This Month
End policy paralysis: Top CEOs map out productivity fixes
The nation’s foremost chief executives told the annual Chanticleer poll that governments need to foster global competitiveness among local businesses.
One number that sums up productivity problem
There is no ‘silver bullet’ to fix Australia’s stagnant productivity, but failure to act will create longer-term issues.
November
Speed dating for Australia in room 1124
Dozens of Australian CEOs and CFOs went to Singapore this week to win over investors. They will return with the realisation that they need to do more.
‘Australia’s not high-growth’: ANZ boss hits Labor on productivity
Nuno Matos says that to lure big offshore investment, the nation will have to break the 2-2.5 per cent growth barrier from a GDP perspective.
‘Australia can and must do better’: OECD boss urges policy overhaul
The country’s productivity is growing more slowly than the rest of the world, former federal minister Mathias Cormann has warned.
Australia’s low economic growth speed limit may already be broken
Economists pushed back on RBA governor Michele Bullock’s claim that inflation was driven by ‘temporary’ factors, saying there was more to it than that.
October
Rowland says ‘no’ to AI copyright carve-out, flags new payment regime
Attorney-general will advance talks on AI licensing framework, forcing big tech to reveal copyrighted material used to train artificial intelligence models.
September
Australia is better only than Mexico on this economic ranking
Lagging capital and R&D investment is contributing to productivity growth in Australia that is second-last among wealthy countries, analysis shows.
A dose of economic reality for Labor
What Treasurer Jim Chalmers is talking up as good economic management is really just good fortune in the form of high commodity prices and tax receipts.
BHP moves fast on Argentinian copper, slow on Olympic Dam
The miner is fast-tracking development studies on a copper mine in Argentina while it has slowed the expansion of an Australian project.
August
Why Labor should stop demonising Baby Boomers – or face consequences
Effective tax policy is based on a sound economic framework, not invented resentment between generations. It is wrong to compare them and conclude there is unfairness in outcomes.
Minister for or against the environment?
Readers’ letters on environmental protection, battery subsidies, net zero, NIMBYism, flexible work and the Iran menace.
One question facing business on the double-bind of AI and data
If Australian enterprises become dependent on foreign-controlled systems trained on Australian intelligence, we create an enormous strategic vulnerability.
Property supply chief targets capital gains tax breaks in housing ‘war’
As the country begins a discussion about tax, the property industry veteran says the crucial role of housing also demands a big-picture review.
Chalmers’ summit overstated the intergenerational challenge
There were three misleading aspects of the advice given to the roundtable which exaggerated the problem and pointed participants and the public in the wrong direction.
We can’t tax and spend our way to productivity
A fair go for working-age people will require an inheritance that includes a dynamic, growing economy and a sustainable government fiscal position.
Labor speeds up environmental law reform, calls on Ley to play ball
The Albanese government will put the legislation to parliament by the end of this year, not the second half of next year as originally flagged.
Labor’s intergenerational fairness could be lucky break for the Libs
The Liberal Party would presumably be delighted to defend its former voters in the richest seats from any move to ratchet up taxes.
Chalmers had a cunning tax plan all along at the summit
Beyond the images and soundbites, the win for the government was the appearance of an endorsement for its rough policy agenda for the next three years.
Labor accelerates 5pc deposit scheme to help first home buyers
Anthony Albanese will enact the expanded government-backed deposit program three months ahead of schedule in the latest effort to ease the housing crisis.