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John Hawkins

John Hawkins

The Conversation

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Why cash has made an unexpected comeback in Australia: new study

Around half of Australians still use cash in a typical week, and we keep about $65 in our wallets.

21.04.2026 10

The Conversation

John Hawkins

Was the Hawke government really the ‘gold standard’ for reform?

Bob Hawke ably managed his government, but he was also luckier than previous Labor prime ministers.

09.04.2026 10

The Conversation

John Hawkins

RBA narrowly votes to lift interest rates. The Middle East war may determine if there’s more to come

The second rate hike this year will add another $100 a month to the average mortgage, just as fuel prices are surging.

17.03.2026 30

The Conversation

John Hawkins

A four-way tussle in Farrer may tell us what’s really going on in Australian politics

Sussan Ley has announced that, after a fortnight’s farewell tour, she will step down as the member for Farrer. This sets the stage for what will be...

16.02.2026 30

The New Daily

John Hawkins

Want to know what’s really going on in Australian politics? A four-way tussle in Farrer may tell us

Sussan Ley’s retirement from parliament means all eyes will be on the byelection in her regional seat of Farrer – and the contest may well be messy.

16.02.2026 20

The Conversation

John Hawkins

Australian inflation jumps, adding to chances of an RBA interest rate hike

A rate hike next week would be an unusually rapid turnaround after the recent interest rate cuts.

28.01.2026 30

The Conversation

John Hawkins

Why the world’s central bankers had to speak up against Trump’s attacks on the Fed

It’s unusual for central bank leaders to issue such a statement. But the reason is simple: what happens in the US matters worldwide.

14.01.2026 20

The Conversation

John Hawkins

Inflation cooled more than expected in November. But rate cuts remain unlikely anytime soon

The latest inflation figures are an important piece of the puzzle for the Reserve Bank ahead of its next interest rate decision in February.

07.01.2026 20

The Conversation

John Hawkins

Can you ‘live long and prosper’ by learning economics from Star Trek? Or is that ‘highly illogical’?

From societies without money to profiteering aliens, the world of Star Trek has more to say about economics than you might think.

25.12.2025 30

The Conversation

John Hawkins

The ACT and Queensland's economies are beating the rest of the nation

21.11.2025 10

The Examiner

John Hawkins

The ACT and Queensland's economies are beating the rest of the nation

21.11.2025 20

Canberra Times

John Hawkins

New data shows the ACT and Queensland economies are beating the rest of the nation

The state breakdown shows growth in the services sector helped to offset weakness in mining and manufacturing.

21.11.2025 10

The Conversation

John Hawkins

New data shows the ACT and Queensland’s economies are beating the rest of the nation

The state breakdown shows growth in the services sector helped to offset weakness in mining and manufacturing.

20.11.2025 10

The Conversation

John Hawkins

Years in the making, the first complete monthly inflation report is almost here

But the new monthly index might create the impression there’s more inflation than there actually is.

18.11.2025 10

The Conversation

John Hawkins

The 2025 Nobel economics prize honours economic creation and destruction

Collectively, the trio’s work has examined what drives sustainable economic growth over time, including scientific innovation and the birth and...

14.10.2025 20

The Conversation

John Hawkins

New data shows the US dollar still dominates foreign exchange markets – despite Trump’s economic chaos

The trade wars could eventually undermine the importance of the US dollar, but it isn’t happening yet.

01.10.2025 20

The Conversation

John Hawkins

Rapid climate action will come at a cost, according to the Business Council. But experts say the benefits are far larger

Is climate action a cost or benefit? The debate is dividing big Australian businesses. But the answer is clear: benefits from action far outweighs the...

08.09.2025 10

The Conversation

John Hawkins

With just ‘three days to inform the next three budgets’, here’s how Chalmers’ roundtable kicked off

Behind the closed doors of the Cabinet Room, the treasurer is pushing for ‘concrete ideas’ that won’t cost Australia more.

19.08.2025 10

The Conversation

John Hawkins

Reserve Bank says unemployment rise was not a shock, inflation on track

Reserve Bank Governor Michele Bullock needs to keep the bank’s focus on unemployment as well as inflation.

24.07.2025 10

The Conversation

John Hawkins

From ‘Stone Age’ treasury boss to National Party Senator: John Stone 1929–2025

22.07.2025 20

Pearls and Irritations

John Hawkins

From 'Stone Age' treasury boss to National Party senator: John Stone 1929-2025

19.07.2025 10

Canberra Times

John Hawkins

From ‘Stone Age’ treasury boss to National Party Senator: John Stone 1929-2025

Stone was the last of the old-style Canberra mandarins, serving eight Australian treasurers, from Snedden to Keating.

