Dr Richard Denniss
@richarddenniss.bsky.social
Executive Director at The Australia Institute
Economist, Author of books and writer of columns often for Saturday Paper, The Monthly & The New Daily (previously The Guardian, Australian Financial Review)
Economist, Author of books and writer of columns often for Saturday Paper, The Monthly & The New Daily (previously The Guardian, Australian Financial Review)
‘Strict pollution limits’ on a project designed to pump billions of tonnes of pollution into the atmosphere…
would cigarettes be safer if they were wrapped in biodegradable plastic…FFS #climate
would cigarettes be safer if they were wrapped in biodegradable plastic…FFS #climate
September 12, 2025 at 11:30 AM
‘Strict pollution limits’ on a project designed to pump billions of tonnes of pollution into the atmosphere…
would cigarettes be safer if they were wrapped in biodegradable plastic…FFS #climate
would cigarettes be safer if they were wrapped in biodegradable plastic…FFS #climate
Approving new coal and gas projects means rejecting climate science.
Approving new gas and coal projects means rejecting the pleas of our Pacific neighbours
The fact that we give half of our gas exports away for free just rubs economic salt into the the scientific and diplomatic wounds
Approving new gas and coal projects means rejecting the pleas of our Pacific neighbours
The fact that we give half of our gas exports away for free just rubs economic salt into the the scientific and diplomatic wounds
September 12, 2025 at 8:32 AM
Approving new coal and gas projects means rejecting climate science.
Approving new gas and coal projects means rejecting the pleas of our Pacific neighbours
The fact that we give half of our gas exports away for free just rubs economic salt into the the scientific and diplomatic wounds
Approving new gas and coal projects means rejecting the pleas of our Pacific neighbours
The fact that we give half of our gas exports away for free just rubs economic salt into the the scientific and diplomatic wounds
I think it was when we changed the tax system and halved the tax on capital gain…imagine taxing passive income from investing at half the rate we tax wages and salaries…
And all those rich kids inheriting all those multimillion super balances rather than working to earn their own money…
bludgers!
And all those rich kids inheriting all those multimillion super balances rather than working to earn their own money…
bludgers!
August 23, 2025 at 6:53 AM
I think it was when we changed the tax system and halved the tax on capital gain…imagine taxing passive income from investing at half the rate we tax wages and salaries…
And all those rich kids inheriting all those multimillion super balances rather than working to earn their own money…
bludgers!
And all those rich kids inheriting all those multimillion super balances rather than working to earn their own money…
bludgers!
According to this article and much of the commentary from legacy media the enormous protest last weekend doesnt even rate a mention as to why the Albanese Govt has changed its position so fast…yeah, right
August 11, 2025 at 9:07 AM
According to this article and much of the commentary from legacy media the enormous protest last weekend doesnt even rate a mention as to why the Albanese Govt has changed its position so fast…yeah, right
Time for your regular reminder that
A) the Coaltion’s feelings about climate are irrelevant for the next 3-6 yrs
B) how much you worry about the Coalition is up to you
C) the more you worry about the Coaltion’s irrelevant opinions the less pressure is on the ALP to stop approving new gas & coal
A) the Coaltion’s feelings about climate are irrelevant for the next 3-6 yrs
B) how much you worry about the Coalition is up to you
C) the more you worry about the Coaltion’s irrelevant opinions the less pressure is on the ALP to stop approving new gas & coal
July 31, 2025 at 6:36 AM
Time for your regular reminder that
A) the Coaltion’s feelings about climate are irrelevant for the next 3-6 yrs
B) how much you worry about the Coalition is up to you
C) the more you worry about the Coaltion’s irrelevant opinions the less pressure is on the ALP to stop approving new gas & coal
A) the Coaltion’s feelings about climate are irrelevant for the next 3-6 yrs
B) how much you worry about the Coalition is up to you
C) the more you worry about the Coaltion’s irrelevant opinions the less pressure is on the ALP to stop approving new gas & coal
I wonder how many countries will announce they will recognise Palestine statehood before Australia shows some ‘leadership’.
