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.
Submission to the Productivity Commission’s Inquiry into The Worst Public Policy Decision of the 21st Century Thus Far (aka “the WA GST deal”).
Australian Society and Politics, Economic Policies, The Australian Economy | 5th January 2026The Productivity Commission has been asked to inquire into what I’ve called The Worst (Australian) Public Policy Decision of the 21st Century Thus Far – namely, the Orwellianly-titled Treasury Laws Amendment (Making Sure Every State and Territory Gets Their Fair Share of GST) Act 2018, legislated by the Morrison Government (with the support of the […]
Inside the WA GST:
The Worst Public Policy of the 21st Century
Australian Society and Politics, Economic Policies, News, Recent Media Interview | 4th November 2025
Saul Eslake talks to the host of ABC Radio National’s Breakfast program, Sally Sara, about the Western Australian Government’s campaign to defend what Saul calls “the Worst Public Policy Decision of the 21st Century Thus Far”, the undermining of the long-standing principles governing the distribution of revenue from the GST to the states and territories at the behest of Australia’s richest state, WA, at a cost to the Federal Budget of $60 billion over eleven years.
Revenue-raising and tax reform
Australian Society and Politics, Economic Policies, Taxation, The Australian Economy | 29th October 2025Saul Eslake’s presentation to the Australia Institute’s “Revenue Summit” held at Parliament House, Canberra, on 29th October 2025
Albanese Government’s extension of the 5% deposit scheme
Australian Society and Politics, Economic Policies, Housing, News, Recent Media Interview | 8th October 2025Saul talks to Solstice Media’s 7am podcast, hosted by Daniel James, about the Albanese Government’s extension of the 5% deposit scheme for first home buyers, and why governments of all political persuasions continue to implement policies which serve only to make housing more expensive, despite their professed concerns for the difficulties faced by aspiring first-home buyers.
WA GST deal adds $6bn to federal budget deficit
Australian Society and Politics, Economic Policies, News | 3rd October 2025The Australian also has a good article by Paul Garvey (who, it’s worth noting, is based in Perth) about the WA GST deal on 1st October 2025
Carving up the revenue from the GST – an in-depth discussion of ‘The Worst Australian Public Policy Decision of the 21st Century Thus Far’
Australian Society and Politics, Economic Policies, News, Recent Media Interview | 2nd October 2025I had a long conversation with the host of ABC Radio’s “Nightlife” program, Philip Clark, about the way in which the distribution of GST revenue among Australia’s states and territories has been perverted by the desire of Federal politicians (from both sides of the aisle) to win votes and seats from Australia’s richest state, Western […]
The Albanese Government’s expanded home deposit guarantee scheme
Australian Society and Politics, Economic Policies, Housing, Recent Media Interview | 25th August 2025Saul talks to ABC News Channel’s Cath Robinson about the Government’s expanded deposit guarantee scheme which will allow more first home buyers to purchase homes with deposits of as little as 5% of the purchase price, without needing to take out lenders’ mortgage insurance.
Another hung parliament solves nothing about Tasmania’s dire fiscal position
Australian Society and Politics, Tasmania | 21st July 2025Op-ed published in the Australian Financial Review 0n 20th July 2025, about the outcome of the Tasmanian state election held the previous day.