Weekly roundup Saturday 30 November
Alert for trouble in a frenzied Parliament
Weekly roundup of links to articles, reports, podcasts and other media on current political and economic issues in public policy.
Tax reform
A green paper from a teal MP. Everything that’s worth knowing about Australia’s taxes and transfers (warning – may cause anxiety among wealthy retirees).
Other economics
A fifth of Australians are in poverty while the other four-fifths are doing well: let’s stop pretending we’re all doing it tough in a “cost of living crisis”. The latest CPI data reveals that inflation is now minus two percent. The future of the future fund – investing in Australia’s prosperity is actually a good idea. House prices are moving all over the place.
Politics
George Megalogenis describes two old parties, both groping for a constituency, limping towards an election, wilfully ignoring one third of voters. Those same two old parties collude to preserve their duopoly. An opinion poll reveals that tradies love Labor. How the media has driven a frenzy of legislative panic.
Health
Where our health spending goes, in a few simple diagrams. Confronting figures on homelessness. Still learning from our Covid-19 experience. The epidemiology of gambling. Why right-wing populists present a health hazard.
Public ideas
An Australian state of the union assessment. On history and public policy.
Christmas creep
If you have comments, corrections, or links to other relevant sources, I’d like to hear from you. Please send them to Ian McAuley — ian, at the domain name ianmcauley.com
