The focus on a fairer tax system for workers leaves out more than four million Australians on welfare, many living in poverty, writes Stephen Long. satpa.pe/fJiobpL

What’s the Budget *really* about? For the quick answer:

Last night's Budget begins to tackle decades of rising inequality, as asset prices have outpaced wages and tax settings have favoured asset owners over workers. The spending side is less compelling. Great to be working with the team at @futurework.bsky.social

We've released our 2026–27 Budget Briefing, where we unpack what the Federal Budget really means for jobs, wages, living standards, and public services – and where it falls short for working people. Read our full analysis: futurework.org.au/report/budge...

The Centre for Future Work is now a standalone research centre! After an excellent decade at @australiainstitute.org.au we're looking forward to continuing our work as an independent centre, conducting and publishing progressive economic and social research on work, employment, and labour markets.

Imperatives for greater productivity growth should not blind us to the risks AI poses. @drfionamac.bsky.social, Director of @futurework.org.au, joined the AI symposium organised by the ACTU today to discuss the need for strong regulation. Our submission: futurework.org.au/report/submi...

We need tax reform to stop intergenerational inequality. Sally McManus in today's Guardian www.theguardian.com/commentisfre...

If you bet on the winner of the Miles Franklin, your windfall is tax free but if you win the Miles Franklin you pay tax. There's an easy and cheap way for the gov to help our best artists and writers. Make prizes tax free. Thanks to @charlottewood.bsky.social & Melissa Lucashenko for their thoughts

There is little evidence of a "productivity crisis" in Australia, despite claims to the contrary from business leaders and politicians. Read new Centre for Future Work by Jim Stanford futurework.org.au/report/produ...

The NDIS does not increase “welfare dependency” (as asserted in today's AFR). It increases employment. Under the NDIS, labour force participation of people with disability (PWD) grew from 53% to 61%. For people without disability it barely changed. Unemployment for PWD declined from 10% to 7%.

Greg Jericho explains how hard it is to to get to the point where you could have $3m in super - even if you were very very lucky (and, of course , didn't ever take any time out to provide care)

Greg Jericho explains how hard it is to to get to the point where you could have $3m in super - even if you were very very lucky (and, of course , didn't ever take any time out to provide care)

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A landmark ruling will tackle the gender pay gap for thousands of workers theconversation.com/a-landmark-r...

Register for this exciting Carmichael Centre event on May 1, 12pm-1pm, here!

Register for this exciting Carmichael Centre event on May 1, 12pm-1pm, here!

The technological unfeasibility, staggering cost, and lack of detail of the Coalition’s nuclear proposal have been criticised. What has been underexamined is the negative effects this plan will have on workers. Read the CFW's @cdwjoyce.bsky.social here: futurework.org.au/post/duttons...

I wrote about the Coalition's nuclear proposals and why they fail workers. Read it on the @carmichaelcntr.bsky.social website here!

Why government policy matters for wages growth- research by our Carmichael Centre Distinguished Research Fellow David Peetz shows how IR reforms make a difference. Yes, government influences wages – but not just in the way you might think theconversation.com/yes-governme...

Wages as a share of national income were falling until the Labor government passed the first of its IR bills. Since then the wages share has mostly been increasing. theconversation.com/yes-governme...

An important new paper by @davidpeetz.bsky.social that asks: * how has low wages growth become normalised, even in tight labour markets? * has government made a difference to wages growth? futurework.org.au/wp-content/u...

If business groups had their way, the lowest-paid workers would now be paid $160 a week less. The FWC should ignore the fears of business groups and give those on awards and the minimum wage a decent pay rise. @grogsgamut.bsky.social #OffTheCharts australiainstitute.org.au/post/if-busi...

The Coalition have abandoned their plan to stop public servants working from home, but have they abandoned their views on this flexible work practice? Were these views based on the evidence? See our WFH briefing paper by Fiona Macdonald for the facts on WFH futurework.org.au/report/worki...

The Continuing Irrelevance of Minimum Wages to Future Inflation | The Australia Institute's Centre for Future Work futurework.org.au/post/the-con...

