Don’t cut spending, raise taxes; what’s wrong with the government’s carbon credit proposal?; and Stan Grant on the wounds of history. Read on for the weekly roundup of links to articles, reports, podcasts and other media on current political and economic issues in public policy.

Don’t cut spending, raise taxes

Even before AUKUS, and before the fiscal response to Covid created a big government debt, Australia has been collecting far too little taxation. Peter Martin puts the case for capital gains tax reform.

Australia’s slow energy transition

If you want to know what’s wrong with the government’s carbon credit proposal, read or re-read Joseph Heller’s Catch 22.

Immigration policy

Make it easier for energetic and creative young people to come here. Why broccoli is bad for immigrants.

Religion in Australia

Have we reached peak megachurch?

That wretched pandemic

It’s still here. And we still don’t quite know how it got here.

Public ideas

Stan Grant on the wounds of history. Stronger human rights for Australia.

The music of AUKUS

We all pay for a fleet of submarines.

Links to sources of webinars, podcasts and readings