Qantas, ASIC chiefs urge staff to vaccinate against virus

Qantas wants COVID vaccines to be mandatory for all aviation workers and has offered its 22,000 staff time off to get the jab. 

Chief executive Alan Joyce warns against a patchwork of regulations around the country as part of the vaccination strategy. 

New ASIC chair Joe Longo is also urging staff to vaccinate and sees the regulator's immediate challenge as protecting the economy from the pandemic

Here's my analysis from The World Today

ASIC chair Joe Longo says confronting pandemic is regulator's biggest challenge; pledges to be tough corporate cop, defends decision to end AMP criminal pursuit

ASIC chair Joe Longo says confronting the pandemic and easing the escalating economic crisis is the biggest immediate challenge for the corporate regulator. 

He tells ABC's Peter Ryan "it's all hands on deck". 

In an exclusive interview, Mr Longo defended ASIC decision to scrap its criminal pursuit of wealth manager AMP and warns the rise of cryptocurrencies is "a significant area for concern".

I spoke with Mr Longo on RN Breakfast

ASIC chair Joe Longo - supplied

IMF warns that vaccine "haves" and "have nots" is widening with rapid vaccine rollout critical

The International Monetary Fund is warning a rapid rollout of vaccines around the world is now critical to confront more deadly mutations of the COVID19 virus. 

While the global economic recovery remains on track and Australia's outlook has been slightly upgraded, the IMF is warning that poorer developing nations struggling to vaccinate are most vulnerable. 

ABC's Peter Ryan says the IMF says rising inflation if sustained could force central banks to raise interest rates sooner than expected.

Business and workers demand more support while Treasurer resists Jobkeeper revival

The Business Council of Australia says the lockdowns in Greater Sydney, Victoria and South Australia are costing about $2.8 billion dollars a week with  the Sydney lockdown alone an estimated $257million dollars a day. 

Chief executive Jennifer Westacott says "tweaks" are required to the current commonwealth and state support. 

But Canterbury-Bankstown mayor Khal Asfour says a return of Jobkeeper is now critical to reduce anxiety.

Here's my report from The World Today

Josh Frydenberg rejects calls to reinstate Jobkeeper as Sydney lockdown threatens double dip recession

Treasurer Josh Frydenberg has once again rejected calls for the return of JobKeeper wage support given the deepening lockdown crisis in greater Sydney. 

Mr Frydenberg maintains the current emergency measures are sufficient. 

But prominent businessman Tony Shepherd says Jobkeeper is now critical for small and medium businesses crying out for help. 

Here's my analysis from The World Today

Political gridlock, institutional decay, party tribalism thwarting unpopular policy reforms, Grattan Institute warns. Monday Finance with Peter Ryan.

Throughout the pandemic, trust in both state and federal governments has been on the rise especially as emergency support measures like Jobkeeper kept the economy afloat.

But a report out this morning says that while the focus has understandably been on the economic rescue, governments are too busy focussing on popularity and remaining in office rather than tacking major policy reforms that would boost the nation's prosperity.

So where are the politically "courageous" decisions of the 80s and 90s under prime ministers Bob Hawke, Paul Keating and John Howard?

I speak with Grattan Institute senior fellow John Daley on RN Breakfast.