Doing it late is better than not doing it, but must we always expect the least from our governments?
Bravery is contagious. Would be good if Australia could help spread some
Doing it late is better than not doing it, but must we always expect the least from our governments?
Bravery is contagious. Would be good if Australia could help spread some
July 31, 2025 at 3:42 AM
I wonder how many countries will announce they will recognise Palestine statehood before Australia shows some ‘leadership’.
Doing it late is better than not doing it, but must we always expect the least from our governments?
Bravery is contagious. Would be good if Australia could help spread some
Doing it late is better than not doing it, but must we always expect the least from our governments?
Bravery is contagious. Would be good if Australia could help spread some
Tell me again how planning laws, rather than the tax system, that are behind the housing crisis…$1.2m tax free in a year…
Australia needs to rein in exemptions and concessions from capital gains tax and spend more public money building the kind of houses, in the kind of places that need them most
Australia needs to rein in exemptions and concessions from capital gains tax and spend more public money building the kind of houses, in the kind of places that need them most
July 19, 2025 at 12:48 AM
Tell me again how planning laws, rather than the tax system, that are behind the housing crisis…$1.2m tax free in a year…
Australia needs to rein in exemptions and concessions from capital gains tax and spend more public money building the kind of houses, in the kind of places that need them most
Australia needs to rein in exemptions and concessions from capital gains tax and spend more public money building the kind of houses, in the kind of places that need them most
Would an Australian newspaper ever gleefully report that people on unemployment benefits or sickness benefits had found a way to rort our system?
The Australian media really do like to put tax dodgers on a pedestal while obsessing about ‘welfare cheats’
The Australian media really do like to put tax dodgers on a pedestal while obsessing about ‘welfare cheats’
July 11, 2025 at 12:54 AM
Would an Australian newspaper ever gleefully report that people on unemployment benefits or sickness benefits had found a way to rort our system?
The Australian media really do like to put tax dodgers on a pedestal while obsessing about ‘welfare cheats’
The Australian media really do like to put tax dodgers on a pedestal while obsessing about ‘welfare cheats’
The Vice Chancellors of Australian universities are the best paid in the world…and they love to pay big consulting firms for advice on cost cutting…maybe we aren’t paying them enough? Maybe they aren’t paying enough millions for consultants…or maybe Neoliberalism has us on the wrong path yet again
June 19, 2025 at 4:26 AM
The Vice Chancellors of Australian universities are the best paid in the world…and they love to pay big consulting firms for advice on cost cutting…maybe we aren’t paying them enough? Maybe they aren’t paying enough millions for consultants…or maybe Neoliberalism has us on the wrong path yet again
Not sure why Linda Reynolds feelings are the headline here..
June 12, 2025 at 11:38 AM
Not sure why Linda Reynolds feelings are the headline here..
Safe bet the optimistically titled Productivity Commission ignore the enormous tax concessions we give to big dumb utes…hope they prove me wrong but history suggests the PC has a keen eye for support for climate action & turns a blind eye to all things fossil fuel polluting…hope they prove me wrong
June 12, 2025 at 11:07 AM
Safe bet the optimistically titled Productivity Commission ignore the enormous tax concessions we give to big dumb utes…hope they prove me wrong but history suggests the PC has a keen eye for support for climate action & turns a blind eye to all things fossil fuel polluting…hope they prove me wrong
Um, no. The main priority of the Australian PM is to protect Australia’s sovereignty and independence, not lock in a contract
June 11, 2025 at 9:30 PM
Um, no. The main priority of the Australian PM is to protect Australia’s sovereignty and independence, not lock in a contract
So the calls for ‘genuine’ tax reform are here again…let’s start by broadening the GST by including private school fees and private health insurance. Next stop, scrap the inefficient and inequitable diesel fuel rebate. And then we can scrap the ineffective PRRT and replace it with a simple royalty
June 8, 2025 at 11:37 AM
So the calls for ‘genuine’ tax reform are here again…let’s start by broadening the GST by including private school fees and private health insurance. Next stop, scrap the inefficient and inequitable diesel fuel rebate. And then we can scrap the ineffective PRRT and replace it with a simple royalty
While the media drone on about how hard it is for people with most than $3 million in super to lose some of their tax breaks, in reality the vast majority of Australians have less than $200k in super. The median for a 60 year old woman is just $158k, which means half of women have less than that!
