By Brad Smith on Friday, January 30, 2009 12:51 PM

Call for cuts to GST to boost economy
By Brad Smith, Editor

As speculation continues to build as to the outcome of next Tuesday’s monthly Reserve Bank meeting and the potential for a further 1% cut to the official interest rate, it has been reported in today’s The Age that a senior RBA official is recommending that the Federal Government slash the GST by half to boost our flagging economy. Read More »

By Brad Smith on Thursday, January 29, 2009 10:53 AM

Could we see another 1% Interest Rate cut next Tuesday?
By Brad Smith, Editor

All eyes are turning toward next Tuesday’s February Reserve Bank meeting and the promise of yet another rate cut. The question seems to be not whether or not there will be a rate cut but rather as to its magnitude. Debate rages as to whether we are more likely to see a 0.75% decrease, which would still see rates falling to their lowest levels in Australia since 1965. Read More »

By Brad Smith on Thursday, January 29, 2009 10:51 AM

Government fears household mortgage stress on the rise in 2009
By Brad Smith, Editor

Rising consumer mortgage stress is again on the news agenda with reports today that the Federal Government is pleading with the major Australian banks to show some compassion to borrowers struggling to make timely loan repayments. The plea from Deputy Prime Minister Julia Gillard comes in the wake of a leaked International Monetary Fund report forecasting downgraded worldwide growth of only 0.5% this year as well as new rounds of job cuts in Europe and the US increasing the likelihood of a recession in Australia. Read More »