Ian McAuley

The National Electricity Market needs re-design involving re-nationalisation of networks and “retailers” because privatisation and structural separation have failed. (more…)

A year ago, when the Turnbull Government had been dragged into setting up a commission on the finance sector, Peter Dutton and Kelly O’Dwyer relished the thought of exposing bad behaviour in the union-dominated industry superannuation funds, even though it had been clear for many years that the industry funds were serving their investors far better than the retail funds operated by the banks, as confirmed by the Commission’s work. How did they get it so wrong?   (more…)

Before Christmas the Government will produce the Mid-Year Economic and Fiscal Outlook. It’s a fair bet that it will reveal a small cash surplus for this year, giving Morrison an opportunity to brag about the Coalition’s economic expertise. But this will be a distraction from serious deficiencies in Australia’s economic structure. (more…)

The Government and the finance sector would have us believe that the finance sector makes a valuable contribution to our economy. But is it simply a bloated overhead? Economist Mariana Mazzucato, who will deliver the second John Menadue Oration in December, reminds us that its claimed role in “value creation” could be eclipsed by its actual role in “value extraction”. (more…)

Neither the politicians nor the media are helping the electorate to understand the issues around corporate taxation. Lowering the corporate tax rate for large companies would do hardly anything for Australian investors, but corporate executives, board members and foreign investors would certainly stand to benefit. (more…)

Flowing from the Financial Services Royal Commission is a stream of stories about the bad behaviour of big business, but is that distracting our attention from the shortcomings of small business? (more…)

Treasurer Morrison has brought down a pre-election budget. While it has little in the way of handouts, it is carefully designed to wedge Shorten between higher taxes and higher deficits, all based on the absurd idea that there is some merit in a tax cap of 23.9 per cent of GDP. (more…)

The Business Council of Australia is running a hysterical campaign against trade unions, Getup! and the Labor Party, as if corporate Australia is facing an existential threat. That’s partisan rubbish.   (more…)

The ABS monthly employment data released last Thursday shows that since the Coalition was elected five years ago the Australian economy has generated one million additional jobs. Does this indicate success of the Coalition’s policies? (more…)

There is something wrong when “self-funded” retirees can enjoy a six digit tax-free income, while others who earn their income through their own efforts pay normal rates of income tax. But Labor’s proposals on dividend imputation would sustain that inequity, would compromise public revenue, and would divert Australians’ savings away from high-return quality investments. (more…)