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Productivity summit

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Brace yourself for the full-throated politics of grievance

Inflation hits poorer people harder, which creates the very worst social equation: the wealthy can continue to spend, further stoking inflation. It creates a recipe for populism.

  • Waleed Aly

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Almost all companies including miners would gain a tax cut under a revamped plan from the Productivity Commission.

Cut company tax, cut red tape to get the country racing: PC

The government has been told by its key economic adviser that to lift living standards it needs to cut company tax and red tape.

  • Shane Wright
Treasurer Dr Jim Chalmers and Prime Minister Anthony Albanese during Question Time at Parliament House in Canberra on Wednesday 27 August 2025. fedpol Photo: Alex Ellinghausen

‘Smaller slices of a smaller pie’: Business chief warns PM against world-first tax idea

Raising the prospect of a stand-off reminiscent of the Rudd-era mining tax, Business Council of Australia chief Bran Black will set red lines for the business community on tax reform.

  • Paul Sakkal and Elias Visontay
The agency that overseas Medicare payments says more technology will help it tackle fraud.

From Medicare to unfair dismissals: Where the government is waging its red-tape war

The government asked bureaucrats for ways to cut red tape. They say new tech and AI can help make savings and stop criminals.

  • Shane Wright
Employees covered under EBAs are lucky enough to get a guaranteed annual wage increase. Just don’t call it a ‘pay rise’.

Another great Australian dream goes by the wayside

We’re still a long, long way from enjoying the 15-hour working week predicted in the 1930s.

  • Victoria Devine
Danielle Wood, CBA CEO Matt Comyn and ACCC Chair Gina Cass-Gottlieb  at the economic roundtable on Thursday, August 21, 2025.

Up to $60k a day each: The cost of inviting execs to sit at Chalmers’ roundtable

Many of the people at the treasurer’s economic roundtable are earning six or seven figures, but there’s one whose single-day appearance is worth more than $60,000.

  • Millie Muroi
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ACTU president Sally McManus and Atlassian founder Scott Farquhar.

Lunchbreak deal to find ways to pay artists for work hoovered up by AI

Australia’s top unionist and a tech billionaire are making moves to confront the challenge of artificial intelligence.

  • Paul Sakkal
Jim Chalmers with Finance Minister Katy Gallagher, Treasury secretary Jenny Wilkinson and Productivity Commission member Angela Jackson, talks to the roundtable.

We can’t wait another 25 years for results, Mr Treasurer

At least there was no one with a guitar leading the room in Kumbaya. The success of the economic roundtable will be grounded in results.

  • Shane Wright

The act of bastardry that’s hurting young generations

Australians have a tax and welfare system that’s one of the envies of the world. But it’s also transferring masses of wealth to our older generations.

  • Shane Wright
Minister for Communications and Minister for Sport Anika Wells, Minister for Housing, Minister for Homelessness and Minister for Cities Clare O’Neil and Minister for Education Jason Clare as Prime Minister Anthony Albanese speaks at the start of a Cabinet meeting, at Parliament House in Canberra on Monday 26 May 2025. fedpol Photo: Alex Ellinghausen

Housing minister, roundtable keen to take red pen to 3000-page building code

 Business bosses, unions and ministers have agreed Australia must strip away red and green tape to speed up home construction, as momentum builds to overhaul Australia’s complex building code. 

  • Paul Sakkal, Shane Wright, Millie Muroi and Brittany Busch