Australia's most valuable resource is not of the mineral variety but rather the 26 million brains which, if nurtured correctly, will help power the economy for decades to come.
Australian borrowers have been hit with a ninth cash rate rise in a row, putting more pressure on squeezed mortgage holders as the Reserve Bank tries to stem inflation.
One of the nation's biggest consultancy firms has painted a bleak picture for the year ahead, saying Australians are at the mercy of the central bank while warning of a possible recession.
The alarming COVID-19 wave ravaging China's population may be worrying the treasurer but economists expect any economic consequences to be short lived.Â
Australia's new Finance Minister, ACT Senator Katy Gallagher says Labor has inherited a serious set of economic and budget challenges, but will take tough decisions while also focusing on cost of living issues.
Growth in retail spending is expected to have slowed even before Australians feel the impact of the first official interest rate rise in more than a decade.
Australia's economic recovery has been faster and better than expected, with stunningly low unemployment and soaring commodity prices, but what comes next is unclear.