In the media world of Australia, Terry McCrann is a well-known name. For decades, McCrann’s insights have helped Australians understand complicated financial issues. He is an award-winning journalist and an expert on business and economics.  He is one of Australia’s most unique media commentators because of his clear, no-nonsense writing and fearless analysis.

This article looks at Terry McCrann’s career, the important things he did for journalism, and how his writing changed the way people talk about things in Australia.  It was written with Australians in mind and is mostly about McCrann’s legacy and how his work is still important today.

Early life and pathway into journalism

Terry McCrann grew up in Melbourne and went to Monash University, where he learned the skills he needed to become a journalist.  His path quickly took him to the centre of Australia’s business media, where he improved his skills and developed the clarity and directness that still define his style.

Career highlights and roles in the media

For more than 40 years, McCrann has written for some of Australia’s most respected magazines and newspapers.

• Herald Sun (Melbourne): This is where he wrote most of his important columns about economic trends, business issues, and government policy.
• The Australian and The Daily Telegraph: A regular writer and analyst for national economic issues.
• Broadcast media appearances: McCrann often appears on TV and radio as an expert commentator, helping to make financial news easier to understand for regular Australians.

A specific style of economic analysis

Terry McCrann has long been known for his forceful and unusual approach to news coverage. He does not mince words and never shies away from conflict.

McCrann’s economic analysis was never simply about figures on a paper.   He linked economic policy to real-world outcomes, making him a powerful voice at pivotal points in Australian history.

• Champion of Free Markets: McCrann has always supported free-market principles, lower taxes, and reduced government spending.    He believes that private enterprise and human initiative are the primary drivers of economic progress.   This position has had a considerable impact on conservative thinking in Australia.
• Critic of Institutional Overreach: He has spoken out against institutions such as the Reserve Bank of Australia, often claiming policy blunders or a lack of accountability.    He frequently wrote about the “Canberra bubble,” alleging that politicians had no concept what businesses and families were going through.
• Predictive Commentary: Over time, McCrann gained a reputation for making outlandish forecasts about the economy, interest rates, and the market.    His willingness to take a stand prompted readers and decision-makers to examine other options, even if he was not always correct.

His direct and usually provocative style guaranteed that his pieces were not only read, but also debated in pubs, boardrooms, and Parliament.

Major contributions and notable stands

Terry McCrann’s career has been distinguished by his courageous reporting on some of Australia’s most significant political and economic events.   His insight was a significant counterbalance to national debates, impacting public opinion and frequently putting him at odds with the political establishment.

The Keating and Howard years

 McCrann was a key critic on economic reforms throughout Hawke-Keating and Howard governments, which significantly impacted the country.   He extensively examined Paul Keating’s proposals, which ranged from allowing the dollar to float to allowing the market to establish prices.  He applauded market-based developments while fiercely criticising government spending.   He eventually became a strong proponent of several of the Howard government’s economic policies, including the Goods and Services Tax (GST) and changes in how corporations interact with one another.

The Global Financial Crisis

McCrann’s editorials were critical of the Rudd government’s approach to the Global Financial Crisis in 2008.   He was well-known for opposing the massive stimulus packages, claiming they were a waste of government dollars.   His analysis questioned the long-term consequences of so extensive government engagement.  This was a contentious point of view at the time, but it has since become an important component of the economic debate.

Scrutinizing the energy debate

McCrann has been a well-known and influential figure in Australia’s contentious energy debate in recent years. He has consistently opposed what he regards as an early and costly transition to renewable energy, claiming that it would jeopardise the grid’s reliability and affordability.  His columns have supported the idea that fossil fuels, especially gas, are necessary for a stable energy supply. This has made him a key player in the ongoing national debate about climate policy and its effects on the economy.

In recent years, McCrann has gained prominence and influence in Australia’s heated energy debate.  He has persistently resisted what he sees as an expensive and hasty transition to renewable energy, stating that it will risk system reliability and affordability.   His editorials have backed the notion that fossil fuels, particularly gas, are required for a reliable energy supply.  This has elevated him to the forefront of the current national debate over climate policy and its economic implications.

