The Journal of Australian Political Economy, a peer-reviewed journal based at the University of Sydney, has today published a special issue evaluating the record of the Albanese government during the first half of its term in office.

The special issue features 19 articles reviewing various aspects of the government’s legislative and policy agenda since its election in May 2022. Topics covered include economic and monetary policy, labour issues, energy and climate, foreign policy (including the AUKUS treaty), and the Voice referendum.

The special issue was edited by Professor Emeritus Frank Stilwell of the University of Sydney’s Department of Political Economy.

All articles included are available open-access here.

“The midpoint of the current federal Labor government’s term of office is a good time to take stock and assess its performance,” said Professor Stilwell.

“The mixture of the government’s accomplishments, and its continuing policy and political challenges, show the tensions as well as the possibilities when the Labor party is at the helm of the ship of state.”

“One topic that continues to bedevil the government is its plan to move ahead with Stage 3 tax cuts, despite criticisms that they will widen income inequality in Australia and add to inflationary pressures,” said David Richardson, Senior Researcher at the Australia Institute and co-author of the special issue’s review of tax policies.

“The Stage 3 cuts are massively regressive, and the government should instead focus its tax reform efforts on developing a fairer system for taxing capital gains.

“Since the ratio of wealth to income is predicted to double in the next 40 years, Australia urgently needs to ensure the owners of wealth make a fair contribution to the costs of a decent society,” Richardson concluded.

“The government deserves positive grades for measures taken to strengthen collective bargaining and boost wage growth,” said Jim Stanford, Director of the Centre for Future Work and a co-author of the special issue’s article on labour policy.

“While more labour reforms are needed, the government has made significant strides toward a better balance between workers and employers, and revitalising long-stagnant wage growth,” Stanford added.

Five of the articles in the special issue reflect contributions from staff and associates of the Australia Institute, including:

• Labour Policy: co-authored by five staff members of the Institute’s Centre for Future Work.
• Tax Policy: co-authored by Prof Stilwell and David Richardson, Senior Researcher at the Australia Institute.
• Care Policy: authored by Dr Fiona Macdonald, Policy Director for the Centre for Future Work.
• Energy Policy: co-authored by Dr Matthew Ryan, Post-Doctoral Fellow at the Australia Institute, and Prof Stuart Rosewarne of the University of Sydney.
• Monetary Policy: authored by Dr Mike Beggs of the University of Sydney, and Associate of the Centre for Future Work.