News, media releases, opinions and articles from the Centre for Future Work.
A new tool reveals how badly the Stage 3 cuts mismanage the budget
The Stage 3 tax cuts will cost $300bn in their first 9 years. A new tool shows how we can spend the money better Just before Christmas last month the Parliamentary Budget Office released a “Build Your Own Budget” tool that reveals the interactions of taxes, spending and economic conditions that go into determining the…
Inequality and poverty is a policy choice – and the Stage 3 tax cuts will make both worse
When you reduce the revenue available to fund government services, you inevitably increase inequality Much has been made in the debate around the Stage 3 Tax Cut that the cuts themselves massively favour the wealthy and make our income tax system less progressive. But as Policy Director, Greg Jericho, notes in his Guardian Australia column…
Jailing climate protestor Violet Coco shows anti-protest laws have gone too far
The anti-protest laws that have swept the country are a threat to us all, even if you’ve never attended a protest in your life. Governments are writing and passing laws which authorise companies to legally cause harm to our community and environment, while jailing individuals seeking to stop such harm through non-violent protest. The draconian…
The economy is slowing as the Reserve Bank hits the brake
The build up of savings during the pandemic is over – now we need strong income growth to keep the economy going as the Reserve Bank tries to slow it. The September quarter GDP figures reinforced the precarious nature of Australia’s economy. The annual GDP growth of 5.6% is extremely strong, but as Fiscal and…
The Reserve Bank needs to watch that it doesn’t push the economy off a cliff
For most of this year, the warnings and news about inflation have been one of hope for the best but experience the worst. Predictions of future inflation growth have continually been revised upwards and with it has been the suggestion that interest rates need to keep rising. But as Labour Market and Fiscal Policy Director,…
Deal on IR Reforms Sets Stage for Faster Wage Growth
A legislative consensus reached over the weekend to approve reforms to industrial relations laws sets the stage for rebuilding collective bargaining and a significant acceleration of wage growth, according to research from the Australia Institute’s Centre for Future Work.
“These reforms will lift…