June 7, 2025 at 10:27 PM
While the media drone on about how hard it is for people with most than $3 million in super to lose some of their tax breaks, in reality the vast majority of Australians have less than $200k in super. The median for a 60 year old woman is just $158k, which means half of women have less than that!
It’s not ‘uneconomic’ to build houses in Australia. Builders & developers are doing very nicely. High income earners are spending a fortune on extensions & holiday homes
What’s ‘uneconomic’ is thinking builders will ever build small houses for the poor instead of big ones for the rich
What’s ‘uneconomic’ is thinking builders will ever build small houses for the poor instead of big ones for the rich
June 7, 2025 at 8:19 AM
It’s not ‘uneconomic’ to build houses in Australia. Builders & developers are doing very nicely. High income earners are spending a fortune on extensions & holiday homes
What’s ‘uneconomic’ is thinking builders will ever build small houses for the poor instead of big ones for the rich
What’s ‘uneconomic’ is thinking builders will ever build small houses for the poor instead of big ones for the rich
So the aluminium smelter that the PM used to justify the Woodside NW Gas project needs billions in public subsidies to stay open…heres an idea. we can save billions in subsidies & not extend the Woodside gas project.
Hint: aluminium is moving to world locations with low emissions electricity
Hint: aluminium is moving to world locations with low emissions electricity
June 7, 2025 at 1:59 AM
So the aluminium smelter that the PM used to justify the Woodside NW Gas project needs billions in public subsidies to stay open…heres an idea. we can save billions in subsidies & not extend the Woodside gas project.
Hint: aluminium is moving to world locations with low emissions electricity
Hint: aluminium is moving to world locations with low emissions electricity
$20 million capital gain, tax free.
In Australia we’ve been trained to think it is ‘normal’ not to tax capital gains of unlimited size on ‘family homes’
It’s not normal
It’s bad economics (driving excessive investment in huge houses)
Its bad for inequlity
And its not ‘normal’ in most countries
In Australia we’ve been trained to think it is ‘normal’ not to tax capital gains of unlimited size on ‘family homes’
It’s not normal
It’s bad economics (driving excessive investment in huge houses)
Its bad for inequlity
And its not ‘normal’ in most countries
June 1, 2025 at 9:36 PM
$20 million capital gain, tax free.
In Australia we’ve been trained to think it is ‘normal’ not to tax capital gains of unlimited size on ‘family homes’
It’s not normal
It’s bad economics (driving excessive investment in huge houses)
Its bad for inequlity
And its not ‘normal’ in most countries
In Australia we’ve been trained to think it is ‘normal’ not to tax capital gains of unlimited size on ‘family homes’
It’s not normal
It’s bad economics (driving excessive investment in huge houses)
Its bad for inequlity
And its not ‘normal’ in most countries
Peter Harcher says “The climate wars are over. And the Coalition lost.”
If thats the case then the fossil fuel industry won
Labor just approved a 45 year extension of Woodside. Not 5, or 10…45
The only transition in Australia is the transition towards expanded fossil fuel production
If thats the case then the fossil fuel industry won
Labor just approved a 45 year extension of Woodside. Not 5, or 10…45
The only transition in Australia is the transition towards expanded fossil fuel production
May 30, 2025 at 10:23 PM
Peter Harcher says “The climate wars are over. And the Coalition lost.”
