yield for banks fixed mortgage products.

Last year was a hell of a ride for, well, almost every industry. So what will 2021 bring? Here's how Australia's economy will play in 2021 according to one of our top economists.

Despite initial fears the housing market could drop by 30 per cent during the pandemic, "extraordinarily" low interest rates and stimulus packages are allowing first home buyers break into the market and boost it.

Some experts now believe there will no longer be a massive spike in businesses going belly up as COVID-19 drags on in Australia. But for some, 2021 will still be an excruciating year.

Right now, the building blocks for meaningful economic growth are in place: higher consumer spending and demand for labour. Achieving the next step is the particularly challenging bit, but much of the hard work has been done, writes David Taylor.


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ABC News December 1, 2020
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ABC News November 26, 2020
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Federal Government to assess superannuation, housing recommendations from Retirement Income Review
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Coles shuts major Sydney warehouse as hundreds of Smeaton Grange workers strike over redundancy conditions
ABC News November 19, 2020
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Coles temporarily shuts one of its major Sydney warehouses after hundreds of its workers go on strike over pay and conditions.
...
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ABC News November 19, 2020
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Climate change to inflate insurance costs in flood and bushfire-prone communities
ABC News November 18, 2020
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ABC News November 18, 2020
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ABC News November 18, 2020
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ABC News November 17, 2020
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ABC News November 16, 2020
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ABC News November 16, 2020
News article by the ABC
The COVID-19 pandemic has left households and businesses more risk averse, Reserve Bank governor Philip Lowe says, fearing that ...
One in five consumers using buy now, pay later miss payments, but ASIC stops short of imposing new regulation on the sector
ABC News November 16, 2020
News article by the ABC
Australia’s corporate watchdog says some consumers are suffering harm from using buy now, pay later, warning one in five ...
Caravan and motorhome scammers target Australians during the coronavirus pandemic
ABC News November 16, 2020
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ABC News November 16, 2020
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Victorian Government aims to create 43,000 jobs with $5.3 billion public housing spend
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ABC News November 12, 2020
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ABC News November 12, 2020
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ABC News November 12, 2020
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ABC News November 11, 2020
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ABC News November 11, 2020
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As the ink dries on Tasmania’s state budget papers, April McLennan ventures down a Launceston shopping strip to find out ...
Another 300k NBN connections to cost $600m, CEO blames blowout on bad address data
ABC News November 10, 2020
News article by the ABC
The head of the National Broadband Network has blamed poor address records for having to spend an extra $600 million to complet ...
Gas-led recovery likely to be a ‘mirage’ and lead to ‘stranded assets’
ABC News November 10, 2020
News article by the ABC
The Federal Government’s planned gas-led recovery could turn out to be a mirage, according to energy experts, who questio ...
Financial counsellors urge people to seek assistance ahead of JobSeeker, loan deferrals coming to an end
ABC News November 10, 2020
News article by the ABC
During the worst recession Australia has seen in almost 100 years, most would think financial counsellors would be bombarded wi ...
Choice hands Shonky awards to InvoCare funerals and Harvey Norman’s partnership with Latitude Finance
ABC News November 10, 2020
News article by the ABC
Choice names and shames brands — including InvoCare, the company behind White Lady Funerals and Simplicity Funerals — which ...
Senate inquiry asks whether Facebook, Google should be regulated like banks
ABC News November 9, 2020
News article by the ABC
Technology giants including Google and Facebook are disrupting financial services by steadily moving into the banking space. Th ...
Banking royal commission victims urge Treasurer Josh Frydenberg to keep responsible lending laws
ABC News November 9, 2020
News article by the ABC
Witnesses who appeared at the banking royal commission join forces to plead with Treasurer Josh Frydenberg to stop proposed cut ...
Working from home during COVID-19 is changing what we’re wearing in the office — and going back is like ‘casual Friday every day’
ABC News November 9, 2020
News article by the ABC
If you enjoyed working from home in your loungewear best during COVID-19 restrictions, you are not alone — and there may be a ...
Why stocks and housing are booming through the coronavirus recession while wages and savings stagnate
ABC News November 9, 2020
News article by the ABC
Rain, hail or shine, the financial markets and property boom must go on. And to ensure that, central banks are fixing the game ...
The world’s in a ‘global liquidity trap’. What does that mean for Australia?
ABC News November 8, 2020
News article by the ABC
The International Monetary Fund’s chief economist says the global economy is in a "liquidity trap". We’re ...
Sky high prices to fly out of Canberra will likely last ‘until the middle of next year’, industry says
ABC News November 6, 2020
News article by the ABC
Canberrans hunting for a flight out of town for the summer might be better off taking a drive to Sydney, as industry experts sa ...
Australian property bubble hasn’t yet burst, but can house prices keep rising amid the pandemic?
ABC News November 6, 2020
News article by the ABC
After years of warnings that the property bubble could burst, Australian house prices continue to withstand the dire impact of ...
The RBA’s rates cut means you could be getting a better deal from your bank
ABC News November 5, 2020
News article by the ABC
It’s worth picking up the phone to negotiate a better deal with your bank. In fact, I did just that only yesterday, and I ...
National Australia Bank annual earnings hit by coronavirus pandemic, financial scandals
ABC News November 5, 2020
News article by the ABC
National Australia Bank takes a hit to its annual earnings as it puts aside money to cover loan losses from the economic impact ...
Business confidence in South Australia sees spending surge exceeding expectations, survey shows
ABC News November 5, 2020
News article by the ABC
Business confidence in South Australia "skyrockets" since an earlier slump during the coronavirus crisis, a new surve ...
Superannuation fees and underperforming funds in the spotlight as Federal Government looks to protect nest eggs
ABC News November 5, 2020
News article by the ABC
Changes announced by the Federal Government intended to punish underperforming super funds may have unintended negative consequ ...
The RBA’s cut interest rates, but that doesn’t mean your home loan will automatically get cheaper
ABC News November 4, 2020
News article by the ABC
The major banks haven’t passed on yesterday’s 0.15 per cent interest rate cut to variable home loans, but rates on ...
