The Productivity Commission’s annual Report on Government Services was released today, finding that Australia’s prisons are overcrowded, warehouses for Indigenous Australians, and ineffective in tackling the causes of crime.
Productivity Commission
There’s nothing more Aussie than calling somewhere else home
The trouble is not in having the independent thinkers or talent but in giving them opportunities here rather than the token support typical of Australian government, writes Michael R. James.
Executive pay: gravy train still stopping all stations
Until company directors start to realise that money doesn’t necessarily buy quality executives, don’t expect the gravy train to dry up any time soon.
Productivity Commission strikes out on curbing runaway exec pay
While the Productivity Commission report was not without merit, when it comes to actually curbing runaway pay, it will be of little or no effect, writes Adam Schwab.
Business as usual in our boardrooms, just don’t ask the man in the street
What a difference a year makes, where suddenly the economic woes are long forgotten, executive pay is rising again, banks are as greedy as ever and the politicians continue to do nothing about it, writes John Sutton.
Fat cat shareholders continue to bask in capitalism
The fury by shareholders over executives high salaries is hypocrisy at its finest, writes Mirko Bagaric. Let’s remember, shareholders are just in it for the money too.
Executive pay: the scam that never was
A two-strike policy wasn’t needed to protect obscene salaries because shareholders already had options available to them and our economy was doing ok anyway, writes Andrew Main.
Two strikes and you’re…ok
The controversial ‘two strikes’ policy — giving shareholders a chance to vote down pay rises and force a board to re-election — has been severely watered down in the final report from the Productivity Commission on executive pay released today.
An open letter on behalf of drought-affected farmers
Crikey reader and farmer Ron Lennon pens an open letter to Agriculture Minister Tony Burke: farms and farmers need assistance now.
Leave pokies alone!
Pokie machines and the venues that operate them have been coming under heavy fire from the media, VCAT and the Productivity Commission lately. But why should bureaucrats and pundits get to dictate how Australians spend their leisure dollars? asks Richard Allsop.
APRA fails on fat cat pay
Yesterday, APRA formally released prudential standards and a practice guide for corporate governance requirements. Sadly, the “minimum foundations” stated by APRA are either obvious, already in practice or won’t have any actual effect on curbing the scourge of “extreme capitalism”.
RBA chief: we have our house(s) in order
Australia has a new high-profile property spruiker … the deputy governor of the Reserve Bank, Ric Battellino, writes >Adam Schwab.
David Coe’s mystifying board election
The likes of the Business Council of Australia and Australian Institute of Company Directors need not be too concerned about the “two strikes” rule — David Coe and RHG just proved as much.
Shareholders revolt on fat cat pay
As lobbyists mull over the Productivity Commission’s draft reforms to executive remuneration rules, the first non-binding Remuneration Report of 2009 has been voted down by shareholders.
Exec pay: two strikes, too soft
The “two-strike” rule for executive remuneration should be rejected not because it is too hard on directors, but rather, because it is too soft, and targets the wrong people.
Fairfax recruit highlights new employer’s no-vacancy rort
The so-called no-vacancy rule makes getting on a public company board impossible for outsiders. Forcing institutions to disclose how they vote will further expose the old boys’ network, starting with Fairfax.
Grattan: It should pay to take risks
The Productivity Commission’s report on executive pay won’t completely satisfy those, like the Greens, that wanted caps on pay. Except, caps aren’t a practical option, writes Michelle Grattan.
Executive remuneration: PC pays out on directors
The Productivity Commission has produced an excellent report on executive remuneration and every share owner in the country should read it. Particularly the part about directors.
PC pay report a very mixed bag
The Productivity Commission has released the long-awaited draft version of its review into the regulation of executive remuneration. It’s a small step, but no great leap forward, for corporate governance.
PC pushes for executive pay transparency
The Productivity Commission has found no systemic fault in the private sector’s approach to executive remuneration. But it has recommended measures to strengthen transparency and remove conflict of interest.
Your Say: Daily Mail readers' feedback: Paul Kelly, John Howard and East Timor
Crikey readers weigh in on John Howard’s involvement in East Timor’s independence, the lobbyist to MP ratio and Senator Steve Fielding’s spelling.
Publishing ban not expected to be lifted
Although the ALP conference has been largely stage managed, one thing is clear: if the government decides to lift the ban on the parallel importation of books, it will be strongly opposed, says Phillip Coorey.
Menadue: five health reforms we really need
There are five critical issues that should be addressed by National Health and Hospitals Reform Commission.
Literature? What’s that got to do with the price of books?
In all the talk of the Productivity Commission and the price of publishing, we shouldn’t forget that a book is not a novel. We shouldn’t be focusing on the container, but the content.
