94. I don't want a rate cut but we need one! - The Experts

Peter, this is bordering on 'interest rate 'obsession. Thank goodness you're not Governor of the RBA. You'd have the money printing machines working overtime, crashing the $A through the 50c barrier! :)

Monetary policy is now close to 'inelastic' or impotent. The RBA should hold onto what is left of its interest rate ammunition. The RBA should wait and see what the government does with fiscal policy, what happens in Greece, what happens in the UK election especially if Labour wins, and determine the flow on effects of China's loosening monetary policy. This will help the RBA assess the value or benefit of another rate cut.

While I agree with creating confidence in an economy, I also tend to believe successful people and businesses have the nous, self belief and confidence in succeeding, regardless of external factors, particularly government policy or the state of the economy.

We should be less dependent on external factors and focus more on what is within our sphere of influence to succeed

Switzer Daily - 24 April 2015

93. Negative gearing has already been neutered

Adam, your article actually reinforces the policy debate on making adjustments to negative gearing. Negative gearing contributes to foregone government tax revenue of around several billion dollars annually.

Investors benefit from tax breaks not only through negative gearing, but also through capital gains tax discount rules when selling their investment property.

Labor are being politically brave in tackling negative gearing but it's the right thing to do, considering the Government and country's debt and deficit challenges now and in the coming decades.

While I don't believe Labor's recent policy announcements on superannuation were not extensive or holistic enough, let's see how serious the party is in reforming negative gearing. Making changes prospective rather than retrospective is sound, suggesting that negative gearing only applies to new developments will continue to alleviate with any housing supply challenges, and limiting the number of investment properties in which tax deductions can be claimed is fiscally prudent.

Negative gearing is not the only policy area under review, or the 'scapegoat' for the country's budgetary challenges. There is a Government tax reform process in train and to believe that negative gearing will be the sole focus to improve the country's budget ills is silly at best.

The Australian - 24 April 2015

92. Age pension changes inevitable, Labor’s Nick Sherry warns

You get the sense that the Federal Labor leadership team are policy lightweights. Even the superannuation announcements yesterday were piecemeal and failed to tackle the challenges of the current retirement income system (both private and public) from a holistic perspective. It's lazy policy making.

The Opposition party want to trip into Government without a clear and extensive policy reform agenda.

The Australian - 23 April 2015

90. LETTER: Tahlia's tale demands action

The seriousness and urgency of Lyme Disease is severely underestimated by Australian governments and the medical profession. There must be more research funding to identify animals in Australia which can transmit the disease. Strains in one country can differ to those in another country, so we need to identify and better understand the strains which exist in Australia.

It's not just ticks that can carry the bacteria, but potentially mosquitoes, sand flies, and other insect biting animals. It can imitate such conditions as MS, MND, Parkinsons, in which no known cure currently exists. Lyme Disease may possibly be one of the triggers for these and other conditions.

Blood testing in Australia for Lyme Disease is embarrassingly deficient and must improve. Treating Lyme Disease is not easy, and the costs for treatment can be exorbitant. And there is no guarantee in being healed once it is established that you do have Lyme and the myriad of associated co-infections. So more funding is required to identify more effective treatments for overcoming this insidious disease.

Lyme Disease is one condition in which the Australian and State governments and the medical profession have failed the individuals suffering from the disease and their families.

Newcastle Herald  - 21 April 2015

89. If Joe Hockey wants to cut company tax, here's the smart way to do it

As we live in an interconnected global economy, with increased capital mobility beyond national borders, won’t lowering the corporate rate entice further foreign and domestic investment, encourage more research and development, innovation, entrepreneurship, and create greater productive capital stock within Australia?

And won’t the flow-on effects will be an increase in national income, technological advancements, productivity improvements, better employment, wages, GDP, and economic growth outcomes?

