Judith Sloan

Judith SloanContributing Economics Editor

Judith Sloan is an economist and company director. She holds degrees from the University of Melbourne and the London School of Economics. She has held a number of government appointments, including Commissioner of the Productivity Commission; Commissioner of the Australian Fair Pay Commission; and Deputy Chairman of the Australian Broadcasting Corporation.

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MELBOURNE, AUSTRALIA - MARCH 13: Woolworths and Coles supermarket signage on March 13, 2024 in Melbourne, Australia. Australia's two major supermarket chains, Coles and Woolworths, have come under scrutiny for their role in the cost of living crisis in the country, with both companies significantly increasing their profits during the pandemic while consumers faced rising living costs, local media reports said. Former cabinet minister Craig Emerson is leading a government inquiry into supermarket pricing practices, while former ACCC chair Allan Fels is conducting a separate investigation in collaboration with the Australian Council of Trade, ABC News said. (Photo by Asanka Ratnayake/Getty Images)

Threat of a big stick just might get the job done

The preferred outcome will be for the big companies to see the new provision as a threat and mend their anti-competitive ways well before any court action is needed.

Commentary

True cost of renewables won’t hurt our cities – it’ll punish those we ignore most

The external costs imposed on rural and regional communities are overwhelmingly ignored when making the case for the expansion of renewable energy.

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Labor MP Andrew Leigh has posted a meme of a three-eyed Blinky Bill suggesting the Coalition’s nuclear plan is environmentally dangerous. The Opposition said this undermines AUKUS. Picture: Instagram

Forget three-eyed Blinky Bill memes, time to talk nuclear

There is much overseas data to establish accurate costings around nuclear power plants, including from successful builds in South Korea and the UAE.

COMMENTARY

Federal Leader of the LNP Peter Dutton social media post about Nuclear Power - This is the concept design of a zero emissions small modular reactor. Nuclear energy has proven to get electricity prices and emissions down all over the world. Out of the world’s 20 largest economies, Australia is the only one not using nuclear energy or moving towards it. Zero emissions nuclear energy is part of the answer to our energy challenges.It works with renewables and would allow Australia to get to net-zero. It will keep the lights on 24/7 and keep electricity costs down.Right now, Australia’s energy comes from 63 per cent fossil fuels and 37 per cent renewables. As we transition away from fossil fuels, Labor’s renewables-only approach means Australia risks a massive energy black hole and extraordinary costs. Labor is stuck in the past, and like most of their policies, it is not forward-thinking, and you are suffering because of it. The Coalition will not make the same mistake. I announced today that a future Federal Coalition government will introduce zero-emissions nuclear energy in Australia to work in partnership with renewable energy and gas as part of a balanced energy mix. Our plan will deliver net-zero electricity by 2050, lower power bills and a strong and resilient economy.

Government-owned and built is sensible thing to do

High density, continuous and centralised power beats low density, intermittent and decentralised power every time. In other words, nuclear beats renewables.

COMMENTARY

SYDNEY, AUSTRALIA : NewsWire Photos JUNE 18 2024: Treasurer Daniel Mookhey and Minister for Finance Courtney Houssos address the media in a press conference to deliver the NSW Budget 2024-25 budget at Martin Place in Sydney. Picture: Newswire / Gaye Gerard

Treasurer whips up dud of a ‘cream-between’

Compared to the budgets of Queensland and Victoria, NSW is the ice-cream between two tasteless wafers. If that sounds like faint praise, it’s meant to.

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CANBERRA, AUSTRALIA, NewsWire Photos. JUNE 13, 2023: Leader of the Opposition Peter Dutton addresses the CEDA State of the Nation Conference at Parliament House in Canberra. Picture: NCA NewsWire / Martin Ollman

Dutton sets sail on the winds of climate fatigue

Most countries that have signed the Paris Climate Agreement have not legislated their targets, including the biggest emitters.

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BRISBANE, AUSTRALIA - NewsWire Photos - JUNE 11, 2024. The Queensland Treasurer and Minister for Trade and Investment Cameron Dick addresses media at the 2024 State Budget lockup at Parliament House. Photo: Dan Peled / NewsWire

Queensland budget verdict: just like Victoria but with coal

The Miles government has clearly demonstrated that spending other people’s money is their DNA: profligacy is in vogue, prudent budgeting is so yesterday.

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A carpenter is seen building a new in home is the western suburbs in Sydney, Wednesday, July 11, 2018. The number of home loan approvals for owner occupiers increased 1.1 per cent in May, ahead of market expectations of a 2.0 per cent fall. The value of total housing finance was up 0.5 per cent at $31.906 billion for the month, seasonally adjusted data from the Australian Bureau of Statistics shows. (AAP Image/Brendan Esposito) NO ARCHIVING

Housing crisis a matter of demand swamping supply

Simply setting a target for the number of homes to be built over a certain period doesn’t constitute a policy – it’s more akin to arm-waving.

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WEISSENFELS, GERMANY - MAY 09: Electricity pylons stand among wind turbines spinning at a wind farm on May 09, 2024 near Weissenfels, Germany. Germany is expanding its renewable energies production capacity, with annual goals for increases in wind and solar energy infrastructure. On any given day Germany produces between 30% and 65% of its electricity from wind and solar. The German government has set 2038 as the cutoff for shuttering its remaining coal-fired energy production. (Photo by Sean Gallup/Getty Images)

Renewable energy politics, economics prove incompatible

We’re told South Australia was powered entirely by renewables for seven hours on one particular day. What about the other 17 hours?

COMMENTARY

Nuclear power plant Dukovany, view from National Nature Reserve Mohelenska serpentine steppe, Mohelno, Trebic district, Vysocina region, Czech Republic

CSIRO’s flawed nuclear report is riddled with errors

The assumptions and organised bias in the CSIRO’s cost of generating electricity report render it absolutely useless – and the task should never have been left to scientists.

Original URL: https://www.theaustralian.com.au/author/judith-sloan