Research
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The “quiet Australians” are standing up to big coal and a state government that is failing to take action on the climate emergencyby Mark Ogge[Originally published on The Fifth Estate, 12 November 2019]It is a terrible irony that the coal being mined in New South Wales is helping fuel the state’s unprecedented increase in extreme heat, fires and drought. Every year, coal produced in NSW results in about 500 million tonnes of greenhouse gases being pumped into the global atmosphere. This is roughly equivalent to Australia’s domestic annual emissions, and more than those... -
Morrison doesn't like it when the quiet Australians start to speak upby Ebony Bennett[Originally published in the Canberra Times, 02 November 2019]In his government's latest free-speech crackdown, Prime Minister Scott Morrison has vowed to outlaw civil society groups campaigning against Australian businesses that work with companies with dubious environmental, human rights or ethical records.Morrison's plan would criminalise, for example, the thousands of young people who joined the Australian Youth Climate Coalit...
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If economics is a science, why isn't it being more helpful?by Richard Denniss[Originally published on Guardian Australia, 30 October 2019]The Government’s top two economic advisers are in stark disagreement about something straight forward: whether the Australian economy would benefit from a bigger budget deficit or not. The Governor of the Reserve Bank says he is running out of room to cut interest rates any more, and that some government spending would help stimulate the economy. The Secretary of Treas...
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Free trade deals undermine sovereigntyby Richard Denniss[Originally published in the Australian Financial Review, 30 October 2019] After decades of pursuing free trade at the expense of local jobs, the conservatives in the Coalition — aping Donald Trump and Boris Johnson — have decided to pivot to populism. Gone is the rhetoric of Alexander Downer and Julie Bishop about how Australia benefits from a global system of rules. Scott Morrison recently declared sovereign nations...
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Morrison’s claim of an Australian gold in per capita renewables is not trueby Tom Swann[Originally published on Renew Economy, 27 October 2019]Despite promises to cut emissions, Australia’s emissions are still rising. But at the United Nations General Assembly in New York last month, prime minister Scott Morrison rejected criticism by claiming that “Australia now has the highest per capita investment in clean energy technologies of anywhere in the world”.So long lump of coal. How good is Australia at renewable energy!Th...
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Morrison's government is spinning its wheelsby Ebony Bennett[Originally published in the Canberra Times, 21 October 2019]As the black sheep in a family of car enthusiasts, I know that if you brake and put your foot on the accelerator at the same time there’s a lot of noise and smoke, but you end up spinning your wheels. For some time now, the Coalition government has been spinning its wheels on drought, climate & energy policy and economic management. After six years in office, the Coa...
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Scott Morrison is a master at shifting responsibility. But even God can't help him nowby Richard Denniss[Originally published in the Australian Financial Review, 16 October 2019]When Barnaby Joyce starts making more sense about inequality than Scott Morrison, you know the Coalition is heading for choppy waters. In July, the former Nationals leader suggested that the unemployment benefit needed to rise significantly.“Certainly $555 or thereabouts a fortnight is difficult, especially in regional areas. Especially if your r...
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Canberra's plan to 'Copenhagenise' city is a good oneby Ebony Bennett[Originally published in the Canberra Times, 05 October 2019]Every spring I fall in love with Canberra all over again. After the biting cold of a perfect Canberra winter - which I enjoy until the last month or so - it's uplifting to see the naked trees become leafy and green again, and to watch the cherry blossoms bloom and the days become lighter and longer. When daylight saving begins, I start making promises to myself to ride m...
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ScoMo Gambled On Climate Change — And Lostby Richie Merzian[Originally published on 10 Daily, 01 October 2019]Last Wednesday Prime Minister Scott Morrison took to the world stage, using Australia’s annual address to the United Nations (UN) to talk about the environment. He was two days too late. And everyone at the UN, diplomats and commentators alike, knew it. Having been involved in both worlds I can safely say timing is everything. The UN Secretary General had gathered world leaders o...
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Attack of the clones: Australia's reign by older white men is an offence on us allby Richard Denniss[Originally published on The Guardian Australia, 02 October 2019]Teams full of similar people underperform. While sameness can create cohesion, cookie-cutter teams can’t successfully compete with diverse teams that can draw on a broad range of talents, perspectives and insights. At least that’s what empirical data from lefty organisations including McKinsey, Credit Suisse and the IMF have to say.But fact...