January
- Opinion
- Federal budget
It’s time for independent forecasts to end budget trickery
An Office of Budget Honesty is needed to create a fiscal watchdog with teeth.
- Opinion
- Federal budget
Treasurer Jim Chalmers has lost control of the budget
The Albanese government’s decisions on net have added to the national debt as a share of GDP well over three times that of the former Coalition government over the same period.
December 2024
- Opinion
- Nuclear energy
Economics of Coalition’s nuclear modelling are worth nothing
There may well still be good reasons to favour nuclear. But on the basis of this modelling, the economics isn’t one of them.
- Updated
- Opinion
- Australian economy
Public sector is strangling economy to death
Like a parasitic twin, the healthy economy is sucking the life out of the sick economy. Something has to give.
November 2024
- Opinion
- Australian economy
Labor should have taken global inflation as seriously as the GFC
If the government had taken belt-tightening decisions 2½ years ago to help lower inflation, Australians’ living standards would be better today.
- Opinion
- Australian economy
Albanese and Chalmers make the same error as Biden and Harris
The Democrats’ decision to put jobs ahead of inflation has cost them dearly. But Labor has been doing the same thing.
- Opinion
- Education
Labor’s mimicking of Biden on uni debt is inequitable and indefensible
Not satisfied with crippling Australia’s higher education system with its self-destructive student caps, the government simply couldn’t resist doubling down.
October 2024
- Opinion
- Coronavirus pandemic
Overall, Australia’s COVID management was a huge success
Where we succeeded, it was the result of good institutions and good decision-making. But that’s not to say we didn’t stumble.
- Opinion
- US Votes 2024
The US presidential election is a contest of economic illiterates
There is a lot of crazy economic policy being spruiked by both sides of American politics, but thinking people know serious, substantive policy debate will take place next year.
September 2024
How Australia crushed the COVID curve and lost the race
This country had one of the best-designed economic responses in the world, and one of the worst vaccine procurement processes.
- Opinion
- Australian economy
Chalmers is smashing Labor’s economic legacy
If only the treasurer focused a little less on managing political expectations and a little more on managing inflation expectations we might have avoided this mess in the first place.
August 2024
- Opinion
- Interest rates
Reserve Bank has finally taken the inflation crisis seriously
The consumer price index reading gave the RBA an out. Instead, governor Michele Bullock’s tough talk dumped cold water on a rate cut any time soon.
June 2024
- Opinion
- Energy transition
Nuclear is unviable because of economics, not engineering
Even if all that mattered was the cheapest possible energy that meets minimum levels of reliability and emissions, the Coalition’s plan fails.
- Opinion
- Inflation
Jim Chalmers is a doctor of spin, not economics
The treasurer has talked down the economy to defend the expansionary nature of his budget decisions when what we need now, more than ever, is straight talking.
- Opinion
- Inflation
Reserve Bank must restore credibility and not buy into energy rebate trickery
A year out from an election and amid Labor’s overhaul of the institution, a temporary mechanical reduction in the CPI has the potential to interfere with the RBA’s independent conduct of monetary policy.
May 2024
- Opinion
- Australian economy
Why you can’t argue the $300 energy rebate will lower inflation
Energy bill relief increases real disposable income and boosts aggregate demand. We can debate how far they push inflation, but not that the direction is up.
- Opinion
- Federal budget
This is the most irresponsible budget in recent memory
The government set itself a simple standard: not to make the Reserve Bank’s job harder. Michele Bullock may just choke on her cornflakes.
- Updated
- Opinion
- Federal budget
Governor and treasurer share blame for sticky inflation
Michele Bullock and Jim Chalmers had fair warning about the need for decisive action.
April 2024
- Opinion
- Tax reform
Negative gearing is not a rort or a tax concession
Negative gearing is said to single-handedly be responsible for Australia’s housing crisis. But it is a principled, fair and efficient feature of any tax system.
July 2023
- Opinion
- Monetary policy
Bullock’s crucial role will be renovating a national institution
The new Reserve Bank of Australia governor’s job is not to be the smartest economist in the room. It’s to recruit those who are.