Explainers
EXPLAINER
Illegal smoking police raids are being done to raise tax
There is news this week of police raiding illegal tobacco shops in Sydney. This is an interesting story where the issue is not so much about crime as tax.
EXPLAINER
Interest rates cuts have reduced the cost of living for employee households
After last week’s inflation figures the government got some good news from today’s Cost of Living figures.
EXPLAINER
Most Australians think university should be much cheaper than it actually is
According to recent Australia Institute polling, nearly three in five (58%) Australians think university should cost less than $5,000 per year, and half of these (29% overall) people believe that degrees should be free. In reality, university is much more expensive than this.
EXPLAINER
Private job agencies are capturing welfare payments
New data shows that only one-in-nine jobseekers (11.7%) found long term employment via a job agency in the financial year ending in June 2025. This is despite an increase in public funding through Workforce Australia, a Commonwealth Government service which pays private job agencies to help people who are unemployed find jobs.
EXPLAINER
Two growing tax loopholes that are exploited by the rich – and how to plug the leaks
Those on million-dollar incomes should not be able to manipulate the tax system to avoid paying their fair share.
EXPLAINER
Why does the winner of The Block get their prize tax-free but the Archibald winner doesn’t?
This year, the winners of The Block took home $520,000 in tax-free prize money. Meanwhile, the winner of the prestigious Miles Franklin Award paid at least a quarter of the $60,000 prize to the tax office. How did we get here and what can be done about it?
EXPLAINER
Explainer: What is 'National Interest Approval'
This part of the Environment Protection Reform Bill explanatory memorandum is generating rather a lot of interest
EXPLAINER
What is the PBS and why does Trump hate it so much?
This is part of America’s long-standing grudge against Australia’s Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme (PBS).
EXPLAINER
Why is everyone talking about ANU and what does Julie Bishop have to do with it all?
Between a 'financial crisis', the vice-chancellor's resignation, and bullying allegations, it can be hard to keep up.
EXPLAINER
What is cash-for-access and how do lobbyists use it to gain influence?
Secret dinners between politicians and lobbyists are back in the news, but how do they happen and why is it such a problem?
