Toby Phillips
@tobyphillips.bsky.social
Economic Director at the Centre for Policy Development in Australia. Spends a lot of time in the mountains.
Last week I spoke to the Senate Economics Committee about legislation to establish tax credits for hydrogen production and critical minerals production.
This is really important economic policy, particularly for hydrogen, so I'll share some clips below 1/4
#auspol
This is really important economic policy, particularly for hydrogen, so I'll share some clips below 1/4
#auspol
January 30, 2025 at 5:36 AM
Last week I spoke to the Senate Economics Committee about legislation to establish tax credits for hydrogen production and critical minerals production.
This is really important economic policy, particularly for hydrogen, so I'll share some clips below 1/4
#auspol
This is really important economic policy, particularly for hydrogen, so I'll share some clips below 1/4
#auspol
madness – minimum car parking requirements are complete overreach of planning process.
If people want parking, they will buy apartments with parking. If they don't want parking, let them build apartments without.
If people want parking, they will buy apartments with parking. If they don't want parking, let them build apartments without.
3/ But despite council staff recommending approval of the project with no car parking requirements, Merri-bek Labor and Sue Bolton seem determined to enforce car dependency and potentially kill the project.
January 28, 2025 at 12:51 AM
madness – minimum car parking requirements are complete overreach of planning process.
If people want parking, they will buy apartments with parking. If they don't want parking, let them build apartments without.
If people want parking, they will buy apartments with parking. If they don't want parking, let them build apartments without.
Reposted by Toby Phillips
Rather than taking carbon emissions, many countries are, on the contrary, still subsidizing them. #BadIncentives #WastefulSpending
How much subsidies do fossil fuels receive?
Estimates range from less than $1 trillion to $7 trillion globally.
Where do these numbers come from? Which countries give the highest subsidies to fossil fuels?
Estimates range from less than $1 trillion to $7 trillion globally.
Where do these numbers come from? Which countries give the highest subsidies to fossil fuels?
January 27, 2025 at 11:55 PM
Rather than taking carbon emissions, many countries are, on the contrary, still subsidizing them. #BadIncentives #WastefulSpending
I was quoted in the Australian Financial Review today on the offshore wind sector...
In the last budget, the govt allocated $235 million to improve approvals processes and reduce complexity for major projects. These might sound dull, but it is critical!
www.afr.com/policy/energ...
In the last budget, the govt allocated $235 million to improve approvals processes and reduce complexity for major projects. These might sound dull, but it is critical!
www.afr.com/policy/energ...
January 28, 2025 at 12:12 AM
I was quoted in the Australian Financial Review today on the offshore wind sector...
In the last budget, the govt allocated $235 million to improve approvals processes and reduce complexity for major projects. These might sound dull, but it is critical!
www.afr.com/policy/energ...
In the last budget, the govt allocated $235 million to improve approvals processes and reduce complexity for major projects. These might sound dull, but it is critical!
www.afr.com/policy/energ...
Amateur headline writing! Should be "24,000 Victorian renters become homeowners as government policy reduces speculation"
January 24, 2025 at 4:40 AM
Amateur headline writing! Should be "24,000 Victorian renters become homeowners as government policy reduces speculation"
I was quoted in this article about Trump's green industry aproach:
"This will rattle investor confidence in the US. It is a perfect time to demonstrate that Australia is the best place in the world to build industries like green hydrogen and green aluminium."
www.innovationaus.com/trumps-ira-r...
"This will rattle investor confidence in the US. It is a perfect time to demonstrate that Australia is the best place in the world to build industries like green hydrogen and green aluminium."
www.innovationaus.com/trumps-ira-r...
Trump's IRA retreat an 'opportunity' for Australia
A President Trump order halting funding from America’s $557 billion climate and industry program will be limited to climate change mitigation and electric vehicles programs, the Whitehouse clarified o...
www.innovationaus.com
January 24, 2025 at 12:49 AM
I was quoted in this article about Trump's green industry aproach:
"This will rattle investor confidence in the US. It is a perfect time to demonstrate that Australia is the best place in the world to build industries like green hydrogen and green aluminium."
www.innovationaus.com/trumps-ira-r...
