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Be careful what you wish for.
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has said he’s up for “big reform” and welcomes ideas to boost productivity before next week’s three-day national economic roundtable. But even now – days from the summit’s start – those ideas from business, unions, researchers and others are still coming in thick and fast.
As Michelle Grattan writes in her column today, those close to the roundtable are feeling overwhelmed by the volume of submissions and reports. As one observer notes, Treasurer Jim Chalmers “has opened a can of worms – and everybody has got a worm”.
So will we hear any fresh ideas that would make a difference to Australians’ lives?
According to University of Melbourne researchers, there is something the federal government could do, without needing to win consensus from others. It would particularly help families with two working parents – especially mothers trying to go back to paid work.
How? By updating the federal government’s own $20 billion Family Tax Benefit payments system.
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Liz Minchin
Executive Editor + Business Editor
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Ana Gamarra Rondinel, The University of Melbourne; Guyonne Kalb, The University of Melbourne; Miranda Stewart, The University of Melbourne
More than 1.2 million families rely on these payments, worth $20 billion – yet some unfairly miss out.
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Michelle Grattan, University of Canberra
One observer describes next week’s economic roundtable this way: the treasurer “has opened a can of worms – and everybody has got a worm”.
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Niamatullah Ibrahimi, The University of Melbourne; Arif Saba, Deakin University; Safiullah Taye, Australian Catholic University
Russia and China have started to bring the Taliban in from the cold. The international community may soon have little leverage to pressure the group to change.
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Peter Greste, Macquarie University
If Israel believes the journalism from Palestinian reporters is Hamas propaganda, the solution is straightforward: let foreign correspondents in.
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Michelle Grattan, University of Canberra
However, the Coalition’s decision to say it would reverse Palestinian recognition if elected was both unnecessary and unwise.
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Steven Maras, The University of Western Australia
The beloved Australian film critic David Stratton has died at 85.
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Greg Treadwell, Auckland University of Technology; Merja Myllylahti, Auckland University of Technology
Research suggests falling trust in news is not directly related to falling trust in other public institutions. We need to address the news problem on its own terms.
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Jake Goldenfein, The University of Melbourne; Fan Yang, The University of Melbourne
Interviews with senior government bureaucrats show AI is no magic fix for productivity – and may bring new problems all of its own.
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Yanan Hu, University of Technology Sydney; Emily Callander, University of Technology Sydney
How much? This proposal could help take the stress and financial guesswork out of having a baby. But not everyone agrees.
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Jan Lanicek, UNSW Sydney
Anne Frank has come to symbolise many things. Can we ‘restore her as a human being’?
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Politics + Society
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Simon Avenell, Australian National University
Since its surrender to Allied forces in 1945, Japan has undergone monumental change. Here are the key shifts of the past 80 years.
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Michelle Grattan, University of Canberra
McManus doesn’t expect instant wins on shorter work hours from next week’s economic summit, but says it still needs to be on the table – along with AI protections.
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Health + Medicine
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Evangeline Mantzioris, University of South Australia
Social media influencers tout creatine supplements for athletic performance and to boost brain health. Here’s what the evidence says.
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Adam Guastella, University of Sydney; Kelsie Boulton, University of Sydney
A growth in ADHD prescriptions has caused concern about their safety and effectiveness. But new research points to longer-term benefits for users.
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Business + Economy
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Antje Fiedler, University of Auckland, Waipapa Taumata Rau; Stephen Kelly, Te Kunenga ki Pūrehuroa – Massey University; Tanya Jurado, Te Kunenga ki Pūrehuroa – Massey University; Tui McKeown, Monash University
Small businesses on both sides of the Tasman are struggling. Governments and other institutions could do more to protect these economic engines.
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Environment + Energy
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Crystal Legacy, The University of Melbourne; Anna Hurlimann, The University of Melbourne; Eric Keys, RMIT University
Expanding freeway networks undermines climate action. It points to a deep-seated flaw in Australia’s urban planning systems which must be solved.
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Simon Griffith, Macquarie University; Mark Patrick Taylor, Macquarie University; Max M Gillings, Macquarie University
New research on house sparrows in three Australian towns revealed subtle but disturbing effects of pollution. If city living is harming birds, what about people?
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Science + Technology
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Tama Leaver, Curtin University; Suzanne Srdarov, Curtin University
What do Australians and Australia look like according to generative AI? The results are alarming.
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Arts + Culture
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Anoma Darshani Pieris, The University of Melbourne; Athanasios Tsakonas, The University of Melbourne
At the Yokohama War Cemetery, the first steps towards Australia and Japan’s reconciliation were made through design.
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Productivity vs actual gains
“Since the 1970s, the promise of progress has quietly shifted. Back then, a single-income household could reasonably expect to pay off a home in a decade. Today, that dream feels increasingly out of reach for younger generations, who face soaring housing costs, stagnant wages, and longer working hours. We’re paying more, earning less in relative terms, and sacrificing time – our most finite resource. The irony is stark: as technology advances and automation promise to lighten our load, the benefits seem unevenly distributed. Artificial intelligence is poised to absorb many high-paying office roles, leaving behind a landscape dominated by trades and physical
services. These jobs are essential, but the shift raises uncomfortable questions about economic mobility, dignity of work, and the future of the middle class. If productivity gains don’t translate into better lives – more time, more security, more opportunity – then what are we really optimising for?”
Scott Draffin
We'd love to hear from you. You can email us with your thoughts on our stories and each day we'll publish an edited selection.
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Auckland University of Technology
Auckland, New Zealand
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