Today
- Opinion
- Supermarket inquiry
Why this is a practical, workable supermarket code of conduct
The new code offers the best of both a mandatory and voluntary system of compliance for the supermarket giants.
- 11 mins ago
This Month
- Opinion
- Australian economy
Recessions are nasty and shouldn’t be engineered to tame inflation
Talk of a need to increase the cash rate is misguided – especially so when the main culprits behind the 3.6 per cent inflation rate are identified.
May
- Opinion
- Australian economy
We must protect Australia’s free and open economy
Australia prospered in an open postwar world economy. But a new generation has less faith in it.
- Opinion
- Australian economy
Gas critics are signing up for coal and candles
The climate movement needs to ask itself what is worse: gas in the new energy mix, or coal that lingers for longer.
April
- Opinion
- Monetary policy
RBA must ignore the band of economists pushing a rate rise
The Reserve Bank should not be firing up its interest rate models on the strength of inflation that is now steadily dropping into target range.
- Opinion
- Supermarkets
Compulsory grocery code strikes right balance
The interim report seeks to prevent big supermarkets from abusing their market power while rejecting populist policies such as forced divestiture of stores.
March
- Opinion
- Australian economy
Dutton’s nuclear plan is all politics
The opposition is more interested in keeping the Nationals in the tent than carbon emissions at bay.
- Opinion
- Australian economy
Dunkley sets up Labor’s 2025 win
While the Liberals look down rabbit holes like crime and refugees, Labor plans to claim vindication on economic policy.
February
- 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.