The indexation of HECS/HELP debt this year will leave people earning less than $62,000 with a bigger debt even after their repayments.

Despite a mainstream shift in the national conversation away from baseless claims of a “wage-price spiral”, some big business proponents and conservative economists appear unwilling to accept the economic evidence of a profit-price spiral.

New research reveals the growth of ‘gig’ employment in the NDIS and care sector is undermining minimum employment conditions for tens of thousands of workers, with thousands of workers likely earning below-award wages, missing out on superannuation and experiencing inferior WHS protections and gender pay equality outcomes.

You can’t sustain household spending while real wages continue to fall, and households are starting to let everyone know

The Australia Institute is calling on the Tasmanian Government to follow Victoria and end native forest logging from 2024.

While record company profits are dismissed as “short-term” workers continue to suffer ongoing falls in real wages

Wages are growing the best they have for 11 years, but real wages are now back at the level they were 14 years ago

The Reserve Bank’s own research showed that raising rates after February would only increase unemployment, not lower inflation

Federal Budget 2023-24 has delayed solving Australia’s structural revenue problem, deferring any change to the Stage 3 tax cuts ($254b over 10 years) or fossil fuel tax credits ($9.4b in 2023-4) until at least May 2024, before the next federal election. The decision to delay revenue reforms leaves the Budget ill-equipped to meet the needs

Profits in the mining sector are surging, but output is not – and the increased prices come at a cost to the rest of the economy

Less than 20% of consultants’ reports to government are published

Commonwealth on Track for Diminutive Deficit or Surplus in 2022-2023 In the lead-up to its 2023-24 budget, the Labor Government finds itself in an awkward position, accepting that the Jobseeker payment is “seriously inadequate” and an impediment to regaining work, yet professing that it lacks the financial capacity to afford a meaningful increase anytime soon.

New research shows fossil fuel subsidies over the forward estimates have increased to a record breaking $57.1b, up from the $55.3b forecast in 2022. As the federal budget approaches, future fossil fuel subsidies will cost 14 times the amount invested in the Australian Disaster Ready Fund, and more than the amount spent on the Australian

Stronger wage growth in the private sector is good news, but public sector workers continue to be left behind

As the Reserve Bank continues to raise rates, it continues to misread the nature of inflation that is being driven largely by profits.

New research from the Australia Institute shows that eight in 10 Australians (80%) agree that the Federal Government should spend more money to directly build affordable housing in the Budget. The Australia Institute surveyed a nationally representative sample of 1,002 Australians about their attitudes toward the Federal Government’s response to the housing crisis. Key Findings:

A 7% National Minimum Wage rise for low paid workers would help tackle the rising cost of living for those on award wages while having a virtually undetectable impact on economy-wide prices, new research from leading economists at the Centre for Future Work has found. The data comes as the Fair Work Commission deliberates about

Last month’s New South Wales election ejected the final mainland Coalition state government from office.

New national research shows a majority of voters feel positive about switching Australian homes away from gas and moving to full electrification, as cost of living and climate concerns continue to rise. The report, based on a nationally representative survey of Australian households undertaken by The Australia Institute and SEC Newgate, reveals very little opposition

Losing the low-middle income tax offset and getting the Stage 3 tax cuts will leave most workers worse off