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John Kehoe

Today

Reserve Bank governor Michele Bullock: the inflation measure seems to have passed the bank’s test to lower rates.

Lower inflation sets up RBA rate cut

The RBA monetary policy board is likely to cut rates for the third time this year at its meeting on August 11-12, after the release of the latest underlying inflation figures.

Ryan Stokes says Australia requires a highly skilled and productive workforce.

Wellbeing claims stall productivity: Stokes

One of the nation’s major employers, Ryan Stokes, says worker abuse of compensation claims for mental health must be tackled at the economic roundtable.

Yesterday

Joe Longo smiling over ‘aggressive’ ASIC criticisms

Despite claims that the watchdog has become a “gotcha regulator”, the ASIC chairman wants it to have a reputation for being “forthright, bold and ambitious”.

This Month

Chalmers urged to pull the leash on ASIC

Former corporate cop James Shipton says the Treasurer’s failure to issue a statement of expectations to the regulator is allowing it to avoid accountability.

OECD secretary-general Mathias Cormann.

Mathias Cormann reappointed OECD boss with Trump’s blessing

The US President’s top economic adviser praised the reappointment of “a former conservative finance minister of our indispensable friend and ally Australia”.

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Productivity Commission chair Danielle Wood.

Tax breaks pitch to reward new business investment

The Productivity Commission will recommend more generous immediate deductions for new investment by companies to boost stalled non-mining business spending.

Martin Parkinson’s view about regulatory burden has shifted since he departed the public sector.

‘Gotcha’ regulators are hurting economy, ex-Treasury boss says

Martin Parkinson says aggressive watchdogs have become prone to front-running cases in the media, imposing administrative red tape and uncertainty.

Hit capital gains and trusts to cut income tax, experts tell Chalmers

Economists at a roundtable at Parliament have urged the government to reduce its dependence on wage taxes and rebalance the system to help younger people.

Treasurer Jim Chalmers and incoming Productivity Commission chairwoman Danielle Wood.

Productivity boost would make workers $14,000 richer

Productivity Commission chairwoman Danielle Wood has handed recommendations, including on corporate tax, to the government to lift the economy out of stagnation.

Michele Bullock

Bullock warns inflation may take longer to tame

The governor says the Reserve Bank’s preferred measure of underlying inflation may not fall as quickly as anticipated, signalling an interest rate cut next month is not guaranteed.

Treasurer Jim Chalmers will host a productivity roundtable next month.

Fading mining boom will cost Aussies $75k each, Westpac warns

Australians will forfeit tens of thousands in potential income over the next decade unless stagnant productivity can be revived.

Government spending is at its highest level since WWII.

More than 50pc of voters now rely on government for their main income

A “culture of dependency” has lifted spending to its highest level since World War II, and the National Disability Insurance Scheme is the chief culprit.

Business Council of Australia chief executive Bran Black.

AI a Trojan horse for more IR regulation, business warns

CEOs invited to next month’s meeting fear artificial intelligence will be used as cover to push for unions to have veto power over the introduction of technologies.

Former Qantas CEO Alan Joyce has warned industry leaders not to fall into the same trap as they did at Labor’s 2022 jobs summit.

‘We’re being done over’: Alan Joyce fears repeat of Labor’s 2022 jobs summit

The former Qantas CEO suggests business seeks a guarantee that the productivity summit isn’t orchestrated.

A Labor prodigy’s fast rise – but does he bleed enough for the voters?

Andrew Charlton has the economic credentials, the money, the networks and momentum. All eyes are on how far the long-term rival of Jim Chalmers can go.

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Former Treasury secretary John Stone has passed away.

John Stone, former Treasury secretary, dies aged 96

Former prime minister John Howard has remembered John Stone as a public servant with “superb intellect”.

Iron ore prices have been more resilient than expected.

Big miners fear tax increase from Chalmers’ roundtable

Resources companies are nervous that next month’s meeting with business, unions and policymakers will target mining and energy to pay for cutting other taxes.

Michele Bullock

The jobless rate is up. Over to you Governor Bullock

The unexpected jump in the unemployment rate to 4.3 per cent will put scrutiny on the RBA’s surprise decision not to cut interest rates this month.

Jobless rate rises to 4.3pc, cements RBA rate cut

The unemployment rate has jumped to 4.3 per cent, confirming the jobs market is cooling and paving the way an RBA cut to interest rates next month.

Ken Henry says you should be half-a-million dollars richer

Australians have lost $500k in pay rises over the past 25 years because of the economy’s abysmal productivity, says former Treasury boss Ken Henry.

Original URL: https://www.afr.com/by/john-kehoe-j7gcg