If thats the case then the fossil fuel industry won
Labor just approved a 45 year extension of Woodside. Not 5, or 10…45
The only transition in Australia is the transition towards expanded fossil fuel production
If thats the case then the fossil fuel industry won
Labor just approved a 45 year extension of Woodside. Not 5, or 10…45
The only transition in Australia is the transition towards expanded fossil fuel production
Imagine if our health minister said he wanted to spend more after meeting with public health experts. Or the climate minister said he wanted to spend more after meeting with climate scientists…no chance
But defence…
Defence spending never causes budget deficits or high interest rates #climate
But defence…
Defence spending never causes budget deficits or high interest rates #climate
May 30, 2025 at 9:35 PM
Imagine if our health minister said he wanted to spend more after meeting with public health experts. Or the climate minister said he wanted to spend more after meeting with climate scientists…no chance
But defence…
Defence spending never causes budget deficits or high interest rates #climate
But defence…
Defence spending never causes budget deficits or high interest rates #climate
Um, no, it’s proof the RBA kept interest rates too high for too long…a point Jom was making and something the conservatives criticised him for saying ! #auspol
May 29, 2025 at 11:07 AM
Um, no, it’s proof the RBA kept interest rates too high for too long…a point Jom was making and something the conservatives criticised him for saying ! #auspol
Couldn’t see a single mention in SMH today of the Albanese Government’s approval of the enormous Woodside gas project on the North West Shelf…huge carbon emissions, destruction of the world’s oldest rock art…not news I guess.
Excited to learn a Norwegian princess moving to Sydney though #climate
Excited to learn a Norwegian princess moving to Sydney though #climate
May 29, 2025 at 7:11 AM
Couldn’t see a single mention in SMH today of the Albanese Government’s approval of the enormous Woodside gas project on the North West Shelf…huge carbon emissions, destruction of the world’s oldest rock art…not news I guess.
Excited to learn a Norwegian princess moving to Sydney though #climate
Excited to learn a Norwegian princess moving to Sydney though #climate
I don’t make make many economic forecasts but I’m going out on a limb for this one…I predict that there will be new investment in Australia even if we tweak tax concessions on super balances over $3 million…I think ive got this one :)
May 22, 2025 at 11:45 AM
I don’t make make many economic forecasts but I’m going out on a limb for this one…I predict that there will be new investment in Australia even if we tweak tax concessions on super balances over $3 million…I think ive got this one :)
Wouldn’t it be fun to see the carbon offset industry get as angry at the fossil fuel industry as they get at scientists & environmentalists who call bullshit on ‘carbon neutral fossil fuels’
If we scrapped fossil fuel subsidies we could easily afford to pay landholders to store carbon #climate
If we scrapped fossil fuel subsidies we could easily afford to pay landholders to store carbon #climate
May 20, 2025 at 11:31 PM
Wouldn’t it be fun to see the carbon offset industry get as angry at the fossil fuel industry as they get at scientists & environmentalists who call bullshit on ‘carbon neutral fossil fuels’
If we scrapped fossil fuel subsidies we could easily afford to pay landholders to store carbon #climate
If we scrapped fossil fuel subsidies we could easily afford to pay landholders to store carbon #climate
I must be getting old…when i was studying economics productivity boosting was the job of CEOs not governments…productivity come from better training, better internal processes, better equipment and R&D…last time i checked they were bosses problems not something ‘big government’ can fix…
May 13, 2025 at 4:31 AM
I must be getting old…when i was studying economics productivity boosting was the job of CEOs not governments…productivity come from better training, better internal processes, better equipment and R&D…last time i checked they were bosses problems not something ‘big government’ can fix…
Australians already drive some of the biggest, least efficient cars in the world. We subsidise giant utes by exempting them from the Luxury Car Tax & treating them preferentially for FBT…and now Dutton wants to make things even worse
Hint: European ‘tradies’ don’t drive these enormous road barges
Hint: European ‘tradies’ don’t drive these enormous road barges
April 11, 2025 at 1:02 AM
Australians already drive some of the biggest, least efficient cars in the world. We subsidise giant utes by exempting them from the Luxury Car Tax & treating them preferentially for FBT…and now Dutton wants to make things even worse
Hint: European ‘tradies’ don’t drive these enormous road barges
Hint: European ‘tradies’ don’t drive these enormous road barges