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 2025-26 State Budget puts the main task off to another day

Economic Policies, Tasmania | 29th May 2025

The 2025-26 Tasmanian State Budget, presented on 29th May 2025 by Treasurer Guy Barnett, does nothing to prevent or forestall a further deterioration in Tasmania’s financial position.  Despite picking up some of the recommendations in my Independent Review of Tasmania’s State Finances published in August last year, the job of putting Tasmania’s public finances on a […]


The funding of greyhound racing in Tasmania

Australian Society and Politics, Economic Policies, Publications, Tasmania | 22nd May 2025

Saul Eslake’s report on the financing (overwhelmingly by the Tasmanian State Government) of greyhound racing in Tasmania: Note: this report was funded by private individuals associated with 12 charities and community groups campaigning for greyhound welfare. However none of those individuals sought to influence the content of this report, the responsibility for which rests entirely […]


Podcast: Tasmania’s Debt Dilemma

Economic Policies, Economic Video, Tasmania | 13th March 2025

Podcast recording of Saul Eslake’s presentation to a public forum hosted by the University of Tasmania, as part of its “Island of Ideas” series, in Hobart on 12th March 2025 – at which he discusses the Tasmanian Government’s response to his Independent Review of Tasmania’s Public Finances, published in August last year (and available here).


Tasmania’s Debt Dilemma

Economic Policies, Tasmania | 12th March 2025

Slides accompanying Saul’s presentation to a public forum hosted by the University of Tasmania, as part of its “Island of Ideas” series, in Hobart on 12th March 2025 – at which he discusses the Tasmanian Government’s response to his Independent Review of Tasmania’s Public Finances, published in August last year (and available here).  A podcast […]


Review of the case for privatization of Tasmanian Government business enterprises

Economic Policies, News, Recent Media Interview, Tasmania | 6th March 2025

In his annual ‘State of the State’ address to the Tasmanian Parliament on 4th March, Tasmania’s Premier the Hon. Jeremy Rockliff MP announced that he had asked me to provide the Government with advice as to whether it should consider selling any of its state-owned enterprises (other than Hydro Tasmania, the state-owned electricity generation company, […]


China Live-fire in the Tasman Sea

Australian Society and Politics, Economic Video, Tasmania | 2nd March 2025

Saul Eslake talks with the newest member of the InEconomics team, Rear Admiral Rowan Moffatt AO, RAN (retd) about what the flotilla from the Chinese PLA-Navy was doing in the Tasman Sea and other waters off the Australian coast last week, what China might be seeking to achieve by that, and what the implications for Australia might be.


Tasmania’s Public Finances
& the Independent Review of Tasmania’s State Finances (Aug, 2024)

News, Recent Media Interview, Tasmania | 14th February 2025

Saul spoke to ABC Radio Hobart and Tasmania Statewide’s “Mornings” presenter Leon Compton about the latest update on Tasmania’s public finances, and the Government’s formal response to the Independent Review of Tasmania’s State Finances published in August 2024.


Opening Statement to Senate Select Committee on the Tasmanian Freight Equalization Scheme

Economic Policies, Tasmania | 13th November 2024

I was asked to give evidence to the Senate Select Committee inquiry into the Tasmanian Freight Equalization Scheme which held a public hearing in Hobart on 13th November. Here’s my ‘opening statement’ to the hearing.   In answers to questions about what needs to be done, I suggested that the ‘parameters’ used to determine rates […]


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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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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