18.07.2025 7

The Conversation

John Hawkins

Treasury warns the government it may not balance the budget or meet its housing targets

Unless we are happy to keep government debt, – which is already close to a trillion dollars – growing indefinitely, taxes will need to rise.

14.07.2025 10

The Conversation

John Hawkins

Wild swings in the oil price make the Reserve Bank’s job harder

Turmoil in markets has added another layer of complexity to the outlook for interest rates.

25.06.2025 10

The Conversation

John Hawkins

Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang has been called the ‘AI Oppenheimer’ – but he dismisses concerns: AI is just ‘processing data’

Nvidia is one of the world’s most highly valued companies. A new book suggests its Taiwanese-born CEO is as grounded as any centibillionaire could be.

17.06.2025 30

The Conversation

John Hawkins

Workers need better tools and tech to boost productivity. Why aren’t companies stepping up to invest?

Business investment is mired at 30-year lows. Why is it so weak and what needs to change?

13.06.2025 20

The Conversation

John Hawkins

Can a book help the left rebuild the good life? Ezra Klein’s Abundance is the talk of Washington – and Canberra

Jim Chalmers, Andrew Leigh and Gavin Newsom are among the high-ranking politicians reading and sharing Abundance – a book that urges the left...

06.06.2025 10

The Conversation

John Hawkins

Spotify continues to change music. What’s next – will AI musicians replace music made by humans?

Spotify officially claims it was started because its founders ‘love music and piracy was killing it’. But a new book argues this is rewriting history.

21.05.2025 30

The Conversation

John Hawkins

RBA cuts interest rates, ready to respond again if the economy weakens further

Inflation is back under control, but now the Reserve Bank is concerned about the risks of a global economic slowdown.

20.05.2025 10

The Conversation

John Hawkins

Inflation is easing, boosting the case for another interest rate cut in May

With the key measures of inflation back within the Reserve Bank’s target band, expectations are growing for a second rate cut in May.

30.04.2025 10

The Conversation

John Hawkins

We compared the Labor and Coalition’s income tax proposals to see who benefits most

In an unexpected twist, it seems neither party is targeting its usual voters with these tax cuts.

16.04.2025 20

The Conversation

John Hawkins

Reserve Bank holds rates steady, cautious about the economic outlook

The inflation picture is improving, but the central bank is worried about the global economic backdrop.

01.04.2025 10

The Conversation

John Hawkins

We calculated how much Dutton’s excise cut would save you on fuel – and few will save as much as promised

The amount households could expect to save varies significantly according to where they are located – and how often they drive.

27.03.2025 10

The Conversation

John Hawkins

Tax cuts are coming, but not soon, in a cautious budget

An average worker will get $268 but not until mid-2026.

25.03.2025 10

The Conversation

John Hawkins

Lawmakers worldwide want to talk to the Meta insider whose memoir is a US bestseller – after Zuckerberg took her to court

Meta has issued a court order to stop former senior employee Sarah Wynn-Williams from discussing her memoir – despite its new commitment to ‘free...

25.03.2025 10

The Conversation

John Hawkins

Budget focus on cost-of-living and global tremors

24.03.2025 20

The New Daily

John Hawkins

This week’s federal budget will focus on cost-of -living measures – and a more uncertain global economy

In the Albanese government’s last federal budget before the election, new spending promises are likely to be limited.

24.03.2025 10

The Conversation

John Hawkins

Dutton hints he'll sack 36,000 public servants. Voters deserve to know what services will be affected

27.02.2025 20

Canberra Times

John Hawkins

New report slaps an official price tag on Australia’s precious natural assets

The first-of-its kind report by the Australian Bureau of Statistics looks beyond GDP to a broader measurement of what nature is really worth.

27.02.2025 10

The Conversation

John Hawkins

Dutton hints he’ll sack 36,000 public servants. Voters deserve to know what services will be affected

The future of the public service has become a hot election issue with fears Peter Dutton’s threats to sack staff will gut essential front line...

27.02.2025 30

The Conversation

John Hawkins

The Reserve Bank has cut rates for the first time in four years. But it is cautious about future cuts

The first cut in interest rates was expected, but the central bank has warned the economic outlook remains uncertain.

18.02.2025 20

The Conversation

John Hawkins