1/ We’ve just released our pre-election recommendations for the next federal government – whether Liberal or Labor.
A thread on the key takeaways from our 2022 Orange Book. Be warned, it’s epic… #AusPol2022
2/ We’re calling for major tax reform. The government should increase or broaden the GST and better target currently wasteful tax concessions (such as the 50% CGT discount and super tax concessions) to fund income tax cuts. This would boost incomes for Australians over time.
3/ The high cost of childcare creates barriers for women to take up more paid work. Reducing out-of-pocket childcare costs and boosting parental leave (including for Dads and partners) would free up families’ choices and boost workforce participation, particularly for women.
4/ To arrest declining student performance, teachers should be given more time to prepare for class, and the next federal government should commit to doubling within 10 years the proportion of high achievers who choose teaching as their career. #aused
5/ Australians delay or skip getting much needed healthcare due to cost. The government should ensure patients pay less out of their own pocket when they see a medical specialist or the dentist. #health
6/ To assist people suffering poverty or homelessness, the government should boost Commonwealth Rent Assistance by at least 40 per cent and JobSeeker by at least $75 a week.
7/ Housing costs are another cause of growing inequality and homelessness. The federal government should help boost the supply of social housing, establish a Social Housing Future Fund, and create a national shared equity scheme. #housing
8/ As Australia pursues its target of net-zero carbon emissions by 2050, the government should collaborate with industry in renewable energy and critical minerals, and target emissions-reduction policies across the economy. This would create jobs in these industries. #Climate
9/ To boost the bang for buck from transport spending, the federal government should fund only nationally significant infrastructure projects, avoiding projects that are poor value for money. #infrastructure
10/ Finally, to revive Australians’ trust in their political system, the next government should tighten the rules on political donations and lobbying, and create an anti-corruption commission with sweeping powers.
11/ No government could implement all these reforms in a single term. But tackling them over 10 years? It could transform Australia into a country with ⬆️ incomes, ⬇️ poverty, better-quality and more efficiently delivered services, a liveable climate, and a stronger democracy.
1/ 🧂Australians have a killer diet. We eat far too much salt – almost double the recommended daily maximum. 🧂
Governments have a role to play in reducing Australians’ salt intake. Here’s why…
2/ Each year, more than 2,500 Australians die from illnesses caused by high salt intake.
High salt intake raises blood pressure and can cause cancer. It condemns thousands of Australians to living with hypertension, heart disease, and the consequences of stroke.
3/ But where is this salt coming from? It can’t just be from adding a pinch during cooking.
Three-quarters of the salt in our diets is added during food manufacturing. This is what governments should be targeting.
1/ Old trucks should be banned from Sydney and Melbourne. Here’s why.
Pre-2003 trucks are big polluters. They spew out far more than their fair share of toxic pollutants. #auspol
2/ 14% of the Australian fleet is pre-1996, and these trucks emit 60x the particulate matter of a new truck, and 8x the poisonous nitrogen oxides. That’s a lot.
3/ And if you’re wondering what a ‘Euro standard’ is, these standards restrict how much pollution a vehicle can emit. These tighten over time, as technology develops.
1/ We surveyed 5,442 Australian teachers and school leaders for our new report.
The response was alarming. 🚨 Here’s a thread on what we found…
2/ An overwhelming 92% of teachers say they do not get enough time to prepare for effective teaching.
86% say they do not get enough time for high-quality lesson planning.
The result? Student learning suffers.
3/ We did the maths on how much time a teacher has in a week to focus on individual students. For example, if a typical secondary teacher with 110 students spends 15 min a week on individual students’ needs, they would need to find 28 hrs a week - this is an impossible task.
1/ On Tuesday, the Federal Government announced its Plan for achieving #netzero by 2050. But there are two key problems with the plan… A thread on our latest blog post by @jams_ha. #auspol#COP26
2/ The first problem? The plan contains no new policies to credibly deliver the goal.
The second? Net zero by 2050 is not sufficient to meet Australia’s fair share of keeping global warming well-below 2ºC, let alone 1.5ºC. Too little, too late.
3/ It matters how the world gets to net zero. Greenhouse gases accumulate in the atmosphere over time. Which is why we need to keep our emissions within a ‘carbon budget’.
Could this be why so many Australian mums work part-time? Tax, welfare and childcare costs mean that full time work for the primary carer is often financially fruitless. Let’s break that down…
2/ A typical Australian woman with young children is employed 2-3 days a week, much less than women in many other countries.
3/ Parents agree that the high cost of childcare is the biggest barrier to working more.