Justin Pyvis

Australia’s eSafety commissioner has been given the impossible task of censoring “harmful” online content - globally. Instead of a censorship tzar of debatable value, a better approach might be to focus resources on promoting critical thinking and demand-side interventions to reduce harmful content.

Australia’s March quarter inflation figures came in above expectations. Especially worrying was the sticky services and non-tradables inflation, making rate cuts very unlikely this year. To fix inflation we desperately need fiscal policy to start working with monetary policy, rather than against it.

Our states should close their foreign offices; the Zuck discusses his AI strategy; why we can’t build any more; economists debate AI and productivity; and will China invade Taiwan?

New Zealand’s economy is in trouble, with a double-dip recession and shrinking per capita growth. The decline stems from a lack of productivity reforms and an excessive focus on equity over efficiency. But Australia isn’t much better, and we could easily join them if policymakers get complacent.

In 2023, the IMF ranked Australia #2 in the G20 for budget management, mostly due to good luck and fortuitous timing. The government’s “responsible approach” claim is overstated and our fiscal position remains vulnerable to economic shocks.