John Humphreys – John Humphreys

Thoughts on the Israel-Iran war

It looks like the Israel-Iran war may be over. I hope that is the case. War is hell for the people, expensive for countries, and tend to create a ripple of unintended consequences that can be hard to unwind. If Trump has managed to bring that war to a permanent end, then he deserves credit… and perhaps a Nobel Peace Prize.

The war hawks and most political leaders have celebrated this mini-war, and some have mocked the anti-war side as being naïve appeasers, disloyal traitors, alarmist fearmongers, or antisemitic grifters. As one of those “naïve peaceniks”, please allow me to respond.

Continue reading

Regressive tax & 10% Medicare Levy

My recent discussion with Topher Field about the absurdities of Australia’s tax/transfer system, and the crazy 10% Medicare Levy that should be abolished.

Talking tax with Cameron Murray

This conversation is from Cameron’s “Fresh Economic Thinking” podcast. You can follow Cameron via X/Twitter or his Substack.

Rethinking childcare policy

_{Published in The Spectator Online on 4 July 2024 under the title “Childcare needs more choice, not more bureaucracy“.}

A recent report by the Centre for Policy Development (CPD) outlines a proposal to effectively remake the childcare sector in the mould of the public school system. This would be a huge mistake.

Continue reading

NSW budget 2024/25

_{Published in The Spectator Online on 21 June 2024 under the title “NSW’s smoke and mirror budget“.}

The NSW budget continued the nationwide theme of unimaginative big-spending budgets with large deficits. The economic story is not unique, but the budget does stand out for one reason – the masterful display of Machiavellian narrative control.

Continue reading

John Humphreys is the Chief Economist at The Australian Taxpayers' Alliance and Director for the Australian Economic Education Foundation.

John has a PhD in economics from the University of Queensland. He has worked previously for the Australian Treasury, as a consultant doing projects for the World Bank and ASEAN (among others), economics lecturer in Australia and abroad, and manager of an education charity in Cambodia (for which he was awarded a knighthood in 2016).

Outside of his day job, John is a certified scuba divemaster, recreational pilot & Justice of the Peace, and he spent four years as a travelling hippy visiting over 80 countries. He was the founder of the Liberal Democratic Party (now called the Libertarian Party) and the Friedman Conferences. Most importantly, John is married to a wonderful wife and has three amazing boys, and is now living the simple life just north of Brisbane in Australia.