SAUL ESLAKE

Economist

SAUL ESLAKE

‘Welcome to my website …
I’m an independent economist, consultant, speaker,
and Vice-Chancellor’s Fellow at the University of Tasmania’

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.

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Tasmania’s post-Covid economy: what’s out there

Tasmania | 5th September 2020

Talk to a Multi-Cultural Economic Participation Forum in Hobart on Saturday 5th September 2020


The latest ABS Weekly Payroll Jobs data for Tasmania

Tasmania | 28th July 2020

An analysis of the weekly payroll jobs data for the two weeks ended July 11th, released by the ABS on 28th July


Discussion of the First Report of the (Tasmanian) Premier’s Economic and Social Recovery Advisory Council

News, Tasmania | 21st July 2020

Saul Eslake talks with Aaron Stevens from Tasmania Talks about the First Report of the (Tasmanian) Premier’s Economic and Social Recovery Advisory Council, 21st July 2020.


The ‘Post-Covid’ Global, Australian and Tasmanian Economies

Tasmania, The Australian Economy, The Global Economy | 12th June 2020

Presentation to a Webinar hosted by the Tasmanian Branch of the Australia-China Business Council, 12th June 2020


Covid-19, the Economic Downturn and Some of Its Consequences for Young People in Tasmania

Tasmania | 25th May 2020

Presentation to an online forum hosted by the Youth Network of Tasmania, 25th May 2020


The fourth annual TCCI ‘Tasmania Report’

Tasmania | 3rd December 2018

Presentation to events hosted by the Tasmanian Chamber of Commerce & Industry in Hobart, Launceston and Ulverstone on 3rd December 2018 The full report Presentation Slides


An introduction to the Tasmanian Economy and Property Market

Tasmania | 14th November 2018

Presentation to Choice Platinum Achievers (a mortgage broker group) conference in Hobart, 14th November 2018


Hobart’s colonial-era Orphan Schools

Tasmania | 28th October 2018

Remarks at the launch of ‘Voices from the Orphan Schools – the Children’s Stories’, by Dr Diane Snowden, St Johns Park, Hobart, 28th October 2018


SPEAKING ENGAGEMENT

Speaking Engagement | Boardroom Advisory | Commissioned Report | Expert Witness



Saul Eslake spoke to Zurich Australia executives and staff at their ‘Accelerate’ conference in Sydney on 9th May 2024, covering short- and longer-term trends in major ‘advanced’ economies, China, India and Australia, with a bit of geo-politics thrown in.



“You are the best economic thinker in the country hands down”

Sheryle Bagwell, recently retired Senior Business Correspondent (and sometime Executive Producer),
ABC Radio National Breakfast


“Just want to congratulate you Saul on the unbelievably good set of slides you just presented, possibly the best I have ever seen. You have set the bar very high.”

Dr Joe Flood, Adjunct Fellow, RMIT University, Pandemicia


“Thank you very much for your excellent presentation for the Economic Society today. It is always a great pleasure to hear your eloquent, up-to-date and comprehensive talks.”

Andrew Trembath, economist, Victorian and Australian Government agencies


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WHAT'S NEW

Most Recent Articles, Talks and Presentations


Tasmania’s “Interim” 2025-26 Budget – An Opportunity Missed to Start the Task of Budget Repair
Economic Policies, Tasmania
6th November 2025


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


Tasmania’s Economy and Public Finances – a pre-Budget Update
Tasmania
4th November 2025


Global Megatrends, the Australian Economy and Residential Property Markets
Economic Policies, Globalization, The Australian Economy, The Global Economy
31st October 2025


Revenue-raising and tax reform
Australian Society and Politics, Economic Policies, Taxation, The Australian Economy
29th October 2025


Tasmania’s Productivity Challenge
Tasmania
28th October 2025


Do the Best Days for Australia’s Resources Sector Still Lie Ahead? – Presentation to AusIMM Congress
Commodities, The Australian Economy
17th October 2025


The Australian Economy and Housing Markets in 2025-26: Presentation to a Mortgage Brokers conference
Housing, The Australian Economy
16th October 2025


Recent Surge in the Gold Price
Commodities, News, Recent Media Interview, The Global Economy
12th October 2025


Albanese Government’s extension of the 5% deposit scheme
Australian Society and Politics, Economic Policies, Housing, News, Recent Media Interview
8th October 2025


US Economy, Australia & New Zealand Interest Rates
News, Recent Media Interview, The Australian Economy
6th October 2025


WA GST deal adds $6bn to federal budget deficit
Australian Society and Politics, Economic Policies, News
3rd 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 2025


The Albanese Government’s expanded home deposit guarantee scheme
Australian Society and Politics, Economic Policies, Housing, Recent Media Interview
25th August 2025


The importance of agriculture to Tasmania’s economy
Commodities, Tasmania
21st August 2025


NEWS

TV, Radio & Print Media


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

Recent Surge in the Gold Price
Commodities, News, Recent Media Interview, The Global Economy | 12th October 2025

Albanese Government’s extension of the 5% deposit scheme
Australian Society and Politics, Economic Policies, Housing, News, Recent Media Interview | 8th October 2025

US Economy, Australia & New Zealand Interest Rates
News, Recent Media Interview, The Australian Economy | 6th October 2025

WA GST deal adds $6bn to federal budget deficit
Australian Society and Politics, Economic Policies, News | 3rd 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 2025

Is the United States about to step over a dangerous financial precipice?
Economic Policies, News, The Global Economy | 24th May 2025

Government’s proposal to increase the tax on superannuation
Australian Society and Politics, Economic Policies, News, Recent Media Interview, Taxation | 22nd May 2025

Victoria’s profligacy is a problem for all of us
Australian Society and Politics, Economic Policies, News, The Australian Economy | 20th May 2025

Labor should use its second victory as a platform for ambitious reform
Australian Society and Politics, Economic Policies, News | 5th May 2025

The two worrying trends revealed in Australia’s AAA warning
Australian Society and Politics, Economic Policies, News, The Australian Economy | 30th April 2025

Australia’s ‘housing crisis’ – and how (and why) both major political parties plan to make it worse
Australian Society and Politics, Economic Policies, Housing, News, Recent Media Interview | 19th April 2025

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VIDEO

Most Recent Multimedia


TESTIMONIALS

What Others Say


Australian Minister for Housing, the Hon. Clare O'Neill MP on ABC Q&A, September 2024

“We are lucky as a State to have an economist of your calibre willing to readily make yourself available to give us a clea r perception of where we are at and the direction we need to go for a better future”
Diplomatic Representative, August 2024

“You are one of the best at what you do in the world”
Gail Fosler, Chief Economist, The Conference Board, New York, December 2002

“I have never known an economist to have such a knowledge of world economic facts and to be able to bring to bear so much information in answering a question without notice”
Charles Goode, Chairman, ANZ Bank, July 2009

“Saul Eslake is … a highly regarded independent economist with the highest degree of integrity"
John Durie, Columnist, The Australian, July 2009

“… one of the few people in this world who can have so many oranges up in the air at the same time but still manage to catch them"
Andrew Clark, journalist, Australian Financial Review, November 2008

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LINKS

Useful Links


Below is a list of links I’ve found useful under the following broad topics

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