June
- Opinion
- Australian economy
Our system for scoring skilled migrants makes no sense
The points test should be reformed to better reward the most skilled applicants, and state and regional points-tested visa programs should be abolished.
February 2023
- Opinion
- Superannuation
First step stopping super being taxpayer-funded inheritance scheme
Both sides of politics agree super shouldn’t be used as a tax minimisation and estate planning by the rich. But it’ll take much more to turn aspiration into reality.
August 2022
- Opinion
- Jobs summit
Three fast fixes for the jobs summit
Migration targets, female participation and older workers are all speedy ways for the government to relieve workforce and inflationary pressures.
June 2022
- Opinion
- NSW budget
Perrottet’s grand stamp duty plan ends with a whimper
Lack of federal support explains why the policy included in the NSW budget falls a long way short of the more ambitious proposal flagged by the Premier.
December 2021
- Opinion
- Property prices
Follow the Kiwi model to fix the house price nightmare
The New Zealand government has intervened heavily to fix bottlenecks in housing supply. There are equivalent things that Australia could be doing.
May 2021
- Opinion
- Immigration
Australia must use the pandemic to get skilled migration right
There is too much emphasis on migrant numbers, and not enough on who we choose. The focus should be on age and long-term skills.
March 2021
- Opinion
- Aged care royal commission
Wind back retirement tax breaks to pay for better aged care
Rather than just hit working people with a tax hike, the government should tighten the superannuation concessions that have just one in six older Australians pay any income tax.
November 2020
- Opinion
- Super wars
Abandoning super increases just the start of retirement rethink
The 648-page, myth-busting superannuation review is a once-in-a-generation chance to ignore vested interests and reset Australia's retirement income policy assumptions.
August 2020
- Opinion
- Monetary policy
RBA should come off sidelines and play unconventional game
RBA governor Philip Lowe should not dismiss taking the cash rate negative to help dig the economy out of the deep coronavirus hole.
March 2020
- Opinion
- Coronavirus pandemic
Second round of stimulus must create safety net for virus-hit workers
Calls for fiscal policy to stimulate demand and investment are fighting the last economic war. A straight-talking and straight-thinking government would make households the second package's core focus.