"This will rattle investor confidence in the US. It is a perfect time to demonstrate that Australia is the best place in the world to build industries like green hydrogen and green aluminium."
www.innovationaus.com/trumps-ira-r...
really interesting discussion of the "everything bagel" problem policy development: trying to achieve everything with a single policy
the flip side is the Tinbergen rule: a single policy instrument can only optimise for a single goal
the flip side is the Tinbergen rule: a single policy instrument can only optimise for a single goal
Why does this matter? I think the metaphor is starting to hide the ball.
To extend the metaphor further: every policy has *hundreds* of ingredients--they're mostly just invisible, as the bagel "dough". The challenge isn't identifying which are extraneous "toppings", it's which ones are bad.
To extend the metaphor further: every policy has *hundreds* of ingredients--they're mostly just invisible, as the bagel "dough". The challenge isn't identifying which are extraneous "toppings", it's which ones are bad.
January 24, 2025 at 12:37 AM
really interesting discussion of the "everything bagel" problem policy development: trying to achieve everything with a single policy
the flip side is the Tinbergen rule: a single policy instrument can only optimise for a single goal
the flip side is the Tinbergen rule: a single policy instrument can only optimise for a single goal
Reposted by Toby Phillips
Being a person with deadly, incurable cancer who is nonetheless still alive for an indefinite timeframe gives me an interesting metaphor that helps me deal with things like large-scale corruption in government or commerce.
Bear with me for a second while I try to explain.
Bear with me for a second while I try to explain.
January 21, 2025 at 2:26 AM
Being a person with deadly, incurable cancer who is nonetheless still alive for an indefinite timeframe gives me an interesting metaphor that helps me deal with things like large-scale corruption in government or commerce.
Bear with me for a second while I try to explain.
Bear with me for a second while I try to explain.
I was on ABC radio's PM program yesterday talking about the government's $2bn commitment to green aluminium.
What a great opportunity! Australia has great renewable energy potential and is the world's largest producer of bauxite, but we export 90% of it.
www.abc.net.au/listen/progr...
What a great opportunity! Australia has great renewable energy potential and is the world's largest producer of bauxite, but we export 90% of it.
www.abc.net.au/listen/progr...
Labor commits to 'green aluminium' - ABC listen
Labor is offering billions of dollars in tax credits to help transition the aluminium sector to renewable energy.
www.abc.net.au
January 21, 2025 at 3:40 AM
I was on ABC radio's PM program yesterday talking about the government's $2bn commitment to green aluminium.
What a great opportunity! Australia has great renewable energy potential and is the world's largest producer of bauxite, but we export 90% of it.
www.abc.net.au/listen/progr...
What a great opportunity! Australia has great renewable energy potential and is the world's largest producer of bauxite, but we export 90% of it.
www.abc.net.au/listen/progr...
Reposted by Toby Phillips
Ben’s great piece captures a problem that IMO we are seeing across non-US developed countries: the unwillingness to lead and take responsibility to choose leadership. Leading is not just winning the polls; it’s taking a stand on a policy vision, running w/ it, taking a risk, owning the consequences.
📈 New post from me about Labour’s growth problem 📈
I argue that there isn’t a clear ‘theory of growth’ that Starmer and Reeves share. So there is a risk of a Frankenstein’s monster of incommensurate ideas. 🧵
benansell.substack.com/p/grasping-f...
I argue that there isn’t a clear ‘theory of growth’ that Starmer and Reeves share. So there is a risk of a Frankenstein’s monster of incommensurate ideas. 🧵
benansell.substack.com/p/grasping-f...
Grasping for Growth
Labour claim to be 'single-minded' about economic growth. But do they have a theory of it?
benansell.substack.com
January 15, 2025 at 8:39 AM
Ben’s great piece captures a problem that IMO we are seeing across non-US developed countries: the unwillingness to lead and take responsibility to choose leadership. Leading is not just winning the polls; it’s taking a stand on a policy vision, running w/ it, taking a risk, owning the consequences.
I just got around to reading this great piece by @jburnmurdoch.bsky.social
Inequality hasn’t risen, but it feels like it has. The middle class is stagnating, while the poor catch up and the rich pull away. A median income doesn’t mean what it used to!
www.ft.com/content/b325...
