Paul Colgan
- Director, C|T Group
Born, Sydney
Director, C|T Group. Previous: editor Business Insider Australia and @newscomauhq. Economics, rock, rugby. Views my own.
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Articles by Paul Colgan
Budget 2027: Ministers lobby for spending, and for little passion projects
The budget briefings and leaks are now in full swing. Another €8.5 billion or so is to be allocated in a few weeks’ time – and Ministers – like the Minister for Arts, Media and Culture Patrick O’Donovan – are looking to maximise their spending power. Of course, much of this largesse is pre-committed and just running-to-stand-still money – but there is a fair bit of room for little passion projects.
Delivery driver jailed for fatal drink-driving crash
A delivery driver who admitted causing the death of a 70-year-old pedestrian while almost three-and-a-half times the legal alcohol limit has been jailed. John Taggart from Torrens Link received a six year sentence at Belfast Crown Court on Friday. The 36-year-old was driving a van that struck Paul Marshall in west Belfast in September. Marshall died six days later in hospital having suffered serious injuries including a skull fracture.
Legacy body chief 'regrets shortcomings' in the commission
Paul Colgan; Ross McKee - BBC News NI Fri, May 15, 2026 at 2:36 p.m. UTC 5 min read Add Yahoo as a preferred source to see more of our stories on Google. ICRIR Chief Commissioner Sir Declan Morgan said its workforce was committed to the project of telling the truth and was "capable and competent" [PA Media] The head of a body which investigates Troubles-related deaths has said "we weren't set up to do what we want to do".
Legacy body chief 'regrets shortcomings' in the commission
Paul Colgan; Ross McKee - BBC News NI Fri 15 May 2026 at 2:36 pm UTC 5 min read Add Yahoo as a preferred source to see more of our stories on Google. ICRIR Chief Commissioner Sir Declan Morgan said its workforce was committed to the project of telling the truth and was "capable and competent" [PA Media] The head of a body which investigates Troubles-related deaths has said "we weren't set up to do what we want to do".
Legacy body chief 'regrets shortcomings' in the commission
ICRIR Chief Commissioner Sir Declan Morgan said its workforce was committed to the project of telling the truth and was "capable and competent" [PA Media] The head of a body which investigates Troubles-related deaths has said "we weren't set up to do what we want to do". Sir Declan Morgan's comments follow a "damning" review into the operation of the Independent Commission for Reconciliation and Information Recovery (ICRIR).
Irish government finalising fuel package deal
Paul Colgan; Adam Mandeville - BBC News NI Fri 10 April 2026 at 9:36 pm UTC 7 min read Add Yahoo as a preferred source to see more of our stories on Google. Crowds gathered on the fourth day of a National Fuel Protest against rising fuel prices on O'Connell Street in Dublin [PA Media] The Irish Government has confirmed that a fuel support package is being finalised after a day of what they described as "constructive engagement" with representatives of the haulage and farming sectors.
Residents return to homes following security alert
Residents of a tower block in Newtownabbey have been able to return to their homes following a security alert. Beechwood House at Woodland Drive was cordoned off while technical officers worked at the scene. The Police Service of Northern Ireland (PSNI) thanked people for "their patience, understanding and cooperation".
Care workers put off flu vaccine 'by social media myths'
Paul Colgan - BBC News NI Sat, December 13, 2025 at 7:00 AM UTC 2 min read Pauline Shepherd said providers were trying everything to boost uptake of the vaccine among care workers [BBC] It is proving difficult to encourage care workers to take the flu vaccine due to myths on social media, the chief executive of the Independent Health Care Providers has said.
Care workers put off flu vaccine 'by social media myths'
Paul Colgan - BBC News NI December 13, 2025 at 1:00 AM Pauline Shepherd said providers were trying everything to boost uptake of the vaccine among care workers [BBC] It is proving difficult to encourage care workers to take the flu vaccine due to myths on social media, the chief executive of the Independent Health Care Providers has said.
Paul Colgan | Substack
Paul Colgan is an award winning broadcaster and journalist with decades of experience covering Irish and British politics and economics. Paul Colgan @paulcolgancorrespondent @paulcolgan SubscribeMessage
Ireland in a 'New World Order'?
