Tasmania
I did most of my education in Tasmania and, after spending almost 34 years on what Tasmanians call ‘the mainland’, returned to Tasmania in December 2014. Both while I was living away, and since returning, I’ve maintained a keen interest in the progress (or, at times, lack of it) of Australia’s smallest state. The pieces here represent some of my efforts to advocate for policies which, in my opinion, would result in a stronger Tasmanian economy and improved living standards for Tasmanians.

The 2022-23 Tasmanian State Budget
Tasmania | 26th May 2022An ‘instant analysis’ of the 2022-23 Tasmanian State Budget presented by new Treasurer Michael Ferguson on 26th May 2022
Tasmania Talks 16 May 2022
Australian Society and Politics, Economic Policies, Housing, News, Recent Media Interview, Tasmania | 16th May 2022Saul talks to Tasmania Talks’ Mike O’Loughlin about Tasmania’s economy and the Morrison Government’s “Super for Housing”
How greed and politics threaten Tasmanian living standards
Australian Society and Politics, Economic Policies, News, Tasmania | 12th April 2022Article published by the Tasmanian magazine Forty South about the corruption of the long-standing principles under which revenues from the GST (and before the introduction of the GST in 2000, ‘general purpose grants’ from the Federal Government) are shared among Australia’s states and territories How greed and politics threaten Tasmanian living standards
Peter Gutwein’s legacy as Premier and Treasurer of Tasmania
News, Recent Media Interview, Tasmania | 5th April 2022Saul talks to Tasmania Talks’ Mike O’Loughlin about Peter Gutwein’s legacy as Premier and Treasurer of Tasmania, and the challenges facing his successor, whoever he or she may be
The 2022-2023 Federal Budget with Tasmania Talks’ Mike O’Loughlin
Australian Federal Budget, Australian Society and Politics, News, Recent Media Interview, Tasmania, The Australian Economy | 30th March 2022Saul talks to Tasmania Talks’ Mike O’Loughlin about the 2022-23 Federal Budget, and its likely impact on Tasmania, wages, and housing affordability
Will reductions in land tax make any difference to rents?
Tasmania, Taxation | 2nd March 2022The Tasmanian Government’s announcement, in the first week of March 2022, of forthcoming changes to the land tax scale have prompted a raft of commentary, much of it not very well informed, on the effects of land tax and the likely impact of the changes proposed by the Government on rents. This note explains why […]
The importance of improving educational participation and attainment
Education, News, Recent Media Interview, Tasmania | 24th February 2022Saul Eslake talks to Tasmania Talks’ Mike O’Loughlin about the importance of improving educational participation and attainment if Tasmanians are to achieve sustainably higher real wages.
Saul talks to Tasmania Talks’ Mike O’Loughlin
Housing, News, Recent Media Interview, Tasmania | 7th February 2022Saul talks to Tasmania Talks’ Mike O’Loughlin about Tasmania’s economy both before and after the re-opening of the state’s borders on 15th December last, and about the downsides of the ongoing rapid escalation in property prices in Tasmania.