News & Analysis
Articles & Opinions
There’s nothing naughty about being poor. Why Christmas is a horrible time for kids living in poverty
The busiest shopping weekend of the year is upon us, where shopping malls become a desperate frenzy of overindulgence and waste. But spare a thought for those who can’t afford even the trimmest of trimmings this Christmas.
Mapping how extreme heat exacerbates inequality
Extreme heat is the number one cause of weather-related illness and death in all parts of Australia, except Tasmania. Older, poorer, and sicker people are more vulnerable to the effects of extreme heat. Our new report identifies the locations around Australia in which the greatest number of vulnerable people will be affected by extreme heat. Targeting these areas for support will ensure the greatest number of vulnerable people are helped during periods of extreme heat.
Secret research undermines democracy
This month, the Australian economic debate was hijacked by a report from the world’s most powerful consulting firm: McKinsey & Co. The consulting firm apparently found that declining living standards represent a “national emergency” – and the care economy, regulations and Australia’s corporate tax rate are to blame for low productivity growth. The only problem?
In worrying about productivity growth, the RBA has strayed beyond its remit
It’s official: the Reserve Bank of Australia will have its board split in two, and two new appointees will join the reconfigured monetary policy board, whose job it is to make decisions on interest rates. The move was recommended by an independent review panel in 2023. The new members of the monetary policy board, one
Japan and Australia’s gas-fuelled obsession endures under Asia Zero Emission Community
Japan and Australia enjoy a long-standing relationship when it comes to energy trade. According to Japan, “(t)he energy and resources sector is the bedrock of the Japan-Australia economic partnership”. But the two countries’ efforts to decarbonise their economies to reach their respective emissions reduction targets have been threatening to jeopardise this gas-fuelled obsession. Japan has
Off the Charts
Queensland has more coal mines than ever before
Remember when BHP threatened that Queensland was going to “rue the day” that coal royalties were changed to get more money for Queenslanders? How mining companies were going to desert the state? New data from the Queensland Government shows that there are more coal mines in the state now than ever before, with 58 operating
Let’s celebrate the new normal of unemployment below 4%
Those arguing that Australia cannot sustain unemployment below 4.5% without rising prices and wages have been found to be completely wrong. And it is time they admitted it.
.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.
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
Rehabilitation cost shortfall
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.
Adelaide: HeatWatch projects up to 49 days over 35°C per year by 2090
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