Underscore

Electricity is a fundamental necessity for both households and businesses, making electricity price regulation a topic of universal relevance. In this episode, CEO Paul Hyslop engages in a discussion with Richard Lenton, Executive Director of ACIL Allen Queensland and an electricity market expert. Together, they delve into the nuances of retail electricity price regulations, breaking down a complex subject into simpler terms. Richard, drawing from his extensive experience in supporting regulatory bodies such as the Queensland Competition Authority (QCA) and the Australian Energy Regulator (AER), provides invaluable insights into the latest developments in regulated electricity prices, emphasising that the system is far from perfect. As Paul aptly puts it, "Richard knows more about the intricacies of how tariffs are calculated than anyone I know." Throughout the conversation, Richard demystifies the process behind determining regulated tariffs, uncovers how retailers procure electricity from the wholesale market and explains why price regulation still happens. Listen to this episode of Underscore to learn more.

In this episode, two ACIL Allen experts uncover the intricacies of national tax reform. Alex Gash, Executive Director, ACT and Jerome Fahrer, Director, Victoria provide their insights alongside host and CEO, Paul Hyslop. Together, they discuss and reframe the four pillars of tax reform: Commonwealth government taxes, state government taxes, vertical fiscal imbalance and horizontal fiscal equalisation. Gash and Fahrer explore the interactions between these pillars, emphasising the critical need for comprehensive reform. This episode explores the challenges of tax reform in Australia, including constitutional hurdles and the High Court's influence on state-based taxes. Our guests discuss the potential to reform taxes at state level, such as stamp duty and payroll tax independently, while also addressing the political barriers to implementing new taxes. Listen to this episode of Underscore to learn more.

In this episode, ACIL Allen Executive Director, Amy Mehrton, joins CEO, Paul Hyslop, to discuss the benefits of engaging youth voice in policymaking to drive collaborative and transformative change. This episode examines the resilience of today’s young people, discussing key protective factors that contribute to their strengths. As Hyslop and Mehrton examine technology’s role as both an enabler and inhibitor for youth, they also discuss intergenerational perspectives that shape young people’s experiences today, for better or worse. They suggest that “age is not the only voice we should listen to” and that creating a more contemporary platform for the younger generation to engage is the next step forward. Listen to this episode of Underscore to learn more.

ACIL Allen's CEO Paul Hyslop invites Dr Andy Chiang to discuss justice reform, its problems and possible solutions. The two discuss the issues that can lead to a criminal justice system under pressure and explain how that can lead to poorer outcomes for those who encounter the criminal justice system.  With his experience working with Victorian reforms, Dr Chiang explores lessons learnt from reforms in other human services sectors and suggests multi-agency approaches and tailoring individual solutions as important ways to increase the efficacy of the criminal justice system.  Listen to this episode of Underscore to learn more.

In this episode, ACIL Allen principal, Cara Chambers joins CEO, Paul Hyslop in to discuss their recent article "The root cause of electricity price rises". Hyslop and Chambers consider the influence of changing demand and foreign wars on the gas, oil and coal markets. They also examine the recent Australian coal market figures, and dive into how coal prices are major influences on electricity prices. As Hyslop and Chambers discuss possible government interventions, they touch on three potential solutions: capping coal prices, domestically reserving a proportion of coal for electricity generation and providing subsidies as rebates to reduce the effective price paid for internationally linked coal. Listen to this episode of Underscore to learn more.

In this episode, ACIL Allen’s CEO Paul Hyslop discusses Australia’s food security and supply chain with guest and colleague, JP van Moort. This episode explores the many external interruptions that can influence a country’s food supply and therefore the effect on its food security. Van Moort and Hyslop delve into the concept of food insecurity and introduce factors that are usually not considered such as access to food and degree of hunger. As van Moort and Hyslop describe Australia’s strong presence as the world’s 'bread basket', they analyse Australia’s increasing food prices, sustainable food security, technology’s impact on food supply and how the value of food produced can be increased. Listen to the episode now to find out more.

Episode 4 In this episode, guest Annabel Brebner from ACIL Allen discusses with CEO Paul Hyslop the rise of mental ill-health in Australia post COVID-19. Brebner and Hyslop explore Australia's broken mental health system and their continuous overloading, leading to a discussion around the importance of increased awareness and acceptance of mental health issues. This episode touches on the various options for mental health support that should be available to tend to people's different and evolving needs. Underscore analyses the shocking statistics regarding the percentage of people who suffer from mental ill-health and the corresponding economic costs that incur per year. Brebner and Hyslop discuss the importance of growing a larger and higher skilled workforce and the challenges that the industry faces in implementing this. Listen to the episode now to find out more.

Episode 3In this episode, guest Jerome Fahrer from ACIL Allen discusses with CEO Paul Hyslop the macroeconomics and policy surrounding COVID-19. As economists, Fahrer and Hyslop explore how both arms of Australian macroeconomic policy, fiscal and monetary, were used to very good effect in combating the economic impacts of the pandemic. This episode assesses the complexity and efficacy of Jobkeeper, as there is no doubt that JobKeeper contributed to stronger economic outcomes, and better business performance, than anticipated. It also received a large amount of criticism, with wastage being a common theme amongst these comments. Underscore analyses the validity of this policy, its criticisms, and how it's impacted Australia. This episode also explores the physical and economic limits and consequences of Australia's lockdown policies in both 2020 and 2021, and how this was connected to our lack of vaccines. Listen to the episode now to find out more.

Join the conversation between ACIL Allen director Owen Kelp and Underscore's host and ACIL Allen CEO Paul Hyslop as they dive into the Net Zero challenge facing Australia. They review the current government modelling and assess possible solutions and the potential economic cost. Kelp and Hyslop discuss the many complexities of the issue, including the role of existing and as yet unknown future technologies, the potential role for electrification, the potential of hydrogen as a zero-emissions fuel, the prospect of carbon storage in soil or through capture from industrial processes, whether there is a role for nuclear energy and the use of offsets in Australia's chase of net-zero.

Join us for ACIL Allen's first podcast, where host and CEO Paul Hyslop sits down with expert David Campbell to discuss Australia's recent submarine deals as it reveals how our government deals with uncertainty. We dive into the risks and large costs associated with ignoring uncertainty, the value of flexibility when weighing these sorts of decisions, and the importance of having an ongoing and adaptive strategy. Big and irreversible projects with long lead times in an environment of uncertainty require modern techniques for making the best decisions. Whether it be Australia's defence strategy and the recent change in submarine acquisition strategy, mitigating and adapting to climate change or taking actions to survive droughts, decision-making frameworks that emphasise uncertainty and flexibility to adapt to an uncertain future are essential to avoiding large costs and being able to benefit as the future is revealed. Traditional decision-making frameworks such as benefit-cost analysis are not suited to these circumstances. Using a real options framework places the management of uncertainty at the centre of the decision-making process and emphasises flexibility to adapt to the uncertain future. Listen now and join the conversation with ACIL Allen on how Australia can improve the way we approach big decisions.