John Durie: Businesses are crying out for good governance as ‘shadow lockdown’ takes a toll
The reality is business is struggling, and in its meeting tomorrow the RBA is widely tipped to be taking the first step to raising rates by winding back quantitative easing measures.
Australia’s unemployment rate could fall below 4%. What happens then?
Australia’s unemployment rate is now 4.2% and, even with the effects of Omicron, there are good reasons to think it will fall further in 2022.
Rising construction and fuel prices drive Consumer Price Index jump
Larger than expected increases in construction and fuel prices are responsible for a surge in the Consumer Price Index (CPI).
John Durie: Why little pharma could be calmer — on the whole, COVID-19’s been good to chemists
Behind the cacophony of noise from the pharmacy sector in recent days, the reality is the pandemic has been very good for chemists.
Saul Eslake responds to Peter Strong: “Assertions, but no evidence”
"Contrary to Strong’s unfounded assertion that I’m a stereotypical, ivory-tower-bound, ‘laissez-faire’ economist, I have actually run a small business myself for the past six-and-a-half years," writes Saul Eslake.
Small business ombudsman launches inquiry into SMEs’ preparedness for natural disasters
The inquiry comes as a damning Deloitte Access Economics report found just 3% of Australia's disaster funds are put towards preventing disaster.
Australians are travelling overseas again, but the numbers aren’t enough to help the airlines
New data released by the Bureau of Statistics shows that the number of Australians who left our shores in December 2021 was similar to levels last seen in the early 1990s.
Peter Strong: Why Saul Eslake’s paper is “offensive to everyone who works in small business”
Noted economist Saul Eslake's recent paper tries to "hide a disdain of small business behind an unemotional façade of statistics and unproven assumptions", writes Peter Strong.
How bad government decisions are forcing BlueScope customers to pay more for steel
BlueScope being forced to pay duties after its own complaint shines a spotlight on the damage caused to Australian steel users by the illogical dumping protection afforded to the company.
Critics say UK trade deal could increase government reliance on overseas consultants
The Australia-UK free trade agreement is set to give consultancies in both countries access to more government work, unlocking contracts at sub-national levels such as work for state and territory governments.
Why the economic trauma caused by Omicron could have been predicted
While policymakers didn’t necessarily foresee the sudden emergence of a more transmissible, less virulent strain of COVID-19, some experts say we could have been better prepared to face the economic havoc created by Omicron.
Omicron peak set to affect one-in-10 workers
Australian workplaces are set to have a 10% absenteeism rate as states and territories reach the peak of Omicron outbreaks.
