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The Australian Bureau of Statistics reported annual CPI inflation of 4.3% in the year to September, up from 4.0% in August, with prices up 1.3% over the September quarter. The trimmed mean, a measure of underlying inflation, was 3.6% annually, with August revised down …

Wilkinson appeared on Wednesday morning. She said inflation is being driven mainly by global events and private investment rather than government spending, citing AI and data-centre investment and the fallout from the Middle East war. She described household spending as "subdued", according to reports …

The change forms part of a financial-sector deregulation package that the government says will cut red tape by $780 million a year across financial services. The Treasurer's media release lifts the limit for "deceased persons' estate-related expenses" from $15,000 to $30,000, including funeral expenses. …

Treasury regularly releases packages of "minor and technical amendments" to fix drafting errors, unintended outcomes and outdated references in tax and corporate law. The latest is listed on its consultation hub as c2026-810713. The draft would restore GST-free treatment for specified aged care services …

Debt collection and interest charges sit at the centre. Tax Ombudsman Ruth Owen said complaints "increased sharply in the six months to September 2026", mainly about how the ATO collects tax debt and applies interest. She called it "unprecedented demand", and the number of …

The numbers come from the Tax Ombudsman's bi-annual complaints insights report. Complaints about penalties and interest made up 18% of all complaints to the office, compared with 13% earlier. Relief fell from about one in six cases to roughly one in 20, and the …

The Tax Ombudsman received 2,376 complaints in the six months, up 74% on the same period in 2025. Small business made up 20% of complaints but 29% of the more complex investigated cases.