Ross Gittins on State - National Times

Lies, damned lies and Labor claims

Ross Gittins I guess you've heard the news: the Gillard government has obtained new analysis of data from the Bureau of Statistics showing that Tony Abbott's election commitments inflict brutal damage on working...

Comments 849

Ross Gittins

The four industries that rule Australia

Ross Gittins Like most, I believe in democracy. But I also believe in capitalism, and though the two have usually been seen in the West as a good fit, of late I'm having doubts.

Comments 191

Ross Gittins

Upside to economy's downside

Ross Gittins Pessimists who saw an economy in bad shape are finally being vindicated, and an election win may be their reward.

Ross Gittins

Pessimists may finally get it right

Ross Gittins As far as the economy's concerned, 2013 will be the year when many people's dreams come true. For at least the past two years, many of us - business people and consumers alike - have been convinced...

Ross Gittins

Economy not likely to drag in the voters

Ross Gittins If the economists' forecasts are right - a big if - the economy is likely to be in worse shape by the time of the election.

Ross Gittins

Be a happy taxpayer - the system benefits you

Ross Gittins Listening to all the argy-bargy over the budget update makes you think - what strange things budgets are.

Ross Gittins

Stop grumbling about tax, we all benefit along the way

Ross Gittins Our tax system shows we live in a fairly caring and civilised society.

Comments 284

Ross Gittins

It's great to have a conscience, now tell us how we'll pay for it

Ross Gittins You may not have noticed, but last week was among the most significant of the Gillard government's term.

Comments 228

Bad-luck budget won't win any friends, but nor should it

Ross Gittins This is a deceptively tough budget. It won’t impress people – either with its parsimony or its generosity - but that’s not the measure of a good budget.

Ross Gittins

Prudence is back - and it's about time, too

Ross Gittins One of the first lessons economists teach us is that the economy moves in cycles of boom and bust. A second, trickier lesson is that although most of the changes going on in the economy at any moment...

Ross Gittins

O'Farrell will need better luck next time

Ross Gittins THERE has never been reason to doubt Barry O'Farrell's skill as a politician, but it helps for a pollie to be lucky and, failing that, for him to have the steel to make his own luck.

Ross Garnaut

To a morning sunrise of raised expectation and lowered fear

Ross Gittins When we wake up tomorrow, Australia will have carbon pricing. How will its effects compare with those expected?

Ross Gittins

Time for taxis to get on road less travelled

Ross Gittins Industry is regulated in a way that isn't good for drivers or the public.

Comments 93

Ross Gittins

Not all that different but clearly better

Ross Gittins This is the I-solemnly-promise-to-be-tough budget. Its nasties come as an IOU. When the whole state had its tongue hanging out for deliverance from the Carr-Iemma-Rees-Keneally government, some...

Ross Gittins

We're still holding steady, even as jobs go

Ross Gittins Economists don't have a good record on forecasting what will happen to the economy, but here's a prediction I make with great confidence: whatever happens, it won't be as bad as you think it is.

Ross Gittins

Happiness is a two-way street shared with your fellow man

Ross Gittins Fed up with all the wrangling and speculation over who should be leading the Labor Party? Want something more substantial? How about the meaning of life - that weighty enough for you?

Comments 91

Ross Gittins

Putting the weekend to death

Ross Gittins The push for a 24-hour, seven-day work week is on again. It might be good for business, but is it good for us?

Ross Gittins

Workers pay the penalty for one-way flexibility

Ross Gittins Whether or not they realise what they're doing, Australia's business people, economists and politicians are in the process of dismantling the weekend and phasing out public holidays.

Comments 379