Main problem is tying workers to sponsoring employer. So no room to move. But better regulated than alternatives, eg backpackers.

Sukatani is the best band I will see this year and if you missed it, suck eggs flatkopi.substack.com/p/from-purba...

‘a carve-out for startups in the capital gains tax legislation was a possibility.’ Define ‘start up’.

If you find yourself with an hour to kill and have ever worked in any kind of entertainment industry, I *highly* recommend watching Colbert's "Worst Of" show. It is a full hour of crew in-jokes. It's so weird and funny and they're having so much fun doing it. www.youtube.com/watch?v=wkAR...

Good grief

‘It was lucrative fun while it lasted. That’s consensus among more pragmatic equity partners at big four accounting & top-tier law firms, who will pay tens of ‘000s of dollars more in tax once Labor’s 30% tax on discretionary trusts becomes law.’ Welcome honesty here. www.afr.com/companies/pr...

‘Frank Greeff sold his real estate business to Domain for $180 million and made the first piece of content in what became a genre of social media videos poking fun at the CGT changes.’ I’ll just leave this out there….

Ditto on Stamp Duty. State govts will either be deprived of that revenue source by the reforms, or not.

‘The lower stamp duty from less housing turnover’ The Fin shd get its message straight. Either the CGT changes lower turnover and reduce growth home prices significantly allowing more first homebuyers to buy, or not. www.afr.com/policy/econo...

There’s a simple solution. Stop handing over thousands of dollars a year to advisors to set up complicated tax avoidance structures. These guys are talking their book, as expected. ‘Ludicrous’: Modelling shows bucket companies face even bigger tax hit’

The argument boils down to rewarding risk. But should *any* risky investment be rewarded with lower tax rates? A 50% cgt discount for the crypto casino? Best to target new ventures that innovate for tax breaks, as we do. Not an untargeted tax break on capital gains.

‘Under the CGT changes, employees of new ventures are treated as if they’ve enjoyed passive gain on a mature financial asset. In reality, they took on career, income and reputational risks.’ What’s the point here? If they were properly paid they’d face higher tax rates. www.afr.com/politics/fed...

‘Halcyon Wealth Advisers said the policy would impact vulnerable beneficiaries who could later go into divorce proceedings, with fixed trusts offering less protection during family breakdowns.’ That is, wealthy men short changing their wives www.theaustralian.com.au/nation/polit...

How Israeli terror begets Palestinian terror www.economist.com/by-invitatio... From The Economist

Same old... www.theguardian.com/politics/202...

The affordable moniker can be a bit if a joke.

'overseas born people are needed do difficult low paid work – such as in aged care and hospitality – that many Australians don’t want to do themselves.' Lets not go there! If those jobs were improved ppl would take them. We dont need underclass of temp migrants. www.theguardian.com/australia-ne...

Some live in a different world! 🍾🍸🍾 ‘Founder’s proceeds are $3m. At a minimum CGT of 30%, that leaves $1.59m. If they left a $200,000 job, they have forgone $1.12 million over five years.’ 🎻🎻🎻 www.smh.com.au/politics/fed...

We aren't seeing any distress among graduate jobseekers. If the graduate market was generally weak, we'd see a surge in jobseeker searches as graduates search and fail to find work. There's no sign of that right now.

Owner of Australia’s most successful big #battery developer says storage costs have plunge 65-70 pct in last two years, and are solving the #grid’s biggest problems.. https://reneweconomy.com.au/they-solve-the-problem-leading-storage-developer-says-battery-costs-have-plunged-70-pct-in-two-years/

The U.S. is effectively checkmated in Iran—and this defeat will carry lasting consequences unlike any America has endured before, Robert Kagan argues.

That would be better all except the banks! But impossible now to get from here to there without much harm.

Chalmers: ‘I do acknowledge that during the election campaign the focus was almost exclusively on supply, plus the five per cent deposits. But we also need to understand, and I'm increasingly of the view, that we need to go beyond supply.’ Yes, exactly.

Urgh...

