Intergenerational reports ought to do more than scare us — they ought to spark action

By Danielle Wood, Chief executive officer, Grattan Institute

The intergenerational reports are former treasurer Peter’s Costello’s fiscal future-proofing scheme — a five-yearly reminder that, without action, an ageing population and other changes will leave public finances looking ugly.

The fallout from COVID means Monday’s 2021 report projects a bigger sea of red ink than the previous 2015 report. It’s a useful reminder that lifting productivity, reforming age-based tax breaks, improving migration and confronting climate change are crucial to leaving a happier legacy for the next generation.

Let’s start with the bad news.

Read complete article

~	Exploring New Zealand’s unique wildlife and learning about conservation efforts

~	Uzbekistan’s new vehicle import regulations risk strengthening its most notorious monopoly

~	Reporters Without Borders releases 10 facts about media repression in Hong Kong

~	What’s the job of a company chair? South Africa’s rules aren’t clear and need fixing

~	Four major threats to press freedom in the UK

~	Five tales of violent, ambitious, brilliant women – what you should watch and read this week

~	How one 18th-century sermon triggered England’s first celebrity crush – with merchandise

~	The EU’s new ecocide law may still let environmental criminals get away with it

~	Supermarket Iceland is producing a manifesto on behalf of customers – but should retailers meddle in politics?

~	Gut microbiome: meet E coli – the infamous bacteria with an unfair reputation