Articles & Opinions

Productivity is often mistaken for wages. What does it really mean? How does it work?

by David Peetz

Australia’s productivity growth has reverted to the same stagnant pattern as before the pandemic, according to the Productivity Commission’s latest quarterly report. Productivity is complex and often misunderstood in media and policy debates. So before we read too much into this latest data, here are six key things to understand about productivity. 1. It’s about quantities,

Off the Charts

All Charts

Between the Lines Newsletter

Trump’s Gaza Grab | Between the Lines

The Wrap with Amy Remeikis On September 30, 1938 British Prime Minister Neville Chamberlain stood outside 10 Downing Street and declared the Munich Agreement had appeased German Chancellor Adolf Hitler’s territorial aims. “I believe it is peace for our time,” he said. “…Go home and get a nice quiet sleep.” Germany violated the agreement almost immediately. 

The biggest stories and the best analysis from the team at the Australia Institute, delivered to your inbox every fortnight.

Coal Mine Tracker

Since May 2022, the Federal Environment Minister has approved 10 new coal mines or expansions.

There are 22 additional proposals for new or expanded coal mines currently waiting for Federal Government approval.

If approved, the lifetime emissions from all 32 projects would be equivalent to keeping all of Australia’s coal-fired power stations operating for an additional 95 years.

×95 years

Hunter Valley Mine Watch

No new coal mines are needed in the Hunter Valley. Avoiding dangerous climate change requires keeping coal in the ground, and with the world moving away from coal as an energy source new coal mines will simply compete with existing coal mines for a declining market.

Total coal production gap

Actual
150
Approved
241.5
million tonnes per year
Production gap
91.5
million tonnes per year

Rehabilitation cost shortfall

Bond
$3.3
Est. cost
$11.5
billion
Shortfall
$8.2
billion

HeatWatch

HeatWatch puts current Australian research about temperature increases due to global warming into context, using data from the Bureau of Meteorology and the CSIRO.

Latest videos