The Latest Breaking News from Ken Henry

Climate change is the biggest issue of our time. 2024 marked both the hottest year on record and the highest levels of carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions in the past two million years.

Human economies are made possible through natural capital – stocks of land, fresh water, oceans, biodiversity and soils, among others. Farming isn’t possible without soil or water. Manufacturing isn’t possible without raw materials to convert into products. Service industries aren’t possible without reliable food.

We’re now less than a month away from the start of the Albanese government’s “economic reform” (aka “productivity”) roundtable, but it has become quite hard to get a fix on exactly what this gathering will amount to.

The failures of our environmental protection laws mean we are not only failing nature but also undermining productivity – at a huge cost

Former Treasury Secretary Ken Henry has warned Australia’s global environmental reputation is at risk if the Albanese government fails to reform nature laws this term.

Fishing and tourism industries are struggling with the impact of a months-long algal bloom that has no end in sight, prompting calls for federal help.

The notorious outback killer of British backpacker Peter Falconio has died in custody of throat cancer; NSW plan to speed up home building

One of the nation's most prominent economists says Australia should not have scrapped its carbon tax, but there are other ways to take action on climate.

Next week will be the 40th anniversary of the Hawke government’s tax summit. Dominated by then treasurer Paul Keating’s unsuccessful bid to win support for a consumption tax, it was the public centrepiece of an extraordinary political and policy story.