Tag Archives: The Conversation

Chalmers hasn’t delivered a wellbeing budget, but it’s a step in the right direction

Warwick Smith, The University of Melbourne It was billed as Australia’s first wellbeing budget. But, five months into a new government, with so many economic fires to fight, Treasurer Jim Chalmers’ first budget was never going to be that. Instead, … Continue reading

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Beyond GDP: Chalmers’ historic moment to build wellbeing

Warwick Smith, The University of Melbourne Australia’s new federal treasurer, Jim Chalmers, spoke regularly in opposition about a well-being budget and the need to measure more than just the traditional economic indicators. He was even mocked for it by his … Continue reading

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Stay in the doughnut, not the hole: how to get out of the crisis with both our economy and environment intact

pxfuel, CC BY Warwick Smith, University of Melbourne Before the recession we were on a collision course with environmental disaster. The recovery provides a rare opportunity to do things differently; to rebuild a better economy that can support living standards … Continue reading

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The coronavirus response calls into question the future of super

  Brendel/Unsplash, CC BY-NC Warwick Smith, University of Melbourne This article was first published in The Conversation. Understandably, given we are in a crisis, the government has baulked at including superannuation contributions in the A$140 billion worth of $1,500 per … Continue reading

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Memories. In 1961 Labor promised to boost the deficit to fight unemployment. The promise won

  First published in The Conversation Arthur Caldwell almost defeated Robert Menzies in the poll in 1961, and won the debate about policy. National Archives, National Library of Australia, Wikimedia Warwick Smith, University of Melbourne Lately, governments and oppositions have … Continue reading

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History suggests Australia could be left behind by the next industrial revolution

Warwick Smith, and Mitchell Eddy, University of Melbourne Originally published in The Conversation. This article was co-authored by Mitchell Eddy who has recently completed a Masters of International Relations at the University of Melbourne that included a placement at the … Continue reading

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What the government wants us to do – and not do – based on the budget – The Conversation

Warwick Smith, University of Melbourne Budgets are a good opportunity to see through the spin to what the government really wants. Forget the Treasurer’s speech and the budget overview, the truth is in the measures themselves. Generally things the government … Continue reading

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Four tax policies Australian house prices rest on – The Conversation

Warwick Smith, University of Melbourne First published at The Conversation The issues of tax and house prices are colliding in new ways ahead of the release of the government’s options paper on tax reform later this year. Treasurer Joe Hockey … Continue reading

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Path to budget surplus built on shifting foundations – The Conversation

Warwick Smith, University of Melbourne In the lead up to tonight’s federal budget treasurer Joe Hockey and prime minister Tony Abbott backed away from the strong rhetoric of deficit and debt emergencies that accompanied last year’s budget. However, they have … Continue reading

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