Important issues and comments

Although Terry McCrann has worked across many areas, some of his contributions are particularly noteworthy.

• Analysis of the Budget and Economic Policy: McCrann provides thorough oversight and practical analysis, whether he is looking at a federal budget or criticising new tax proposals. He has always pushed for responsible fiscal management, smart spending by the government, and openness in making economic policy.
• Banking, retirement savings, and housing: McCrann talks about the Australian banking system, what changes to superannuation mean, and how housing prices are changing. His writing helps Australians understand how changes in the economy or the rules could affect their own money.
• Big Projects and Energy: McCrann is known for going against the grain in national debates about energy prices, energy security, and infrastructure. He also warns about the dangers of making big changes.

Awards and recognition

• The Graham Perkin Australian Journalist of the Year Award:  In 1987, Terry McCrann was given this prestigious award for his outstanding work in journalism that had an impact on the whole country.
• The Quill Awards for Journalism:  He has also won several Quill Awards, which show how well-known he is for reporting that is both fearless and accurate.

Major news outlets regularly cite and interview McCrann, which shows how important he still is.

The McCrann legacy: shaping a generation of journalism

Terry McCrann has had an impact on more than just his own columns. He has set a standard for rigors, opinionated, and easy-to-read writing that has shaped a generation of Australian reporters and commentators.  He showed that financial news didn’t have to be limited to the business pages; it could be news that made the front page and got people talking.

His legacy is one of courage and strong convictions.   In an era where media criticism might appear sanitised or echo-chambered, McCrann’s work demonstrates the power of a single, well-argued voice.  He proved that a credible journalist can not only face world leaders but also openly question them and become the voice of the people

Although he has now stopped writing regularly, his work still serves as a collection that reflects Australia’s social and political landscape over the past fifty years.  If you want to know what has shaped modern Australia, Terry McCrann’s commentary archives are a must-read.  His career is proof of how important it is for a democracy to have brave and independent journalists.

Gemma Tognini has cemented her name as one of the most identifiable faces in media and business in Australia, where she balances her careers in strategic communications, opinion columnist and award-winning entrepreneur. Having started with a modest investment in a computer with a price tag of $500 and a spare room, Tognini rose to become a nationally admired commentator with The Australian newspaper, a feat that can be attributed to her sheer determination and effective thinking in the creation of a personal and professional brand.

Career History and Minority

Beyond Journalism to Entrepreneurship

Gemma Tognini started her career in journalism and worked for almost ten years as a senior journalist and Chief of Staff in the Seven Network between 1996 and 2003. Her experience as a television journalist gave her the building blocks that would come in handy in her business career and her career as a media commentator.

In 2003, Gemma Tognini, having felt the desire to have more self-determination and thinking she possessed a talent for being a strategic advisor, took the radical step of quitting her high-profile television career. The only thing she had was a mobile phone and a $500 computer with which she established GT Communications in her spare room in Perth.

GT Communications Inc. Success Story

What began as a one-person operation has grown to be a national strategic communications firm, with offices in Sydney and Perth. GT Communications deals with corporate PR, reputation management, consumer PR, media training and crisis management.

The company’s customer base cuts across wide industries such as the energy, property, infrastructure, professional services, mining, health and tourism. Recent client victories have been made with such clients as the National Breast Cancer Foundation, The Fullerton Hotel Sydney and Angus Knight Group.

Media Career and Commentary

The Australian Columnist

Gemma Tognini is a social commentator writing opinion in The Inquirer section of The Weekend Australian since November 2020, as an opinion columnist. Her columns cut across such a broad spectrum of subjects, including gender pay equality, up to the challenges faced by workingfamiliesy making her one of the most popular columnists in the newspaper.

The writing has been described by Tognini as the capacity to access dialogues that run within boardrooms and breakfast tables across Australia, and this gives what ordinary Australians can relate to.

