This Month
- Opinion
- Monetary policy
Why it’s vital that the RBA cuts rates at mid-year
The central bank is at great risk of overshooting its policy settings into higher unemployment and it is workers and small business who will cop it.
- Opinion
- Australian economy
Liberals don’t want real tax reform
Except for Malcolm Turnbull, Liberal leaders have always scuppered tax overhauls that did not suit the direct interests of them and their outriders.
January
- Opinion
- Supermarkets
In the shopping trolley war, the supermarkets have to give
Suppliers can get paid more, and shoppers pay less. But only if supermarket giants are forced to compete more.
- Opinion
- Political leadership
How Albanese can rebuild from here
The Labor government ran into headwinds during 2023. But is the political breeze about to shift in its direction?
- Updated
December 2023
- Opinion
- Energy transition
Energy transition needs gas, not nuclear
A rational decarbonising energy policy offers a middle path between the absolutists and the denialists.
November 2023
- Opinion
- Australian economy
Who killed neoliberalism?
Neoliberalist theory and practice went so horribly wrong because governments that put their faith in markets forgot one word – competition.
- Opinion
- Globalisation
Simplifying APEC trade is even better than cutting tariffs
Streamlining clunky customs and quarantine procedures would have an outsize impact on the regional economy.
October 2023
- Opinion
- Globalisation
Free trade and the MAGA mob
It is being left to Australia to fly the flag for the dismantling of barriers in a hostile Washington and a thawing China.
- Opinion
- Monetary policy
Time to drop the dead doctrine of NAIRU
The new RBA leadership has a chance to use intuition rather than prescription to manage inflation.
- Opinion
- Energy transition
Albanese to focus on energy policy after the Voice vote
There is no pathway to affordable clean power that does not require government support. In the immediate post-referendum period, the government will turn its energies to that task.
September 2023
- Opinion
- Trade wars
APEC can be the hope of the free trade side in Asia
The US and China don’t want to be in the same regional trade grouping. But a free-trade area of the Asia-Pacific offers an inclusive approach that pushes back against the creation of rival trading blocs.
- Opinion
- Australia's China challenge
Much to gain from delegation going to China
This week’s High Level Dialogue is expected to be fearless, frank and friendly as the two nations seek to stabilise and strengthen their relationship.
August 2023
- Opinion
- Climate policy
How to stop Biden hurting our renewable industries
The Future Fund helps Australia to match the distorting largesse now being handed out by the Biden administration.
- Opinion
- Australian economy
The dubious statistic steering the Reserve Bank
The central bank uses joblessness to get the inflation rate it wants. Yet there is little justification for doing so.
July 2023
- Opinion
- Australian economy
Labor delivers productivity that works
Too much effort goes into wish-list productivity reforms that would be electoral suicide or killed off by the Coalition. There are better ways.
- Opinion
- Australian economy
Australia has a chance to help save free trade
The nation does not have to stand by helplessly while superpower tensions wreck the rules-based system. There are things that like-minded allies can do.
June 2023
- Opinion
- Australian economy
Housing hypocrisy, thy name is Green
If the Greens are really opposed to housing demand drivers like immigration, then they should say so.
- Opinion
- Australian economy
The RBA is deciding rates on dated data
If the RBA is planning to lift rates until it is happy with productivity, then we are all in big trouble.
May 2023
- Opinion
- Australian economy
The RBA is taking Australia to a precipice
Inflation is falling. There is no wage-price spiral. The central bank does not need to trigger a recession to contain them.
- Opinion
- Political leadership
Progressives are asleep to Albanese’s ambition
The Rip Van Winkles who expect the prime minister to break the election promise on the stage three tax cuts need to wake up to his plan to make Labor the natural party of government.