Having made a commitment to reduce spending, the federal government will have its work cut out with this year’s budget, which may require revisiting policy ideas that have caused it pain in the past.
There are some structural issues that need tackling in order reform our budget, but they are surmountable.
AAP/Lukas Coch
Teaching is at the core of what Australian universities do, yet it receives nowhere near the attention it should, and is in danger of receiving even less.
New write-off rules may be too good to be true for some small businesses.
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Business confidence might be up after the budget, but there are more reliable measures of what’s really driving the economy.
By targeting pensioners with savings with its latest budget measures, the government is incentivising them to spend, and spend big.
Travel Cruise Fit/AAP
Michelle Grattan talks to Minister for Small Business Bruce Billson about the budget, the small business tax cuts, cabinet leaks, gay marriage and much more.
Both Prime Minister Tony Abbott and Treasurer Joe Hockey have defended the budget savings as ‘fair’.
Mick Tsikas/AAP
What is the premise of recently-announced cuts to Australia Council funding, and the establishment of a National Programme for Excellence in the Arts? There is actually a considerable evidence base from which to form policy decisions in Australian arts funding.
Shadow Treasurer, Chris Bowen.
AAP Image/Lukas Coch
The Shadow Treasurer, Chris Bowen, has said that tax as a percentage of the economy is higher now than it was under the previous government. Is that right?
The government will need to communicate clearly any changes to its optimistic economic forecasts.
AP/Lukas Coch
I’d like to update you on our crowd-funding activities following the decision by the Australian Government to end funding for The Conversation. At $1m, that represents a 25% loss to our budget.
Treasurer Joe Hockey has promised an effective tool to combat complex tax avoidance.
AAP/Tracey Nearmy
Roman Lanis, University of Technology Sydney e Ross McClure, University of Technology Sydney
What constitutes a “taxable presence” in Australia lies at the centre of the government’s proposed tax avoidance clampdown on multinational companies.
Beyond being told or incentivised to hire older workers, employers need to feel they are making the right decision.
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The government wants to see more older workers in the workforce, but first we need to overcome the ageist attitudes held my many employers.
Two sides of the same coin? Convergence theory explains why the Labor and Liberal parties are often closer together on issues than they like to portray.
Mick Tsikas/AAP
Convergence theory – which holds that the main Australian political parties will, over time, converge upon near-identical policy positions on most issues – was on full display during budget week.
With new sources of venture capital funding Australia can boost innovation and its economy.
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Australia can attract much needed venture capital funding through its Significant Investor Visa system, but only if a proposed new system is designed well.
Looking over Palmerston and the East Arm of Darwin Harbour to the new $35B Inpex LNG plant. Many resources projects in the north are in beautiful, environmentally important places.
Andrew Campbell
This year’s federal budget outlined plans for infrastructure in northern Australia, but it will need to do more than build roads and rail to sustainably develop the north.