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Shane Wright

Shane Wright

Shane is a senior economics correspondent for The Age and The Sydney Morning Herald.

US President Donald Trump has threatened to hit countries that tax American tech giants with big tariffs.

Trump demands countries back down on tech regulation or face big new tariffs

The Albanese government faces another tariff threat from Donald Trump, this time over forcing tech companies to pay for Australian news content.

  • Shane Wright

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Falling house prices quickly dampen the appetite to spend.

Only quickest first home buyers to benefit from expanded 5 per cent deposit scheme

The scheme, which has been brought forward by three months, is likely to drive up house prices.

  • Millie Muroi and Shane Wright
Jim Chalmers with Finance Minister Katy Gallagher, Treasury secretary Jenny Wilkinson and Productivity Commission member Angela Jackson, talks to the roundtable.

We can’t wait another 25 years for results, Mr Treasurer

At least there was no one with a guitar leading the room in Kumbaya. The success of the economic roundtable will be grounded in results.

  • Shane Wright
Treasurer Jim Chalmers speaking after the final day of the economic roundtable.

Chalmers revs up road user tax as he cites quick wins from roundtable

Treasurer Jim Chalmers has revealed plans to slap EV drivers with road-user charges within months – and dozens of other reforms that might come from the roundtable.

  • Paul Sakkal, Shane Wright, Millie Muroi and Nick Newling

The act of bastardry that’s hurting young generations

Australians have a tax and welfare system that’s one of the envies of the world. But it’s also transferring masses of wealth to our older generations.

  • Shane Wright
Minister for Communications and Minister for Sport Anika Wells, Minister for Housing, Minister for Homelessness and Minister for Cities Clare O’Neil and Minister for Education Jason Clare as Prime Minister Anthony Albanese speaks at the start of a Cabinet meeting, at Parliament House in Canberra on Monday 26 May 2025. fedpol Photo: Alex Ellinghausen

Housing minister, roundtable keen to take red pen to 3000-page building code

 Business bosses, unions and ministers have agreed Australia must strip away red and green tape to speed up home construction, as momentum builds to overhaul Australia’s complex building code. 

  • Paul Sakkal, Shane Wright, Millie Muroi and Brittany Busch
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Prime Minister Anthony Albanese with Treasurer Jim Chalmers and Treasury secretary Jenny Wilkinson at the economic roundtable on Tuesday.

Push to recognise overseas qualifications before unions and business clash on tax

As the federal government’s roundtable kicked off with broad agreement to tackle skills and tariffs, a former RBA governor launched an attack on Labor’s economic management.

  • Paul Sakkal and Shane Wright
Coffee was about the only source of calories driving the first day of the economic roundtable.

No phones, no handlers, no nice snacks: day one in Chalmers’ VIP lock-up

Meetings in federal parliament are normally like a buffet of sweet and savoury. But the catering staff are clearly taking to heart the issues central to Anthony Albanese’s economic roundtable.

  • Shane Wright
CBA chief Maat Comyn, Business Council of Australia chief Bran Black, productivity commissioner Danielle Wood and ACTU secretary Sally McManus will all attend Jim Chalmers’ roundtable.

Australians want Albanese to act now to fix the economy – but want one tax left alone

The prime minister vows not to spring new tax reform ideas on voters, but Jim Chalmers insists there are opportunities for quick fixes – and many Australians don’t want to wait.

  • Shane Wright and Paul Sakkal
A nation of “regulatory hairballs”: Productivity Commission chair Danielle Wood will argue it’s time to cure the nation’s addiction to red tape.

Australia needs to cough up its ‘regulatory hairballs’, declares PC boss

For the next three days, leaders will look at ways to lift living standards. The Productivity Commission says they should start with one area of reform.

  • Shane Wright