NewsBite

Graeme Samuel

Yesterday

Environment Minister Murray Watt is taking a different tack to reform implementation than his predecessor Tanya Plibersek which shows much promise of success.

Why Ken Henry’s plan could finally fix our broken environmental system

The EPBC reforms provide certainty, efficiency, and an outcomes-focused regulatory settings. It’s a far cry from the current system that led to a serious decline in our environment.

This Month

Resolute reformers have, for over 25 years, been beating their heads against political brick walls in the health reform area. I

Sick of doctor fee gouging? Don’t ask government to fix it

Government reluctance to intervene in the medical profession means we must consider reform based on market forces to empower consumers.

June

AI is an increasingly integral element in our daily lives. Robotic technology is enhancing the productivity of our manufacturing, logistics, defence and national security industries.

Alan Turing built AI to save lives. Now we’re regulating it to death

The NBN was decried by some as being a monumental waste of resources. Now we thirst for ever-increasing speeds to accommodate our business and productivity needs.

Treasurer Jim Chalmers is facing concerted opposition to his proposed reforms to the tax treatment of large superannuation balances.

Three reasons why you should ‘chill out’ over Labor’s super tax

The super tax on unrealised gains is part of the long-overdue and necessary process of tax reform that many have been urging over decades.

October 2024

Qantas and Jetstar make up 65 per cent of the market industry in Australia.

It’s time to take on our airport monopolists

The increase in landing slots at Sydney Airport should be the cue to reform the other passenger services controlled by monopolistic airports.

Advertisement

September 2024

The down down promotion at a Melbourne Coles supermarket in March 2024.

Supermarket pile-on is going to cause real harm

If the supermarkets are guilty, then throw the book at them. But it’s populist politics that is really at work here.

August 2024

Official airline monitoring reports did mention anti-competitive behaviour by Rex or Virgin.

It wasn’t Sydney landing slots that sent Rex into a spin

Rod Sims and other critics of government aviation policy should analyse the facts before obsessing over slot-hoarding.

May 2024

States should give the power to regulate partnerships of economic significance to the federal government.

Consulting firm fixes are impractical and an overreach

More importantly, they are not necessary to correct a deficiency in the regulation of delinquent behaviour, says the former ACCC chairman.

January 2023

Federal Treasurer Jim Chalmers.

Chalmers’ essay upends Friedman’s thesis

The treasurer is proposing a model of capitalism underpinned by social values that are being increasingly demanded of governments and business by the community.

August 2021

The ACCC had got the wording that it wanted.

It’s the ACCC that’s flawed, not the merger laws

The regulator wants to shift the burden of proof because it is losing too many cases. It should put its own house in order first.

September 2019

A lack of monopoly restraint.

An umpire is needed to end the airports' monopoly game

The Productivity Commission's frustrating advice is to just take airports to an expensive court case. The flying public needs better than that, writes Graeme Samuel.

Original URL: https://www.afr.com/by/graeme-samuel-p4yvjk