ICA warns the home guarantee scheme expansion will increase property prices by up to 10% in the first year

According to new analysis released by the Insurance Council of Australia (ICA) today, The Federal Government’s plan to dramatically expand the Home Guarantee Scheme (HGS) will increase house prices, make it harder for lower income earners to enter the housing market, and have a negligible impact on home ownership rates,  Analysis of the Government’s policy by independent economic consultancy Lateral Economics has estimated that the […]

Rabobank reduces variable base rate for rural loans by 0.25 per cent

Rabobank Australia will lower the variable base rate on its rural loans by 0.25% per annum, effective 22 August 2025. This follows the Reserve Bank of Australia’s decision to cut the official cash rate (OCR) by 0.25%, announced yesterday. Rabobank group executive for Country Banking Australia Marcel van Doremaele said the bank was pleased to […]

RBA Governor shows true grit to raise rates by a further 0.25% to hit 4.35%

With the distraction of the general public, taking time out to watch the running of the 163rd Melbourne Cup the Reserve Bank of Australia Board (RBA) has taken a swipe at lingering inflation by raising the base cash rate by 0.25% to a 12-year high of 4.35%. The biggest takeaway from the rate rise is […]

The Reserve Bank of Australia (RBA) with a new Governor decides to… do nothing

With the former Reserve Bank governor Philip Lowe ending his seven-year term on the 17 September, and with the appointment of Michele Bullock to the position, it was generally anticipated that the first meeting held today under the auspices of the new RBA governor would be one pencilled in for a soft landing. And a […]