Peter Martin

'The IMF guide lists five tricks, all of them familliar in Australia, and some even now being tried out on us by Swan and Wong'.

Peter Martin

A warning on the IMF handbook: don't do this at home, Mr Treasurer

Peter Martin - Economics Correspondent If Swan pulls this off, he'll really deserve to be called the world's greatest treasurer.

RBA holds fast to rate regulation

Peter Martin The Reserve Bank believes it, rather than retail banks, controls Australian interest rates.

Stevens moves to allay fear

Peter Martin Reserve Bank governor says Australians tend to focus on difficulties rather than opportunities.

India's coal demand a boon for Australia

Peter Martin Australia in box seat to take advantage of Indian demand for coking coal, Reserve Bank research suggests.

Trusts taxation overhaul may be delayed beyond election

Peter Martin The shake-up of the taxation of Australia's 660,000 trusts is now unlikely go ahead of the next election.

Battle of hearts and minds for the consumer dollar

Peter Martin IT'S hard to credit. We feel bad about our finances but good about shopping.

Tax shake-up delay will allow more consultation, says Treasury official

Peter Martin THE planned shake-up of the taxation of Australia's 660,000 trusts by July 1 next year, ahead of the next election, is unlikely to go ahead as had been promised.

WA booms, as the rest trail behind

Peter Martin A stark divide has opened up in business conditions, with Western Australia way out in front, every other state well back and Victoria at the bottom of the pack.

Super profits tax is no remedy for Dutch disease

Peter Martin IT'S THE most often talked-about fix for manufacturers and other victims of the high dollar - hit the mining industry with a bigger super profits tax to take pressure off the dollar.

Cash rate on hold as recession fears fade

Peter Martin and Eric Johnston Official interest rates are set to remain on hold, quite possibly for the rest of the year, barring a major change in the economic outlook.

RBA relaxes, rates set to stay on hold

Peter Martin, Tim Colebatch, Eric Johnston OFFICIAL interest rates are set to remain on hold, quite possibly for the rest of the year, barring a major change to the economic outlook.

Economic chasm widens

Peter Martin A sharp geographic divide has opened up, with the latest Bureau of Statistics report showing sales growth five times as fast in Australia's north-west as in the south-east.

Rate cut cash spent on dining

Peter Martin First figures for the year show spending at cafes and restaurants is up 4.3 per cent while the rest of retail stood still.

Department head determined to start treasuring women workers

Peter Martin TREASURY has a problem with women. Australia's No.1 economic department believes it does not value them enough as workers, in part because it does not properly value the skills they have to offer.

RBA defends banks after downgrade

Peter Martin and Eric Johnston Ratings agency Fitch has cut the credit rating of three of the big four Australian banks.

Reserve comfortable with salary growth

Peter Martin WAGES are growing faster than inflation, but not fast enough to concern the Reserve Bank.

Greek deal helps RBA justify its rate freeze

Karen Kissane, Peter Martin EURO ZONE leaders have agreed to a €130 billion ($161 billion) bailout deal for the collapsing Greek economy but insist the loan money be ring-fenced so it can be clawed back if Greece fails to make...