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.