October
Where big investors want to put their money
Renewables are in but hydrogen is out for international and domestic infrastructure investors, but they are worried about government red and green tape.
September
NAB CEO’s AI warning for white-collar workers, Australian ‘complacency’
Andrew Irvine sees AI as the most profound technology shift we’ve seen in 200 years, and expects agentic AI to be the biggest game changer for businesses.
Stodgy corporate rule book is stifling growth, warns ASIC chief
Joe Longo wants Canberra to reconvene an independent taskforce to streamline the corporate law, saying it’s a productivity drag.
August
These are the 10 changes Jim Chalmers will make immediately
The treasurer has tasked ministers with work on a road-user charge, abolishing more nuisance tariffs, and cutting red tape in the construction code.
Chalmers’ roundtable won’t fix Australia’s broken housing dream
Conservatives once defended property rights, neighbourhood amenity and backyards. Now, those who speak of such things are criticised as “selfish NIMBYs”.
Housing code pause ‘repeating mistakes of the Coalition’: Husic
Former industry minister warns the government’s plan to pause the National Construction Code is misguided, and welfare groups say it may lead to higher power bills.
Diluting performance test could soften superannuation’s core mandate
Australia should be wary of any changes to the current system that would tamper with the funds’ fiduciary duty to act in their members’ best interests.
Labor’s work and green policies hurt living standards: ex-PC boss
Big government spending on renewable energy, disability support and manufacturing is killing productivity, former Productivity Commission chairman Gary Banks says.
Summit should stop tinkering and start imagining the AI future
We can huddle in a classic myopic safe space, tightening rules and protecting the edges. Or we can seize the moment to make AI the engine of national ambition.
Business can’t innovate with AI without regulating the red lines
Do we really want Australia to become the testing ground for AI technologies deemed too dangerous for European citizens?
No phones allowed: What’s really going on at Labor’s roundtable
The powerbrokers have arrived at Jim Chalmers’ economic roundtable. But who gets prime seating and how will they cope without their phones?
Everything you need to know about the productivity roundtable
From tax to AI, here’s what to expect when business, union and political leaders meet in Canberra for the three-day Economic Reform Roundtable.
Government to freeze housing code as part of red tape blitz
Red tape reduction and deregulation will be the main focus of next week’s economic roundtable as Anthony Albanese plays down accusations its results are preordained.
Robots could unleash big gains in the care economy, says PC
In its final report before next week’s roundtable, the Productivity Commission also urged the government to create uniform rules on AI in the care sector.
Zero for 76: Broken environmental laws holding back renewables
New data shows the extent to which “green tape” is holding back the rollout of solar and wind farms, putting the government’s climate targets at risk.
O’Neil flags simpler rules for builders, developers
The residential construction sector need more time to accommodate tighter standards amid “a crazy amount of regulation”, Housing Minister Clare O’Neil says.
Labor to cut red tape to help small banks compete
Smaller lenders get a leg-up from the government after Treasurer Jim Chalmers backs eight recommendations from regulators to pressure the banking oligopoly.
July
Red tape warning as 31 steps to sell a flat white in Brisbane exposed
The economy is being held back by risk-averse regulations, Band-Aid solutions and inconsistent rules, the Productivity Commission has found.
‘Gotcha’ regulators are hurting economy, ex-Treasury boss says
Martin Parkinson says aggressive watchdogs have become prone to front-running cases in the media, imposing administrative red tape and uncertainty.
APRA moves to make smaller banks more competitive
Chairman John Lonsdale has outlined a more “proportional” approach to prudential regulation after government requests and years of lobbying.