The Latest Breaking News from the Productivity Commission

A $900 million fund has been welcomed by economists hopeful it will modernise the construction industry where productivity has been flat for three decades.

“Productivity” might sound a nerdy word to many, but improving it is vital for a more affluent life for Australians in coming years. At the moment it is languishing.

Australia’s productivity growth has reverted to the same stagnant pattern as before the pandemic, according to the Productivity Commission’s latest quarterly report.

The federal government has released a highly anticipated report into Australia’s childcare system. The report, by the Productivity Commission, says addressing affordability should be a priority. It recommends fully subsidised childcare for families earning under A$80,000 from 2026.

Big increases in government spending on child care have been recommended by the Productivity Commission, that would see families earning up to A$80,000 receive a 100% subsidy rate under the Child Care Subsidy (CCS).

About half of Australian families will benefit from more subsidies and free childcare if the federal government pursues a sustainable path to universal access.

Since the 1990s, the economic agenda of governments across much of the world has been dominated by the Washington Consensus. This is a series of policy recommendations centred on privatisation of state businesses, deregulation of industries, liberalisation of trade, and opening economies to foreign direct investment.

In 2008, Australia agreed to six targets to “close the gap” – to reduce the disparities between Indigenous people and the rest of the population in health, education and employment.

Malarndirri McCarthy suggests bipartisan approach needed for ‘positive change’ as report shows key Indigenous measures sliding backwards

The rate of suicide among Indigenous Australians is increasing, as is the rate of children in out-of-home care, according to the latest Closing the Gap report released by the Productivity Commission.

After Thursday’s announcement that cabinet ministers Linda Burney and Brendan O'Connor were stepping down from the frontbench, all public attention came on to the reshuffle to be unveiled on Sunday.