Sending money home during the coronavirus pandemic can feel impossible, but there are ways to make it easier
ABC News November 4, 2020
News article by the ABC
Faheem’s story is only one of many, thanks to the pandemic’s impact on the economy. Migrants in Australia are makin ...
The RBA has begun ‘quantitative easing’. What is it, and how does it work?
ABC News November 4, 2020
News article by the ABC
The Reserve Bank of Australia has announced a $100 billion "quantitative easing" program. So what is it? How does it ...
Reserve Bank cuts interest rates to record low of 0.1 per cent during COVID-19 recession
ABC News November 3, 2020
News article by the ABC
The Reserve Bank of Australia cuts interest rates to a record low and says the rate is not expected to increase for another thr ...
Reserve Bank interest rate cut could see you get less money back on your savings
ABC News November 3, 2020
News article by the ABC
It might not be the worst problem to have during a recession, but for Australians with decent savings in the bank, record low i ...
Rest super fund commits to net-zero emission investments after Brisbane man sues
ABC News November 2, 2020
News article by the ABC
Mark wanted to know if his super is protected from climate change. His super fund didn’t give him the answer, so he sued, ...
‘Catastrophic’ south-east Queensland storms lead to thousands of insurance claims, homes deemed ‘unliveable’
ABC News November 2, 2020
News article by the ABC
Thousands of insurance claims continue to pour in as south-east Queensland counts the cost of a "catastrophic" superc ...
CoreLogic property value index finds ‘remarkable’ rise in house prices for October
ABC News November 2, 2020
News article by the ABC
House prices across Australia have risen overall for the first time since the start of the coronavirus pandemic.
...
Westpac annual profit hit by money laundering fine and recession
ABC News November 2, 2020
News article by the ABC
Westpac sees its annual profit slump by two-thirds after it was fined $1.3 billion for 23 million breaches of money laundering ...
Coronavirus has cost jobs — but there’s a silver lining for those looking to change careers
ABC News November 2, 2020
News article by the ABC
In March, Jessica Nguyen joined the ranks of Australians who lost their jobs because of coronavirus — but she decided on a ca ...
COVID-19 recession worsened by ‘coordination failure’ as everyone cuts costs to try and save themselves
ABC News November 2, 2020
News article by the ABC
Australia’s first recession in 30 years started with lockdowns to contain a global pandemic, but now economists warn the ...
Australia will lose more than $3 trillion and 880,000 jobs over 50 years if climate change is not addressed, Deloitte says
ABC News November 2, 2020
News article by the ABC
The Australian economy will shrink by 6 per cent and shed 880,000 jobs if climate change is not addressed, according to a new r ...
ASIC secures $10 million in remuneration for Allianz travel insurance customers
ABC News October 30, 2020
News article by the ABC
Australia’s corporate watchdog secures $10 million in remediation payments to Allianz insurance customers who were allege ...
Coronavirus relief helps Tasmanians pay down debt, personal insolvencies lowest in 30 years
ABC News October 30, 2020
News article by the ABC
Many Tasmanians have been able to pay debts for the first time thanks to COVID stimulus payments, but there are concerns insolv ...
Do banks think a huge number of Australians will default on their mortgages in coming months?
ABC News October 30, 2020
News article by the ABC
Banks are setting aside billions of dollars in preparation for potential losses arising from COVID-19, but it doesn’t mea ...
Don’t use coronavirus JobKeeper subsidy to fund executive bonuses or pretend to be loss-making to claim stimulus, ATO warns
ABC News October 29, 2020
News article by the ABC
Companies that get COVID-19 support payments such as JobKeeper while still paying executive bonuses or increasing dividends ris ...
Australian loan laws are set to be loosened but financial counsellors fear consumers will be exploited
ABC News October 29, 2020
News article by the ABC
The Government wants to reform responsible lending laws to help boost borrowing, but a coalition of financial counsellors want ...
ANZ profit slumps 40pc to $3.6 billion, in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic
ABC News October 29, 2020
News article by the ABC
ANZ says its full-year profit was weighed down by COVID-19 credit impairments, and slashes its final dividend by a massive 229 ...
Some media outlets say the recession caused by COVID-19 is over, but they’re wrong
ABC News October 28, 2020
News article by the ABC
Some media outlets claim the recession is over, but they’re wrong. Even if the economy grew a little in the September qua ...
Consumer prices surge 1.6 per cent over September quarter as free childcare policy ends
ABC News October 28, 2020
News article by the ABC
Consumer prices bounce back from deflation, increasing by 1.6 per cent in the September quarter after the Federal Government ...
Insurance cripples northern Australians as they wait on promised Government action to stem rises
ABC News October 28, 2020
News article by the ABC
A couple who invested in northern Queensland units can’t afford their strata insurance which tripled in the past year, an ...
Furore grows over Tasmania’s coronavirus business grant process
ABC News October 28, 2020
News article by the ABC
When it comes to grants from the public purse, it is unusual for the public not to be told where their money is being spent but ...
ASIC says regulator acted with ‘glacial’ speed in response to almost $200k in overpayments
ABC News October 27, 2020
News article by the ABC
The acting chair of ASIC tells Parliament the regulator acted with "glacial" pace when dealing with its inquiry over ...
Economic recovery will be ‘unpredictable and uneven’ RBA warns as it models 50pc property price fall
ABC News October 27, 2020
News article by the ABC
More Australians could go into "negative equity" if the COVID-led recession leads to a big property price fall, accor ...
JobKeeper payments clawed back by ATO, early release of super opens up risk of financial abuse
ABC News October 27, 2020
News article by the ABC
The ATO says it has clawed back about $120 million out of $69 billion in JobKeeker payments from businesses it deemed ineligibl ...
ATO’s debt book grows to more than $53 billion as boss Chris Jordan faces Senate Estimates
ABC News October 27, 2020
News article by the ABC
Tax commissioner Chris Jordan will front Senate Estimates on Tuesday morning with figures showing debt owed by Australians to t ...
