Climate ratings could spare buyers from risky homes Star ratings for resilience and winding back electric car incentives have been flagged by the Productivity Commission in its pursuit of climate cost savings. AAP · Aug 3, 2025
The Productivity Commission has proposed a ‘cashflow tax’ for business. What does that mean? The fact businesses cannot deduct financing costs means companies like coalminer Adani would not be able to avoid paying virtually any tax The Guardian - AU · Aug 1, 2025
Business lobby rejects proposed company tax overhaul The corporate sector is rallying against calls for a new cashflow tax for businesses, while small companies would have their rate cut under the reforms. AAP · Jul 31, 2025
The company tax regime is a roadblock to business investment. Here’s what needs to change Productivity growth is a key driver of improvements in living standards. But in Australia over the last decade, output per hour worked grew by less than a quarter of its 60-year average. The Conversation · Jul 31, 2025
Big tech says AI could boost Australia’s economy by $115 billion a year. Does the evidence stack up? AI is on the agenda in Canberra. In August, the Productivity Commission will release an interim report on harnessing data and digital technology such as AI “to boost productivity growth, accelerate innovation and improve government services”. Shortly afterward, the government will host an Economic Reform Roundtable where AI policy will… The Conversation · Jul 30, 2025
Progress on Closing the Gap is stagnant or going backwards. Here are 3 things to help fix it The Productivity Commission’s latest data on Closing the Gap progress represents an unsurprisingly grim overview of the socioeconomic inequalities experienced by Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples. The Conversation · Jul 30, 2025
Workers could be $14,000 ahead under a growth mindset Australia's productivity tsar says Australian workers would be $14,000 better off each year in the long run if the nation treads the right path on reform. AAP · Jul 24, 2025
Meta argues its AI needs personal information from social media posts to learn ‘Australian concepts’ Tech giant says posts from Australian Facebook and Instagram users are ‘vital learning’ about ‘concepts, realities, and figures’ The Guardian - AU · Jul 17, 2025
'Not all bad news': the Aussie upside of Trump tariffs While Donald Trump's harsh tariffs on imports from Australia's key trading partners will whip up uncertainty, there could be an upside for consumers. AAP · Jul 7, 2025
Abuse allegations have prompted distress and outrage - but will Australia’s childcare system be fixed? With an urgent review and new measures to protect children announced, experts argue some form of national oversight is essential The Guardian - AU · Jul 4, 2025
500,000 Australians live with mental illness but don’t qualify for the NDIS. A damning new report says they need more support Half a million Australians are living with moderate to severe mental illness, but they don’t qualify for the National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS) and cannot access the support they need. The Conversation · Jun 25, 2025
Is there any hope for a fairer carve-up of the GST between the states? When the Western Australian state government handed down its state budget on Thursday, it showed a balance sheet solidly in the black with a A$2.5 billion surplus. But, as it has for seven years, the state has received an outsized boost to its coffers from the federal government. The Conversation · Jun 19, 2025
What could Albanese do to improve productivity? Here is a short, non-exhaustive list Improving living standards is really what productivity is about – not growing the profits of large companies The Guardian - AU · Jun 18, 2025
Would a corporate tax cut boost productivity in Australia? So far, the evidence is unclear The first term of the Albanese government was defined by its fight against inflation, but the second looks like it will be defined by a need to kick start Australia’s sluggish productivity growth. The Conversation · Jun 17, 2025
The Conversation · Jun 12, 2025 Workers need better tools and tech to boost productivity. Why aren’t companies stepping up to invest? As Prime Minister Anthony Albanese and Treasurer Jim Chalmers turn their attention to improving productivity growth across the economy, it will be interesting to see what the business community brings to a planned summit in August.
The Conversation · Jun 11, 2025 ‘Hard to measure and difficult to shift’: the government’s big productivity challenge Higher productivity has quickly emerged as an economic reform priority for Labor’s second term.
AAP · May 20, 2025 Google offers AI tools to automate that personal touch Users of Google products could allow AI to personalise email replies and more with their own tone and style by allowing it to peer into their private data.
AAP · May 18, 2025 Renewables, AI rules top productivity reform wishlist Fifteen areas have been identified for reform by the Productivity Commission, including artificial intelligence, tax reform and cheaper renewable energy.
The Guardian - AU · May 10, 2025 Labor wants to boost productivity. Does this mean Australians need to work even harder? Productivity is down and it’s hurting the economy and your salary. Here’s how treasurer Jim Chalmers plans to try and fix that
The Conversation · May 7, 2025 Labor says its second term will be about productivity reform. These ideas could help shift the dial In his victory speech, Prime Minister Anthony Albanese highlighted social policy as a major factor in Labor’s electoral success, particularly Medicare, housing and cost of living relief. He was justified in doing so.
The Guardian - AU · Mar 12, 2025 Here’s why Australia should build more smaller houses rather than fewer big ones If we’re serious about tackling the housing crisis and boosting productivity in the home building industry, we need to rethink our planning rules
AAP · Mar 12, 2025 Worsening Closing the Gap outcomes 'failing' kids With Closing the Gap targets focusing on incarceration, and child protection worsening, advocates say Australia is failing Aboriginal kids.
The Conversation · Mar 5, 2025 Australians generate mountains of waste, and we need more help to recycle and reuse it Australians largely support transforming the economy to increase recycling, repurpose products and reduce waste, according to a new report from the Productivity Commission, but they are being impeded by inconsistent regulations.
AAP · Feb 26, 2025 Reasons for struggling productivity growth revealed Inefficient use of resources and a lack of new ideas have contributed to Australia's declining productivity growth, the Productivity Commission says.
The Conversation · Feb 19, 2025 Politics with Michelle Grattan: Danielle Wood on how to trim back housing regulations Housing supply in Australia will be a key battleground in the election campaign. With home ownership more and more out of reach for young and not so young Australians, red tape and low productivity are strangling the builder industry just when it needs to be stepping up.