The suggestion by the Chinese leader that the world faces a choice between ‘peace and war’ was characterised by much English-speaking coverage as some sort of ‘warning’. This comment topped the page on major news apps in Ireland on Wednesday morning. Adorned with photographs of angry-looking Chinese soldiers, the copy from AFP and Reuters, at first glance, seemed alarming. This Substack is reader-supported. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber.
Is Irish America jumping aboard the 'Trump train'?
The return of United States President Donald Trump to the White House has been fuelled by the "America First" ethos. This has two big elements - a radical rethinking of the role played by the US on the international stage and "protectionist" economic policies. Trump is reflecting a broader shift within America, towards the right of the political spectrum.
10 things you need to know this morning in Australia
HBO / Game of Thrones trailerThe dragons are here. Good morning! 1. Another week, another blow for banks: Bill Shorten is poised to announce a new $640 million slug on financial institutions to pay for Financial Rights Fund. Half the money will pay for another 500 taxpayer-funded financial counsellors to advise victims of banking misconduct, and Labor will explain its plans for the balance this week.
Labor plans to slug banks another $640 million for a consumer compensation fund
Australian Labor Party Leader Bill Shorten. Photo: Mark Metcalfe/ Getty Images. Bill Shorten will today announce a new levy on Australian banks to pay for a new Financial Rights Fund that will provide help for victims of misconduct in the banking sector. The Australian Financial Review reports the new impost will raise $160 million a year over the four-year budget estimates period.
The cyber attack on Australia's major political parties reportedly used techniques never seen before
Patrick Lux/ Getty Images. The cyber attack on Australia’s parliament which also affected the nation’s major political parties reportedly used techniques never seen before. It underlines the seriousness and sophistication of the attack, which is widely believed to have been directed by China but could also have originated from another nation-state. The attack comes after a surge in malicious cyber attacks on Australian businesses.
The full AMP horror show is here
Getty AMP’s wealth management arm saw nearly $4 billion in client money leave its books in the past financial year, largely as a result of reputational damage from the financial services royal commission. For context, the previous year, it had added $931 million in inflows. Statutory net profit for the year imploded by almost 97% to $28 million, a slight miss on analysts’ expectations of around $31 million, and down from the previous year’s $848 million.
10 things you need to know this morning in Australia
Will Burrard-Lucas / Camtraptions camera trapAn extremely rare black leopard photographed in Kenya by Will Burrard-Lucas. It’s the first time a black leopard has been photographed in Africa for over 100 years. Good morning! 1.
It looks like that Air New Zealand plane was turned back from China over some paperwork referencing Taiwan
Nicolas Economou/NurPhoto via Getty ImagesAn Air New Zealand Boeing 777. An Air New Zealand plane forced to turn around en route to Shanghai did so for diplomatic reasons, but not because of recent unease with New Zealand’s relationship with China. Multiple sources say paperwork for the Air NZ flight 289, which returned to Auckland after several hours in the air included reference to Taiwan which China took to be an acknowledgement that the island was independent.
PODCAST: Shane Oliver on why he decided the RBA would need to cut, and the troubling global outlook
(L-R): Paul Colgan, AMP Capital’s Shane Oliver, and Business Insider’s David Scutt. A lot changed over the summer break. In the first episode of Devils and Details for 2019, we’re joined on the show by AMP Capital’s chief economist and head of investment strategy Shane Oliver, who late last year was the first economist at a major institution to start forecasting RBA rate cuts.
10 things you need to know this morning in Australia
Mark Nolan / Getty Images / FileOutgoing NAB Chair Ken Henry. Good morning — it’s Friday; you made it through another week, unless you’re Ken Henry or Andrew Thorburn. 1. “Andrew and I are deeply sorry for this,” said now outgoing NAB chair Ken Henry in his statement yesterday announcing he would be leaving the bank along with the CEO, Andrew Thorburn.
NAB is in a trading halt
Michael Dodge/Getty Images NAB is in a trading hold. On Thursday afternoon, the company today said: “Trading in the securities of the entity will be temporarily paused pending a further announcement.” The company’s chairman Ken Henry and chief executive Andrew Thorburn were the subject of searing criticism in the final report of the financial services royal commission, which was released on Monday.
