Important discussions are taking place within the government and before the Joint Standing Committee on Electoral Matters about increasing the size of the federal parliament. (more…)
Category: Economy
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The economics of Indonesia’s discontent
Economic discontent erupted in protests across Indonesia in late August 2025. The trigger was the proposal to give generous housing allowances to members of parliament, but unrest had been bubbling since early in the year. (more…)
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Seeking the positive-sum economy where everyone wins a prize
What is this “abundance” thing that progressive economists are suddenly banging on about after reading the latest American pop economics book? At last, one of them has explained it. (more…)
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The world in 2050 is already here
Dr Mike Gilligan has reminded us that Australia’s defence and foreign policies are pulling in opposite directions: we preach “equilibrium” in the Pacific while binding ourselves ever more tightly to Washington’s war plans against China. His warning is timely, but we must go further. (more…)
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Productivity and innovation needs business’ own investment in skills
Despite a modest increase in business R&D expenditure in Australia in the latest reported year (2023/24), Australia’s performance on a GDP basis is still woefully worse than its international economic competitors. (more…)
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More Boomers are choosing not to retire. Why? They don’t want to
As the great bulge of babies born after World War II has moved through their life course, the world has changed to suit them and their needs. (more…)
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Koalas, carbon credits and the fine print of conservation
We congratulate the NSW Government for establishing the Great Koala National Park, which will protect a nationally significant koala population. (more…)
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Disengaging from the dangerous alliance
When, in the course of close — some would say politically intimate — relations between allies, the dominant partner demands that the subordinate partner betray its democratic principles as a cost of receiving favourable treatment, the time has come to terminate the relationship. Such is now the state of the Australia-US alliance. (more…)
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Government is planning hardship for older Australians living at home
Aged care has again been in the media for all the wrong reasons. Two failures are attracting particular attention. (more…)
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From Kimmel’s comeback to corporate reckoning: How your wallet can topple titans
In a plot twist straight out of Hollywood, Jimmy Kimmel is back. Just one week after Disney suspended the late-night host indefinitely, the network reversed course. Why? (more…)
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Revitalising the UN’s foundations
The United Nations grew out of the global co-operation which defeated fascism. It was conceived as a multilateral organisation to deliver a global rules-based order. (more…)
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The Liberal Party’s economic strategy
Liberal Party leader Sussan Ley claims too many of us are too dependent on government. But where is the evidence, with government income support in Australia being more tightly targeted than in any other country? (more…)
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‘Too cheap to contain and too big to ignore’: The electrotech revolution that will sweep away fossil fuels
A new report published this week has highlighted the profound disruption and transformation of the global energy system — driven by the uptake of low-cost, highly efficiency “electrotech” — solar and wind, electric vehicles and heat pumps, batteries and digitalisation. (more…)
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Pope Leo is right: Uber-wealthy CEOs like Musk are paid too much
But there’s a solution: The recently introduced Tax Excessive CEO Pay Act would base the CEO-worker pay ratio on five-year averages of the total compensation for a firm’s highest-paid executive and median worker. (more…)
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What game is he playing? The PM and AUKUS
As the Australian prime minister prepares for his visit to the UN in New York next week, Robert Macklin looks into what Anthony Albanese might be hoping for on the trilateral security deal. (more…)
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Cut emissions 70% by 2035? There’s only one policy that can get us there
Australia’s new emissions reduction target of 62–70% by 2035 is meant to demonstrate we are doing our part to hold climate change well below 2°C. (more…)
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Labor is taking Australia into a US war with China
The Albanese Labor Government is actively making plans to take Australia into a future US war with China.
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Key policies for the energy transition
This week the federal government is expected to release its 2035 greenhouse gas emissions target. However, more important than the target itself are policies needed to achieve substantial, effective, rapid emission reductions. (more…)
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Blaming China won’t keep the lights on – or pay the power bill
Sky News is back on the beat with a familiar headline: “The $20,000-per-person climate tax: Cost of Australia’s green agenda to become astonishingly clear this week when new emissions targets are set.” (more…)
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A smart productivity play: Stop subsidising loss-making native forest logging
On 7 September 2025, NSW set the proposed 476,000-hectare boundary for the Great Koala National Park and halted native-forest logging within it (plantation harvesting continues), with formal gazettal slated for 2026. (more…)
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AI: Much ado about something that one day may be important
AI. AI. AI. Maybe if I utter those magic initials one more time, you’ll reach peak ecstasy. Worried about our lack of productivity? Fear not. The economy will soon be rocketing ahead. (more…)
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AUKUS anniversary reminder to the prime minister
Dear prime minister, How very unfortunate that you chose 14 September to announce further expenditure on submarine facilities. (more…)
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We’re going up in the financial world, but no one’s noticed
Economists like us to think they’re coolly rational in all things. Nah. They’re just as susceptible to fads and fashions as the rest of us. (more…)
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Devastating climate risk report shows need to slash emissions 75%, deploy green capital fast
The Albanese Government is reportedly set to announce its new National Determined Contributions ( NDCs) to 2035 this week – its emissions reduction targets under our Paris Agreement obligations. (more…)
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As Europe diversifies its defence, Canberra still clings to AUKUS
Anthony Albanese is about to pour more than $12 billion into a new AUKUS submarine base in Perth. (more…)
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What will happen if/when the AI bubble bursts
Is the AI boom heading towards a bust – just like many other boom and bust cycles of the past? (more…)
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School funding: Time to break the mould and build a new model
A deep contradiction has developed between Australia’s values and the way our schools are funded. (more…)
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The social smog of neoliberalism: How competition breeds violence and division
The Industrial Revolution transformed the material basis of human life. By harnessing energy and perfecting machines, engineers satisfied physical needs on a mass scale. (more…)
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Can we save a ‘livable Earth’?
In reshaping the world for prosperity, humanity has undermined the very foundations of progress. (more…)
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Aged care crises continue under Labor
It has been four years since the final report of the Royal Commission into Aged Care Quality and Safety was tabled in federal parliament. (more…)