Suicide: the silent epidemicSuicides rates in Australia have been miscalculated by up to 30% and has not decreased in the last decade. Repeated systematic failures of the mental health system are blamed for the figures, writes Ruth Pollard.
Australian bureau of statistics
Shoppers’ self-esteem edges lower
This month’s reported fall in consumer confidence was relatively tiny given the torrent of economic bad news both here and overseas, writes Glenn Dyer.
Housing finance hits six-year high
Kevin Rudd’s boosting of first home buyers grants sparked a jump in housing finance in December, writes Glenn Dyer.
Disadvantage index: The best and least worse of NSW
Go west in Sydney, young man, and you will find neither fame nor fortune writes Richard Farmer in his continuing series on social disadvantage in Australia.
A tale of two towns: from Duck Creek to Tindal
The release of the ABS data on the most — and least — disadvantaged Census Collection Districts in the nation has thrown up some wonderful ironies, writes an NT insider.
Meet the Jilkminggans — the most disadvantaged Australians
Throughout the week, Crikey will present profiles of the best of the best places in Australia, and the worst of the very worst, writes Richard Farmer.
Richard Farmer’s political bite-sized meaty chunks
Give ‘em a serve Julia … The wise Aristotle … No solos in this government … Eat a whale, save the planet … The Daily Reality Check … The Pick of this Morning’s Political Coverage …
Housing approvals tank, banks face a tough call
The Australian banks have a difficult decision to make after the rate rise: home lending, their most profitable business, isn’t doing well and housing approvals tanked in December, writes Glenn Dyer.
Why a rate rise will only take house prices higher
Interest rate rises are supposed to slow the economy … how then do we explain the surge in house prices in 2007, asks Glen Dyer?
What’s going on with the economy? Nobody has a clue
Australia’s business economists have run into a bit of rough trot with their forecasts for major economic statistics. In the past week they have been wide of the mark, in fact very wide of the mark, on a series of major figures from the ABS, writes Glenn Dyer.
Ramming the shears: non-bank home lending plummets
Home lending by non-bank lenders fell in a heap in September, with raw figures showing a 22% plunge in the number of home loans made, writes Glenn Dyer.
As Glenn Stevens said: ”Something needs to be done”
John Howard’s nightmare is looming: his re-election campaign could be the first to suffer an interest rate rise, writes Glenn Dyer.
The CPI will play a major part in the election campaign
Wednesday’s Consumer Price Index will play a major part, one way or another, in the election campaign, writes Glenn Dyer.
Investment banks predict an interest rate rise
Investment Bank, JP Morgan has made a big call saying in its note to clients today that it thinks the Reserve Bank will raise rates next month, writes Glenn Dyer.
Sales boom, rates steady, inflation presses, market surges. Oh my god.
We are in for four weeks of neverending interest rate speculation after the Reserve Bank left rates on hold today and retail sales figures for August showed that the sales boom continues in Australia.
AFR conflict of interest
When quoting him in yesterday’s article on state by state arts funding, the Australian Financial Review should have declared that David Throsby is not only a Macquarie University economics professor but also Chairperson of the NSW State Government’s Arts Advisory Council.
Rudd’s got a point: food sales are booming
There’s something to Kevin Rudd’s claims that food prices are rising at a level well above inflation. The latest retail sales figures from the ABS show clearly that food is booming.
Elementary as ABC – Labor and child care
There are some aspects of the private enterprise system about which ordinary voters are skeptical and child care, along with health and education, is among them.
ALP populism is paying the bills
In politics it’s the little things that count - little things like an MP spending $7000 a day on a trip to a space launch in the United States. People who find subjects like global warming a bit of a bore can relate to Warren Entsch having a good and expensive time on his farewell overseas trip as an MP.