Shares in Australian mortgage broking companies are getting destroyed
China Photos/Getty Images.Photo: Getty Images Shares in the major banks on the Australian share market are surging today, in a “relief rally” following the release of the final report of the financial services royal commission. But mortgage broking companies are getting annihilated.
Australian banking stocks have ripped higher after the final Hayne report
After the Hayne commission’s final report from its inquiry into misconduct in financial services, look what’s happening to the ASX financial index today: Investing.com A short time ago the financials index was up almost 4%. The big story is in the shares of the major banks; at around 10.20am Westpac was up more than 5.5%, CBA and ANZ were both up around 4%, while NAB — which was singled out for criticism in the final report — was up 3%.
NAB CEO cancels his leave after scathing royal commission comments about him
Andrew Thorburn, CEO of NAB. Photo: Mark Graham/Bloomberg/Getty NAB CEO Andrew Thorburn is cancelling planned long service leave following searing criticism of the bank’s leadership in the final report of the financial services royal commission. In addition, the bank’s chairman Ken Henry has said he is “disappointed” with the findings, after he was also singled out for criticism by Commissioner Kenneth Hayne.
Ken Henry is in deep trouble
AFP / Getty ImagesNAB chairman Dr Ken Henry. The final report of the financial services royal commission has reserved special criticism for Ken Henry, the NAB chairman, and the bank’s CEO, Andrew Thorburn. Commissioner Kenneth Hayne made pointed contrasts between the leaders of other banks and NAB chairman Ken Henry has been singled out in the final report of the Hayne royal commission as failing to grasp the seriousness of the problems with how the bank treated its customers.
Mortgage brokers are furious about the Hayne royal commission findings and say it could 'destroy 20,000 small businesses'
Photo: Getty Images Australia’s mortgage broking industry looks set to be upended if policy follows through on some of the key recommendations of the Hayne royal commission, including a complete ban on trail commissions and, eventually, a ban on all commissions to brokers. Instead Hayne proposes that borrowers pay a fee to the broker, which would mean the interest of the broker becomes centred on the person trying to buy a house.
Here comes the Hayne royal commission final report...
ScreenshotKenneth Hayne The final report from the Hayne royal commission into misconduct in financial services is expected any moment now. We’ll have live coverage and reaction here as it drops. Developing: refresh this page for updates… NOW WATCH: Money & Markets videos Business Insider Emails & Alerts Site highlights each day to your inbox. Email Address Follow Business Insider Australia on Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, and Instagram.
What to expect from the Hayne royal commission report, in an at-a-glance guide from one of Australia's top banking analysts
ScreenshotKenneth Hayne Today is a pivotal day for Australia’s banking industry, with the final report of the Hayne Royal Commission to be released at around 4pm, when the market closes. The inquiry itself has already re-shaped financial services with its exposure of failings across the industry — from practices in front-line sales floors of insurance companies and business lending departments all the way up to administrative practices at board level in the major banks.
Army moves in to rescue trapped Townsville residents after floodgates open in downpour disaster
Photo by Ian Hitchcock/Getty Images A Townsville Resident is seen watching the raging floodwaters of the Ross River. Major flood warnings remain in place for a large swathe of Queensland which has been hit by record-breaking monsoonal rains that caused the emergency evacuation of the major regional city of Townsville last night. The Ross River dam spillway gates opened fully last night, releasing approximately 1900 cubic metres per second of water out of the dam towards Townsville.
A terrifying hacking technique that deciphers what you're typing just by listening to keystrokes could 'slip into the wild' in 2019
Getty Images “Soundloggers” are a cyber attack technique that involves listening to keystroke sounds and deciphering what’s being typed. They were developed by nation states but will likely “slip into the wild” and be used against businesses and the general public, according to leading global software security firm Malwarebytes. Attacks against businesses surged 78% last year and Malwarebytes detected more than 350,000 attacks on businesses in its network — an increase of 78%.
