Australian Society and Politics
You can’t think (or write, or speak) about an economy without also having a sense of the broader social and economic framework in which it operates. I try very hard to avoid partisan political commentary, but I do sometimes feel moved to write or talk about social or political developments.
Australia’s Economic and Political Outlook
Australian Society and Politics, Economic Policies, Housing, Taxation, The Australian Economy | 4th June 2026Saul Eslake’s presentation to Anglicare’s annual CEO Forum in Melbourne on 4th June 2026. Not much politics in it, but a focus on the tax reform proposals presented in the 2026-27 Federal Budget, and other ideas about longer-term tax reform in Australia.
The Fiscal Sustainability of the Australian Capital Territory
Australian Society and Politics, Economic Policies | 19th May 2026My Final Report to the ACT Legislative Assembly Select Committee on the Fiscal Sustainability of the ACT was published on 19th May.
The 2026-27 Australian Government Budget – an Assessment
Australian Society and Politics, Economic Policies, The Australian Economy | 13th May 2026Saul’s assessment of the 2026-27 Australian Government Budget, presented by Treasurer Dr Jim Chalmers on 12th May 2026.
The capital gains discount was meant to usher in an Australia of ‘shareholders’ – not property speculators
Australian Society and Politics, Economic Policies, Housing, Topics | 29th April 2026The Australian edition of The Guardian published an op-ed article from Saul about prospective changes to the taxation of capital gains in the forthcoming Federal Budget on 28th April 2026.
Saul on Bloomberg’s Wall St Week about Australia’s Housing Crisis
Australian Society and Politics, Economic Policies, Economic Video, Housing, Recent Media Interview | 7th April 2026Saul Eslake talks to Bloomberg TV’s Wall Street Week about Australia’s “housing crisis”, and why it is unlikely to be solved by any conscious government policies.
Federal Budget 2026: Capital Gain Tax Reform and Western Australia’s GST Share
Australian Federal Budget, Australian Society and Politics, Economic Policies, Economic Video, Housing, News, Recent Media Interview, Taxation, The Australian Economy | 2nd April 2026Saul Eslake talks to Sky’s Laura Jayes about the possibility that the upcoming Federal Budget may include changes to the capital gains tax regime – and why the Government should (but won’t) stop giving so much money to Western Australia.
Interim Report to the ACT Legislative Assembly Select Committee on the Fiscal Sustainability of the ACT
Australian Society and Politics, Economic Policies, Publications, The Australian Economy | 2nd March 2026At the beginning of last month Saul was engaged by the Australian Capital Territory’s Legislative Assembly as a Special Advisor to the Select Committee on the Fiscal Sustainability of the ACT, which was established in December last year. Saul’s interim report was presented to the Committee on 27th February. . The Final Report is due […]
The Worst Public Policy Decision of the 21st Century Thus Far – a discussion with the Economics Writer for The West Australian, on ABC Radio National’s “It’s the Economy, Stupid”
Australian Society and Politics, Economic Policies, Taxation | 26th February 2026Saul appeared along with the economics writer for _The West Australian_ newspaper, Matt McKenzie, on ABC Radio National’s “It’s the Economy, Stupid!” hosted by Peter Martin AM, to discuss The Worst Public Policy Decision of the 21st Century Thus Far, aka “the WA GST deal” (under which the Federal Government is gifting Australia’s richest state, […]