The official cash rate should remain at a historic low of 0.1 per cent for at least one year, according to The Australian National University’s RBA Shadow Board. In its latest vote, the Shadow Board attaches a 95 per cent probability that an overnight cash rate of 0.1 per cent is the right setting, and only a five per cent probability that interest rates should rise. This is
Reserve Bank of Australia credit figures show total housing loans rose by a further 0.5 per cent in April for an annual pace of 4.4 per cent, the highest since January 2019.
May 12, 2021
On April 24, India’s daily new COVID-19 deaths were 2,760. The number has since jumped to 4,008 as of May 11.
To put the figures in perspective, the average daily number of dead in India from all causes was about 25,000 and over the past 13 months, Indians have died in greater numbers from 11 other causes including suicides. On the same day, tens of thousands protested in London against lockdowns and vaccination certificates.
U.S. President Joe Biden said the decision by Texas Gov. Greg Abbott to open the state completely on March 2 reflected “Neanderthal thinking.” His coronavirus adviser, Dr. Anthony Fauci, said it was “ill-advised,” “inexplicable” and would lead to surging cases. Yet the state’s seven-day moving averages of COVID-19 cases and deaths fell between March 2 and April 23 by 40% and 70%, respectively.
POLICY FORUM
Policy Forum Pod
, experts in the social determinants of health Sharon Friel and Sandro Demaio join hosts Arnagretta Hunter and Sharon Bessell to discuss realising the vision of a healthy Australia by 2030.
Has the COVID-19 pandemic forced Australian policymakers to address the social determinants of health? Instead of focusing on ‘vulnerable populations’, should the public debate instead focus on the conditions that create disadvantage, and stop transferring a sense of shame to individuals? Is now the time to reset and make achieving health for all by 2030 a real possibility? On this episode of
Policy Forum Pod, health equity expert Professor Sharon Friel and Dr Sandro Demaio, medical doctor and globally-renowned public health advocate, join Dr Arnagretta Hunter and Professor Sharon Bessell to discuss these questions and more. Listen here: https://bit.ly/2PUkbTY
POLICY FORUM
Faith in politics and the federal budget
Democracy Sausage
, Peter Martin and Marija Taflaga join Mark Kenny to discuss religion, politics, and the upcoming federal budget.
Should national leaders leave their faith ‘at the door’ when making decisions while in office, or is it more important that those leaders articulate how their faith influences their decision-making? What role has religious identity played in Australian politics in contemporary history? And how does the Australian Government plan to achieve its unemployment targets? On this episode of
Democracy Sausage, pod regulars Peter Martin and Dr Marija Taflaga join Professor Mark Kenny to discuss religion, identity politics, and the federal budget. Listen here: https://bit.ly/3nOtd1n