Can Luke Foley can deliver a miracle win for the ALP? If you live outside of NSW but have business interests in the state you probably know that the Labor Party got belted with the proverbial baseball bat in 2011. Since then the corruption watchdog has caught out several former Labor politicians, before the Premier [...]
The 2015 Intergenerational Report highlights complex challenges for the current government and governments for the next 40 years. Here’s a snapshot. Australia’s population will grow over the next 40 years (from 23.9 million to 39.7 million) but the annual rate of growth will be slightly less than the past 40 years. Despite the larger population, and [...]
Melbourne is the latest in a growing list of major international cities to grapple with issues surrounding 'short stay' rentals and its market-changing behemoth, Airbnb. Tensions over raucous and sometimes violent parties in Southbank and Docklands apartment buildings yesterday prompted Minister for Consumer Affairs Jane Garrett to announce a seven-person expert panel to investigate the [...]
Last week, the Senate voted to refer for inquiry the contribution and future role of regional capitals in Australia to the Rural and Regional Affairs and Transport Committee. The motion to commence the inquiry was moved by Senator Peter Whish-Wilson. Senator Whish-Wilson said of the Inquiry, “In this parliament we spend a lot of time developing policy for big cities [...]
Selling the benefits of greater housing density is no easy task whether you are a planner, developer or a state government. Yet never has the need been greater in the face of Australia’s rising population, the infrastructure backlog and the impact of climate change. Planning for burgeoning population is at the front of our federal politicians' [...]
Victoria's productivity commission is ready to serve. The Victorian Competition and Efficiency Commission describes itself as ‘the Victorian Government's foremost advisory body on business regulation reform and opportunities for improving Victoria's competitive position.’ The Commission fulfils its role by: 1. Undertaking inquiries into matters referred to it by the Victorian Government 2. Reviewing and advising on the economic impact [...]
Japan Postal Holdings’ $6.5-billion bid for Toll Holdings has won the backing of the board, but must pass further regulatory tests before the takeover is approved. Under Australia’s foreign investment controls, bids of this nature are referred to the Foreign Investment Review Board (FIRB) for consideration and recommendation by the Australian Treasurer. The threshold for [...]
This afternoon, Prime Minister Tony Abbott made a crossroads speech at the National Press Club and promised to consult widely on decisions in future. The speech began on a familiar note, reminding the audience of Labor spending and waste, spending nearly 15 minutes cataloguing the Coalition government's achievements, the majority of which was devoted to [...]
The government is due to release the fourth Intergenerational Report in the coming week, showing Australia's prospects over the next 40 years and the impact of government spending spanning generations. Treasurer Joe Hockey considered releasing the report in late 2014, but now it's thought that the IGR will be timed to coincide with a refocusing [...]
This afternoon, the Victorian Opposition Leader Matthew Guy announced his frontbench team to take on the Andrews government, and it's a swift response to the November 29 election result. For the first time since 1996 Denis Napthine and Louise Asher will be sitting at the back of the chamber, and they'll be joined by a [...]
