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.
Tasmania’s 2026-27 State Budget – A Briefing for Members of Tasmania’s Upper House
Economic Policies, Tasmania | 26th May 2026Saul provided a briefing on Tasmania’s 2026-27 State Budget to Members of Tasmania’s Legislative Council (the Upper House of the Tasmanian Parliament) on 26th May 2026:
The 2026-27 Tasmanian State Budget
Economic Policies, Tasmania | 21st May 2026For the first time in a decade, the 2026-27 Tasmanian State Budget presents a somewhat better picture of the outlook for Tasmania’s public finances than its predecessor. That’s largely due to windfall revenue gains, particularly from the Federal Government in the form of upward revisions to Tasmania’s share of revenue from the GST and specific […]
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 | 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.
Ominous warnings from sharp falls in business and consumer confidence
Economic Policies, News, Publications, 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.