The Morning Edition ‘Intergenerational bastardry’ in our tax system: Do older Australians have it too good?
Aug 22, 2025
Joining the discussion are Paul Sakkal, Chief Political Correspondent for The Sydney Morning Herald and The Age, and Shane Wright, Senior Economics Correspondent for the same publications. They dive into the recent Economic Roundtable, emphasizing urgent tax reforms to alleviate financial burdens on younger Australians. The conversation covers housing challenges and tax inequities, alongside the complexities of managing the National Disability Insurance Scheme, illuminating the tensions between budget constraints and vital support for families.
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Roundtable Favoured Incremental Reforms
- The Economic Roundtable produced many small, actionable 'one-percent' reforms rather than a single big-bang overhaul.
- Jim Chalmers signalled the tax system's intergenerational unfairness and opened a policy debate on wealth and income treatment.
Deploy Quick 'One-Percent' Reforms
- Use small, quick regulatory and process reforms to improve productivity while building support for larger tax changes.
- Combine many modest improvements to create tangible economic gains before pursuing contentious tax reforms.
Regulation Is Blocking House Building
- The National Construction Code's complexity is a hidden but critical barrier to faster house building.
- Simplifying such technical regulations could unlock substantial housing supply improvements quickly.