The Voice up against Dutton and the Greens on a unity ticket; surely there is no case for Stage 3 tax cuts; and the Liberals election post-mortem. Read on for the weekly roundup of links to articles, reports, podcasts and other media on current political and economic issues in public policy.

Many say that the December-January period is a quiet time for public policy. That certainly hasnt been so over this summer. To keep this weeks roundup to a tolerable size I will include housing and the RBAs decisions, education (particularly the Productivity Commissions recent report), health care and Covid-19 (its still raging), energy, and the New South Wales election next week.

Australias Constitution

The Voice up against Dutton and the Greens on a unity ticket. Barry Jones on our weird Constitution. The many ways we see January 26.

Economics

Surely there is no case for Stage 3 tax cuts. Economic inequality its not just about income. Big debt housing debt. Little debt buy-now-pay-later. Immigrants are coming to Australia once more, but the days of high population growth are behind us. How Australia compares not too badly, but the Nordic countries do better. Another case study in idiotic privatisation. Its official: women work harder than men.

Politics

The Liberals election post-mortem blame everything except their performance in government. For some inexplicable reason young women are turned off faction fights, pre-selection battles and vicious election campaigns. Firearms policies we are still too well armed.

Vatican affairs

Vale to a former Pope and to his conservative Aussie disciple who regretted his inability to branch stack the Curia.

Public ideas

If we have reached peak capitalism, what lies beyond? How to design a city leave it to computers? Luxury and its meanings.

Vatican fashion trends

Links to sources of webinars, podcasts and readings