Blogotariat

Regulator pings two businesses for allegedly breaching the rules of state-based energy upgrades scheme, including using dodgy sales tactics.

The post “Reputations at stake:” Regulator punishes companies for energy upgrade scheme breaches appeared first on Renew Economy.

A rule change request quietly put through in December wants to radically change how the main grid works – by throwing open the data door to almost everyone. 

The post A rule change request snuck in over Christmas could radically alter how the main grid functions appeared first on Renew Economy.

Despite the record heatwaves, renewables provided nearly 50 pct of grid demand in January, and big batteries kept the pricing down in the evening peaks.

The post Batteries clip the peaks as renewables meet nearly half of all demand in January, despite record heatwaves appeared first on Renew Economy.

It is hard to believe it was ten years ago that the Kouk (who?) fought a tremendous battle against conservative commentators over plain packaging for durries. He claimed a mighty victory. Tobacco consumption has plummeted a staggering 17.5 per cent since the plain packaging laws were introduced in late 2012. Stick that in your pipe

The post Kouk on durries revisited appeared first on MacroBusiness.

The Albanese government is on track to collect far more personal income tax than expected this financial year, as higher‑than‑forecast inflation pushes workers into higher tax brackets. Treasury forecasts inflation of 3.75% for 2025–26. However, CPI has already risen 2.7% in the first six months, meaning the full‑year figure is likely to be higher. The Reserve

The post Bracket creep punishes workers, rewards waste appeared first on MacroBusiness.

In the decade to June 2025, NSW’s population expanded by 977,703, driven by 884,772 net overseas migration (NOM). The state lost 245,211 residents to other jurisdictions over the last decade, which was mostly offset by a natural increase of 403,898 (i.e., births minus deaths). With NSW’s fertility rate of only 1.55 births per woman, most

The post Future Sydney: Shoebox apartments and flooded homes appeared first on MacroBusiness.

When the Albanese government came to office, it quickly raised Australia’s permanent migrant intake by 30,000 to 195,000 annually. It also raised the humanitarian intake by around 7,000 annually to 20,000. The permanent migration intake has since been reduced back to 185,000. So, along with the 20,000 annual humanitarian intake, the official permanent migrant program

The conservative commentariat that didn’t want rate cuts last year is urging the RBA to increase rates tomorrow, but it may not happen, Michael Pascoe writes.

The money market betting is that the Governor Michele Bullock will announce a 25-point rate rise Tuesday afternoon. The herd is following the preferred commentary of the national media, much of which hasn’t forgiven the RBA for cutting rates last year.

Capacity payments jump sharply as regulators focus on big batteries with more storage. And despite the drop in cells prices, other costs have gone up.

The post Big batteries to get paid a lot more for having six hours of storage instead of four appeared first on Renew Economy.

Exclusively from national treasure, Gerard Minack. Australian rates and sticky inflation Expectations for RBA policy have swung 180° through the past three months, from easing to tightening, as inflation lifted through the second half of 2025.  There is noise in the data so I’m not as sure as the market that the RBA will tighten

The post Minack exclusive: Immigration blowing inflation roof off appeared first on MacroBusiness.

India and the US have agreed to a trade deal, President Donald Trump said in a social media post on Monday.

The countries failed to reach an agreement after several rounds of talks in 2025 and Washington imposed a 50% tariff on New Delhi, half of which was a penalty for India’s purchases of Russian oil.

Russia’s Foreign Intelligence Service: France preparing coups in AfricaFrance is preparing scenarios for neo-colonial coups on the African continent and is looking for opportunities for ‘political revenge’ in the region, TASS reports with reference to the Press Bureau of the Foreign Intelligence Service (SVR) of Russia.

Australia’s 5% deposit scheme has triggered a surge in first‑home buyer activity, but mortgage brokers warn the same policy is now likely to hurt those buyers the most if interest rates rise on Tuesday. Loan Market data shows a 49% jump in first‑home buyer mortgage applications in October (when the scheme began). Activity slowed in November but

The post First home buyers suckered into bubble market appeared first on MacroBusiness.