Is population growth driving the housing crisis? Here’s the reality
Population growth is in the news again. The usual suspects are trying to whip up a scare campaign about immigration. So, let’s look at the actual numbers and put them into context.
Roundtable was a rare chance for reform. Instead we got small ideas
The three-day economic roundtable is over. After all the colour and movement, what did we get?
Red mist over the red tape cop out
Some regulations are good. Some are not. But cutting mystery ‘red tape’ is not panacea for improving productivity growth.
Tax the wealthiest to make Australia more productive
The Prime Minister hosed down expectations ahead of the economic roundtable, but a serious reform package must include changes to tax policy.
Price gouging is profitable, more news at 11
Turns out being Australia’s Biggest Bank is very profitable when there isn’t much competition…
Delayed RBA cut is welcome, but borrowers are still lagging
The RBA has cut interest rates – five weeks too late.
The big reform that could make our childcare system cheaper and safer
There is a sickness at the centre of Australia’s childcare system. The profit motive.
July 2025
When targeting inflation, the RBA misses more often than it hits
With the fight against high inflation now over, will the Reserve Bank fail to learn the lessons of the past and allow inflation to fall below 2%?
Why we need a tax on private schools
It is odd that many who talk about wanting more tax revenue to come from the GST would balk at the easiest services to broaden it to like private schools and private health insurance.
Special treatment: why are defence dollars different?
The Australian Government doesn’t allocate spending to health or education as a proportion of GDP. Why should defence be any different?
Tasmania can afford a new stadium. Here’s how.
The Macquarie Point stadium proposal is controversial. It’s also painfully expensive.
“Out of patience”: it’s time to fix the housing crisis
Amy Remeikis and Matt Grudnoff preview the first parliamentary sitting week.
RBA moves goalposts and keeps rates on hold
The Reserve Bank’s shock decision not to cut rates will hurt mortgage holders and the economy.
Their fair share: the tax debate we need to have
By limiting generous tax concessions for the wealthy and collecting revenue from Australia’s natural resources, the Government could fund health and education systems that work properly.
Negative gearing is back, baby!
Positive gearing is so FY21-22.
June 2025
Where the ACT could claw back more than half a billion dollars
The GST was supposed to solve the states and territories’ financial problems.
May 2025
Rates are down (Elinor still can’t afford a house)
Rate cuts are great, but the Government needs to make sure that housing investors aren’t the main beneficiaries.
One way to improve the “dumpster fire of dumb stuff” which is Australia’s housing policy
Everyone agrees we need to do something about housing in Australia. But first we need to ask a very obvious, but often ignored question: what is housing is for?
Five reasons why young Australians should be pissed off
1. Uni graduates pay more in HECS than the gas industry pays in PPRT University used to be free but is now more expensive than ever. After graduating with an arts degree a young Australian will now repay the government around $50,000. Meanwhile, Australia is one of the world’s largest gas exporters, but multinational gas
April 2025
Australia already spends a huge amount on defence
The debate on defence ignores that Australia already spends more than it should.
Migration is not out of control and the figures show it is not to blame for the housing crisis
Migration is not to blame for house prices rising. And neither are Australia’s borders out of control.
The talk about domestic and family violence prevention is big, the funding less so
The amount committed by both political parties to preventing domestic and family violence suggests they believe there are other, more important, priorities.
The Liberal Party’s proposed funds are just boondoggles of budgetary make believe
The announced funds are an exercise in dodgy budgeting and do nothing to properly tax Australia’s mining and gas companies.
Home economics: housing, living standards and the federal election
With housing affordability at an all-time low and the spectre of Trump looming large over our region, Australians’ standard of living will be at the heart of the debate from now until election day.
March 2025
Migrants are not to blame for soaring house prices
The problem of housing affordability is not too many migrants, but too many tax breaks for investors.
Fuel excise cut: bad policy and not worth as much as advertised
Halving the fuel excise is bad for the environment and for most Australians won’t deliver the cost-of-living benefits that are being spruiked.
Nurses pay more tax than the oil and gas companies
Over the 10 years to 2023-24 nurses paid $7bn more in tax than did the oil and gas companies.
February 2025
Stop the steel
We discuss Trump’s new tariffs on steel and aluminium imports and what they’ll mean for Australia.
What’s driving the wealth inequality crisis?
Without addressing the wealth inequality crisis, Australia’s economy and society will suffer.
January 2025
The HAFF is a small start to tackle housing affordability, but investors still get all the breaks
Increasing the number of houses is welcome, but unless the government tackles the expensive tax breaks for investors, housing will remain unaffordable for many.
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