Huge thanks to a follower who let me know about this scam using an AI video of me. It is *not* me. I am *not* behind it, or in any way involved with it. Please don't be scammed.

When this blows over I might have to share some of the emails I’ve received over the days which really make me wonder why I am the one accused of hatred. There is deep unresolved trauma being spewed by some of these people and we cannot consent to living according to their warped reality.

Hopefully the government follows through and dumps (probably unworkable) legislation to restrict or limit AI implementation. Don't get me wrong: it'll have downsides. But it's here to stay. Ignoring it would mean we miss the benefits and become internationally uncompetitive.

A roundtable with nothing on the tax table, this term? It's like discussing tax reform but excluding GST. (Yes, a delayed reform is better than no reform, but so much for an emboldened second-term agenda.)

We had to put our 11yo German Shepherd, Abby, down today. We're gutted, but thankful. Do me a favour: "Be the person your dog thinks you are"

Only Trump could think making American healthcare more expensive was a good thing.

More (expected) economic stupidity from the US administration. Some (relatively) good news for us, though: our tariff will be 10%. Worse than 0%, but better than the 15%-20% reported earlier this week. (For now... who knows what he'll decide next week.)

This is some really interesting work from the Productivity Commission. The scope was too narrow (they were told company tax changes must be revenue neutral), but it's a really provocative idea. It has some good and bad parts, IMO, but a great starter for discussion.

Somewhere, in NW Queensland... "Hey, fellas. It worked for Whyalla. Let's tell the State and Federal government we want some money, too!"

Mixed news on inflation. - Headline fell to 2.1%, which is excellent. - 'Trimmed mean' meaningfully higher at 2.7% - Quarterly headline at 0.7% is 2.8% if annualised, so we need to be careful with the annual number (see ABS chart - the 2.1% benefits from lower past quarters)

Not only is the Productivity Summit likely to just be a series of PR set-pieces (and a waste of time, because those things could be discussed/communicated without a talkfest), but every group is now pushing their own barrow. National interest? (Good for the papers, though!)

This is silly. King Canute couldn't hold back the ride. Neither can the unions (or governments) on AI. Yes, look after displaced workers. But don't pretend that protectionism is a valid response - it'll only make us internationally competitive and hard living standards.

Hopefully the Treasurer is still open to fixing this Super tax. A reminder: We *should* collect more tax from large Super accounts. But... - It shouldn't be retrospective - It should be indexed - It shouldn't be levied on *unrealised* gains

Language matters. This sentence is 100% accurate, but it picks the wrong subject, IMO, and lets Trump pretend there is no tariff impact on Americans. Just as accurate, and more clearly, it could read: "Americans will pay 15% - 20% more for imports..."

Got through it unscathed, thankfully. :) Just FYI, my regular spots: Nine Late News Sun - Thurs 2CC Canberra 6.45am and 5.30pm weekdays 2GB Sydney 2.30pm weekdays Sky News 7.10am Tues 4BC Brisbane 12.45pm Fri MMM Riverina MIA 7.10am Weds MMM Sunraysia 7.30am Fri

This is a 'deal' in the way that the school bully has a 'deal' with the kid who is forced to hand over his lunch money.

The first term of the Albanese Government was the second most secretive in the last 30 years - more secretive than the Morrison Government. This has to change in their second term - we need more transparency and respect for the Australian people. www.canberratimes.com.au/story/902424...

Time to get back on the finance horse. First official day back from leave is tomorrow, but my first hit out is with Jane Goldsmith for Nine's Late News later this evening. Let's see if I can remember how to do this...

Home! More than 12,000km over almost 5 weeks. Bowral, up through NSW and Queensland to Darwin. Then Kakadu, Arnhem Land and Litchfield. Then back to Darwin and home. Thanks for following along. #TopEndRoadTrip

Next time you're in Cowra, do yourself a favour and have brekky at the Kendall Street Cafe. Great food and service. #TopEndRoadTrip

Spent last night at the Hotel Corones, because of forecast rain. Great old pub in Charleville. #TopEndRoadTrip

A great camp at Dunblane Station at Barcaldine. #TopEndRoadTrip

There are general stores and there are general stores. This one in Cloncurry. #TopEndRoadTrip

A beautiful evening - followed by a cold night - just east of Camooweal. #TopEndRoadTrip

When the fuel light comes on and the servo is miles from anywhere else... #TopEndRoadTrip

Free camp just off the Stuart Highway for the first night of the journey home. #TopEndRoadTrip

When in Darwin... #TopEndRoadTrip

Cascades at Litchfield National Park. #TopEndRoadTrip

Fishing on the Daly River. No Barra, but a great day out. #TopEndRoadTrip

Wangi Falls at Litchfield National Park. Great place for a swim, too. #TopEndRoadTrip

Litchfield National Park. The Lost City and Florence Falls. Just stunning. #TopEndRoadTrip

Cape Arnhem. Campfire. State of Origin. #TopEndRoadTrip

Cape Arnhem. Just magic. #TopEndRoadTrip

I think I would have cut rates, but: 1. I'm glad the RBA did what it wanted, not what the 'market' expected; and 2. Not cutting will mean house price growth will be more moderate - that's a good thing! (The Treasurer should make APRA use the lending buffer countercyclically!)

Early morning at Garanhan (Macassan Beach) #TopEndRoadTrip

Halfway(ish) between Katherine and Nhulunbuy is a little oasis called Mainorou Station. (4 hours to get there - then another 7 to Nhulunbuy!) #TopEndRoadtrip

Update: back there again this morning, and he nabbed his first Barra. A *very* happy kid! #TopEndRoadTrip

The young bloke spent almost three hours trying to catch a barramundi at Cahill's Crossing today. No luck, but not for want of trying. He'll hopefully break his duck soon. #TopEndRoadTrip

And Ubirr for sunset. #TopEndRoadTrip

Made it to the famed Cahill's Crossing in Kakadu National Park. They're not mucking around (but then, the crocs aren't, either...). #TopEndRoadTrip

No pub last night. Arrived at a beautiful Hipcamp just outside Darwin. #TopEndRoadTrip

Tonight? Throwing the swag down at the Daly Waters Pub in the middle of the NT. (Should have taken the photo earlier!) #TopEndRoadTrip

Two things can be true at once. 1. Greg Jericho is right, here. 2. That doesn't mean *non-indexed* taxation of *unrealised* gains is defensible. Conflating the two (not by Jericho, ftr) is laziness.

Camooweal for dinner (and digs) last night. Brekky at Barkly Homestead in the NT this morning. #topendroadtrip

Tonight's digs at Ilfracombe, Queensland. #topendroadtrip

A glorious Nindigully sunrise. #topendroadtrip

Nindigully Pub, Queensland. Not a bad place to pull up stumps for the day. #topendroadtrip

One of the worst things about politics? A spell in Opposition turns decent people, focused on policy, into 'gotcha' snarks and political animals, looking for blood, not for better policies. Then, like the dog, they don't know what to do with the car, once they catch it.

Gotta say, this is a promising and refreshing perspective from the government. Lots of examples across the board, and one from my own industry in the thread. Whether the govt wants it badly enough - and can tame the bureaucracy - remains to be seen, of course. 🤞 #auspol

Good morning from a cold, frosty, but beautiful Curlewis, NSW #topendroadtrip