Unconventional Economist

Over recent years, Australia has received large volumes of migrants from New Zealand, as illustrated by the following chart: In the 2025 calendar year, Australia received 28,500 net overseas migrants from New Zealand, down from the recent peak of 32,100 in mid-2024.

Trade Minister Don Farrell says the US government’s decision to impose a new tariff on imports from Australia is “completely unjustified” and a breach of the free-trade agreement between the two nations.

Australia’s Productivity Commission (PC) is calling for the most sweeping overhaul of housing rules in decades — pushing for three‑storey housing almost everywhere, major reductions in planning restrictions, and faster approvals — arguing that regulatory barriers are a core driver of the housing shortage and worsening affordability.

MB’s David Llewellyn-Smith (DLS) and Nucleus Wealth’s Damien Klassen disagree with me on energy policy.

Tonight I will be appearing on DFA Live with Martin North from 8.00pm AEST, where we will dive into the latest economic and political drivers of the housing market.

The Grattan Institute released a report arguing that the Pharmacy Guild of Australia has too much power over where pharmacies can be opened, how they run, the cost of medications and the services pharmacists can provide.

Across multiple inquiries, reports, and economic analyses, the CFMEU’s conduct on Victoria’s Big Build is consistently linked to higher construction costs, lower productivity, and systemic rorting that added billions to project budgets.

Jacinta Allan has resigned as Victorian Premier, paving the way for Ben Carroll to take over as the state’s leader, in a move that should avoid a messy leadership contest months before the state election.