Yesterday
Chalmers’ roundtable must rise to Australia’s economic challenges
There are worrying signs that the three-day talkfest in Canberra risks becoming another missed opportunity to properly tackle the nation’s economic malaise.
This Month
Shots across AUKUS bow throw PM off course in China
The realities of an assertive China and managing the US alliance are more complicated than allowed for by those who dream of Australia going it alone.
PM must read the tea leaves on China security and trade
We should question whether Albanese’s visit will meaningfully improve Australian-Sino relations or simply serve as political window dressing for both sides.
Rise in mental health claims a symptom of a bigger malaise
Mental health and insurance providers must fix the system’s entrenched flaws to avoid the worst of the sustainability and affordability crisis ahead.
BHP ‘same pay’ case an IR wake-up call for business
Unless business is willing to push the Albanese government on the IR elephant in the room, the roundtable will fail to come up with the meaningful solutions required to fix the productivity malaise.
RBA’s rates hold juggles Trump and inflation
The shock decision to keep interest rates steady is a reasonable one based on the known unknowns about Trump’s tariffs and the trajectory of inflation.
Violent protests have no place in Australia’s democracy
The action required must come from governments, and should include upholding the law against protests that cross the line into antisemitism.
Artificial intelligence cold war heats up for Australia
The Albanese government must reject China’s offer of an AI partnership. Yet, we should be under no illusions about the threat the Trump-big tech alliance poses.
The week Labor’s childcare legacy became a bigger challenge
Labor’s education challenges with schools and universities are now dwarfed by the need to restore faith in the childcare system after the shocking events in Victoria.
Australia’s code war cut-out pass against China in the Pacific
Backing both sides appears to be something the country will now have to do to avoid getting caught in the crossfire between union and league.
A second reckoning for private equity in Australia
Any doubt about the likely end of the experiment in private equity provision of health and other social services is evaporating in the most appalling circumstances imaginable.
What is Israel’s plan to win the peace?
Without a government committed to seeking a lasting peace settlement that includes a Palestinian state, Israel has little prospect of winning the ‘war’ to rehabilitate itself in the international community.
June
Efficient courts and speedier justice are good for the economy
The same rules that apply to other public services where data is used to improve performance should also apply to our court system.
Albanese meeting Trump will come with an unavoidable cost
Albanese’s rhetoric about Australia not being dictated to by the US may play well domestically, but Donald Trump has been playing hardball on defence spending.
In August, Chalmers must tell a story about real tax reform
The Treasurer must embark on a process that results in broad and substantial reform, rather than continue the unambitious and piecemeal approach of his first term.
Liberal Party must better reflect the society it seeks to govern
After the disaster of May 3, the Liberals need to also make clear to voters the principles the party stands for.
States should lead Team Australia on economic reform
To once again make a serious contribution to important policy debates, state leaders must start to talk about how to make Australia a more dynamic and prosperous country.
Credit to Trump for putting American and global security first
The Australian Financial Review has rarely had a positive word to say about Donald Trump, yet he has done the world a favour by taking out Tehran’s nuclear program.
GST fix requires bigger tax rethink
Rather than playing beggar thy neighbour over the GST, state premiers and treasurers should demand that genuine reform be on the table in two months.
Trump’s Iran strike restores US role in global security
The supposedly isolationist Trump agenda has not stopped the US attack on Iran’s nuclear capacity. That is reassuring for security in the Indo-Pacific.