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Timely coverage of the money, property and energy news that hits Australian household budgets, rate decisions, government schemes, and policy changes, explained in plain English.
Applications for several NSW energy rebates reopen on 10 August 2026 for the new financial year. None of them are automatic, and each has to be claimed. Here is what each one is worth and who qualifies.
AEMO says National Electricity Market spot prices averaged about $74 per megawatt hour in the June quarter, down 47% year on year and the lowest June quarter since 2020. Household bills have not moved anywhere near that far. Here is why.
Headline inflation slowed to 3.8% in the year to June 2026, helped by cheaper petrol. Underlying inflation did not move at all, and electricity is still up more than 20%. That combination keeps the RBA's 11 August decision wide open.
The RBA has held the cash rate steady, yet a string of lenders quietly cut home loan rates in late July 2026 to fight for refinancers. Here is what moved, why it is happening, and how to check whether your loan is still competitive.
The RBA held the cash rate at 4.35% in June, but underlying inflation is edging higher and the June quarter CPI lands within days. Economists are split on whether the Reserve Bank hikes again on 11 August. Here is what is at stake for your mortgage.
National dwelling values slipped 0.4% in June 2026, the biggest monthly fall in three and a half years. Sydney and Melbourne are leading the decline while Perth and Brisbane hold up. Here is what the numbers say and what they do not.
Three rate rises in early 2026 pushed the cash rate back to 4.35%, its highest since 2023, wiping out last year's cuts. The RBA then held in June. Here is what the hold means for mortgage holders before the next decision in August.
From 1 July 2026, a new tax applies to superannuation earnings on balances above $3 million. The final version drops the plan to tax unrealised gains. Here is who Division 296 actually affects, how it works, and why most people will never pay it.
From 1 July 2026, retailers in NSW, south-east Queensland and South Australia must offer a plan with three hours of free electricity in the middle of the day. Here is who can get it, the catches, and how to turn free power into a real saving.
Regulated default electricity prices reset on 1 July. Here is how the Default Market Offer and Victorian Default Offer work, why the change varies by state and network, and what to do about it.
Your HECS or HELP balance was indexed on 1 June, as it is every year. Here is how the adjustment works, why it is not interest, and where to find the exact 2026 figure for your loan.
The instant asset write-off lets eligible small businesses deduct the full cost of a qualifying asset in one year, not over several. The catch for 2025-26 is timing: it must be installed and ready for use by 30 June 2026, and the threshold can change.
The Fair Work Commission's Annual Wage Review decision is in, and the new national minimum wage and award rates apply from the first full pay period on or after 1 July 2026. Here is how the increase works and how to confirm your exact figure.
Lodgement for tax time 2026 opens from 1 July, but the ATO suggests waiting until late July when your pre-fill is finalised. Here are the dates and the reasons behind them.
The new financial year resets a long list of money settings at once. Here is the calm checklist of what changes on 1 July 2026, what stays the same, and where to confirm the exact figures before they hit your pay or your bills.
Energy rebates, tax cuts and rent assistance all help at the margins, but the biggest savings usually come from your largest recurring bills. Here is what is available in 2026 and where to focus.
Government rebates help, but they come and go. The lasting energy bill relief comes from switching to a sharper plan, shifting usage off peak, and buying less from the grid. Here is how to do both.
When the RBA cuts the cash rate, your mortgage repayments can fall. The catch is that lenders do not always pass the full cut on, and not always quickly. Here is how to check and what to do.
Negative gearing changes resurface every few years, and 2026 is no different. Here is what reform might actually look like, from grandfathering to limiting deductions to new builds or trimming the CGT discount, who it would touch, and why existing investors are usually shielded.
The Cheaper Home Batteries Program still cuts about 30 per cent off an installed battery, but the subsidy shrinks every year. Here is the 2026 state of play and what to do about it.
Help to Buy is a federal shared-equity scheme that trims your deposit and loan in exchange for a government stake in your home. Here is the plain-English version, with the catches.
An RBA rate decision is the Reserve Bank board choosing whether to move, hold or cut the cash rate. Here is how those decisions are made and how they reach your repayments, savings and the dollar.
Electricity prices change every year and vary by state and network. Here is what moves your bill, why the reference price is only a benchmark, and the practical moves that actually cut what you pay.
The First Home Guarantee can get you into a home with a 5% deposit and no LMI, if you meet the income and price caps. Here is how it works in 2026.
The super guarantee reached 12% in 2025 after a staged rise. For most workers that means a bigger nest egg with no action needed, but it pays to understand how it works.