The Bottom Line
Updated Tuesday 27 October 2026
The Treasurer and Assistant Treasurer announced a consultation on financial sector deregulation, claiming the package will cut red tape costs by $780 million a year. The Treasurer said proposed changes include raising the covered bond issuance cap, streamlining reporting for smaller banks, and doubling the deceased-estate withdrawal limit from $15,000 to $30,000. The Treasurer and Assistant Treasurer describe the broader effort as the biggest productivity package in a generation.
The RBA cash rate stands at 4.60 per cent after four rises this year, up from 3.60 per cent at the start of 2026. MacroBusiness reports that RBA deputy governor Andrew Hauser argued inflation is proving more persistent and materially worse than expected, with the RBA remaining prepared to tighten further.
MacroBusiness reports that Cotality's daily index has fallen sharply across the five major capital cities since early April 2026, led by Sydney, and that ANZ Bank has forecast a substantial national peak-to-trough decline.
The Coalition released partial spending-cut costings independently verified by the Parliamentary Budget Office, with opposition spokesman Angus Taylor claiming savings over four years; ABC reports the package omits the cost of migration cuts and Labor tax-cut reversals. Treasurer Jim Chalmers said private demand was growing faster than public demand, implying government spending was not the primary driver of inflation. Economists cited by The Guardian pointed to France's fiscal trajectory as a caution for Australia, though the two countries' debt positions differ substantially.
Every figure is checked against official data or attributed to the body that announced it. Past editions