Publications
Here you can find articles or essays which I have written and which have been published elsewhere
Interim Report to the ACT Legislative Assembly Select Committee on the Fiscal Sustainability of the ACT
Australian Society and Politics, Economic Policies, Publications, The Australian Economy | 2nd March 2026At the beginning of last month Saul was engaged by the Australian Capital Territory’s Legislative Assembly as a Special Advisor to the Select Committee on the Fiscal Sustainability of the ACT, which was established in December last year. Saul’s interim report was presented to the Committee on 27th February. . The Final Report is due […]
Submission to the Productivity Commission’s Inquiry into The Worst Public Policy Decision of the 21st Century Thus Far (aka “the WA GST deal”).
Australian Society and Politics, Economic Policies, Publications, The Australian Economy | 5th January 2026The Productivity Commission has been asked to inquire into what I’ve called The Worst (Australian) Public Policy Decision of the 21st Century Thus Far – namely, the Orwellianly-titled Treasury Laws Amendment (Making Sure Every State and Territory Gets Their Fair Share of GST) Act 2018, legislated by the Morrison Government (with the support of the […]
Another hung parliament solves nothing about Tasmania’s dire fiscal position
Australian Society and Politics, Publications, Tasmania | 21st July 2025Op-ed published in the Australian Financial Review 0n 20th July 2025, about the outcome of the Tasmanian state election held the previous day.
An agenda for tax reform
Australian Society and Politics, Economic Policies, Publications, Taxation | 22nd June 2025On 22nd and 23rd June, John Menadue’s Pearls and Irritations blog published (in two parts) Saul’s article about options that ideally should be on Australian Treasurer Dr Jim Chalmers’ table as he considers how tax reform could contribute to two of the challenges he highlighted in his address to the National Press Club on 10th […]
Tasmania’s next government needs to have credible plans to return the budget to a cash surplus and reduce debt
Australian Society and Politics, Economic Policies, Publications, Tasmania | 17th June 2025Unfunded pork-barrelling accounts for more than three-quarters of the increase in Tasmania’s ‘general government’ net debt between 2017-18 and the forecast for 2027-28. During the campaign for the election to be held on 19th July (the third in four years, the fourth in seven) someone needs to say, echoing Kevin Rudd during the 2007 Federal […]
Inequality in the Distribution of Wealth – An Inter-Generational Perspective
Australian Society and Politics, Economic Policies, Publications, Taxation | 5th June 2025Article published by Inside Story and Pearls and Irritations in June 2025 , based on Saul’s talk to the Business Breakfast hosted by the Tasmanian Division of the Salvantion Army on 19th May 2025 for the launch of their Annual Red Shield Appeal.
Tasmanian Government Privatisation Assessment – ‘Stage One’ Report
Economic Policies, Publications, Tasmania | 1st June 2025In March this year the Premier of Tasmania, the Hon. Jeremy Rockliff MP, asked Saul to give his Government “high level” advice on the possible privatization or divestment of 16 different government business enterprises (GBEs), state-owned companies (SOCs) and other entitites. The terms of reference called for the advice to be presented in two stages, […]
The funding of greyhound racing in Tasmania
Australian Society and Politics, Economic Policies, Publications, Tasmania | 22nd May 2025Saul Eslake’s report on the financing (overwhelmingly by the Tasmanian State Government) of greyhound racing in Tasmania: Note: this report was funded by private individuals associated with 12 charities and community groups campaigning for greyhound welfare. However none of those individuals sought to influence the content of this report, the responsibility for which rests entirely […]