TV/Radio Presence

Between 2017 (February) and 2024 (July), Gemma Tognini joined Sky News Australia regularly, as a panellist on such shows as Credlin, Kenny on Sunday, and HeadsUp. She has also been a commentator on other networks and is a sought-after voice on political and social matters.

Biography and Life

Is Gemma Tognini Married?

Gemma Tognini is wedded to her husband, Langer whom she cannot write enough letters. She has also shared her personal experience, including having been divorced in the past when she was 39. She has been quite frank about the identity crisis that followed and said that she did not know who she was without that marriage.

Family and Heritage

Tognini belongs to the small, close-knit family and has written in her columns about her background. Her mother was the daughter of a middle-class Australian family in the Graceville suburb, Brisbane, and her family background consists of Italian ties – she achieved the Diploma of Italian Language at Università per Stranieri di Perugia.

Gemma Tognini, who is currently living between Sydney and Perth, has also discussed the difficulties of not being with family, especially after her father died in mid-2019.

Awards and Recognition

Business Achievements

The entrepreneurial achievements of Gemma Tognini have been rewarded with awards of high status:

• Winner in Telstra Business Women’s Awards (2014)
• Finalist, Telstra Business Awards (2017)
• Business Owner of the Year

Professional Qualifications

Tognini has a great resume that supports her experience:

• Ba (Journalism and Politics) Curtin University (1991-1993)
• Member of the Australian Institute of Company Directors (2011)
• Past Non-Executive Director positions with Surf Life Saving Western Australia, The Salvation Army (WA) and the Starlight Children Foundation.

Communication Philosophy and Approach at GT

Relationship Over Transaction

The fundamental principle of the business strategy of Gemma Tognini is relationship before transaction. This principle is an indication of her faith in genuine relations and ethical business, where long-term relations are valued more than short-term benefits.

Team of Specialists

GT Communications is pleased to be a group of specialists and not generalists, a group of former journalists, government workers and lawyers who now work in corporate communications. This experience enables the company to offer clients strategic guidance at the top level with a wide industry-based network.

Present Impact and Perspective

As a multifaceted worker, Gemma Tognini still influences the discourse of the Australian people. She is a rare speaker in the modern Australian society with her special status between corporate advisory, media commentary and business leadership.

The fact that she has recently grown GT communications to Sydney is indicative of her further growth aspirations, and her regular presence in the media ensures she is not limited to the corporate realm of conversation, but rather her presence is felt in wider social and political discourse.

Gemma Tognini is a successful businesswoman and a powerful commentator who represents a new generation of Australian business leaders in their understanding of the power of meaningful communication and strategic relationship creation. Her experience of transforming a spare room business to national prominence makes her a role model to would-be entrepreneurs, and her media presence remains a source of discussion among Australians on both ends of the political spectrum.

Professor Henry Isaac Ergas AO is both one of the most admired economists and the public thinkers in Australia whose decades of international experience is supported by acute commentary on contemporary matters. The economist was born on August 22, 1952, and over 73 years of his career the individual has created an impressive work of academia, government advisory work, and journalism.

Academic and Professional Experience

Henry Ergas is an impressive man in terms of his educational background, he has received first-class honours in economics at Sussex University as well as a Master of Economics with high distinction at the University of Queensland. His educational background is indicative of the intellectual rigor that have subsequently been applied to his later professional activities in the fields of economics and commentary.

The career path that Ergasm has been on, shows great international scope. He worked at the OECD in Paris (1978-1993) where he served as senior positions as Head of the Task Force on Structural Adjustment of the Secretary-General and also as a counselor in microeconomic policies in the Economics Department. This comprehensive experience at OECD has given him profound knowledge of the global economic policy and regulatory structures.

Educational experiences and Professional Conferences

Ergas has enjoyed a close connection with academia in his career with prestigious teaching posts. His educational posts have been:

• Harvard University Harvard Kennedy School.
• Centre Research in Network Economics and Communications University of Auckland.
• Ecole nationale de statitistic et de l administration economique (ENSAE Paris).
• Honorary Professor at Monash University.
• National University of Singapore Adjunct Professor since 2004.
• Professor of Infrastructure Economics at the SMART Infrastructure Facility (2009-2016) University of Wollongong.

