A carbon tax by stealth

MRC analysis finds that removing fuel tax credits would amount to a carbon tax by stealth of around $198 a tonne on diesel.

Susan NguyenOctober 28, 2026a carbon tax by stealth

Childcare policy needs more choice, not just more money

MRC senior fellow Alan Tudge argues for a bold shake up of Australia’s childcare policy.

Susan NguyenOctober 26, 2026Childcare and family policy

Australia: The regulation superpower

There are risks to over-regulating AI. By David Hughes.

Susan NguyenOctober 15, 2026Australia: The regulation superpower

Compare the pair

We put Howard and Costello's record against that of Albanese and Chalmers. By David Hughes.

Susan NguyenOctober 14, 2026Compare the pair

Alternative facts

The intergenerational report comes with a confidence detached from reality. By David Hughes.

Susan NguyenOctober 2, 2026Alternative facts

Australia is losing the race for investment

Australia is no longer a favoured nation for investment. By David Hughes.

Susan NguyenSeptember 3, 2026Australia is losing the race for investment

Volunteering: What the state can't replace

Volunteering rates are the lowest on record. Do we care less about our communities and fellow citizens? Or have we simply handed the work of caring to the state? By David Hughes.

Susan NguyenAugust 24, 2026What the state can't replace

Is authenticity enough?

It’s the rarest commodity in politics, and only half of what governing requires. By David Hughes.

Susan NguyenAugust 20, 2026Is authenticity enough

Reality check

Chris Bowen made some bold claims in his recent National Press Club speech. Do they stack up? By David Hughes.

Susan NguyenAugust 13, 2026Reality Check

Tick the box or lose the tender

The small business share of government contracts has hit record lows. By Jarryd Williamson.

Susan NguyenAugust 6, 2026Tick the box or lose the tender

Gone to the Gobi

Is the future of Australian mining overseas? By David Hughes.

Susan NguyenJuly 20, 2026Gone to the Gobi

Small business: The forgotten portfolio

Every interaction that small businesses have with government agencies is built on the same assumption: that the business is doing the wrong thing and must prove otherwise. By David Hughes.

Susan NguyenJune 24, 2026Small business: The forgotten portfolio

Other people's money

Australia’s super funds are steering the companies they own towards an ideological agenda — and away from the returns their members are owed. By David Hughes.

Susan NguyenJune 19, 2026Other peoples money

What's driving populism?

Voters are doing everything right. But they still can’t get ahead. By David Hughes.

Susan NguyenJune 1, 2026What's driving populism

Intergenerational fraud, by any other name

The budget aims to address intergenerational inequality. but increasing taxes on wealth in effect limits the ability of young Australians to utilise the same tax incentives which have benefited previous generations. By David Hughes.

Susan NguyenMay 22, 2026Intergenerational fraud

Australian exceptionalism

Australia’s extraordinary expansion in household wealth over the past four decades was not an accident. By Nick Cater.

Susan NguyenMay 14, 2026Australian exceptionalism

Housing, the great Australian nightmare

The dream of homeownership has turned into a nightmare. Yet the Government’s sole policy response has been to subsidise demand, build bureaucracy and avoid the reforms needed to increase supply. By Freya Leach.

Australia is ready for an immigration reset

The Coalition’s proposed immigration reforms places the national interest at the centre of public policymaking. By Freya Leach.

Payment for past sins

The Government should be focused on debt reduction. Instead, they are increasing spending at a faster rate than revenue can support. By David Hughes.

Susan NguyenMarch 20, 2026Payment for past sins

More subsidies, higher fees

The one-size-fits-all subsidy model for childcare can end up forcing families into a structure they did not freely choose. By David Hughes.

Susan NguyenMarch 11, 2026More subsidies higher fees