Scroll to top
Business /

Economy

(Image: AAP/Alan Porritt)

It's a gas, man — how government failure is killing manufacturing

Manufacturers are closing their doors as higher gas prices again bite, but it seems there's no one home on energy policy in the Morrison government.

2019 Rich Lister James Packer

Once again, the AFR Rich List misses the point

The Australian Financial Review thinks that its annual Rich List celebrates Australia's 'opportunity society'. In reality it is contemptuous of the struggles of regular Australians.

ACTU Assistant Secretary Liam O'Brien addresses the media following the Fair Work ruling. (Image: AAP/David Crosling)

Facts defy Fair Work Commission's bizarre minimum wage logic

The Fair Work Commission has reduced wage increases for the one in five Australians on minimum wages, reflecting a complete misunderstanding of the state of the economy.

(Image: Unsplash/Hunters Race)

Think tanks compete to produce the most ridiculous neoliberal propaganda

A new "competitiveness index" illustrates how think tanks and the media try to legitimise neoliberal attacks on communities.

Minister for Superannuation Jane Hume (Image: AAP/Mick Tsikas)

'Unholy' and 'irrelevant': Jane Hume's demonology of superannuation

The new Minister for Superannuation regards the industry super sector as "unholy" and in desperate need of reform to make it more like its inferior retail super counterpart

Is the labour market as bad as the Reserve Bank says?

You say seasonally adjusted, I say trend — which jobs data is right? The RBA has decided neither of them show the falling unemployment it needs to forestall a rate cut.

(Image: Unsplash/Christian Wiediger)

Scams are becoming a silent epidemic

Scams rely on the victim’s involvement in their own fleecing. Because of that, we often don't hear enough about them.

RBA governor Philip Lowe (Image: AAP/Dean Lewins)

Reserve Bank commits to rate cut, citing rising unemployment and high tax

The RBA has taken the remarkable step of flagging that it will cut interest rates out of concern for unemployment, the government's high tax burden and persistent low household income growth.

How business-as-usual and vested interests won out

The 2019 election showed how powerful economic interests could thwart attempts to erode their privileges and rorts via scare campaigns.

(Image: Getty/wavebreakmedia)

Australia can't build a future on franking credits 

Counter to many election predictions, it's the boomers wot won it. Now we desperately need to reckon with the results.