Illustration by Simon Letch

It was supposed to be the cost-of-living election. But then Dutton showed up

Anthony Albanese’s opponent achieved something that Labor couldn’t. He helped voters forget about the cost-of-living crisis.

  • Ross Gittins

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Economist Ross Garnaut,director of The Superpower Institute,addresses attendees during the opening day of Climate Action Week 2025 at the University of Technology.

Ross Garnaut:Prophet with a sunny vision of our glorious future

The present fashion of obsessing with productivity improvement for its own sake is counterproductive and probably won’t achieve much.

  • Ross Gittins

The climate won’t change for the Liberals without more women and fewer oldies

The Liberal Party is the Holden Commodore of politics. And it’s not roadworthy.

  • Ross Gittins
Had the Coalition succeeded in getting Labor sacked,Labor would rightly have blamed the Reserve Bank’s tardiness in cutting interest rates for that sacking,and its side of politics would have gone for at least a decade seeing the central bank as the enemy.

Dutton’s election campaign rout lets RBA off the hook

Reserve Bank governor Michele Bullock must be breathing a quiet sigh of relief now the Albanese government has been triumphantly returned to office.

  • Ross Gittins

Don’t be fooled. Ever-higher defence spending means ever-higher taxes

We’re spending about $56 billion a year on defence and that’s going to rise sharply,no matter who’s in power. Does anyone really think this won’t lead to income tax hikes?

  • Ross Gittins
Anthony Albanese and Peter Dutton.

Voters’ unasked question:Which party do I want deciding wages policy?

For an election dominated by cost-of-living sloganeering,neither Labor nor the Coalition has bothered to utter a word on wages.

  • Ross Gittins
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Anthony Albanese and Peter Dutton are fighting a “limp,uninspiring” election campaign.

Our democracy’s not working as it should. Here are some good ideas to fix it

This is a limp,uninspiring election campaign. A minority government may usher in new thinking.

  • Ross Gittins
Donald Trump said he “couldn’t care less” if automakers raised their prices.

My Easter sermon:How we Trump-proof our society

When politicians are no longer game to appeal to the better angels of our nature,you know we’ve got a problem.

  • Ross Gittins

Home truths:Housing policies are for show,but one side at least gets the problem

The major parties can’t hope to win the election without having promises that seem to help would-be home owners. Pity they aren’t more sincere about it.

  • Ross Gittins
Opposition leader Peter Dutton

Memo Dutton:Good economic managers don’t try to panic the punters

In his response to last week’s mayhem on financial markets,Opposition Leader Peter Dutton flunked a key test.

  • Ross Gittins