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6 days ago | 
capitalbrief.com | Jennifer Duke
Government spending kept Australia out of recession in 2024. But with public demand easing off, economists have their doubts that the private sector is able yet to pick up the slack. Here’s what you need to know about the key economic data releases this week. The data: Australian National Accounts: National Income, Expenditure and Product for March 2025When: Wednesday 4 June 2025What to expect: For much of 2024, government spending was keeping the economy out of the red.
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1 week ago | 
capitalbrief.com | Jennifer Duke
The pandemic productivity bump was a blip. Productivity Commission deputy chair Alex Robson says we must look to tax, red tape and investment as global uncertainty grows. The Productivity Commission is not expecting the Albanese government to launch sweeping economic reforms to address the nation’s productivity challenges. However, a potential reduction in the corporate tax rate and a renewed appetite for cutting red tape are high on the agenda.
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1 week ago | 
capitalbrief.com | Brandon How |Jennifer Duke
Steven Kennedy stayed silent on criticism of Labor’s plan to cut tax concessions on super balances above $3 million. But he revealed he will be personally affected. Treasury Secretary Steven Kennedy has revealed he will be personally affected by the federal government’s contentious plan to reduce superannuation tax concessions for the wealthy.
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1 week ago | 
capitalbrief.com | Jennifer Duke
Rents were up 5% over the year, the lowest annual increase since February 2023. The context: The Reserve Bank is watching inflation closely, with the measure now back in its 2% to 3% target band and helping secure a second rate rise of the year earlier this month. The monthly data is more volatile than the quarterly dataset. What they said: "Annual CPI inflation has been steady at 2.4% for the past three months," ABS head of prices statistics Michelle Marquardt said.
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1 week ago | 
capitalbrief.com | Jennifer Duke
A policy that hardly featured during the election campaign has dominated its aftermath. It follows a long battle for reform of the nation's retirement system. When Jim Chalmers unveiled a plan in early 2023 to tweak tax concessions for superannuation funds with balances above $3 million, the political climate was markedly different to today. The Voice referendum — which the government would go on to lose — was still more than six months away.
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2 weeks ago | 
capitalbrief.com | Jennifer Duke
After the Reserve Bank's second 25 basis point cut for the year last week, it's about to receive the monthly scorecard on inflation. Here’s what you need to know about the key economic data releases this week. The data: Monthly Consumer Price Index indicator, April 2025, Australian Bureau of StatisticsWhen: Wednesday 28 May 2025What to expect: In March, the monthly inflation read was 2.4% year-on-year. The market is anticipating a fall to 2.2% for the 12 months to April. ANZ is at 2.5%.
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2 weeks ago | 
capitalbrief.com | Jennifer Duke
Michele Bullock usually can't avoid the limelight when the Reserve Bank hands down an interest rate decision. Especially when there’s a much-desired cut to announce, as was the case on Tuesday. This week, though, the oxygen was quickly drained from the coverage for two reasons. Get The Edition in your inboxSigned up to The EditionA must-read afternoon newsletter. Free to join, read by decision makers and featuring our top stories. Update and view your newsletter preferences in your account.
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2 weeks ago | 
capitalbrief.com | Jennifer Duke
The numbers: Hauser said there were three aspects that those he spoke with in China had been surprised by from Trump’s tariff announcements. The scale was much larger than the 25 to 50 percentage point increase expected, they were more immediate than anticipated and wider in scope with tariffs across Southeast Asia as well. “It is difficult to quantify the economic impact these mega-tariffs could have had on China.
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2 weeks ago | 
capitalbrief.com | Jennifer Duke
The former RBA governor said interest rate cuts were overdue and too modest, and criticised the board’s approach to forecasting and employment. Former Reserve Bank governor Bernie Fraser has hit out at the central bank board for taking too long to cut interest rates, saying the two 25 basis point reductions this year should have occurred six months ago.
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2 weeks ago | 
capitalbrief.com | Jennifer Duke
Men in the public sector are less likely than their private sector peers to take leave to look after their newborns. The public sector is more gender balanced than corporate Australia on almost every measure — except one: parental leave. The gender pay gap across the federal public service — including both Australian Public Service (APS) and non-APS employees — is 6.4% in favour of men. Around 45% of public sector employers fall within the target range of a 5% gap.
