Australia has traditionally had a gaping trade deficit with the United States. The following table from Australia’s Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT) shows that the United States exported (A$88.2b) more than double what it imported (A$37.5b) from Australia in 2023-24. On Wednesday, the Trump Administration levied reciprocal tariffs against all nations. The Trump
The YIMBY movement claims that the leading solution to Australia’s housing affordability crisis is to rezone our suburbs for high-rise apartment developments. Their argument consistently overlooks evidence suggesting that blanketing cities with high-rise apartment buildings often does not result in more affordable housing. The classic counterargument is illustrated by Vancouver, Canada, which underwent a complete
As Trump makes one of the most retarded economic decisions of all times with his blanket tariffs (even on uninhabited islands, but not Russia curiously), in effect self-sanctioning the USA from global trade, risk markets have done their fair share of pearl clutching and crystal ball gazing to wonder if stagflation, recession or something else
The annual minimum wage circus has begun, with the Australian Industry Group (AIG) urging the Fair Work Commission (FWC) to adopt a “moderate increase” in minimum wages of not more than 2.6%: “In recent years, high inflation resulted in very large increases to minimum wages. But in 2025 the balance of economic factors has squarely
Australia’s tea lady in Washington, Kevin Rudd, has failed again. SMH. Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has made an eleventh-hour bid to avoid the worst of US President Donald Trump’s trade strikes by enlisting the advice of one of the most influential Australians in Trump’s orbit, golf star Greg Norman. Albanese dined with Norman in Melbourne
Victorian taxpayers seem to be unable to catch a break. The state is grappling with the nation’s highest per capita debt loads. Victoria’s net debt is forecast to soar over the budget forward estimates. As a result, interest payments have soared, draining billions from the state budget. Central to Victoria’s financial demise is poor management
The ferrous jaws remain. BHP has delivered iron ore its last rites. BHP (ASX:BHP) Group (NYSE:BHP), the world’s largest publicly traded mining company, is reportedly contemplating the separation of its Australian iron ore and coal divisions. This potential move is part of a mid-term growth strategy, as per Reuters. BHP Group’s potential spinoff of these
Join us this week as Nucleus Wealth’s Chief Investment Officer, Damien Klassen look at what we know about Trump’s new tariffs, what they mean for the stock market and our thoughts on the market effect. Can’t make it to the live series? Catch up on the content via Podcasts or our recorded Videos. Damien Klassen is Chief Investment Officer
Jennifer Hewitt writes a reasonable piece on the gas crisis, but her conclusion is rubbish. AFR. …blaming the LNG export industry for high power prices is an easy political target despite the extraordinary complexity and commercial self-interest in the gas market. At various times since, both Coalition and Labor governments have attempted to make up
Peter Dutton’s excellent East Coast gas reservation policy is being undermined by policies that few voters asked for and that the mainstream will never support. On Wednesday, Dutton announced that a Coalition government will crack down on “waste and rorts” in government spending, which Labor has argued means cuts to essential services, including health and