Consulting and Private Sector Experience

Ergas has managed to connect the academic economics and its application in the business. He worked at Network Economics Consulting Group (NECG) as Managing Director between 1996 and 2004 when it was acquired by CRA International where he joined it as Vice President and Regional Head of Asia Pacific.

His consulting projects have been on competition policy and regulatory economics in different sectors such as telecommunications, electricity, aviation, surface transport, and financial services. This has been a practical experience that has informed his commentary on economic policy issues as well as his work in academia.

Government Advisory Roles

Ergas has served important functions in the formulation of the Australian economic policy in several governmental appointments:

• Australian Intellectual Property and Competition Review Committee (1999-2000) Chairman.
• Prime Minister Export Infrastructure Task Force (2005) member.
• Defence Industry Consultative Group (2006) Member.
• Advice to the Minister of Communications and the Arts, Advisory Panel on Telecommunications Reform (1997).

The Australian Columnist

Ergas has been an outspoken columnist with The Australian newspaper since 2006, writing on the economic policy, infrastructure as well as larger social and political concerns. The reviews that he writes in his columns are characterized by their critical profundity and historical insights, frequently inspired by his vast international experience and his professional knowledge of the economy.

His commentary has made him one of the most powerful voices in economics in Australia, and his commentary is often referred to in policy discussion and in the academic literature. More recent publications have involved costbenefit analysis of government investment in infrastructure and review of different economic policy proposals.

Current Commentary and Controversies

In recent years, Ergas has emerged as a rising star in terms of his commentary on social cohesion and political issues of the day. His 2025 examination of antisemitism and how it poses a threat to Australian social fabric has attracted a lot of attention. During speeches to the Australia/Israel and Jewish Affairs Council, he has previously held the position that the existing social pressures were a challenge to Australian integration and tolerance that surpassed any other.

The commentary he made in regards to the referendum concerning the Indigenous Voice to Parliament placed him next to the high-profile no advocates, as part of the constitutional change and Indigenous representation debates. His economic review implied that more money allocated to the Aboriginal Australians had not produced similar results which elicited much debate.

Recognition and Honours

Ergas was made an Officer of the Order of Australia (AO) in the rank of distinguished service to infrastructure economics, higher education, the development and review of public policies, and supporting emerging artists, in January 2016. This award is an appreciation of his contribution in the profession and his general civic participation.

Individual History and Family

Ergas is of Sephardic Jewish origin and his family is of Jewish descent in Spain. This history has added to his more recent comment on antisemitism and multicultural issues in Australian society. His own experience of being a representative of a minority brings further insight to his discussion of the problem of integration and social cohesion.

Present Activities and Influence

Nowadays, Ergas is leading a multi-faceted professional life as a Chairman of Concept Economics, a Canberra and Sydney-based consultancy. He continues to engage in communal discussion with his column in Australia and scholarly writing and by giving talks at significant institutions such as the Ramsay Centre of Western Civilisation.

His recent research has been on cost-benefit analysis techniques, economics of infrastructure and the interaction of economic policy with social cohesion. The capability to relate past analysis to the present issues was evidenced by the 2025 Robin Speed Memorial Lecture he gave on the subject of the Magna Carta to the Anti-semitism of the present day.

Influence on Australian Economic Thinking

Ergas is a unique figure in the field of Australian economic commentary who has undergone serious training as an analyst and worked in policy practice. His foreign experience gives him insights that are not always available in the discussion of domestic economic issues and his years of tenure with The Australian has seen him have a platform to shape the discourse in public policy.

His contribution to the development of Australian economic policy has been in the area of infrastructure economics, regulatory policy, and competition issues. His government advisory positions, academic positions and commentaries have assisted in shaping the minds around vital economic dilemmas that affect Australia.