News // Economics
Want to lift workers’ productivity? Let’s start with their bosses
Business representatives sit down today with government and others to talk about productivity. Who, according to those business representatives, will need to change the way they do things?
ACTU plan would fix gas policy mess and raise $12.5b for Australians
Australia Institute analysis submitted to the federal government’s Gas Market Review shows the ACTU proposal for a 25% tax on gas exports would end the gas shortages being engineered by the gas industry, cut gas prices, and deliver $12.5 billion revenue windfall for Australian industry and households.
SA algal bloom underlines urgent need for National Climate Disaster Fund
The algal bloom wreaking havoc on the South Australian coastline and economy underlines the urgent need for a National Climate Disaster Fund.
Gripped by an ‘Abundance fever’ that makes us see only red
Canberra is in the grip of Abundance fever, a virus that threatens to overwhelm public policy with a diagnosis of overregulation. For those afflicted, the treatment is to maintain the status quo, but with the sheen of progressivism. The Abundance agenda is being presented as a panacea for all of America’s problems, and therefore also Australia’s problems. It’s shaping
Is Anthony Albanese’s reform agenda bold enough for Australia?
Labor has never been in a better position to implement its national policy platform.
Tasmanians are still in the dark about what is being done to prevent the Maugean skate’s extinction
Latest decision on salmon farming almost certain to be catastrophic for endangered species, writes Eloise Carr
Liberals plan for Marine Environment Act and salmon review a big step in the right direction
The Australia Institute welcomes the Tasmanian Liberal Party’s promise to conduct an independent study into the salmon industry, pausing marine expansion while the review is carried out.
Three simple, fair steps which would raise 70 billion dollars a year in extra tax
New Australia Institute research has identified three simple tax reforms which would raise an extra 70 billion dollars a year without hurting low or middle-income Australians.
Minister backs foreign commercial fish farms over endangered native species
Federal Environment Minister Murray Watt has used changes to the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act to allow the continuation of commercial salmon farming in Tasmania’s Macquarie Harbour.
Climate change the elephant in the room at the Economic Reform Roundtable
New analysis from The Australia Institute underlines the impact of climate change on the economy and productivity ahead of next week’s Economic Reform Roundtable.
Delayed RBA cut is welcome, but borrowers are still lagging
The RBA has cut interest rates – five weeks too late.
Feeling hopeless? You’re not alone. The untold story behind Australia’s plummeting standard of living
A new report on Australia’s standard of living has found that low real wages, underfunded public services and skyrocketing prices have left many families experiencing hardship and hopelessness.
A smooth move or a tough transition? Protecting workers who’ll lose their jobs when the Eraring Power Station closes
The Centre for Future Work at The Australia Institute has urged the federal government to take charge of transitioning hundreds of workers into secure employment when the Eraring Power Station shuts down.
July 2025
Australia does not have a “productivity crisis” – new research
New research by The Australia Institute reveals there is little evidence of a “productivity crisis” in Australia, despite claims to the contrary from business leaders and politicians.
April 2025
Dutton’s nuclear push will cost renewable jobs
Dutton’s nuclear push will cost renewable jobs As Australia’s federal election campaign has finally begun, opposition leader Peter Dutton’s proposal to spend hundreds of billions in public money to build seven nuclear power plants across the country has been carefully scrutinized. The technological unfeasibility, staggering cost, and scant detail of the Coalition’s nuclear proposal have
The continuing irrelevance of minimum wages to future inflation
Minimum and award wages should grow by 5 to 9 per cent this year
March 2025
Commonwealth Budget 2025-2026: Our analysis
The Centre for Future Work’s research team has analysed the Commonwealth Government’s budget, focusing on key areas for workers, working lives, and labour markets. As expected with a Federal election looming, the budget is not a horror one of austerity. However, the 2025-2026 budget is characterised by the absence of any significant initiatives. There is
September 2024
Chalmers is right, the RBA has smashed the economy
In recent weeks the Treasurer Jim Chalmers has been criticised by the opposition and some conservative economists for pointing out that the 13 interest rate increases have slowed Australia’s economy. But the data shows he is right.
August 2024
The 9 to 5 is back! Time to put the phone on silent
If you’ve ever flicked off an email before bed, texted your boss out of hours, or received an ‘urgent’ work call after clocking off, you’ll be glad to hear some respite is just around the corner. A new right to disconnect from work, for employees in businesses with 15 or more staff, comes into force
Closing Loopholes Protections, Including Right to Disconnect, Come Into Effect 26 August
New labour rights coming into effect on 26 August, including the ‘Right to Disconnect’.
July 2024
Would you like a recession with that? New Zealand shows the danger of high interest rates
New Zealand’s central bank raised interest rates more than Australia and went into a recession – twice.
New union rights to boost workplace cooperation
New rights for volunteer union delegates are set to make workplaces more, not less, cooperative, according to a new analysis by the Australia Institute.
June 2024
Webinar: Stop passing the buck -Workers’ compensation and ‘gig’ workers
Workers’ compensation and rehabilitation are amongst the most important legal issues facing the ‘gig’ economy. This reflects the potential vulnerability of these workers and their families, co-workers, and community to harsh and long term consequences from injuries. For a while, it looked like federal industrial policy might ‘solve’ the workers compensation problem by redefining ‘gig’/platform
No need for panic over ‘sticky’ inflation: Jericho
Inflation has stopped falling, but there’s no need for a further rate hike, says Greg Jericho.
May 2024
Does leave for menstruation and menopause advance women’s rights and gender equality at work?
As pressure grows for action to establish new work rights, including additional leave, for those who experience menstruation and menopause, the Centre for Future Work’s Senior Researcher, Lisa Heap, canvases the debate about whether these rights will advance gender equality at work.
Calls for massive rate hikes and recession are cavalier: Jericho
Inflation will remain higher for longer, but a recession is not the solution, says Greg Jericho.
Increasing JobSeeker is possible, it’s just a question of priorities
The government has the power to make significant and long-awaited improvements to the JobSeeker scheme in this federal budget, but it has to make it a priority, says Greg Jericho.
April 2024
Who’s hurting most from rising interest rates? It’s probably you.
Soaring house prices, high household debt and the pervasiveness of variable rate home loans mean that Australians bear the brunt of interest rate rises, says Greg Jericho.
Video: The Right to Disconnect is NOT Bad for Productivity
The Right to Disconnect legislation being passed recently has attracted criticism from Opposition leader Peter Dutton and business groups, who say it’s bad for productivity. They may need to learn some basic maths, because they couldn’t be more wrong. Centre for Future Work Director Dr Jim Stanford explains. Research indicates the average Australian worker performs
Australia’s “stupid” surplus obsession must end
A budget surplus doesn’t mean a government is good at running the economy – we should focus on the choices they make instead, says Greg Jericho.
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