Victorians rejoice as COVID-19 restrictions are eased, restarting gyms, live music and tourism
ABC News October 25, 2020
News article by the ABC
Regional Victorians will see a return of live music and be able to hit the gym once again, while schools can hold graduation ce ...
Auction strategies you can learn from different auction formats
ABC News October 25, 2020
News article by the ABC
You can be overwhelmed by emotion bidding in an auction, including the competitive rush to win. But by familiarising yourself w ...
Coronavirus has meant extra pressures for carers — but they’ve also found some unexpected silver linings
ABC News October 22, 2020
News article by the ABC
Rita studies at uni and also cares for her younger brother. It’s a juggling act made even tougher by COVID — but there& ...
COVID-19 could be catalyst for childcare crisis as stressed, exhausted staff consider leaving
ABC News October 22, 2020
News article by the ABC
The childcare sector calls for urgent action as stressed, exhausted and low-paid staff contemplate leaving the industry in the ...
Tax cuts from the Budget are now being implemented. Find out what that means for you
ABC News October 22, 2020
News article by the ABC
It’s all because of those tax cuts announced in the Federal Budget a few weeks ago. But how much will you get?
...
Cathay Pacific cuts 8,500 jobs, closes regional airline due to COVID-19 pandemic
ABC News October 21, 2020
News article by the ABC
The Hong Kong airline is cutting 8,500 jobs and shutting a regional airline as it grapples with the downturn in air travel due ...
Coronavirus a major impact on Tasmania’s real estate market, but not necessarily bad
ABC News October 21, 2020
News article by the ABC
Sydney couple Lisa and Peter Stodart spent a Friday night looking at Hobart houses online. Two days later they had bought one a ...
Rental data shows where Australians want to live during coronavirus (and where they don’t)
ABC News October 21, 2020
News article by the ABC
When one man said he was moving to Melbourne last week, residents told him he was crazy. The latest data shows he probably is g ...
Jobs for workers under 20 are on the up. But they’re shrinking for every other age group
ABC News October 20, 2020
News article by the ABC
The number of payroll jobs for Australians aged under 20 is rising above pre-coronavirus levels, but jobs for every other age g ...
WA’s Building Bonus scheme deadline extended to allow more time to begin construction
ABC News October 20, 2020
News article by the ABC
More West Australians will be able to access $20,000 grants to build a home after the State Government announces it is extendin ...
Work from home revolution during coronavirus pandemic powers spike in cybercrime, new PwC report says
ABC News October 20, 2020
News article by the ABC
Our work-from-home revolution has powered a spike in cybercrime, costing consumers more for everyday products and dragging bill ...
Twiggy Forrest’s purchase of RM Williams shows Australian consumers want to buy local, experts say
ABC News October 20, 2020
News article by the ABC
Iconic bootmaker RM Williams is once again an Australian company, prompting hopes it will lead to an expansion in domestic manu ...
Crown Casino to be investigated by AUSTRAC over potential money laundering breaches
ABC News October 19, 2020
News article by the ABC
The financial crimes regulator is investigating Crown Melbourne’s management of "high-risk and politically exposed&q ...
Stood-down airline workers use service skills to survive the coronavirus pandemic
ABC News October 19, 2020
News article by the ABC
For tens of thousands of airline workers who either lost their jobs or were stood down because of international travel bans imp ...
How lessons from the past 40 years could show us the way out of the coronavirus recession
ABC News October 18, 2020
News article by the ABC
Four decades of slowing economic growth and growing debt among households and governments could make it difficult to escape thi ...
Being monitored by your boss while working from home — necessary trade-off or ‘stupid’ surveillance?
ABC News October 16, 2020
News article by the ABC
Companies are turning to technology to keep track of their employees’ productivity. But some experts are concerned, and s ...
Frustration over Melbourne’s coronavirus lockdown mounts as business begs for restrictions to be eased
ABC News October 16, 2020
News article by the ABC
Small business owners who initially supported Victoria’s tough lockdown are now losing faith, saying they’re tired ...
Thousands of Australians struggling to pay power bills, as winter stay-at-home rules bite
ABC News October 16, 2020
News article by the ABC
Kathy Flynn received her energy bill last month, only to find out it had gone up by $900. She is among thousands of people grap ...
HomeBuilder scheme set to deliver thousands of extensions, but might need one itself
ABC News October 15, 2020
News article by the ABC
The Federal Government’s rush to get the coronavirus stimulus package out is testing the capacity of the building industr ...
Unemployment edges higher but remains below 7 per cent
ABC News October 15, 2020
News article by the ABC
Australia’s unemployment rate edges up from 6.8 to 6.9 per cent, with almost 30,000 jobs lost last month.
...
Older workers face unemployment crisis exacerbated by JobMaker, experts warn
ABC News October 15, 2020
News article by the ABC
The Budget’s focus is on getting young unemployed back to work, but there are many thousands of older Australians who wer ...
Half of Australia’s paused home loans still not being repaid as amnesty period comes to a close
ABC News October 15, 2020
News article by the ABC
Nearly half-a-million Australians deferred their home loans due to the coronavirus pandemic but with the six-month pause period ...
JobKeeper expiry date a ‘grave concern’ if restrictions still in place, live entertainment sector says
ABC News October 14, 2020
News article by the ABC
Economic output from the sector has fallen 65 per cent this year, a new report says, with no guarantee of improvement in 2021 i ...
Government accused of dragging its feet on compensation scheme worth thousands to struggling families
ABC News October 14, 2020
News article by the ABC
Hundreds of people are trapped in limbo while they wait for the Morrison Government to set up a scheme to compensate victims of ...
Coronavirus pandemic the final blow in decision to close Adelaide’s West End brewery
ABC News October 14, 2020
News article by the ABC
Lion blames falling beer sales caused by consumers choosing other drinks, like wine, and the coronavirus pandemic hitting draug ...
