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On how the West was won

On how the West was won

Those of us who have had a lot to do with real estate agents know that they generally have the antenna of finely tuned Stradivarius – or stockbroker. Quick to pick up every nuanced vibration in the atmosphere and transform any slight variation in data inputs into useable performance outcomes. But on sustainability it’s been far from the ...
Why we need more biomaterials

Why we need more biomaterials

Isabella Peppard steps through a range of bio materials, their properties and uses. Some of these will be exhibited at Susty Spec: Biomaterials Exhibition and Launch Party event in Melbourne as part of Melbourne’s Design Week. Biomaterials may seem futuristic, but the reality couldn’t be simpler. Biomaterials are what they sound like: materials ...
Bronwyn Weir on HIA; Blue loans for Mundaring treatment plant; ARENA funds Ngardara Solar Microgrid

Bronwyn Weir on HIA; Blue loans for Mundaring treatment plant; ARENA funds Ngardara Solar Microgrid

Hit back at HIA’s ambush of Victoria’s housing minister As soon as Victoria’s cabinet reshuffle and Nick Staikos were appointed Housing and Building Minister, the Housing Industry Association ambushed the new minister with promises of a “quick win”. Except by winning, they meant delaying the implementation of the National Construction Code 2025, which ...
Welcome to Firstlinks Edition 659

Welcome to Firstlinks Edition 659

Following the day-to-day news on Iran is frustrating. There appears to be scant progress on the vaguely defined war aims or a pathway to lasting peace. According to the Wall Street Journal this frustration is ironically shared by President Trump who seems unable to accept that he can't just bend the Iranians to his will. What is becoming clearer is the ...
2 billion reasons to fix retirement income

2 billion reasons to fix retirement income

Australia has a well-regarded superannuation system. What we do not have is a retirement income system. These are not the same thing — and the gap between them is costing Australians billions of dollars a year. In a new paper, we propose a change to how superannuation works as members approach the drawdown phase. The result would be higher balances for ...
Not much alpha left in this bet

Not much alpha left in this bet

Alphabet's Google changed the game of advertising as Google's seamless integration of ads into its search engine revolutionized relevance and efficiency in online advertising. Google, with its Page Rank innovation and capital-light model, became a dominant force in its industry. Alphabet now faces a shift from nimbleness toward an infrastructure-heavy ...
Five simple reasons why Australian cash rates are highest

Five simple reasons why Australian cash rates are highest

This is one of the most common investor questions I receive from advisers, and it is one of the easiest to answer. It’s fairly simple. Australians suffer the highest cash rates amongst their rich country peers (chart A) because Australia has: The highest inflation rate (chart B), The highest medium-long-term inflation expectations ie highest treasury ...

On how the West was won

On how the West was won
Those of us who have had a lot to do with real estate agents know that they generally have the antenna of finely tuned Stradivarius – or stockbroker. Quick to pick up every nuanced vibration in the atmosphere and transform any slight variation in data inputs into useable performance outcomes. But on sustainability it’s been far from the ...

Why we need more biomaterials

Why we need more biomaterials
Isabella Peppard steps through a range of bio materials, their properties and uses. Some of these will be exhibited at Susty Spec: Biomaterials Exhibition and Launch Party event in Melbourne as part of Melbourne’s Design Week. Biomaterials may seem futuristic, but the reality couldn’t be simpler. Biomaterials are what they sound like: materials ...

Bronwyn Weir on HIA; Blue loans for Mundaring treatment plant; ARENA funds Ngardara Solar Microgrid

Bronwyn Weir on HIA; Blue loans for Mundaring treatment plant; ARENA funds Ngardara Solar Microgrid
Hit back at HIA’s ambush of Victoria’s housing minister As soon as Victoria’s cabinet reshuffle and Nick Staikos were appointed Housing and Building Minister, the Housing Industry Association ambushed the new minister with promises of a “quick win”. Except by winning, they meant delaying the implementation of the National Construction Code 2025, which ...

Welcome to Firstlinks Edition 659

Welcome to Firstlinks Edition 659
Following the day-to-day news on Iran is frustrating. There appears to be scant progress on the vaguely defined war aims or a pathway to lasting peace. According to the Wall Street Journal this frustration is ironically shared by President Trump who seems unable to accept that he can't just bend the Iranians to his will. What is becoming clearer is the ...

2 billion reasons to fix retirement income

2 billion reasons to fix retirement income
Australia has a well-regarded superannuation system. What we do not have is a retirement income system. These are not the same thing — and the gap between them is costing Australians billions of dollars a year. In a new paper, we propose a change to how superannuation works as members approach the drawdown phase. The result would be higher balances for ...

Not much alpha left in this bet

Not much alpha left in this bet
Alphabet's Google changed the game of advertising as Google's seamless integration of ads into its search engine revolutionized relevance and efficiency in online advertising. Google, with its Page Rank innovation and capital-light model, became a dominant force in its industry. Alphabet now faces a shift from nimbleness toward an infrastructure-heavy ...

Five simple reasons why Australian cash rates are highest

Five simple reasons why Australian cash rates are highest
This is one of the most common investor questions I receive from advisers, and it is one of the easiest to answer. It’s fairly simple. Australians suffer the highest cash rates amongst their rich country peers (chart A) because Australia has: The highest inflation rate (chart B), The highest medium-long-term inflation expectations ie highest treasury ...