While Canberra obsessed over strawberries and bullies, the Reserve Bank was flagging its concerns about the economy. This year, the list of negatives has narrowed.
Whatever the outcome of the building trade war between the US and China, Australia's economy will be affected dramatically — for better or worse.
Labor is waving through legislation that goes against its own policy, and is simultaneously worried about rising trade barriers but also wants to raise our own. Go figure.
The government can shout about strong jobs growth, but it completely ignores that underemployment among women has remained high for decades.
History will conclude that the critics of Labor’s GFC response 10 years ago were hopelessly wrong. By avoiding a sudden, deep recession, Australia also avoided testing out what its effect may have been on our democratic system.
Kenneth Hayne and his royal commission will likely reshape financial services for decades to come.
Let’s indulge in a flight of imagination for a moment. Could we change the fundamental shape of government so climate change et al are not ignored?
The Labor Party's support for the Trans Pacific Partnership in the face of overwhelming evidence and its own policy confirms that voters are right to be disgusted with the cynicism of the major parties.
Turnbull presided over booming employment and a lift in economic growth, but failure to act on wage stagnation will leave a tarnished legacy.
Australians are digging deeper and deeper into their savings to fund a modest rate of economic growth. This is no "boom".