ASX slips on COVID-19 vaccine delay, as IMF predicts softer economic hit for Australia
ABC News October 14, 2020
News article by the ABC
Australian shares fall in early trade, after hitting a seven-month high on Tuesday, as Johnson & Johnson and Eli Lilly paus ...
Jobseekers outnumber vacant jobs by as much as 106-to-one, reveals study warning of employment crisis
ABC News October 14, 2020
News article by the ABC
The grim reality for jobseekers has been exposed in new research that lays out Australia’s unemployment epidemic by looki ...
Health insurance changes leave many surprised with lack of cover
ABC News October 14, 2020
News article by the ABC
Private health fund members, experts and the insurers themselves are warning people to check their cover, after changes this ye ...
Australian doctors, nurses and aged care workers tell us how they’re dealing with COVID-19
ABC News October 14, 2020
News article by the ABC
Over the past six weeks, the ABC asked healthcare workers to write in and tell us their experiences on the front line treating ...
Coronavirus pandemic a cover to try and weaken workers’ pay and conditions, unions say
ABC News October 13, 2020
News article by the ABC
Union boss Sally McManus accuses some employer groups of using the cover of the coronavirus pandemic to lobby for permanent cut ...
This is what happens when a ship carrying coronavirus-infected crew arrives in Australia
ABC News October 13, 2020
News article by the ABC
Two ships in two weeks have docked off the coast of Western Australia carrying infected crew. The State Government says there i ...
Hamish and Zoe Foster-Blake called in to spruik local travel as international holidays remain off limits due to coronavirus
ABC News October 13, 2020
News article by the ABC
With much of the tourism industry devastated by COVID-19, Tourism Australia has recruited high-profile Australians Hamish Blake ...
Regional Victorian businesses must take ‘reasonable steps’ to ensure they don’t serve Melbourne customers
ABC News October 12, 2020
News article by the ABC
Melbourne residents travelling to regional Victoria on work permits or for other lawful reasons are being warned they cannot si ...
American households desperate for more COVID-19 financial relief as US economic recovery hangs in the balance
ABC News October 12, 2020
News article by the ABC
When US President Donald Trump tweeted that he was bailing on negotiations and delaying another round of stimulus payments unti ...
Childcare costs keeping parents out of work and hurting the economy
ABC News October 12, 2020
News article by the ABC
Would you work a whole day for $12, or even less? That’s what the so-called "second earners" in tens of thousan ...
Cruise ships dismantled for scrap metal as coronavirus pandemic sinks industry
ABC News October 11, 2020
News article by the ABC
Before the pandemic, Turkey’s ship-breaking yards typically handled cargo and container ships. Then the pandemic began an ...
Young people will ‘carry the burden’ of coronavirus into the future. How are they coping?
ABC News October 9, 2020
News article by the ABC
Raigama Wijeratne had just moved to Australia to start his law degree when the coronavirus pandemic hit and he lost his hospita ...
Budget 2020 disappoints many experts and builders with its lack of big infrastructure projects
ABC News October 9, 2020
News article by the ABC
When recessions and depressions hit, governments of the past have turned to infrastructure to rebuild the economy, but the Morr ...
Budget super changes are being hailed as a huge game-changer. Here’s why
ABC News October 9, 2020
News article by the ABC
From online comparison tools to outing underperforming accounts — take a look at the biggest changes to superannuation set to ...
Gamblers can self-exclude from pokies venues but there’s no evidence a pub or club has ever been prosecuted for breaches
ABC News October 9, 2020
News article by the ABC
Gambling self-exclusion was introduced in most pubs and clubs nationally about 15 years ago, but the states and territories can ...
Budget 2020 takes Australia towards a trillion-dollar debt, but most experts say it isn’t a problem. Here’s why
ABC News October 9, 2020
News article by the ABC
The Rudd government’s debt peaked at $160 billion and the Morrison Government’s debt is expected to near a trillion ...
Disappointment at WA Budget public sector wages cap, continued border closure
ABC News October 8, 2020
News article by the ABC
Capping public sector wages and the ongoing refusal to open the WA border are the main criticisms being levelled at the WA Budg ...
We asked what Australians thought of this year’s Federal Budget. Most people thought there were some big gaps
ABC News October 8, 2020
News article by the ABC
We asked Australians for their thoughts on the 2020 Federal Budget. The responses varied from "super-encouraging" to ...
JobMaker incentive in Federal Budget 2020 is leaving people aged over 35 worried — here’s why
ABC News October 8, 2020
News article by the ABC
JobSeeker recipients aged over 35 are worried about how they will survive when they cannot get a job because of the Government& ...
Government hopes business Budget will spur investment and hiring, but some firms have other plans
ABC News October 8, 2020
News article by the ABC
It is being dubbed the Budget for business, but business owners give a mixed verdict. Some have spending and hiring plans, but ...
Budget tax cuts tipped to boost household saving rather than lift us out of COVID recession
ABC News October 8, 2020
News article by the ABC
Leading economists argue people are more likely to save rather than spend tax cuts during a recession, reducing any boost they ...
Tax cuts were revealed in the Budget — here’s how to make yours work for you
ABC News October 7, 2020
News article by the ABC
The Treasurer wants us to spend big to help pull the economy out of recession, but is that the best option for your financial s ...
Budget 2020 is ‘all about jobs’, Treasurer says, but there’s a catch
ABC News October 7, 2020
News article by the ABC
The Government is placing a huge focus on getting people back into work, but there’s little quality control on what jobs ...
The Budget reveals what the Government thinks will happen if we get a COVID vaccine next year — and what will happen if we don’t
ABC News October 6, 2020
News article by the ABC
Treasury experts just spent weeks carefully considering how long coronavirus will have the country on its knees. This is what t ...
How do I get JobMaker and how does the Federal Budget’s hiring credit scheme work?
ABC News October 6, 2020
News article by the ABC
From the team that brought you JobKeeper and JobSeeker comes JobMaker. Here’s how the $4 billion hiring credit scheme wil ...
