Scott Phillips
tmfscottp.bsky.social
Scott Phillips
@tmfscottp.bsky.social
Investor. Business person. CIO, The Motley Fool, Australia. Director, City Recital Hall
Pinned
Posting about a range of stuff - and not following an arbitrary 'party line' on anything - means I end up with followers who might be disappointed that I'm not a cheerleader for 'their team' (regardless of the topic).

So, thanks for following, but consider yourselves warned :)
Hopefully the government follows through and dumps (probably unworkable) legislation to restrict or limit AI implementation.

Don't get me wrong: it'll have downsides.

But it's here to stay. Ignoring it would mean we miss the benefits and become internationally uncompetitive.
August 10, 2025 at 9:25 PM
A roundtable with nothing on the tax table, this term?

It's like discussing tax reform but excluding GST.

(Yes, a delayed reform is better than no reform, but so much for an emboldened second-term agenda.)
August 7, 2025 at 6:48 AM
We had to put our 11yo German Shepherd, Abby, down today.

We're gutted, but thankful.

Do me a favour:

"Be the person your dog thinks you are"
August 6, 2025 at 11:06 AM
Only Trump could think making American healthcare more expensive was a good thing.
August 5, 2025 at 8:36 PM
More (expected) economic stupidity from the US administration.

Some (relatively) good news for us, though: our tariff will be 10%. Worse than 0%, but better than the 15%-20% reported earlier this week.

(For now... who knows what he'll decide next week.)
July 31, 2025 at 11:44 PM
This is some really interesting work from the Productivity Commission.

The scope was too narrow (they were told company tax changes must be revenue neutral), but it's a really provocative idea.

It has some good and bad parts, IMO, but a great starter for discussion.
July 31, 2025 at 10:11 PM
Somewhere, in NW Queensland...

"Hey, fellas. It worked for Whyalla. Let's tell the State and Federal government we want some money, too!"
July 30, 2025 at 3:35 AM
Mixed news on inflation.

- Headline fell to 2.1%, which is excellent.
- 'Trimmed mean' meaningfully higher at 2.7%
- Quarterly headline at 0.7% is 2.8% if annualised, so we need to be careful with the annual number (see ABS chart - the 2.1% benefits from lower past quarters)
July 30, 2025 at 2:34 AM
Not only is the Productivity Summit likely to just be a series of PR set-pieces (and a waste of time, because those things could be discussed/communicated without a talkfest), but every group is now pushing their own barrow.

National interest?

(Good for the papers, though!)
July 29, 2025 at 8:49 PM
This is silly.

King Canute couldn't hold back the ride.

Neither can the unions (or governments) on AI.

Yes, look after displaced workers.

But don't pretend that protectionism is a valid response - it'll only make us internationally competitive and hard living standards.
July 29, 2025 at 12:43 AM
Hopefully the Treasurer is still open to fixing this Super tax.

A reminder: We *should* collect more tax from large Super accounts.

But...

- It shouldn't be retrospective
- It should be indexed
- It shouldn't be levied on *unrealised* gains
July 28, 2025 at 9:11 PM
Language matters.

This sentence is 100% accurate, but it picks the wrong subject, IMO, and lets Trump pretend there is no tariff impact on Americans.

Just as accurate, and more clearly, it could read:

"Americans will pay 15% - 20% more for imports..."
July 28, 2025 at 8:46 PM
Got through it unscathed, thankfully. :)

Just FYI, my regular spots:

Nine Late News Sun - Thurs

2CC Canberra 6.45am and 5.30pm weekdays

2GB Sydney 2.30pm weekdays

Sky News 7.10am Tues

4BC Brisbane 12.45pm Fri

MMM Riverina MIA 7.10am Weds

MMM Sunraysia 7.30am Fri
Time to get back on the finance horse.

First official day back from leave is tomorrow, but my first hit out is with Jane Goldsmith for Nine's Late News later this evening.

Let's see if I can remember how to do this...
July 27, 2025 at 9:03 PM
This is a 'deal' in the way that the school bully has a 'deal' with the kid who is forced to hand over his lunch money.
July 27, 2025 at 8:29 PM
Reposted by Scott Phillips
The first term of the Albanese Government was the second most secretive in the last 30 years - more secretive than the Morrison Government.

This has to change in their second term - we need more transparency and respect for the Australian people.
www.canberratimes.com.au/story/902424...
July 27, 2025 at 7:32 PM
Time to get back on the finance horse.

First official day back from leave is tomorrow, but my first hit out is with Jane Goldsmith for Nine's Late News later this evening.

Let's see if I can remember how to do this...
July 27, 2025 at 9:31 AM
Home!

More than 12,000km over almost 5 weeks.

Bowral, up through NSW and Queensland to Darwin.

Then Kakadu, Arnhem Land and Litchfield.

Then back to Darwin and home.

Thanks for following along.

#TopEndRoadTrip
July 24, 2025 at 4:06 AM
Next time you're in Cowra, do yourself a favour and have brekky at the Kendall Street Cafe.

Great food and service.

#TopEndRoadTrip
July 23, 2025 at 10:18 PM
Spent last night at the Hotel Corones, because of forecast rain.

Great old pub in Charleville.

#TopEndRoadTrip
July 22, 2025 at 10:55 PM
A great camp at Dunblane Station at Barcaldine.

#TopEndRoadTrip
July 21, 2025 at 9:45 PM
There are general stores and there are general stores.

This one in Cloncurry.

#TopEndRoadTrip
July 21, 2025 at 4:05 AM
A beautiful evening - followed by a cold night - just east of Camooweal.

#TopEndRoadTrip
July 20, 2025 at 11:12 PM
When the fuel light comes on and the servo is miles from anywhere else...

#TopEndRoadTrip
July 20, 2025 at 1:57 AM
Free camp just off the Stuart Highway for the first night of the journey home.

#TopEndRoadTrip
July 19, 2025 at 9:45 AM
When in Darwin...

#TopEndRoadTrip
July 19, 2025 at 3:24 AM