Comment

Ross Gittins

Ross Gittins is economics editor of the SMH and an economic columnist for The Age. His books include Gittins' Guide to Economics, Gittinomics and The Happy Economist.

Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull delivers a ministerial statement on economic security and stabilty.

Super tax reforms offer triumph for Turnbull

Everyone wants to know what achievements Malcolm Turnbull can point to after his first year as Prime Minister. Well, I can think of something: his reform of the tax breaks on superannuation – provided he gets it through without major watering down.

When politicians tell us the government owes many billions of dollars, many of us assume there's nothing to show for it.

Politicians sidestep the benefits of public debt

What kind of Australia do we want our children and grandchildren to inherit? One with rundown and inadequate public facilities? If we continue letting our politicians demonise public debt, that's the world we'll be leaving for our descendants.

Illustration: Simon Letch

The difference isn't as big as they want you to believe

I get criticised by rusted-on supporters of both sides of politics when I say this, but that doesn't stop it being true: there are differences between the two sides' policies, but they're not as great as they want us to believe (and their supporters do believe).