Inequality hasn’t risen, but it feels like it has. The middle class is stagnating, while the poor catch up and the rich pull away. A median income doesn’t mean what it used to!
www.ft.com/content/b325...
January 15, 2025 at 9:14 AM
I just got around to reading this great piece by @jburnmurdoch.bsky.social
Inequality hasn’t risen, but it feels like it has. The middle class is stagnating, while the poor catch up and the rich pull away. A median income doesn’t mean what it used to!
www.ft.com/content/b325...
Inequality hasn’t risen, but it feels like it has. The middle class is stagnating, while the poor catch up and the rich pull away. A median income doesn’t mean what it used to!
www.ft.com/content/b325...
great to see empirical confirmation of claims about the housing market I always assumed to be true (but never had data):
1. new housing supply leads to lower rents
2. new housing supply increases supply of affordable units (even if the new construction is in more expensive market segments)
1. new housing supply leads to lower rents
2. new housing supply increases supply of affordable units (even if the new construction is in more expensive market segments)
January 8, 2025 at 2:49 AM
great to see empirical confirmation of claims about the housing market I always assumed to be true (but never had data):
1. new housing supply leads to lower rents
2. new housing supply increases supply of affordable units (even if the new construction is in more expensive market segments)
1. new housing supply leads to lower rents
2. new housing supply increases supply of affordable units (even if the new construction is in more expensive market segments)
New mandatory climate disclosure laws come into effect this month in Australia – so I spoke to ABC RN radio to about what this means for investors and business.
This is a slam dunk piece of financial regulation, and should make things better for investors, business, and the environment.
This is a slam dunk piece of financial regulation, and should make things better for investors, business, and the environment.
January 6, 2025 at 7:31 AM
New mandatory climate disclosure laws come into effect this month in Australia – so I spoke to ABC RN radio to about what this means for investors and business.
This is a slam dunk piece of financial regulation, and should make things better for investors, business, and the environment.
This is a slam dunk piece of financial regulation, and should make things better for investors, business, and the environment.
big oof
Now on to mechanics of how "independent, eminent" person will be appointed to revisit Robodebt decision. We revealed last week that they had already approached and then dumped former SG Justin Gleeson because of concerns about a former Coalition Minister. www.thesaturdaypaper.com.au/news/law-cri...
Exclusive: NACC dumped Gleeson over concerns for Coalition minister
Former solicitor-general Justin Gleeson’s appointment to review the NACC’s decision on robodebt was rescinded over concerns it might offend a Coalition minister who was referred for investigation.
www.thesaturdaypaper.com.au
November 22, 2024 at 2:44 AM
big oof
I was quoted in this @capitalbrief.com article on the new Future Fund mandate.
Folk like @petertulip.bsky.social are right that the best way to achieve goals is through real fiscal policy.
But I don't see their concerns – the FF's singular goal is unchanged.
www.capitalbrief.com/article/expe...
Folk like @petertulip.bsky.social are right that the best way to achieve goals is through real fiscal policy.
But I don't see their concerns – the FF's singular goal is unchanged.
www.capitalbrief.com/article/expe...
November 22, 2024 at 1:46 AM
I was quoted in this @capitalbrief.com article on the new Future Fund mandate.
Folk like @petertulip.bsky.social are right that the best way to achieve goals is through real fiscal policy.
But I don't see their concerns – the FF's singular goal is unchanged.
www.capitalbrief.com/article/expe...
Folk like @petertulip.bsky.social are right that the best way to achieve goals is through real fiscal policy.
But I don't see their concerns – the FF's singular goal is unchanged.
www.capitalbrief.com/article/expe...
this thread can pretty much replace my "how to format a chart" notes for my team at work
Trying something new:
A 🧵 on a topic I find many students struggle with: "why do their 📊 look more professional than my 📊?"
It's *lots* of tiny decisions that aren't the defaults in many libraries, so let's break down 1 simple graph by @jburnmurdoch.bsky.social
🔗 www.ft.com/content/73a1...
A 🧵 on a topic I find many students struggle with: "why do their 📊 look more professional than my 📊?"
It's *lots* of tiny decisions that aren't the defaults in many libraries, so let's break down 1 simple graph by @jburnmurdoch.bsky.social
🔗 www.ft.com/content/73a1...