Federal Budget 2020 reveals Australia headed to record debt of almost $1 trillion
ABC News October 6, 2020
News article by the ABC
Billions of dollars in fast-tracked tax cuts and younger worker wage subsidies underline the Federal Government’s budget ...
Federal Budget business boost tops $30 billion with immediate expensing
ABC News October 6, 2020
News article by the ABC
Businesses are the big winners from the Federal Government’s COVID-19 recovery budget, receiving almost twice as much in ...
Reserve Bank emails reveal COVID-19 economic fears, JobKeeper confusion
ABC News October 6, 2020
News article by the ABC
Head inside the Reserve Bank as internal texts and emails reveal the depth of staff fears for unemployment as coronavirus smash ...
Federal Budget tax cuts — will they help our coronavirus recovery?
ABC News October 6, 2020
News article by the ABC
Even if you think you’d save it, according to one expert our desire to have things now means you’d probably end up ...
Hospitality businesses urge Federal Government to dump Fringe Benefits Tax in 2020 Budget
ABC News October 5, 2020
News article by the ABC
Struggling cafes and restaurants are urging the Australian Government to dump the Fringe Benefits Tax in Tuesday’s Federa ...
ASX surges ahead of Federal Budget and amid optimism around US President Donald Trump’s health
ABC News October 5, 2020
News article by the ABC
The Australian share market bounces back to life as more stimulus is unveiled ahead of tomorrow’s Federal Budget and on o ...
NSW to receive $2.7 billion road boost as part of federal budget
ABC News October 5, 2020
News article by the ABC
The Federal Government has brought forward hundreds of millions of dollars in spending for several big ticket road projects in ...
Melbourne dog groomers booked out for months as pooches return for much-needed cuts
ABC News October 5, 2020
News article by the ABC
Lockdown has left many of Melbourne’s curly-haired dogs with matted fur and infections and some pet salons say they won ...
Killing the golden goose: How Australia’s international students are being driven away
ABC News October 5, 2020
News article by the ABC
Exploitation, racism, lack of government support and border closures are all contributing to drive international students away ...
Federal Budget wish list is long for small businesses struggling with coronavirus
ABC News October 5, 2020
News article by the ABC
Shops without customers, tourist attractions without visitors and salons unable to operate — that’s the reality for man ...
Treasurer Josh Frydenberg says Federal Budget aims to keep more Australians employed amid COVID-19 recession
ABC News October 4, 2020
News article by the ABC
Josh Frydenberg indicates there will be substantial government spending in Tuesday’s Federal Budget and beyond to support ...
WA households get state budget boost with $600 power credit from Bell Group settlement
ABC News October 4, 2020
News article by the ABC
Every West Australian household will get a $600 credit, which will not be means tested, on their next power bill with the proce ...
Ticket reseller Viagogo fined $7 million for misleading Australian consumers
ABC News October 2, 2020
News article by the ABC
Viagogo is fined $7 million in the Federal Court for misleading Australian consumers with Google advertisements, added fees and ...
The US is grappling with tech monopolies, but Australia has problems closer to home — and coronavirus could make it worse
ABC News October 2, 2020
News article by the ABC
For decades, our industries and sectors have become more concentrated and less competitive. Now there are fears the stresses of ...
Mortgage deferrals are winding up, so what happens next?
ABC News October 2, 2020
News article by the ABC
For six months, hundreds of thousands of borrowers have been able to put their mortgage repayments on hold as they dealt with t ...
Wage increase for 400,000 public servants in NSW slashed
ABC News October 1, 2020
News article by the ABC
The wages of more than 400,000 public sector workers will increase by 0.3 per cent over the next 12 months, after a ruling by t ...
Australian manufacturing industry to be bolstered to help coronavirus recovery, Prime Minister Scott Morrison says
ABC News October 1, 2020
News article by the ABC
Scott Morrison says bolstering Australia’s local manufacturing industry will not only help with the economic recovery fro ...
Commonwealth Bank says loan deferrals declining, APRA data show $229b in loans still paused across all banks
ABC News October 1, 2020
News article by the ABC
The Commonwealth Bank says repayment deferrals for its mortgage and small business customers continue to decline but are still ...
House prices bounce in September, except for continued falls in Melbourne and Sydney
ABC News October 1, 2020
News article by the ABC
House prices fall nationally over September, but rise everywhere except the two big markets of Melbourne and Sydney.
...
Home loan deferral hotspots concentrated in Queensland, new data shows
ABC News September 30, 2020
News article by the ABC
It sounds like an idyllic tour of Queensland: The Whitsundays, Noosa, Surfers Paradise, Coolangatta, Broadbeach. Instead it is ...
Bendigo and Adelaide Bank publicly shamed for banking code breaches
ABC News September 30, 2020
News article by the ABC
A new banking industry watchdog uses its teeth for the first time, publicly shaming Bendigo and Adelaide Bank for "serious ...
People paying oodles for designer puppies during coronavirus pandemic as demand surges
ABC News September 30, 2020
News article by the ABC
Poodle-mix crossbreeds known as "oodles" are quickly becoming one of the most sought-after dogs in Australia, with br ...
Complaints from customers who can’t reach their telco up 1,500 per cent, report finds
ABC News September 30, 2020
News article by the ABC
Frustrated consumers are flooding the ombudsman with complaints about internet and phone providers who are unable to solve thei ...
ANZ customers lose access to millions of dollars in erroneous loan redraw balances
ABC News September 29, 2020
News article by the ABC
ANZ says loan redraw facilities on 200,000 customer accounts were mistakenly inflated, and is repaying $11 million in interest. ...
JobKeeper changes came into effect this week. What do they mean for sole traders impacted by COVID-19?
ABC News September 29, 2020
News article by the ABC
Big changes are happening to the Federal Government support payment JobKeeper from this week. Here’s what that means for ...
Lost your job because of the coronavirus pandemic? Here are the five calls you should make
ABC News September 29, 2020
News article by the ABC
Hundreds of thousands have lost their jobs during the coronavirus pandemic, and changes to JobKeeper mean that number is expect ...
