Kevin Davis, Australian Centre for Financial Studies
Broadening the royal commission beyond banking may dilute the focus on the banks themselves.
While people in WA might be spending less, there remains segments of the population that are vulnerable to intense cost of living pressures.
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Households in NSW spend the most and WA households the least in Australia, but there are segments of WA who are feeling the bite more acutely in cost of living.
The banks have themselves called for an inquiry into banking and financial services.
AAP
The federal government could restore its commitment to creating full employment in Australia, using its spending power to make up for any shortfall in private jobs as it did during the post-war boom.
Rising housing costs are hurting low-income Australians the most. The gap in home ownership between rich and poor is widening, house prices are rising fastest at the bottom and rental stress is rising.
The Adani project is already a stranded asset.
AAP
Despite evidence to the contrary, we still view technological change today as being more rapid and dramatic in its consequences than ever before.
Without improved state government policies to alleviate stressed industries and communities, Queenslanders’ income and wealth will suffer.
Dave Hunt/AAP
The Queensland government pays a higher interest rate than Queensland mortgage holders. Plans for both urban and rural rejuvenation need to start with fixing government finances.
We don’t know for sure if any of these things could happen, but if they do we’re in for a wild ride in 2018.
Image sourced from shutterstock.com
Australia Post has begun conducting experiments with mail delivery robots. With Amazon launching today in Australia, all eyes will be on whether these prototype robots will actually deliver.
The paper recognises China will continue to dominate consumption of Australia’s minerals exports, tourism and education services.
AAP Image/Fairfax Media, Alex Ellinghausen
You will find no revisionism in this foreign policy white paper; the first foreign policy white paper since 2003 is firmly in the camp of the status quo.
This architectural rendering of the ‘Zen room’ in Accenture’s new Melbourne offices is an example of companies creating more modern and alluring workplaces to attract top talent.
Supplied by Accenture
Top-end companies are investing in design features to make their offices more appealing to staff. But many workers are looking for more than just funky design from their workplaces.
Each year the government runs a A$40 billion deficit, it increases the lifetime tax burden for households headed by a person aged 25 to 34 by A$10,000.
Lukas Coch/AAP
Unless the government is willing to increase taxes elsewhere to pay for tax cuts there will be longer-term costs for the budget and the economy. And younger Australians will wear these costs.
Malcolm Turnbull is operating on tactics rather than strategy.
Jeremy Piper/AAP
If in the event the tax relief became an election promise, rather than pre-election money in the pocket, would people be sceptical?
New Zealand’s reputation as a destination for international wedding tourism was boosted by the country’s decision to legalise same-sex marriage.
Air New Zealand/AAP
Research shows that ‘impact investing’ not only delivers good financial returns, but it supports a great many social and environmental programs in Australia.
New Zealand Jacinda Ardern wants the RBNZ to focus on employment.
AAP
New Zealand’s new government wants the central bank to focus on maximising employment. But experience from other countries shows this is unlikely to change policy.
Four years after the Rana Plaza tragedy and there are still reports of worker exploitation in the garment industry.
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While the fashion industry may want to address worker exploitation in their supply chains, it would open them up to tremendous legal liability. This needs to change.
Women working full-time earn on average $26,527 less than men each year.
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Amazon this week purchased the global rights to J.R.R. Tolkein’s The Lord of the Rings to turn it into a television series. What are the implications for Australia’s content and its global reach?
In the US “liar loans” have been identified as one of the key reasons behind the 2008 financial crisis. But how big a problem are poor loan checking practices in Australia?
Treasurer Scott Morrison is eager to point out jobs growth, but wages growth remains stubbornly slow.
Daniel Munoz/AAP