Articles
2025
Opinion piece: Noticing the dog that didn’t bark
The Reserve Bank’s decision to cut rates marks a historic moment. Never before have we managed to reduce inflation without a sustained experience of joblessness.
Opinion piece: Strengthen charities, strengthen democracy
In 2015, a group of young Australians had a simple yet ambitious vision: to use hospitality to change lives.
Opinion piece: Competitive seas ahead
The Albanese government recognises that the economic performance of Australia’s maritime logistics is critical to sustaining the nation’s trade and prosperity.
Opinion piece: Think that life is unfair and getting worse? This will surprise you
Over the past decade, the discussion of inequality in Australian politics has reached unprecedented levels.
2024
Opinion piece: When a coin toss saves lives
James Lind set about determining the most effective treatment for scurvy, a disease that was killing thousands of sailors around the world.
Opinion piece: Looking for a gift for a free market-lover? Try Anti-Monopoly
On my coffee table sits a board game. Designed by Ralph Anspach, it is called Anti‑Monopoly.
Opinion piece: Farming Power games squeeze the little guys
Many Australian markets are dominated by a few big firms. Worse, over recent decades, market concentration has increased.
Opinion piece: Non-compete clauses are costing workers $7 billion a year
One in 5 Australian workers are subject to a non‑compete clause in their employment agr
Opinion piece: Data-driven decisions: the case for randomised policy trials
In medicine, randomised trials are commonly used for evaluating effectiveness.
Opinion piece: Albanese good for growth in the west
The most recent growth statistics showed that the Australian economy faces some strong headwinds.
Opinion piece: Competition reform will ensure flourishing future
Imagine a future where Australian shoppers buy their products at fair prices, businesses thrive on healthy competition, and our economy stands resilient against global challenges.
Opinion piece: Why new rules in competition are sure to be game-changing
When I took on the competition portfolio for Labor, a friend issued me a challenge: how many Australian industries can you name that are not dominated by a few big firms?
Opinion piece: Non‑competes are a drain on the economy and innovation
In 2022, news broke that Australia’s biggest accounting firm had used secret government plans to help clients avoid a new multinational tax law.
Opinion piece: Why don't Australians get together like they used to?
In the 13 years to 2019, the share of people involved in social groups
Opinion piece: Randomised trials are our path to effective spending
In medicine, bad evaluation comes with a body count. Until it was shown up in a randomised trial, hydroxychloroquine as a treatment for COVID cost more than 10,000 lives.
Opinion piece: Canberra CEO Sleepout
Damien Tarrant was just 11 years old when he left home. Over the years, he has slept on the street and in an old car.
Opinion piece: Unchain my job
Bianca, a young hairdressing apprentice, didn’t feel she was receiving enough training. So she looked at switching jobs.
Opinion piece: How monopolies hurt the economy
When my 3 boys were younger, there was one sure way to start a family fight: play Monopoly.
Opinion piece: The competitive wedge
Twenty‑one‑year old ‘Tony’, a boilermaker, switched to work in‑house for a former client.
Opinion piece: The empirical evidence route to policy design
One morning, an American woman by the name of Anita Kramer woke up and could not move her left arm.