Multinational corporations dispute billions in tax bills as ATO profit shifting crackdown ramps up
ABC News September 29, 2020
News article by the ABC
The Australian Taxation Office is using its suite of powers to fight multinational profit shifting, worried that more large com ...
Qantas eight weeks away from running out of money at height of COVID-19 pandemic, court told
ABC News September 28, 2020
News article by the ABC
Qantas argues "external events" forced them to stand down 450 maintenance engineers in mid-March because of coronavir ...
A $355 billion hole in the federal budget shouldn’t stop spending on welfare, tax cuts: report
ABC News September 28, 2020
News article by the ABC
The coronavirus crisis will punch a $355 billion hole in the federal budget, according to a new report which calls on the Gover ...
Federal Government extends subsidies for domestic and regional flights
ABC News September 27, 2020
News article by the ABC
Australian airlines will receive further support from the Federal Government to ensure regional and major domestic routes are s ...
JobSeeker and JobKeeper reductions to test Australia’s wobbly economic recovery amid coronavirus
ABC News September 25, 2020
News article by the ABC
Australia’s economy has fared relatively well so far through the COVID-19 pandemic, but it’s done so on the back of ...
Pokies venues could ban problem gamblers reported by family members under proposed NSW legislation
ABC News September 25, 2020
News article by the ABC
Family members of problem gamblers could apply to have their relatives banned from gaming venues under a sweeping set of change ...
Tens of thousands of businesses could collapse by mid next year as JobKeeper scheme ends, experts say
ABC News September 24, 2020
News article by the ABC
Many Australian businesses could collapse by mid next year as changes to insolvency laws kick in and economic stimulus measures ...
Westpac’s record $1.3 billion AUSTRAC money laundering fine explained
ABC News September 24, 2020
News article by the ABC
Westpac has agreed to pay the largest fine in Australian corporate history — a $1.3 billion settlement — but what exactly d ...
ANZ bank branch’s reduced opening hours in Derby leaves locals hot under the collar
ABC News September 24, 2020
News article by the ABC
Locals in WA’s Derby say they often struggle to access their finances thanks to the local bank branch’s incredibly ...
Westpac settles AUSTRAC money laundering case with $1.3 billion fine
ABC News September 24, 2020
News article by the ABC
Westpac reaches a deal with Australia’s financial crime watchdog to settle more than 23 million alleged breaches of anti- ...
Paul Keating says the RBA is not doing what is needed to stop the COVID recession worsening
ABC News September 24, 2020
News article by the ABC
Paul Keating accuses the Reserve Bank of indolence and failing to do what is necessary to prevent the recession getting worse, ...
Surge in domestic travel, but will it save the Australian tourism industry?
ABC News September 23, 2020
News article by the ABC
Banned from heading overseas, and in most cases interstate, Australians flock to tourist hotspots in their own backyards. But w ...
Coronavirus creates property boom on Southern Moreton Bay Islands as owners take advantage of home-builder grants
ABC News September 23, 2020
News article by the ABC
Around 350 blocks sell on Russell Island every year, but sales are nearly three times higher in 2020, according to a local real ...
Commonwealth Bank and St George held accounts for Options Rider investor scam, FinCEN files show
ABC News September 23, 2020
News article by the ABC
Carmelita deposited $6,000 for an online trading platform into an Australian bank account and watched it grow to nearly $100,00 ...
Airlines could shed 95 per cent of their workforce if coronavirus border closures remain, aviation economist warns
ABC News September 22, 2020
News article by the ABC
With coronavirus border restrictions grounding flights, Qantas and Virgin Australia are operating at about 5 per cent capacity. ...
Australian dollar slips as RBA flags rate cuts, ASX drops to three-month low
ABC News September 22, 2020
News article by the ABC
The local share market and Australian dollar slump, as global markets hit a seven-week low on fears of a longer-than-expected e ...
How the coronavirus pandemic made Sydney’s second CBD a ghost town
ABC News September 22, 2020
News article by the ABC
It’s known as Sydney’s second CBD for good reason, but the pandemic has sparked massive issues in Parramatta, where ...
The new JobSeeker rate is coming — here’s what’s changing at the end of the week
ABC News September 21, 2020
News article by the ABC
On Friday, the Government will cut back the coronavirus supplement for JobSeeker recipients. Other changes are on the way too. ...
Many Australians are working from home — here’s why they might be doing it in darkness this summer
ABC News September 21, 2020
News article by the ABC
Air conditioners could send Australia’s power grid into meltdown this summer, as roughly one third of the workforce do th ...
Dozens of people are yet to pay for their mandatory coronavirus hotel quarantine in Queensland
ABC News September 19, 2020
News article by the ABC
Figures obtained by the ABC reveal dozens of invoices for mandatory hotel quarantine in Queensland remain unpaid, as the state ...
Class action could be taken against Victorian and SA governments over COVID-19 border travel restrictions
ABC News September 18, 2020
News article by the ABC
Regional Victorian legal firm issues call-out to regional border communities for interest from agribusiness to join class actio ...
New York University Sydney campus given JobKeeper payments but Australian public universities miss out
ABC News September 18, 2020
News article by the ABC
The Federal Government confirms the university, which rakes in about $16.5 billion in revenue each year and is ranked the 11th ...
Australian shares fall on Wall Street’s ongoing technology sell-off
ABC News September 18, 2020
News article by the ABC
The Australian share market loses all its opening gains, with Wall Street’s "mega tech" stocks being heavily so ...
Unemployment rate falls as 111,000 jobs added in August, despite Melbourne lockdown
ABC News September 17, 2020
News article by the ABC
Australia’s unemployment rate posts a surprise fall in August, as more than a hundred thousand jobs are created despite a ...
Money and kids: Learning the basics at a (very) early age
ABC News September 17, 2020
News article by the ABC
Is five years old too young to start learning about money? Not according to these kids. Or the finance experts.
...
