This Month
Zoom dropped from Nasdaq in sign pandemic-era darling trade is over
Shares in the video-conferencing company have underperformed every major equity benchmark in 2023, rising just 5.7 per cent.
- Emily Graffeo and Brody Ford
Pfizer paid little tax on $1.4b in COVID vaccine sales
Vaccine maker Pfizer paid just $29 million in local tax on its $1.4 billion of sales in Australia during the pandemic, raising political questions about the adequacy of the pharmaceutical giant’s tax payments.
- John Kehoe
The rise and fade of ‘Labor hero’ Annastacia Palaszczuk
Annastacia Palaszczuk first defined herself in opposition to Campbell Newman, but will be remembered for her strong will during the COVID-19 pandemic.
- Gus McCubbing
- Opinion
- Productivity
Be alert but not alarmed about post-COVID productivity slump
There is a lot of noise, and various explanations for the short-term decline, but not yet a clear story of emerging structural impediments to growth.
- Danielle Wood and Alex Robson
November
Armaguard boss laments cash rebound that never came
Mick Cronin says the decline of cash is steeper than it forecast two years ago when merger discussions begun, and “this is a permanent problem”.
- James Eyers
- Opinion
- Opinion
Scientists need to admit they got COVID-19 wrong
Public health officials assume they can rebuild trust through clearer, more persuasive communication, rather than acknowledge the unnecessary pain they caused.
- F.D. Flam
Naomi Milgrom-owned Sportsgirl, Sussan retailer posts dip in profit
The private vehicle controlled by the billionaire businesswoman reported an increase in labour costs in new accounts lodged with the regulator.
- Aaron Weinman
China says ‘no new pathogens’ in illness surge
A potentially worrying spike in respiratory illnesses and clusters of pneumonia in children has caught the attention of the UN health agency.
- Updated
- Jamey Keaten and Maria Cheng
JobKeeper recipients hit by pay penalty, report finds
The Morrison government’s $89 billion JobKeeper wage subsidy went on for too long and tied workers to lower paying jobs, an independent review has found.
- John Kehoe
- Opinion
- Foreign relations
Biden-Xi talks can’t overcome the trust deficit
The sobering reality from the leaders’ meeting is the lack of a binding arrangement that anything they agreed would survive the next American presidency.
- James Curran
Qantas illegally stood down worker who raised cleaning concerns: court
The NSW District Court found the airline guilty of discriminating against a health and safety representative who spoke out over COVID-19 concerns.
- Ayesha de Kretser
- Exclusive
- Aviation
Scott Morrison emerges to fight early morning Sydney Airport noise
Officials are considering cancelling special allowances for cargo operators to fly outside curfew after the ex-PM wrote to Labor demanding it be scrapped.
- Kylar Loussikian
King says decision to block Qatar flights wasn’t to protect Qantas
The Transport Minister says national interest a factor in deciding whether to boost capacity from international airlines into Australia.
- Ayesha de Kretser and Mark Ludlow
London pubs lean on happy hours to lure bankers to quiet city
On too many weeknights, London’s financial district is almost empty as workers cut back amid a cost-of-living crisis that’s left UK adults spending less.
- Neil Callanan, Sabah Meddings and Giulia Morpurgo
Life expectancy goes backwards for the first time in 30 years
The wave of COVID-19 deaths has caused a “slightly lower life” expectancy in Australia, but a newborn child will still probably see the next century.
- Tom Burton
WeWork files for bankruptcy amid office market downturn
The flexible-office-space venture, valued at $US47 billion at its peak, is facing the consequences of excessive expansion that left it with unprofitable leases.
- Updated
- Sujeet Indap and Eric Platt
October
- Opinion
- The AFR View
JobKeeper worked, but the bill is unpaid
The Albanese government has still not squared up to the fiscal policy challenges left by the pandemic.
- The AFR View
Pay back clause could have undermined JobKeeper
Requiring profitable companies to pay back JobKeeper could have damaged confidence, but the program should only be revived in a severe economic crisis.
- Michael Read and Tom McIlroy
Corporate Travel hired for Israel evacuation work
The travel agency also promised shareholders a $100 million share buyback at its AGM on Wednesday.
- Liam Walsh
Ruby Princess liner negligent, misleading in COVID-19 trip
Justice Angus Stewart found the cruise company knew, or ought to have known, about the heightened risk of COVID-19 infection.
- Updated
- Maeve Bannister
