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.
The cost of appeasing Western Australia
Australian Society and Politics, Economic Policies, Tasmania | 20th June 2021For the next six years, Federal taxpayers – and after that, taxpayers in Australia’s eastern states and territories – will be paying a very high price in order to appease Western Australia’s desire to hang on to as much as they possibly can of the windfall gains it’s reaping from the huge prices being paid […]
Australia’s race against the virus
Australian Society and Politics, News, Recent Media Interview | 18th June 2021Australia’s race against the virus: ‘dilatory’ vaccine roll-out likely to bring Australia’s economic recovery ‘back to the pack’ Excerpt from interview with Melbourne radio 3AW’s Tom Elliott on 17th June
Hiding behind the ‘health advice’
Australian Society and Politics, Publications | 14th June 2021Op-ed article published by the Australian Financial Review arguing that the time is fast approaching when the Government can no longer defer decisions on (for example) how long to keep Australia’s borders closed to “health advice” without also giving at least some weight to other considerations (also available here)
Failure, Success, Risk and Luck: Some Personal Reflections
Australian Society and Politics | 10th June 2021Address to the National Boys’ Education Conference, hosted by The King’s Institute, North Parramatta (Sydney), on 10th June 2021
‘No principle’ of public finance says ‘optimal level’ of government debt is zero
Australian Society and Politics, Economic Policies, News, The Australian Economy | 13th May 2021Saul talks to Sky News’ Ashleigh Gillon about Australian Federal Budget 2021-2022
Eureka Report: Australian Federal Budget 2021-2022
Australian Society and Politics, Economic Policies, News, The Australian Economy | 13th May 2021Saul talks to Eureka Report‘s Alan Kohler about Australian Federal Budget 2021-2022
Video & Presentation Slides: Saul’s Assessment of 2021 – 2022 Australian Federal Budget
Australian Federal Budget, Australian Society and Politics, Economic Policies, The Australian Economy | 12th May 2021Last year’s budget encapsulated a massive turnaround in the Morrison Government’s fiscal strategy, from one focussed on achieving and then maintaining budget surpluses and paying down with a view eventually to eliminating government net debt, to one focussed on supporting economic activity and employment in the face of the Covid-19 pandemic, even though that meant […]
Tasmania Talk: Australian Federal Budget 2021-2022
Australian Society and Politics, Economic Policies, News, Tasmania, The Australian Economy | 12th May 2021Saul talks to Tasmania Talk’s Mike O’Loughlin about Australian Federal Budget 2021-2022