News

Fri Aug 28

Scott Morrison pressures national cabinet to agree to 'hotspot' definition

Written by Michelle Grattan, Professorial Fellow, University of Canberra

Scott Morrison has further ramped up his pressure on states to relax border restrictions by declaring “there will be a Commonwealth definition of a hotspot – come rain, hail or shine”.

The Prime Minister said he hoped such a definition was one agreed to by the national cabinet, which meets next Friday.

“But at the very least,...

Meet Michele Bullock, the RBA insider tasked with making the Reserve Bank more outward-looking as its next governor
Australia’s next Reserve Bank governor, Michele Bullock – the first woman in the job – will take office in September at a time when much of the bank’s work…
A better deal for Uber drivers in UK, but Australia's ‘gig workers' must wait
Uber’s announcement earlier this month it will now treat its drivers in the United Kingdom as “workers” rather than “independent contractors” is a significant development for the so-called gig economy.It…
Voluntary administration isn't a death sentence for Virgin Australia – or for competition
With its plea for a A$1.4 billion government loan rebuffed, Australia’s second major airline has entered voluntary administration. Virgin Australia’s chief executive, Paul Scurrah, said the decision to appoint external administrators…
Frydenberg is setting his budget ambition dangerously low
Treasurer Josh Frydenberg’s announcement that he’ll prioritise reducing unemployment[1] ahead of reducing government debt is welcome news. The government is required by the Charter of Budget Honesty[2] to develop and publish…