Editor's Choice
Viridian promotes to investment team, launches Infinity
Viridian Financial Group announced three promotions to its investment leadership team as it merges its asset management and private wealth businesses under a single unit called Infinity.
Fight between SMC and FSC on super rages on
The Super Members Council (SMC) has called out the Financial Services Council (FSC) on making selective claims about performance and costs of 'platform' super funds compared with performance-tested mainstream MySuper funds.
Global X launches global SMID ETF
Global X ETF has expanded its international equity range with the launch of the Global X MSCI International Small and Mid-Cap ETF (ASX: ISMD), offering Australian investors low-cost exposure to small- and mid-cap companies across developed markets outside Australia.
Super Consumers appoints former regulator as chair
Super Consumers Australia (SCA) has appointed former deputy chair of ASIC and ACCC as its board chair.
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Geopolitics is back - again - and Australian investors can no longer treat it as distant background noise.
Does association membership still matter?
With all the changes the advice sector has experienced in recent years, such as regulatory reform and increased education and professional standards ...
Digital assets and where they stand in 2026
So far in 2026 digital assets have captured the headlines largely for the wrong reasons, but that doesn't tell the full story.
Rethinking default design in a changing market environment
The evolution underway in the US DC system highlights the value of periodically reassessing default design assumptions.
Featured Profile
Blake Briggs
CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER
FINANCIAL SERVICES COUNCIL
FINANCIAL SERVICES COUNCIL
Since becoming chief executive, Blake Briggs has renewed the Financial Services Council's influence, expanded the membership base, and strengthened its policy and advocacy credentials. Karren Vergara writes.
The Financial Standard podcast Tune in each week as we discuss the latest developments in Australia's wealth management industry. |  |
Dr Newman has advocated the Australian minimum wage falling to levels comparable with the US.
Business should advocate for tax reform to encourage greater employment, but dropping the minimum wage would be an enormously damaging move.
One may well ask Dr Newman how he obtained the wealth necessary to own a cattle property that is "wonderfully relaxing and gives us the opportunity to regularly enjoy fresh air and simple pleasures with our children and grandchildren".
Why then, would you bring us down to the level of the US, where many of those who are less fortunate stay on the treadmill for their entire working life?
Dr Newman spoke of Australia's high minimum wage as something of a curse. From my perspective, we should all take great pride in providing a living wage to our fellow citizens.
When comparing the wages structure in Australia to Europe and, heaven help us, the United States, he overlooks the enormous social cost of the poverty created by these "competitive wage structures." And by quoting annual incomes at the minimum wage, he totally ignores the fact that a large proportion of these workers have only part time work.
Rather than wring our hands over the high cost of labour, why don't we emulate the Japanese in the 1980's when faced with an overvalued Yen. They called on the general population and the business community to strive for measured productivity increases, and succeeded in maintaining and improving their economic position.