Peter Martin

Pointing the way: Martin Parkinson says the fiscal consolidation won't be as tough as it looks.

Treasury bullish on economy

Peter Martin Treasury boss Martin Parkinson says the economy will survive one of the tightest budgets in years in part because its economic effects are milder than is widely believed.

RBA hints at further rate cuts

Peter Martin THE Reserve Bank has fuelled hope of further rate cuts, saying inflation should stay low.

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Future treasurers will have to make hard decisions

Peter Martin In yesterday's address to the National Press Club, Wayne Swan spoke of ''the future'' five times. But the measures in his budget appear to store up more financial problems than they solve.

Treasury figures more guarded than a year ago

Peter Martin This time last year Treasury forecast 500,000 new jobs in two years. Nine months into the first of those financial years, the economy has delivered just 29,000 and Treasury is more circumspect.

How Swan got his surplus

Peter Martin SIX months ago in the mid-year budget review, Wayne Swan was told to expect a paper-thin surplus in 2012-13 of just $1.5 billion.

Swan's skinny surplus: a how-to guide

Peter Martin After shuffling tens of billions from the defence department, corporations liable for tax and the recipients of foreign aid and funnelling it into payments for families produces a projected surplus...

Australians buck tough times with a spot of shopping

Peter Martin Wayne Swan will take into tonight's budget a rare piece of good economic news.

Plea to spare single parents from budget cuts

Peter Martin The Australian Council of Social Service has made a last-minute plea to the Prime Minister.

Budget tax win over losses

Peter Martin Australian companies will be able to claw back the cost of tax they have overpaid in any financial year as part of the Gillard government's $700 million promise to help kick-start businesses that...

Peter Martin

Refund did little to help education

Peter Martin The soon-to-be-buried Education Tax Refund was an appalling policy on just about every level.

NAB keeps a bit on the side, giving rivals excuse to avoid full rate cut

Peter Martin, Chris Zappone NATIONAL AUSTRALIA BANK has cleared the way for Australia's big four banks to withhold a large chunk of the Reserve Bank's 0.50 percentage point rate cut delivered on Tuesday.

Banks to pocket part of rate cut

Peter Martin Home buyers and businesses are likely to get just two-thirds of the 0.50 percentage point cut in interest rates delivered by the RBA.

Banks hold back on bumper rate cut

Peter Martin, Chris Zappone HOME and business borrowers are likely to get just two thirds of the 0.50 percentage point interest rate cut delivered by the Reserve Bank yesterday after the Bank of Queensland went out ahead of its...

More equality in some taxing years

Peter Martin and Tim Colebatch Australia a more equal society than it was, and the GFC can take the credit.

Former RBA boss calls for 50-point rate cut

Peter Martin THE former Reserve Bank governor Bernie Fraser has challenged his successors to cut interest rates 50 points today rather than the widely expected 25 points.

Analyst tips $10bn budget shortfall as tax take falls

Peter Martin Far from delivering surplus of $1.5 billion, Swan is on track to deliver a deficit of $8 billion.

Rate hike to recover costs: bank

Peter Martin ANZ hits back at claims it is gouging , saying its monthly adjustments are to recover costs and not to widen margins.

ANZ chief denies claims of gouging on rates

Peter Martin THE ANZ has hit back at claims it is gouging by lifting mortgage rates independently of the Reserve Bank, saying its monthly adjustments are to recover costs and not to widen margins.