Queensland commuters stay away from trains despite low coronavirus case numbers
ABC News September 17, 2020
News article by the ABC
Trains are running empty in South-East Queensland despite low COVID-19 cases, as "socially responsible" commuters tur ...
Coronavirus has seen hotel occupancy rates plummet, and the solution may be close to home
ABC News September 17, 2020
News article by the ABC
With coronavirus causing hotel business to plummet, the industry is targeting a new market of travellers.
...
International student arrivals are down to dozens per month and it is not just universities suffering
ABC News September 17, 2020
News article by the ABC
Tens of thousands of international students usually arrive in Australia each month, but since the pandemic it has been dozens, ...
Rex Airlines considers flying regional routes Virgin Australia dumped during coronavirus
ABC News September 16, 2020
News article by the ABC
Regional air carrier Rex promises to return Government favour and consider flying regional routes that Virgin Australia no long ...
NSW Central Coast cafe owner says JobSeeker forcing closure ahead of bumper tourism season
ABC News September 16, 2020
News article by the ABC
Holidaymakers opting for a beachside getaway amid ongoing pandemic travel restrictions are expected in their droves along the N ...
Pandemic puppies selling for exorbitant prices as demand soars in lockdown-hit Victoria
ABC News September 16, 2020
News article by the ABC
They might be man’s best friend — but during a pandemic, it turns out dogs are hard to come by. Across Victoria demand ...
Hobart coronavirus rent price drop benefiting some, but others fear the crunch that is coming
ABC News September 16, 2020
News article by the ABC
A coronavirus-led rent drop has been of benefit to Hobart couple Molly and Sage, who have secured a better place to live — bu ...
Camping and caravan parks to reopen as coronavirus restrictions ease for regional Victorians
ABC News September 15, 2020
News article by the ABC
Regional Victorians dust off their camp chairs and hitch up their caravans in preparation for the easing of COVID-19 travel res ...
Backpacker inquiry recommends Government allow people on JobSeeker coronavirus payment to work on farms
ABC News September 15, 2020
News article by the ABC
Australians on JobSeeker would still be able to receive the unemployment benefit while also earning money harvesting crops and ...
NAB banker led successful push to delay banking royal commission recommendations
ABC News September 15, 2020
News article by the ABC
An executive grilled for days at the banking royal commission over NAB’s shonky loan introducer program led a successful ...
COVID-19 pandemic leads to escape from the city to the suburbs
ABC News September 15, 2020
News article by the ABC
The pandemic has emptied Australia’s CBDs, leading to a suburban resurgence with many local small businesses reporting re ...
We asked how the coronavirus pandemic has changed your household spending. Here’s what you said
ABC News September 15, 2020
News article by the ABC
COVID-19 has put an unexpected financial strain on many Australians, but boosted income support and fewer opportunities to spen ...
For many Melbourne restaurants, cafes and pubs, outdoor dining ‘just doesn’t work’
ABC News September 15, 2020
News article by the ABC
Many Melbourne hospitality operators say they’ll keep pushing for a quick return to indoor dining, saying the State Gover ...
Paul Keating tells royal commission HECS-style loans should fund home aged care
ABC News September 14, 2020
News article by the ABC
Former prime minister Paul Keating says a Federal Government-run post-paid system could reduce wait times for home care package ...
Push to make Far North Queensland a COVID-19 ‘quarantine hub’ for Australians returning from overseas
ABC News September 14, 2020
News article by the ABC
With tens of thousands of stranded Australians desperate to come home for Christmas, a Federal MP is proposing the establishmen ...
Singapore Airlines suspends direct flights to Canberra as COVID-19 further hampers aviation industry
ABC News September 14, 2020
News article by the ABC
Singapore Airlines will no longer fly direct from Singapore to Canberra, even once coronavirus restrictions ease. The move leav ...
Schoolies urged to stay away from Byron Bay until COVID-19 threat passes
ABC News September 14, 2020
News article by the ABC
School leavers are being urged to postpone trips to Byron Bay for schoolies celebrations that usually start in November.
...
Victorian Government announces funds for business impacted by coronavirus lockdown, with focus on outdoor dining
ABC News September 14, 2020
News article by the ABC
The Victorian Government promises $290 million to help businesses survive lockdown and implement an outdoor dining culture that ...
Chinese investment in Australia nosedives amid growing tension between two countries
ABC News September 13, 2020
News article by the ABC
New figures show Chinese investment in Australia is continuing to plummet amid growing tension between the two countries and co ...
$20 million fund to boost SA tourism industry’s ‘silver lining’ coronavirus recovery
ABC News September 13, 2020
News article by the ABC
Grants of up to $500,000 each will be offered to South Australian tourism operators in an effort to boost the sector as it reco ...
Growing calls to reopen for regional Victorians living in lockdown with no active cases
ABC News September 11, 2020
News article by the ABC
Hundreds of thousands of Victorians across the state are living in coronavirus-free zones. But for now, they’re still sub ...
Shopping centres feel the pinch as retail speeds up move to online
ABC News September 11, 2020
News article by the ABC
A growing number of retailers, large and small, are contemplating store closures amid an online sales surge and stubbornly high ...
Follow us on our social media for the latest information and free tips to help you get back on track
Georgia Lenton Williams September 11, 2020We know how important it is to keep up to date with the latest information and that’s exactly what we do on our social media feeds. ...
Tigerair folds under coronavirus pandemic pressure
ABC News September 10, 2020
News article by the ABC
Parent company Virgin Australia shuts down the low-cost carrier, which had been in trouble before the pandemic hit and gutted d ...
JobKeeper recipients paying millions in bonuses to their executives, research reveals
ABC News September 10, 2020
News article by the ABC
At least 25 large companies pay executive bonuses totalling more than $24 million after claiming the JobKeeper subsidy.
...
Thai Rock restaurant was the scene of Sydney’s biggest coronavirus cluster — now it’s almost out of business
ABC News September 10, 2020
News article by the ABC
Western Sydney’s Thai Rock restaurant made national headlines when more than 100 coronavirus cases were linked to a lunch ...
