This Month
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.
Labor’s charity tax could gut generosity in Australia
Much like recent changes to superannuation or proposals for taxes on unrealised gains, meddling with the philanthropic system erodes confidence.
Treasury’s charity tax plan splits wealthy families
Australia’s richest families will be forced to distribute the $11 billion locked in private foundations at a faster rate to charities, under a federal plan.
OpenAI latches onto Labor’s economist wonks
The maker of ChatGPT figured out the best route to the corridors of power.
OpenAI wants AI tax breaks, promises $115b annual windfall
OpenAI chief economist Ronnie Chatterji has conducted a whirlwind set of meetings in Canberra as the company prepares to launch an AI blueprint for Australia.
June
Unions bristle at ‘presumptuous’ Labor approach to AI regulation
Business has welcomed Andrew Leigh’s light-touch approach as a pro-innovation signal, but unions say AI could unleash “dysfunction and inequality”.
AI could create more jobs: Minister pushes light-touch regulation
Assistant Minister for Productivity Andrew Leigh said any AI-specific rules should protect the public and ensure innovation can flourish.
Minister urges MPs to write to regulator over ANU concerns
Education Minister Jason Clare has written to Canberra MPs about “concerning issues” of governance at the university.
The book Jim Chalmers and all of Canberra is reading
Abundance is the book the treasurer keeps dropping into speeches. It calls for a “liberalism that builds” and it’s sold out in bookshops across Canberra.
Labor must respect economics or be mugged by reality
Economics doesn’t care about your vision any more than gravity cares about your desire to fly. Respect it or plummet to your death.
What’s holding us back from a better housing, transport and clean energy future
Australia doesn’t lack ideas for solving problems in housing, transport and clean energy, we lack institutions that can follow through and create change.
Labor minister says ‘thickets of regulation’ need to be slashed
Assistant Minister for Productivity Andrew Leigh said government too often rewarded process over outcomes.
May
Businesses must earn loyalty, not enforce it: productivity minister
Labor’s Andrew Leigh has told businesses opposing the looming ban on non-compete clauses to offer their workers better pay if they want them to stop leaving.
Government must get productivity right this time
Bold reform comes with a heavy price tag and is harder when economic circumstances also command big spending
March
Non-compete ban threatens value of business deals: investors, lawyers
Making it easy for workers to go work for the competitor down the road may help increase wages, but it could also have an impact on acquisitions.
Non-compete clauses banned for workers earning less than $175k
Workers in childcare, construction and hairdressing are among those set to benefit from a new ban on employment non-compete clauses.
February
Coalition MP’s food donation tax break could cost hundreds of millions
Treasury says the proposed deduction for charitable food donations could lead to companies pocketing millions for donations already being made.
December 2024
Secret shareholder register overhauled amid privacy fears
A plan to expose the secret beneficial owners of three million unlisted companies and trusts has been overhauled due to fears of identity theft and cybercrime.
November 2024
Inside the two weeks from hell for the country’s biggest supermarkets
This week, Woolworths chief executive Amanda Bardwell and Coles’ Leah Weckert will have a chance to tell their side of the story in hearings run by the ACCC.
Red flag over Choice’s taxpayer-funded grocery price watch
The consumer advocacy group has overstated the difference in prices between the big supermarkets and discount store Aldi, a Wall Street investment bank says.