The way in which wages respond to very low rates of unemployment remains a key source of uncertainty in Australia, partly due to the lack of historical evidence to draw upon. To help fill this gap, we study data on unemployment rates and wages growth across local labour markets over the past 20 years. The considerable variation in economic conditions across local labour markets allows us to infer the strength of the relationship between unemployment and wages growth (i.e. the wage Phillips curve) at very low unemployment rates that are rarely seen at the national level. We find strong evidence that the wage Phillips curve is indeed a curve, rather than a straight line. When the unemployment rate exceeds 7½ per cent, the Phillips curve is flat and wages growth is unresponsive to changes in unemployment. Wages growth then becomes increasingly responsive to changes in the unemployment rate as the unemployment rate falls to lower and lower levels, most notably below 4 per cent. These findings have implications for monetary policy, particularly at the current juncture given the Reserve Bank of Australia's central forecast for the unemployment rate to fall to multi-decade lows in the next few years.
Benchmark acoustic testing was carried out for an existing hearing impairment unit within a mainstream primary school, as part of a feasibility study investigating potential for refurbishment vs. rebuild/relocation. Acoustic measurements comprised reverberation time, internal airborne sound insulation and indoor ambient noise level. Although the benchmark testing largely demonstrated compliance with the minimum acoustic performance standards outlined in Building Bulletin 93 for refurbishments, it was also important to consider the results in the wider context of individual school operation and management, and beyond the scope of Building Bulletin 93 performance standards. Interviews with staff and students were carried out to supplement the acoustic measurements and evaluate performance in use. This process revealed additional acoustic problems which were outside the scope of BB93 but were nonetheless challenging for the children and staff learning in the space. Results will be discussed against the scope of BB93 and findings will be useful to inform future design standards, given the Department for Education's refocus on refurbishment of school buildings as part of its target to achieve net zero carbon by 2050.
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