November 21, 2024 at 11:14 PM
this thread can pretty much replace my "how to format a chart" notes for my team at work
Reposted by Toby Phillips
okay this looks SUPER interesting ----->
Think the academic journal system is outdated? We do too. Let’s modernize it with sqare.org! Join our initiative in Econometrics by signing the support form. First, we revolutionize Econometrics; then, we tackle the rest. #ResearchInnovation #Econometrics”
November 21, 2024 at 5:12 AM
okay this looks SUPER interesting ----->
The Future Fund got a new mandate today – which outlines national priorities like net zero industries and boosting housing supply.
It's useful to articulate social goals, but it won't have a major impact on investments. We looked at the FF a couple of years ago and proposed bigger changes... 1/5
It's useful to articulate social goals, but it won't have a major impact on investments. We looked at the FF a couple of years ago and proposed bigger changes... 1/5
November 21, 2024 at 4:45 AM
The Future Fund got a new mandate today – which outlines national priorities like net zero industries and boosting housing supply.
It's useful to articulate social goals, but it won't have a major impact on investments. We looked at the FF a couple of years ago and proposed bigger changes... 1/5
It's useful to articulate social goals, but it won't have a major impact on investments. We looked at the FF a couple of years ago and proposed bigger changes... 1/5
Reposted by Toby Phillips
The UK: good at the research bit, bad at the money bit. financing-gap.co/unitedkingdom
September 18, 2024 at 4:09 PM
The UK: good at the research bit, bad at the money bit. financing-gap.co/unitedkingdom
Reposted by Toby Phillips
Seeing as there are so many new accounts here now, reposting this thread (of 50, not 100). Posted one a day until I ran out of steam.
Once upon a time I had the idea of writing a book called ‘The Ageing Intellectual’s Book Shelf’ with 100 titles (non fiction) bookish people maybe a little older than me would have had. Might slowly do it here, though without the discussion. Here’s the obvious first. Rachel Carson’s Silent Spring.
September 18, 2024 at 6:16 AM
Seeing as there are so many new accounts here now, reposting this thread (of 50, not 100). Posted one a day until I ran out of steam.
Reposted by Toby Phillips
This was mostly a policy choice, and the govt have not yet moved on abolishing the 2 child benefit limit. The reason given is the £. But the implications of child poverty for educational attaiment, post education employment and earnings, health, crime would make it a £ saver in the long run.
Children’s lives in the UK are changing.
They are becoming shorter in height. More of them are going hungry than they were a few years ago. Recently, more have died each year than they did a few years ago. Increased poverty, more destitution & the effects of ongoing austerity are the clear culprits.
They are becoming shorter in height. More of them are going hungry than they were a few years ago. Recently, more have died each year than they did a few years ago. Increased poverty, more destitution & the effects of ongoing austerity are the clear culprits.
September 18, 2024 at 6:28 AM
This was mostly a policy choice, and the govt have not yet moved on abolishing the 2 child benefit limit. The reason given is the £. But the implications of child poverty for educational attaiment, post education employment and earnings, health, crime would make it a £ saver in the long run.
Reposted by Toby Phillips
Productivity Commission's child care report recommends:
- increasing Child Care Subsidy rate to 100% of fee or rate cap for families with income <$80k
- increasing higher CCS rate for 2+ children to 100% for families with incomes <$140k
- abolishing activity test for hours of CCS
- increasing Child Care Subsidy rate to 100% of fee or rate cap for families with income <$80k
- increasing higher CCS rate for 2+ children to 100% for families with incomes <$140k
- abolishing activity test for hours of CCS
September 18, 2024 at 5:27 AM
Productivity Commission's child care report recommends:
- increasing Child Care Subsidy rate to 100% of fee or rate cap for families with income <$80k
- increasing higher CCS rate for 2+ children to 100% for families with incomes <$140k
- abolishing activity test for hours of CCS
- increasing Child Care Subsidy rate to 100% of fee or rate cap for families with income <$80k
- increasing higher CCS rate for 2+ children to 100% for families with incomes <$140k
- abolishing activity test for hours of CCS
Reposted by Toby Phillips
Making a rare exception to my no-Twitter-screenshots policy for this important legal news
September 17, 2024 at 10:21 PM
Making a rare exception to my no-Twitter-screenshots policy for this important legal news