10 things you need to know this morning in Australia
Amer Ghazzal / Barcroft Images / Barcroft Media via Getty Images / FileYoung surfers carry surfboards into the water in Adelaide’s Glenelg beach. Temperatures in the SA capital are forecast to climb above 45C today with records likely to fall across the state. Good morning! 1. It’s another scorcher for many parts of the country today. Here’s the forecast temperature map for 5pm AEDT: Bureau of Meteorology And yes, that’s temperatures in the high 40s over much of South Australia.
Australia's CEOs are especially worried about the trade wars -- but they are doing nothing about it
(Photo by Gaye Gerard/Getty Images)A group of performers participates in the 2008 Chinese New Parade in Sydney, Australia. SYDNEY — The world’s most authoritative survey of global chief executives has found Australian business leaders are particularly worried about the impact of global trade wars — but they also say they’re not doing much about it.
10 things you need to know this morning in Australia
Joshua Lott/Getty ImagesElon Musk Good morning! It’s Thursday. You can make it. 1. Elon Musk is at it again. An independent NSW politician yesterday asked the Tesla entrepreneur (on Twitter — where else?) how much it would cost to build a tunnel through the Blue Mountains, the geographical hard stop to Sydney’s west that stops the city expanding in that particular direction.
Star ANZ economist Jo Masters is leaving the bank to join EY
SuppliedJoanne Masters, who is leaving ANZ Bank to join EY. ANZ’s Joanne Masters is leaving the bank to join EY Oceania as chief economist. Masters was a high-profile senior economist at ANZ, and oversaw significant elements of the bank’s domestic forecasting output, including on inflation trends, developments in the retail industry, and the property market.
MAPS: The vast heatwave that will touch almost all of Australia this week
Mark Kolbe/Getty ImagesSunrise in Sydney. It has been a hot summer in many parts of Australia, and it’s far from over. Hot air has been sitting over the Pilbara mining country in Western Australia for weeks, and now it is starting to move east. The Bureau of Meteorology updated its forecasts yesterday for the heatwave that has enveloped much of South Australia in recent days.
The Australian dollar just flash crashed on Apple's warning of bad business in China
Fred Marie / Barcroft Media / via Getty Images It’s not often an announcement from a company can induce a big move in currency markets, but it just happened — and in a big way. Apple’s announcement that it has had a bad quarter and some shock results in China are partly to blame has rattled markets, and the Australian dollar had a bit of a meltdown in the process.
There's a long list of reasons why China's bad manufacturing data is so worrying
Photo by China Photos/Getty Images Poor manufacturing sector data out of China has global markets off to a shaky start in 2019. An analyst at Japan’s Mizuho bank has highlighted how the downturn is not just worrying for how steep it is but for its timing and the fact that part of is driven by the US-China trade tensions, for which there is no predictable path to resolution.
VENGEANCE: Wild Oats XI snatches a sensational victory in the final throes of an epic 2018 Sydney to Hobart
Source: Getty Images. Wild Oats XI has claimed victory in the 2018 Sydney to Hobart, snatching the lead 30 miles from the finish line. Wild Oats XI has won the 2018 Sydney to Hobart Yacht Race in a thrilling finale that saw her take the lead in the last leg of the race as all four of the top contenders approached the finish line together.
Wild Oats XI has sensationally stolen the lead 30 miles from the finish in the 2018 Sydney to Hobart
(Photo by Mark Evans/Getty Images)Wild Oats XI leaving Sydney Heads for the 2018 Sydney to Hobart Yacht Race Wild Oats XI has stolen the lead at the critical turn into the Derwent River to set the scene for a nail-biting climax in the 2018 Sydney to Hobart yacht race.
The 2018 Sydney to Hobart is shaping up as a battle to the death between the supermaxis
Peter Parks/AFP/Getty ImagesAustralian Supermaxi yacht Comanche (C) sails through Sydney Harbour at the start of the Sydney to Hobart yacht race on December 26, 2018. The remaining supermaxis in the 2018 Sydney to Hobart were separated by only a few miles this morning as they crossed Bass Strait. Comanche held a slender lead after sailing further east than the other supermaxis early in the race allowing for a faster run south, but all four of the main contenders were in close contact around 7am.