Doesn’t a lower 25% rate more closely align with other nations’ corporate tax rate, improves the attractiveness of Australia as a destination for investment, as well as minimise the risk of businesses moving and investing offshore, or foreign multinationals moving profits offshore?

While the headline rate is, for instance, 25%, why not implement a minimum effective rate of tax payable (eg 18-20%) by companies regardless of whether tax deductions and exemptions claimable by a company results in the effective tax rate exceeding the minimum effective tax rate?

The Guardian  - 20 April 2015

87. EDITORIAL: Reserve under pressure

The RBA is wise to hold off on a further interest rate reduction until such time as it is clear what the Government intends to announce in the Federal Budget, including further debt reduction plans, as well as ensure it does not further overheat the property market.

On the international front, it is likely awaiting growth developments in China, and outcomes of the latest discussions concerning the Greek economic crisis.

The reality is the RBA is running out of ammunition and must now save its interest rate bullets for significant downward shifts in economic activity and growth. A fall in the Australian dollar has also helped in the RBA holding off on further rate reductions.

Further falls in the Australian dollar is currently unlikely to greatly help iron ore producers as the issue is one of significant oversupply of iron ore in the market.

Also, since the Global Financial Crisis, sensitivity to downward movements in interest rates have become more 'inelastic', with more prudence in people's spending behaviour, with people saving a greater proportion from interest rate reductions.

In the current economic climate, a loosening of fiscal policy is more likely to have a greater effect in boosting economic activity and growth, rather than monetary policy alone.

Newcastle Herald  - 8 April 2015

86. Hunter downgraded in cabinet shake-up

I am not overly fussed with the devolution of the Minister for the Hunter role. I believe regional type Ministries are more political and symbolic than anything substantially tangible. It provides the perception that the Government cares more about a particular region. But IMO it's more political than anything.

In 2011, the Liberal Party had possibly a once in a generation opportunity to capitalise on their victories in the Newcastle and Hunter regions. Unfortunately hubris set in and took the hard earned victories for granted, through the ICAC allegations, and not listening to how an overwhelming number of people in our city and region wanted our city revitalised and transformed.

I believe that the Baird Government will reconsider the rail decision, particularly in light of Goward and Berejiklian no longer the ministers for the transport and planning portfolios. Play their cards right, and the Liberal Party may just have a shot in recapturing some seats in our region. But they must first engage and genuinely listen to the people's needs across the community in our region, not just business interests.

Newcastle Herald  - 2 April 2015

84. Is it time to abolish compulsory super? - The Experts

By asking 'young Australians' whether they would prefer cash over superannuation is akin to offering a prisoner the key to their prison cell! We need to take a more rational, common-sense and multi-dimensional perspective.

Why not allow home purchases within one's superannuation fund? And what about accessing superannuation to pay off tertiary education debts, or even weddings?

If superannuation is accessed for purchasing a home, then there should be a legislative requirement that the amount accessed be factored into the calculation for receiving Centrelink payments, such as the Age Pension. This should be the gateway for the home to be included as part of a rejigged assets/incomes test for social security purposes, or taxed for CGT purposes

Are Australians overly obessesed with home ownership? There are studies that suggest renting can be a better investment strategy certain scenarios. Why not invest in property trusts, or other property shares and diversify one's portfolio. This should help future generations being less 'asset rich, income poor', and in having a greater focus on being more 'income rich', particularly in one's retirement years.

Switzer Daily  - 26 March 2015

83. OPINION: Cost of health ups premiums

Is this an 'opinion' piece or an info-mmerical for NIB?

Private health insurance premiums are increasingly crippling household budgets, and it won't improve. There should be a parliamentary inquiry or independent review into private health insurance to ensure better outcomes for customers, not just shareholders, and the health industry.

Newcastle Herald  - 20 March 2015

80.  Still waiting on the PM’s ‘stunning’ return

The key dilemma for the Prime Minister and the Liberal Party is that people are now confused what they stand for! The Government's 'corrective policy action' is not so much 'corrective' but antithesis to their core Liberal beliefs. 