Dutch elections 'The hike in support for far-Right PVV between 2021 election and 2023 was due to centre-right VVD party leader stating she would no longer exclude the PVV from coalitions; thus PVV votes would no longer be effectively spoiled' Lessons here for Australia? www.cer.eu/insights/wha...

'We need bolder policies to fix the foundations of our country. We’ve got a huge majority for three years. There are things that we can do that are radical and different & change the lives of people for the better.' No Virginia, not Australia A Labour MP in the UK www.theguardian.com/politics/liv...

Well, that may work for *some* young people. Wealth inequality among young people is growing faster than any other cohort. Most are completely excluded from housing market.

‘Founders of start-ups typically offer staff shares in start-ups in return for lower wages as a way to conserve cash. ‘ Sounds like a Ponzi scheme to me. Why not absorb more of the risk and pay people properly? www.afr.com/politics/fed...

One LNP white elephant is quietly put to sleep, with the cancellation of Inland Rail. Now let's do the same for #AUKUS #auspol

This should have been the outcome years ago. Australian citizens accused of crimes should be allowed to return to Australia (indeed, extradited regardless) and put on trial here. Government has instead punished guilty and innocent alike, including children. #auspol

Good grief. The share of people on working age payments is historically low.

Just your ordinary Mum and Dad investors: ‘NAB on Monday reported people earning less than $200,000 a year accounted for about 10% of applications for investor loans in the six months to March.’ www.theguardian.com/australia-ne...

‘the budget will not undermine existing contracts on gas exports.” If there’s a gas export tax in the Budget that wont happen. Those long term contracts are tied to the oil price. The only thing ‘undermined’ would be gas company profits (including the ones owned by Malaysia and Japan)

Is there any limit to this man's showboating and the media's amplification of it? www.smh.com.au/world/europe...

Earlier today I went to visit (but first find, which took an age) the gravesite of Achdiat Karta Mihardja in Woden. A legend of Indonesian literature, diaspora in Australia and Indonesian studies. He's a deeply fascinating and talented man felt a bit moved to be there.

Yes! Heaps of public subsidies for private action on climate change (home batteries & fbt vehicle subsidies). Too little investment in public infrastructure (EV chargers, electicity network). Those who cant afford to take private action pay for those who can. www.smh.com.au/technology/h...

Starting shortly! The economic fallout from war in the Middle East Part II: The outlook for the economy and public finances Watch the livestream of our event discussion here www.resolutionfoundation.org/events/the-e...

Oh yes! ‘tax-free earnings on superannuation for retirees with balances of up to $2 million amount to arguably the greatest intergenerational inequity’ www.afr.com/policy/tax-a...

Hmm… ‘A key misunderstanding is believing property investors add to housing demand. It is the reverse, as they finance new construction and supply rental properties back to the market, which reduces demand for owner-occupied housing.’ www.afr.com/politics/fed...

Great initiative @craigemerson.bsky.social How to debate immigration without a culture war www.thenewdaily.com.au/opinion/2026...

Oh dear www.theguardian.com/world/2026/a...

Why is this newsworthy? www.smh.com.au/lifestyle/fa...

To complete the story, you need to compare number of people unemployed before and after interest rate increases. One stick figure per hundred thousand people. That is the trade off.

‘Anthony Albanese to seek assurances from Malaysia on Thursday about fuel supplies, in return for Australia’s continuing to be a reliable provider of LNG’ Are those negotiations about supply of gas for oil *during the gulf war*, or longer term vested interests? www.afr.com/politics/fed...

Yeah Vince's was excellent

I suspect the EU FTA may also massively reduce the number of European working holiday visa holders who do farm work if it eliminates work requirements like what happened for the UK

Note the timing...

I've never understood how they could turn a massacre site into a tourist destination. It's where they killed all our leaders. All our men and thier sons.

As I was saying, US diplomacy is dead, at least under this guy.

War in Middle East takes a bite out of Filipino street food vendors - https://www.channelnewsasia.com/asia/philippines-street-food-vendors-rising-fuel-costs-struggle-liquefied-petroleum-gas-6051551