2018 Sydney to Hobart: Legendary skipper talks of 'putting some boat etiquette rules in the Palm Beach owners f***ing book' after close calls with spectator boats as super maxis roar south
Photo by Brett Hemmings/Getty ImagesA file photo of Comanche, which has taken the early lead as the fleet heads south in the 2018 Sydney to Hobart. Sydney Harbour was packed with spectators watching the start of the 74th Sydney to Hobart yacht race. When the fleet got out to sea there were some near-collisions with pursuing pleasure boats, leading to some choice words from one of the race’s most accomplished skippers. Giant super-maxi Comanche took an early lead as the fleet headed south.
PODCAST: The 2018 Devils and Details Christmas special -- a look at the turbulent year in markets and economics
This week’s podcast is brought to you in partnership with IG, Australia’s No.1 CFD & FX provider. With over 40 years’ experience, IG offers you access to over 15,000 markets through their award-winning online trading platform and over 11,000 global stocks through share trading. Losses can exceed deposits. Always refer to the PDS. Learn More » Rick Saltercof It’s the third annual Devils and Details Christmas special.
3 things Australian small businesses should think about over the holiday break to prepare for a great 2019
iStock As a company, we interact with small businesses every day, from the local coffee shop to specialised services such as accounting and personal training. They connect our communities and create employment opportunities in a range of diverse industries and locations. There are more than 2.2 million small businesses in Australia, with the sector accounting for half of Australia’s workforce and making up one fifth of our GDP.
NAB CEO Andrew Thorburn is taking a big chunk of time off over the next few months
Andrew Thorburn is taking an extended break over the summer. The NAB chief executive will take most of January off before returning for a period to deal with the bank’s response to the Hayne royal commission which is due to report on February 1st. Business Insider has confirmed he will then take a period of further leave — as much as a month — after dealing with the royal commission fallout.
'A number of flaws': RBC thinks Josh Frydenberg's wage forecasts are 'too optimistic and not consistent with the international experience'
One of the points in today’s mid-year economic and fiscal outlook that has some people scratching their heads is the bullish forecast for wages growth to rebound to 3.5% in the not-too-distant future while unemployment stays at the same level. Wages growth has been absent in advanced markets around the world and it took the US unemployment rate dropping below 4% — basically with the economy approaching full employment — before wages started to stir.
The Coalition will unveil a multi-billion dollar improvement in the budget today
The federal government will unveil the mid-year budget update today, and it will show a dramatic improvement in the budget bottom line. As Business Insider reported just weeks ago, the budget position has been improving at a rapid rate thanks to strong company profits and lower-than-expected unemployment.
3 simple, mind-blowing numbers that show the dominance of Google and Facebook in Australian advertising
The Australian competition authority’s report on the impact of digital giants in Australia is out. The ACCC finds Google and Facebook have substantial power in the ad market and it makes 11 preliminary recommendations, including that a regulatory authority with significant powers of disclosure be tasked with monitoring how the digital giants rank both advertising and news content.
PODCAST: Australian GDP, the shifting RBA outlook, and why economists are too focused on headline numbers rather than the way we live
This week’s podcast is brought to you in partnership with IG, Australia’s No.1 CFD & FX provider. With over 40 years’ experience, IG offers you access to over 15,000 markets through their award-winning online trading platform and over 11,000 global stocks through share trading. Losses can exceed deposits. Always refer to the PDS. Learn More » Gareth Aird thinks many economists focus too much on headline aggregate numbers in their analysis.
The RBA makes it clear: Rate cuts are not off the table, and 'QE is a policy option'
One of Australia’s most senior central bankers has made it clear that official interest rate cuts are still an option, adding that unconventional monetary policy tools used in other parts of the world to deal with the GFC would be an option for Australia in a crisis. Reserve Bank of Australia (RBA) deputy governor Guy Debelle used a speech in Sydney to say there is “still scope for further reductions in the policy rate” from its current record low of 1.5%.
Veteran strategist Richard Coppleson had a neat summary, a recession warning, and a terrifying stat in his daily report
It’s been another volatile 24 hours on global markets. Veteran strategist Richard “Coppo” Coppleson had a neat summary of the issues in his closely-followed daily note today. There was also a stat about the last three times the S&P fell by more than 3% in a single session in December. You may want an adult beverage close by.
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