Michael Keating on a Fair Share

Written by Michelle Grattan, Professorial Fellow, University of Canberra

With the debate about equality heating up ahead of the federal election, Dr Michael Keating, the former head of three federal government departments, warns that while past economic reforms have served Australia well, there’s a risk some people may be left behind if we don’t “change the debate”.

A new book co-authored by University of Queensland Political Economy Professor Stephen Bell and Keating called Fair Share identifies lagging wages, low taxation and technological change as causes of inequality, and outlines comprehensive policy solutions for addressing these.

Keating told The Conversation that taxation revenue will need to rise by another 3 percentage points of GDP in the next 3 years.

Authors: Michelle Grattan, Professorial Fellow, University of Canberra

In the trade wars, there are lessons for the US from Brexit. Australia and our trading partners should take note
General_4530/GettyWhile the Trump administration’s on-again, off-again trade wars wreak havoc on the business plans of …
Extreme weather events have slowed economic growth, adding to the case for another rate cut
Australia’s economy slowed sharply in the March quarter, growing by just 0.2% as government spending slowed and extreme…
Australia’s charity sector is growing – but many smaller charities are doing it tough
Revenue for Australia’s charity and not-for-profit sector has reached record highs, and total donations have grown. But…
Tax concessions on super need a rethink. These proposals would bring much needed reform
fizkes/ShutterstockThe federal government has proposed an additional tax of 15% on the earnings made on super balances of ove…
Trump’s steel tariffs are unlikely to have a big impact on Australia. But we could be hurt by what happens globally
Shestakov Dymytro/ShutterstockJust one day after the US Court of Appeals temporarily reinstated the Trump Administration&rsq…
As government cuts bite, public service unions can use ‘soft power’ as well as strikes to win support
Hagen Hopkins/Getty ImagesCuts to the public service, the decision to halt all pay equity claims, and the tight 2025 budget m…

Traditions of Rural Bali at Villa Sabana
A Privileged Insight into the Traditions of Rural Bali at Villa Sabana Situated in the traditional village of Pererenan near Canggu, Villa Sabana is peacefully secluded in a semi-rural setting where…

How Sydney Drone Photography Transforms the Way Properties Are Marketed
Key Highlights Drone photography provides stunning aerial perspectives, showcasing properties in a way that traditional photography cannot match. This innovative technology allows real estate agents to highlight property features, surrounding amenities, and…

To boost Indigenous employment, we need to map job opportunities to skills and qualifications. Our new project does just that
ShutterstockFor employers wanting to recruit Indigenous workers, two key factors stand in their way: geography combined with lack of job diversity, and a mismatch between educational qualifications and job opportunities…
From field to store to plate, our farmers are increasingly worried about climate change
Empty supermarket shelves still shock Australians, who have become accustomed to being able to buy the food they want. But we can expect to see more empty shelves, more often…
Breaking Barriers: How Buxton’s Sophie is Redefining Business Development
In December 2024, Sophie added another accolade to her impressive career, receiving the National Business Development Manager of the Year Award at the prestigious PMP Awards. This recognition cements…

Michael Keating on a Fair Share

In the trade wars, there are lessons for the US from Brexit. Australia and our trading partners should take note

Extreme weather events have slowed economic growth, adding to the case for another rate cut

Australia’s charity sector is growing – but many smaller charities are doing it tough

Tax concessions on super need a rethink. These proposals would bring much needed reform

Trump’s steel tariffs are unlikely to have a big impact on Australia. But we could be hurt by what happens globally

As government cuts bite, public service unions can use ‘soft power’ as well as strikes to win support

Traditions of Rural Bali at Villa Sabana

How Sydney Drone Photography Transforms the Way Properties Are Marketed

To boost Indigenous employment, we need to map job opportunities to skills and qualifications. Our new project does just that

From field to store to plate, our farmers are increasingly worried about climate change

Breaking Barriers: How Buxton’s Sophie is Redefining Business Development

TP Leverages AI for Accent-Translation to Improve Customer Engagement

The quiet majority: why marketers need to cater to low intent shoppers

Lack of Salary Transparency is Costing Businesses Top Talent, Says Recruiters

Sleep Soundly, Knowing Your People Are Paid Right: Navigating the Complexities of Modern Payroll

Tariffs for dummies: Getting to grips with the business of exporting goods and services

Deputy Unveils Enterprise-Grade Analytics+ to Power Smarter Workforce Decisions for Shift-Based Businesses