The most recent policy backflip on financial support for the car manufacturing industry shows a Party who have lost their way on policy values and principles. Are the Liberal Party the 'New Labor' as a means to capture the middle ground? 

Voters are in a dilemma - do they vote for a Party which have lost its way, or vote for an Opposition and Party who seem afraid to say what they stand for as a result of their current policy vacuum? Based on the polls, it appears the latter!

The Australian  - 11 March 2015

79. Medicare co-payment failure: how not to impose economic reform

Now that the Prime Minister has cleared much of the policy 'hangovers' from last year's Federal Budget, the Abbott Government Mark II starts on Thursday with the release of the Intergenerational Report. It is the opportunity for Treasurer Hockey to take the initiative, and to shape and drive the policy agenda leading up to the May Federal Budget.

Hopefully Hockey has learnt from the lessons of the last Budget; to clearly spell out the economic challenges facing the nation, to engage and consult on policy options and solutions. Hockey may yet well be the best Treasurer Australia has ever had - assuming he gets the policy levers right, and creates a more sustainable economy and equitable society.

If Hockey gets it right second time around, he will definitely deserve a cigar this time! 

The Australian  - 4 March 2015

78. Abbott must put a stop to Andrews’ East West Link lunacy

A fair and balanced opinion piece is obviously not the intention here. Was it not the former Premier Napthine who inexplicably put the new Government and the people of Victoria in this financial predicament, particularly knowing Labor's position on the link and an impending election? Napthine played Russian roulette with the State's finance and blew it big time. 

But two negatives don't make a right! The current Government should have honoured the contract knowing the financial repercussions, or if legally feasible, utilise the same contractors for other infrastructure work with the funds in the State. 

The Australian  - 4 March 2015

76. Medicare co-payment: Unpopular budget measure set for chopping block

If the Government increased the Medicare Levy to 2.5% which also covered the 0.5% for NDIS, my view is the majority would have accepted this option. The bigger concern is private health insurance premiums which is increasing at an annual rate greater than CPI, and eating up more and more of a person's and/or family's budget. I'd rather pay a 5% health levy and opt out of private health! IMO, the issue of private health insurance is a bigger issue than co-payments!  

The Australian  - 3 March 2015

75. Five-point detente would win Malcolm Turnbull right to rule

There appears to be a number of entrenched right wing ideologue Liberal Party supporters who proclaim they will never vote for Turnbull if he becomes Prime Minister. Fortunately they are in the minority and I believe will be outflanked by more centralist type voters who are more likely to shift their vote to a Turnbull led Coalition Government. 

Sometimes we can get caught up in the emotion of a change, but the change is not as bad as we make it out to be in our head and heart. Would you rather Turnbull as Prime Minister than a Labor Government currently lacking in any credible economic policies? Let's get some perspective!  

The Australian  - 28 February 2015

73. Malcolm Turnbull reason hints at new way

Are we witnessing the dying days of the Prime Ministership of Tony Abbott? The Liberal Party are in the midst of a self-inflicted implosion. You have Turnbull and Bishop subtly and cleverly undermine the authority of the Prime Minister, and the ongoing internal leaks revealing a Government in political disarray. 

Abbott cannot afford to dump Turnbull or Bishop from the front bench as that will certainly give Turnbull the opening to precipitate a leadership challenge. But things cannot continue as they currently are for the Prime Minister, for the Government, and more important for the country. 

Something needs to give, otherwise sooner rather than later, business and consumer will suffer, and inflict more pain to the economy.

The Australian  - 26 February 2015

72. Labor MP calls for Tim Owen to lose honour

Tim Owen served in the Defence Forces and served our nation with distinction. Despite recent discretions, Tim Owen is deserving of the Order of Australia honour and I see the request by Shellharbour Labor MP Anna Watson as a politically motivated, shameful and despicable act.

Newcastle Herald  - 25 February 2015