Most Australians worry over climate change
SYDNEY, AAP – Weeks after floods devastated massive swathes of NSW and QLD, climate change remains a major concern for Australians as they head into the polls. A new Ipsos survey has found that 83 per cent of Australians are worried about the debilitating effects of climate change and global warming. With more frequent and…
Sign of strong economy as confidence lifts
CANBERRA, AAP – New data points to a strengthening in the Australian economy in the coming months, aided by the significant easing of COVID-19 pandemic restrictions. The Westpac-Melbourne Institute leading index, which indicates the likely pace of economic activity three to nine months into the future, rose to its highest level since May 2021 in…
Labor rejects anti-coal pledge: Albanese
CANBERRA, AAP – An anti-coal pledge will not be signed by a Labor government but Australia could still host key climate change conferences, the opposition leader says. Anthony Albanese confirmed Labor would not sign a pledge to phase out coal use if elected, despite 40 countries agreeing to it at the United Nations climate summit…
Extra 10k travel vouchers for Vic seniors
MELBOURNE, AAP – Victorian seniors will share in an extra 10,000 travel vouchers, in another boost for the state’s COVID-hit tourism sector. The Victorian government on Monday announced eligible seniors who missed out on one of the initial 10,000 vouchers will get a second chance at a discounted holiday. Under the scheme, voucher holders can…
Tycoon tax to end offshore gas ‘rip-off’
CANBERRA, AAP – A tycoon tax would end tax breaks for corporations profiting from Australian gas and spread the wealth among communities, under a Greens’ plan. The Greens pledged on Wednesday to end the “brain-dead, trickle-down” taxation of oil and gas under past governments, if they win the balance of power at the May 21…
IMF cuts world growth forecast due to war
CANBERRA, AAP – The International Monetary Fund has slashed its global economic growth forecasts in response to Russia’s invasion of Ukraine and the resulting supply chain disruptions and spike in inflation. However, disruptions to Russian and Ukraine exports may be windfalls for other commodity exporters, like Australia. “This crisis unfolds while the global economy was…
Wall St ends higher on earnings optimism
NEW YORK CITY, RAW – US stocks have ended higher as investors used positive earnings to advance Wall Street’s main indexes and took relief from two US Federal Reserve officials offering more dovish comments on interest rate rises than one of their counterparts. Shares of megacap companies including Microsoft Corp, Apple Inc and Amazon.com Inc…
ASX returns from Easter in upbeat mood
SYDNEY, AAP – Strong energy and resources prices lifted Australia’s commodity-tinged stock exchange in the first trading session after the Easter break. The benchmark S&P/ASX200 index ended 41.8 points higher to close at 7565.2 on Tuesday, up 0.56 per cent from Thursday, amid broad strength in companies tied to minerals and oil and gas. The…
NZ ‘not in good place’ on interest rates
WELLINGTON, AAP – Reserve Bank Governor Adrian Orr has conceded New Zealand is “not in a good place” as inflation threatens to derail its COVID-19 recovery and challenges the government’s agenda. However, the government remains poised to push reform projects through at next month’s budget, which includes new housing, health and climate change measures which…
$75 million coalition pledge for farmers
CANBERRA, AAP – Farmers will be helped to buy their first property under a $75 million pilot scheme proposed by the Coalition aimed at encouraging more people into agriculture. The election promise would see the government guarantee 40 per cent of an eligible new farmer’s commercial loan up to a maximum value of one million…
