This Month
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.
October 2024
Wages hurt by non-compete work contracts
The government has seized on new research showing workers locked in jobs via non-compete clauses are paid 4 per cent less on average than staff who can switch jobs easier.
Suppliers, pollies reject supermarket bid to shift blame
Both major parties have hit back at Coles and Woolworths while suppliers say shoppers are only paying a fraction of cost rises.
September 2024
Just maybe, the worm has started to turn on the cost of living
The short-lived census row has sharply reminded the government that it cannot take its eye off the economic ball now.
Raising the bar against mergers will rob everyone of benefits
Why clamp down on mergers with less than maximum benefits when the public would still gain from seeing them go through?
August 2024
Non-compete clauses under scrutiny in competition reform
Jim Chalmers says boosting dynamism in the economy and lowering barriers to labour mobility are key priorities for a national policy reset.
Shareholders wanted PEXA chief’s head
Several institutional shareholders aren’t displeased to see the end of the Glenn King era.
April 2024
Labor urged to restrict rather than ban non-compete clauses
Leading economists have urged the Albanese government to significantly restrict the use of non-compete clauses to revive Australia’s ailing productivity growth.
Stephen Jones is (still) out of his depth
Stephen Jones aimed for “quick wins” on his legislative agenda. Instead, the government introduced a bill accidentally banning insurance commissions.
Dance teachers and hairdressers threatened over non-competes: Leigh
Assistant minister for competition will consult on regulating non-compete clauses after finding young, low-paid workers are being threatened for switching jobs.
Ban restraints on poaching staff: RBA board member
Workers should be allowed to solicit ex-colleagues to jump ship to competitors and staff should be paid while under non-compete clauses, a former judge has urged.