“If the price of maintaining our relationship with the US is paying exorbitant prices for medicine, then Australians will ask – is this a friend we really want?” said @mattgrudnoff.bsky.social. Read:

An econmomically stable real wage increase is "unlikely to drive up inflation, or adversely impact productivity. ... it will provide cost-of-living relief to Australia’s lowest-paid workers". theconversation.com/labor-wants-...

So much for improving publicc service efficiency! Think of all the extra work and travel required to have the PM located in Sydney www.theguardian.com/australia-ne...

This election looks again like seeing migrants blamed for housing prices. But as @mattgrudnoff.bsky.social writes, the facts don't back that up. At all. Instead, we need to look at our tax system that has turned housing into speculation #OffTheCharts australiainstitute.org.au/post/migrant...

The Coalition are claiming that their cut in fuel excise will be worth $14 per week. But that's only if you fill up once a week. Two thirds of people fill up once a fortnight or less. For them it will be worth less than $7 per week. australiainstitute.org.au/post/fuel-ex...

The election is underway! AEU Federal President Correna Haythorpe explains what's at stake and how we can vote for a better education for every child. 👇

Cutting 41,000 Australian public servants makes no sense and will not lead to greater efficiency. Listen to CFW A/Director Fiona Macdonald discuss with Glenn Connley @australiainstitute.org.au Enemies of the state - The Australia Institute australiainstitute.org.au/post/enemies...

A win for gender equality as bill passes requiring large organisations to make more progress on their GE targets! www.wgea.gov.au/newsroom/WGE...

IR reforms producing better pay rises as more workers are on collective agreements. www.dewr.gov.au/enterprise-a...

CFW budget analysis: what's in the Budget that's important for workers, work and employment? futurework.org.au/post/commonw...

The deposit that never comes. For many, even with "a good job that pays good money" your savings can never catch the growing cost of a deposit. @grogsgamut.bsky.social runs the numbers #OffTheCharts australiainstitute.org.au/post/housing...

Dr Fiona Macdonald joins Glenn Connley to discuss Elon Musk's Department of Government Efficiency, Peter Dutton’s plan to axe public service jobs, and why the private sector generally doesn’t deliver better public services. australiainstitute.org.au/post/enemies...

The right to disconnect limits unpaid overtime and supports work-life balance. Repealing R2D makes no sense! www.theage.com.au/politics/fed...

Gas company tax is paying for the wages of nurses? Yeah. Nah. Over the past decade, nurses paid more tax than oil & gas companies Gas companies are taking the piss. #OffTheCharts @mattgrudnoff.bsky.social @markogge.bsky.social australiainstitute.org.au/post/nurses-...

Winding back flexible work will damage productivity and lead to loss of talent as well as undermining progress towards equality.

"The average national gender pay gap is 21.8 per cent for total remuneration (including bonuses and penalties) That means for every $1 a man earns, women earn 78 cents on average This adds up to a yearly difference of $28,425."

Making public servants work 5 days from the office will not improve productivity, will disadvantage parents and carers and no doubt increase the gender pay gap!

AEU award for former CFW Director Jim Stanford recognises his contribution to public education and better work for educators!

New CFW paper debunks myth promoted that Australia's public service is "bloated". CFW's Lisa Heap finds cutting public services more likely to inefficiencies. futurework.org.au

Today's figures show that inflation is under control, but the RBA board does not meet for another 6 weeks! As @grogsgamut.bsky.social writes, there was no excuse for taking 10 weeks off when Australians need the cost of living relief of rate cuts. #OffTheCharts australiainstitute.org.au?p=26330

"Secrecy around sexual harassment claims can lead to victim-survivors feeling isolated and stigmatised. It can also enable some perpetrators to .... continue harassing others." Centre for Future Work's Lisa Heap @lisasheap.bsky.social and David Peetz

We have arrived, hello Bluesky! Part of the @australiainstitute.org.au, The Centre for Future Work publishes progressive economic research on work, employment, and labour markets. You can find us @futurework.org.au. #auspol