Labor has claimed victory in the formerly safe Liberal seat of Hawthorn, defeating Liberal leadership aspirant John Pesutto. Key points: Sam Hibbins has retained the seat of Prahran, which he first won in 2014. The Liberal candidate, Katie Allen, won the most first-preference votes but was overtaken on preferences Independent Ali Cupper has won the formerly…
The Reserve Bank of Australia’s Board of Directors decided for the 26th consecutive time to keep the cash benchmark interest rate unchanged at the historical low of 1.5%. The last change in interest rates was in August 2016, when the central bank cut interest rates by 25 points. Since then, although the unemployment rate has…
About 100,000 Australians live and work overseas, and one of the measures to increase housing affordability announced in the 2017 budget: If overseas Australians sell Australian properties, they will no longer have a capital gains tax (CGT) exemption for their primary residence. The plan is expected to increase the forward budget of approximately 581 million,…
Former prime minister Tony Abbott has not ruled out a crack at getting back onto the frontbench and a push for party leader if he retains his seat of Warringah at the federal election next year. “I don’t rule any of those things out,” Mr Abbott told The Australian newspaper. “I’m 61, which is not…
If Home Affairs Minister Peter Dutton is referred to the High Court, Prime Minister Scott Morrison warns other MPs will follow him. Questions still remain over whether Mr Dutton is eligible to sit in parliament given his financial interests in childcare centres, which get federal funding to pass through to parents. Former Liberal MP…