The shadowy decision-making process that led to a proposal to merge the two largest universities in South Australia has demonstrated an urgent need for university councils to be more transparent and accountable to the public, according to new analysis by the Australia Institute.

If the economy grows as slowly as the IMF predicts it will for the next 2 years, Australia will be lucky to avoid a recession.

Chris Wright is Associate Professor in the Discipline of Work and Organisational Studies at the University of Sydney, and a member of the Centre for Future Work’s Advisory Committee. This commentary is based on his submission to the Senate Education and Employment Legislation Committee’s inquiry into the Fair Work Legislation Amendment (Closing Loopholes) Bill 2023,

Enterprise agreements are now delivering strong wage growth and good outcomes for workers.

The Stage 3 tax cuts cost too much, deliver little benefit to those who need it, and leave Australia less fair. We propose 4 ways to make Stage 3 Better

Rejigging the flawed Stage 3 tax cuts would save up to $130 billion over a decade while delivering a bigger slice of the pie to 80% of taxpayers, new Australia Institute research shows.

The latest data of enterprise agreements shows just how necessary were the changes to the bargaining system made last year, as the number of workers covered by EBA’s remains low.

Increases in the prices of commodities like oil and gas are not a reason for the RBA to raise interest rates next week

Strong wage growth from enterprise agreements shows the importance of the government’s reforms.

An urgent overhaul of poorly paid and casualised disability support work is needed to ensure the National Disability Insurance Scheme’s viability and protect participants from substandard care, a new report by the Australia Institute’s Centre for Future Work says.

Historically high corporate profits must take a hit if workers are to claw back real wage losses from the inflationary crisis, according to new research from the Australia Institute’s Centre for Future Work.

Every now and then a window opens into the soul of the business community, and we catch a glimpse of the values and goals that shape the actions of the captains of industry.

Some recent strong wage growth in enterprise agreements bodes well for workers

The Workplace Relations Minister Tony Burke has described proposed new laws to regulate digital platform work as building a ramp with employees at the top, independent contractors at the bottom, and gig platform workers halfway up. The new laws will allow the Fair Work Commission to set minimum standards for ‘employee-like workers’ on digital platforms.

In the past year the number of people working more than one job has risen 7%.

The Australian Government has released new Conservation Advice aimed at preventing the extinction of the Maugean skate in time for Threatened Species Day 2023.

The three months to June saw one the biggest ever falls in the government’s measure of well-being.

We have now had two consecutive quarters of GDP per capita falling – hardly the soft landing the RBA wants.

The Australia Institute surveyed a sample of 1,501 Australians about how long the outgoing Governor of the Reserve Bank of Australia, Philip Lowe, should have to wait before being able to begin work at a private bank.

The Australia Institute congratulates the NSW Government on increasing coal royalties, potentially raising an extra $2.7 billion over four years. “This is a good move by the NSW Government that will benefit the NSW economy and community,” said Rod Campbell, research director at the Australia Institute. “Collecting more royalties from the fossil fuel industry allows