Economic Policies
The Nobel Prize winning economist James Tobin once said that the study of economics “offered the hope, as it still does, that improved understanding could better the lot of mankind”. One of the ways in which it does this is through the implementation of economic policy that helps to ameliorate boom-and-bust cycles, reduces unemployment, contains inflation or lifts people’s living standards in sustainable ways.
Ominous warnings from sharp falls in business and consumer confidence
Economic Policies, The Australian Economy | 16th April 2026Op-ed article published in the Sydney Morning Herald and Melbourne Age newspapers on 16th April 2026. . The published version of the op-ed is here: https://www.smh.com.au/business/the-economy/another-interest-rate-rise-will-tip-australia-into-a-recession-we-don-t-have-to-have-20260415-p5zo0r.html or here: https://www.theage.com.au/business/the-economy/another-interest-rate-rise-will-tip-australia-into-a-recession-we-don-t-have-to-have-20260415-p5zo0r.html
The Impact of the Middle East Fuel Crisis on Australia’s Civil Engineering Construction Sector
Economic Policies, The Australian Economy | 16th April 2026Report commissioned by the Civil Constructors’ Federation of Australia on the potential impact of the Middle East fuel crisis on Australia’s civil engineering construction sector, including some suggestions as to how governments could ameliorate at least some of those consequences.
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, […]
Opening statement to the Senate Select Committee on the Operation of the Capital Gains Tax Discount
Australian Society and Politics, Economic Policies, Housing, Taxation | 25th February 2026Saul was asked to testify to the Senate Select Committee on the Operation of the Capital Gains Tax Discount on 25th February 2026. Below is Saul’s ‘opening statement’ to the Committee.
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, Publications, 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 […]