This Month
Why Labor lost its way and how Albanese can still win
Inflation is political kryptonite for Labor but if the PM campaigns on Medicare, tax reform and real wage rises, it could win, writes trailblazing former union leader Bill Kelty.
February
The four charts that show how the RBA board and staff were split
The Reserve Bank cut the cash rate, but the extent to which it tempered enthusiasm for more reductions brings into question why the board chose to move at all.
January
Unrealistic public sector pay claims risk an inflation budget hangover
The wage demands at the tail end of the inflation-cycle will add to the fiscal pressure on state government’s already deep in debt and deficit.
Wage rises to blow out ‘unrealistic’ state budgets: S&P
Psychiatrists in NSW and teachers, nurses and police in Queensland are the latest essential workers to demand significant wage rises from state governments.
With a $7.4b black hole, Gallagher tries to explain the unexplainable
Budgeting no money for public servant wage rises may have made sense under a stingy Coalition, but it makes no sense under a Labor government hiring like mad.
December 2024
Union growth is back under Labor after a decade of decline
The ACTU says a return to collective bargaining under the Albanese government has helped unions increase their membership to 13 per cent of the workforce.
Accounting, audit and finance roles added to fast-track visa list
Jobs and Skills Australia has added a range of accounting, audit and finance roles to its list of occupations eligible to apply for new fast-track visas.
Push for McDonald’s pay rise shows danger of Labor’s laws, says BCA
Multi-employer bargaining has extended far beyond original intentions, according to the business lobby, including east coast miners and the fast food sector.
The PM no longer says Australians are better off. These charts show why
While some economic metrics have improved during the government’s first term, the one that really matters to voters – their purchasing power – has gone backwards.
November 2024
Union demands could delay pay rise for childcare workers
Childcare providers are scrambling to meet a government funding condition to have a workplace agreement in place, warning a push to have a union deal could delay pay rises for months.
Labor seeks to delay pay rise for nurses, warning of budget blowout
The Albanese government is urging the workplace umpire to drag out pay rises of up to 25 per cent for aged care nurses until as far back as 2027.
‘They can afford to pay’: Strike to hit private hospital giant
Nurses and midwives at Ramsay Health Care will strike at 17 hospitals in NSW for 24 hours on Tuesday demanding a 20 per cent pay increase.
NSW train standoff emblematic of new public sector wage war
Labor governments face pressure to give large pay rises to essential workers. An economist says the situation is reminiscent of the Whitlam government’s early days.
First private nurses strikes, as ‘Pied Piper’ effect hits
The first strikes by medical staff at private hospitals follow mass walkouts at public medical centres by nurses as wages pressure bleeds from one sector to another.
Public servant wages outpace private for the first time since 2020
Annual wage growth fell to 3.5 per cent in September from 4.1 per cent in June, as pay growth slowed on the back of a cooling economy.
NSW nurses strike heaps wage pressure on Minns government
NSW Premier Minns has refused to budge on his pay offer for nurses as the state government faces wage pressure off the back of its landmark deal with police.
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.
September 2024
Fee increase for retirees to cover extra $3.8b in aged care wages
The government will spend another $3.8 billion on aged care sector wages, taking the total cost of the pay increase to almost $18 billion.
Pay deals keep tradies in line with Big Mac index, but teachers lag
Annual wage growth close to 5 per cent for the past two decades has put CFMEU construction workers ahead of other employees, new earnings analysis shows.
August 2024
People think our job is boring: accountants lament image problem
Almost half of surveyed accountants and bookkeepers believe their industry has an image problem, and most say the sector is seen as boring.