Election 2016: Behind the battlelines there's surprising agreement on climate change
Peter Martin Every so often elections matter. The last one mattered big-time for carbon emissions.
Election 2016: This time it's the Coalition that's promising things it can't afford
Peter Martin Labor ought to consider reversioning the old 1980's AIDS slogan: "I like sex, but I'm not prepared to die for it."
The real drug problem that could cause a global catastrophe
Peter Martin Antibiotics have improved health and brought down the cost of staying alive, but now they are losing their power, writes Peter Martin.
Richard Flanagan, Tom Keneally tussling with paper tigers
Peter Martin Leading authors concerned about cuts to copyright don't seem to have done their homework.
Election 2016: Forget about searching for budget black holes, they're not there
Peter Martin The tally of costings released at the end of a campaign almost always adds up and always puts the budget slightly ahead.
When milk is cheaper than water, farmers pay the price
Peter Martin The next time a well-heeled retiree complains to me about the budget's superannuation changes and "retrospectivity"...
Election 2016: What kind of government better funds private schools than its own?
Peter Martin Private schools get more from the government than public schools, and that's seriously wrong.
Schools and pensions suffer from the same policy failure
Peter Martin Some private schools get more from the government than public schools, and that's seriously wrong.
Election 2016: The weak case for a company tax cut
Peter Martin The centrepiece of the PM's campaign derives from serious economic modelling but it might not have been completely thought through.
Election 2016: Could the campaign dent the economy?
Peter Martin Malcolm Turnbull might have sown the seeds of his own destruction.
Federal budget 2016: The more you look at it, the better it gets
Peter Martin This type of federal budget is rare. The Turnbull government sought and adopted best practice. You can’t argue with that.
Budget 2016: Tim Pallas rides high while Scott Morrison dithers
Peter Martin Victorian treasurer Tim Pallas luxuriates in surpluses, but he’s also protecting his revenue base, unlike another treasurer in Canberra.
Federal budget 2016: Sleeping with the budget, a love story
Peter Martin Most of us reporting the federal budget get little sleep the night after. We are busy "unwinding".
Federal budget 2016: We need more tax
Peter Martin The government's theme for selling the budget reads like a Seinfeld script.
Obesity. It's time to tax soft drinks
Peter Martin One of the worst myths ever promoted by an industry association is that all we need is self-control.
Why the states should charge income tax
Peter Martin Face reality: we can’t vote for better schools and hospitals in state elections and lowers taxes in federal elections and expect to get both.
Restoring the ABCC a poor foundation for Malcolm Turnbull to build an election on
Peter Martin The Prime Minister uses discredited analysis to exaggerate reasons to reinstate the Australian Building and Construction Commission.
Expect great things from Malcolm Turnbull's first budget. No, seriously.
Peter Martin The Prime Minister is prepared to make the most of unusually low interest rates by spending up big on projects that will pay dividends.
Negative gearing: we're becoming a nation of landlords and serfs
Peter Martin Forget the Australian dream, we just want to ‘get ahead’ now - with negative gearing.
Negative gearing: we're becoming a nation of landlords and serfs
Peter Martin Forget the Australian dream, we just want to ‘get ahead’ now - with negative gearing.
