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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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COMMENTARYCommentary

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.

Judith Sloan

commentaryCommentary

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.

Judith Sloan

commentaryPolitics

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.

Judith Sloan

commentaryCommentary

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.

Judith Sloan

commentaryCommentary

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?

Judith Sloan

COMMENTARYPolitics

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.

Judith Sloan

CommentaryCommentary

SYDNEY, AUSTRALIA - NewsWire Photos May 5, 2024: Federal Education Minister Jason Clare is in Sydney today to make make a pre-budget announcement about student debt. Picture: NCA NewsWire / David Swift

Overseas student numbers open new election battlefront

Clamping down on the number of international students will require courage against a likely avalanche of self-interested resistance. It remains to be seen whether it can be done.

Judith Sloan

InquirerInquirer

SYDNEY, AUSTRALIA - NewsWire Photos MARCH 14, 2024: Prime Minister Anthony Albanese with Minister Chris Bowen speak to media at the official launch of the Team Global Express Battery Electric Vehicle fleet. Eastern Creek. Picture: NCA NewsWire / Damian Shaw

Vision splendid evaporates in harsh light of practicality

There are many reasons to be fearful of the Albanese government’s plans for the future. Analysis points to its high-stakes industrial game.

Judith Sloan

commentaryCommentary

CANBERRA, Australia, NewsWire Photos. May 14, 2024: Minister for Climate Change and Energy, Chris Bowen during Question Time at Parliament House in Canberra. Picture: NCA NewsWire / Martin Ollman

Labor can’t hide its spectacular hypocrisy on gas

The likelihood is that Labor’s gas strategy will go nowhere and a few years down the track, as we face even higher electricity prices, rolling blackouts, people will be asking how this has been allowed to happen. Just don’t blame Madeleine King.

Judith Sloan

commentaryCommentary

CANBERRA, AUSTRALIA. NewsWire Photos. MAY 8, 2024: Federal Treasurer Jim Chalmers in his office at Parliament House in Canberra. Picture: NCA NewsWire/Martin Ollman

This is a showbag budget with plenty of goodies

Sensible economists know these sorts of measures are stimulatory; they simply push price pressures into the future, when subsidies are finally removed. But Jim Chalmers is hoping that the laws of economics don’t apply to him.

Judith Sloan

Original URL: https://www.theaustralian.com.au/author/judith-sloan/page/8