News
August 2023
Australia’s emissions are rising at a time they need to fall quickly
The latest quarterly greenhouse gas emissions survey shows that Australia is heading in the wrong direction – and that needs calling out.
Urgent Need for Australia’s Climate Industry Policy
For the first time in decades, Australia is talking about industry policy.
Report Reveals True Potential of Fully Funded Public Schools
A new report from the Australia Institute’s Centre for Future Work is calling for increased investment in public school funding to lift flagging school completion rates and spark economic growth.
For most workers, wages are still failing to keep up with inflation
While overall wages grew in line with inflation in the June quarter for workers in most industries real wages are still going backwards.
Australia at risk of exclusion from renewable manufacturing boom
Australia risks being left out of lucrative new markets for renewable energy-related manufacturing unless government provides an urgent, domestic response to match powerful incentives introduced by the U.S and several other industrial nations. The finding is published in a new report released today by the Australia Institute’s Centre for Future Work, as part of the
July 2023
We need more than a definition change to fix Australia’s culture of permanent ‘casual’ work
The surprising thing about the Albanese government’s announced reforms to “casual” employment is not that they’re happening.
Inflation is falling so let’s make sure we don’t let unemployment rise
Inflation is coming down fast so we should now shift our attention to making sure unemployment does not rise
Hollywood actors showing that unity is strength
When workers are united, and able to collectively bargain, they can win good outcomes
The key legislation changes that will help workers get a better deal
In recent years, workers have been held back from demanding better working conditions and pay by a lack of bargaining power.
If the unemployment rises to 4.5% who is likely to lose their job?
The RBA is currently targeting a 4.5% unemployment rate, and that is going to hurt young, low skilled and low paid workers,
Australian and Global Union Leader Sharan Burrow to Deliver Second Annual Carmichael Lecture
Former Australian Council of Trade Unions president Sharan Burrow will deliver the second annual Carmichael Lecture on August 16. Ms Burrow, who was ACTU president for a decade from 2000, was also general secretary of the International Trade Union Confederation between 2010 and 2022. She will speak on the topic ‘Global Worker Solidarity for a
June 2023
Bolstered by a biased tax system, house prices keep rising
As interest rates rise, the gains from negative gearing increase.
Blame Game on Inflation has Only Just Begun
Every inflationary episode embodies a power struggle within society over who benefits from inflation, who loses out – and who will bear the cost of getting inflation back down.
The economy is slowing as households get smashed by yet more rate rises
A slowing economy and households closing their wallets is bad news with a Reserve Bank determined to keep raising rates
Fair Work: 5.75% Award Wage Boost will not cause “Wage-Price Spiral”
Today’s 5.75% award wage increase is a necessary boost for the lowest paid workers but does not keep pace with inflation. The Fair Work Commission (FWC) has today explicitly said this increase “will consequently not cause or contribute to any ‘wage price spiral’”. Key Points: Award wage increase of 5.75% is less than inflation, which
The level of public housing needs to return to previous levels
Australia needs more housing, and we definitely need more public housing
May 2023
Profit-Price Spiral an Inconvenient Truth for Big Business: Economists
Despite a mainstream shift in the national conversation away from baseless claims of a “wage-price spiral”, some big business proponents and conservative economists appear unwilling to accept the economic evidence of a profit-price spiral.
Workplace Law Reform Must Limit Cancer of ‘Gig Work’ in Care Economy: Research
New research reveals the growth of ‘gig’ employment in the NDIS and care sector is undermining minimum employment conditions for tens of thousands of workers, with thousands of workers likely earning below-award wages, missing out on superannuation and experiencing inferior WHS protections and gender pay equality outcomes.
Real wages falls and interest rates rises signal tough times for households and the economy
You can’t sustain household spending while real wages continue to fall, and households are starting to let everyone know
Wages are growing solidly but real wages continue to plummet
Wages are growing the best they have for 11 years, but real wages are now back at the level they were 14 years ago
Don’t worry about a budget surplus, worry about a slowing economy
Rather than be a budget that will fuel inflation, the budget is actually closer to austerity than stimulation
Affordability of a Liveable Jobseeker Payment is a Non-Issue
Commonwealth on Track for Diminutive Deficit or Surplus in 2022-2023 In the lead-up to its 2023-24 budget, the Labor Government finds itself in an awkward position, accepting that the Jobseeker payment is “seriously inadequate” and an impediment to regaining work, yet professing that it lacks the financial capacity to afford a meaningful increase anytime soon.
The Reserve Bank’s decision to raise rates shows a total lack of coherency
Wages growth is rising slowly and inflation is falling faster than expected, and yet the RBA decided to hit the economy again with another rate rise.
April 2023
Latest inflation figures show the RBA was right not to raise rates in April
Inflation is falling steadily but hitting low-income households the most.
7% Minimum Wage Rise Would Tackle Inflation, not Feed it: Research
A 7% National Minimum Wage rise for low paid workers would help tackle the rising cost of living for those on award wages while having a virtually undetectable impact on economy-wide prices, new research from leading economists at the Centre for Future Work has found. The data comes as the Fair Work Commission deliberates about
The Stage 3 tax cuts are bad economics combined with terrible politics. They should be dumped.
The Stage 3 tax cuts were always bad, but with the removal of the low-middle income tax offset, they become a terrible political strategy as well
Wealth inequality across generations will only fuel voter disenchantment
Millennials are not becoming more conservative as they age – and the rigged housing market is just one reason why
With the impact of rate rises still to come the RBA is wise to pause
Perhaps as much as a third of the rate rises since April have yet to fully hit the economy
March 2023
Stop the fear, give workers a fair pay rise
The whole point of public-sector wage caps is to keep all wages down
The housing market has cooled, but housing unaffordability remains a long way off
House prices are falling but housing unaffordability remains high
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