Corporate leaders call for end to non-disclosure agreements silencing victims of workplace sexual harassment
ABC News September 10, 2020
News article by the ABC
Top-listed companies dealing with sexual harassment complaints need to be upfront about what the perpetrators did rather than c ...
Adelaide Film Festival to defy COVID-19’s effect on the arts, welcoming audiences back to cinemas
ABC News September 9, 2020
News article by the ABC
Adelaide Film Festival is set to be one of the only events of its kind in 2020, ready to defy the effects of the COVID-19 pande ...
Virgin Australia walks away from 10 flight routes with regional centres affected across the country
ABC News September 9, 2020
News article by the ABC
Troubled airline Virgin Australia has cut flight routes to seven regional destinations and to Tonga as its pandemic restructure ...
House prices to bounce back in 2021 after modest falls during coronavirus pandemic, CBA predicts
ABC News September 9, 2020
News article by the ABC
Australia’s biggest home lender says house price falls so far during the pandemic have been surprisingly small, and its i ...
Young and low-income most likely to spend $750 coronavirus stimulus payments: ANZ economists
ABC News September 9, 2020
News article by the ABC
ANZ’s economics team analyses the internal card data of their bank’s customers to see how Australians responded to ...
Melbourne hospitality owners say Victoria’s roadmap out of coronavirus lockdown is not practical
ABC News September 9, 2020
News article by the ABC
A creative plan touted by Victoria’s Premier as a way to help Melbourne’s struggling hospitality businesses boost o ...
Doctor Who figurines save Sydney business from closure during coronavirus pandemic
ABC News September 9, 2020
News article by the ABC
Fans "just love them", and so does Mark Anstis, whose small Sydney shop is one of just a handful of retailers worldwi ...
Getting on top of your finances can help in more ways than one
Georgia Lenton Williams September 9, 2020When Kristan’s power got disconnected because she couldn’t pay the bill, she realised she needed to seek assistance. She also realised she was in a dark place as she struggled ...
Your Victorian coronavirus restriction questions answered on work, JobKeeper, surgery, masks, travel and kids
ABC News September 8, 2020
News article by the ABC
Have you read through the details about Victoria’s roadmap out of restrictions, but still have more questions? You’ ...
JobKeeper eligibility loophole will tempt sole traders into rorts, accountants warn
ABC News September 8, 2020
News article by the ABC
There appears to be a large loophole in the assessment of who is eligible for the extended JobKeeper payment, and tax experts w ...
Australians urged to backpack in their own backyards and stop fruit going to rot
ABC News September 7, 2020
News article by the ABC
A strawberry grower has made a patriotic call on Australians to "pick for your country" to stem the labour shortage t ...
Victoria’s coronavirus restrictions roadmap could exacerbate anxiety and prolong economic pain, experts say
ABC News September 7, 2020
News article by the ABC
While some say Victoria’s extended lockdown is necessary to snuff out the virus that has claimed the lives of 666 Victori ...
Victorian business owners left reeling after coronavirus lockdown restrictions extended
ABC News September 7, 2020
News article by the ABC
Some small business owners say they are shattered and heartbroken by the Victorian Government’s slow approach to loosenin ...
Free coronavirus vaccination to be made available throughout 2021 if trials are successful, Federal Government says
ABC News September 6, 2020
News article by the ABC
More than 84.8 million vaccine doses will be made available free for Australians progressively throughout next year, the Federa ...
Melbourne’s coronavirus restrictions roadmap: The five steps from stage 4 lockdown to ‘COVID normal’
ABC News September 6, 2020
News article by the ABC
Under the coronavirus restrictions roadmap released by Victorian Premier Daniel Andrews, Melbourne will move through four steps ...
Coronavirus has left many Tasmanians facing electricity bill shock. What can you do?
ABC News September 4, 2020
News article by the ABC
Many Tasmanians who have been home during the coronavirus pandemic are receiving electricity bills for thousands of dollars. Wh ...
Coronavirus pandemic highlights rising levels of financial stress across Australia
ABC News September 4, 2020
News article by the ABC
Financial stress is on the rise in Australia, and it is affecting people from all walks of life. Especially those with lots of ...
Coronavirus pandemic and recession have different impacts on neighbouring Western Sydney restaurants
ABC News September 4, 2020
News article by the ABC
Western Sydney restaurateur Quang Do knows the pains of Australia’s recession better than most — but at the eatery four ...
Tasmanian construction projects worth $1b delayed or ditched because of coronavirus
ABC News September 4, 2020
News article by the ABC
Tasmania is in danger of falling off a cliff when it comes to major construction projects with only two left to finish up befor ...
Eviction bans end for 8 million renters. Could this be the start of a housing disaster?
ABC News September 4, 2020
News article by the ABC
As support for workers and those out of work is wound back, a potential housing disaster looms for both renters and their landl ...
‘They were terrible times’: How Australians remember the 1990s recession
ABC News September 3, 2020
News article by the ABC
Parents sick with worry, work drying up almost immediately and battling through six interviews for a retail job. This is how so ...
Paul Keating says people are being allowed early access to their super with no scrutiny whatsoever. Is he correct?
ABC News September 3, 2020
News article by the ABC
Former prime minister Paul Keating says Australians are being allowed to access their super early with "no scrutiny whatso ...
‘Buy now, pay later’ stars like Afterpay, Zip don’t need regulation, Senate inquiry into fintech says
ABC News September 3, 2020
News article by the ABC
Consumers don’t need to have legal protections when they use "buy now, pay later" services like Afterpay and Zi ...
Many withdrawing super early underestimate impact on retirement balance
ABC News September 2, 2020
News article by the ABC
A survey by a major super fund finds that many members who withdrew super early made the decision to do so in one day and most ...
What does being in a recession mean and how does it affect me?
ABC News September 2, 2020
News article by the ABC
Today’s numbers confirm what we already knew — the economy is going backwards. Here’s what a recession is exactly ...